refreshment having eat much of his own Flesh and many of his Members miserably perished in the extremity of Hunger a great evidence indeed of God's anger against his Lustful youth but no less evidence of a cruel and barbarous heart in the merciless and inhuman Uncle This Cruelty is for a time concealed from the good King at last Time revealeth it not without some indignation of the Author The Duke is questioned but by a cowardly if not traiterous Jury pack'd by himself acquitted the poor distressed King praying to Heaven for a Vengeance upon them and all their Posterity who were guilty of that horrid Murther the Duke to gloss all the better draggeth some to Prison Flagitious men indeed but altogether innocent of this Crime condemneth and executeth them as Murtherers of the Prince palliating one wickedness with another as many other wicked men have done The good King solicitous for his onely Son now remaining resolveth for his greater safety to send him over to France to be educated in the Court of Charles the Sixth the French King and commendeth him to the safe conduct and oversight of Lord Henry Sinclare Earl of Orkney he setteth Sail from the Basse and passing by Flamborrowe-head a Storm ariseth and forceth the Ship into Harbour the Prince afflicted with Sea-sickness goeth on Shore is apprehended by the English and sent Prisoner to King Henry of England who notwithstanding of the Mournful Letters of the afflicted King his Father sent up of purpose some weeks before to prevent the obstruction of his Journey and contrary to the Advice of the most of his Council pleading for his Liberty detaineth him Prisoner This hard measure is in great measure recompenced by the liberal Education he gave him whereby he became the most Learned Prince of his time the sad news of his Imprisonment brought to his still afflicted Father for the loss of his eldest Son as he sat at Supper cut him to the Heart and oppressed with Grief he falleth down dead his Company about him in vain seeking to recover Life in him they carry him to his Chamber where his Spirits revive a little but abstaining from all manner of nourishment after three days abstinence he departeth this Life opprest with two cruel tyrants Hunger and Grief in the 16th Year of his Reign April the First 1406 A Prince of a very proper and proportionable Person a Good man and a Meek not furnished indeed with Austerity and such like qualities as might have rendered him more fit than in truth he was to Govern a People so unlike himself in Conditions THE LIFE OF JAMESI KIng Robert departed this Life his Son James Prisoner in England is Proclaimed King of Scotland and his Uncle Robert Duke of Albany continued by Act of Parliament in his Government at this time a sweet calm of Peace continued between the two Kingdoms above twelve years together a great blessing to both Nations In the mean while a black Cloud appeareth in the North of Scotland Donald Lord of the Isles pretending the recovery of his Lands in Ross which the Governor kept from him by a a trick of Law Invadeth Ross from thence marcheth into Murray from thence into Buchan and so to Aberdeen doing much Mischief all along as he went To stop this Current Alexander Earl of Marre and others of the Nobility advance against him with such Forces as could be raised on the sudden both Armies Encounter at Harlaw a fierce Battel continueth for many hours with such slaughter on both sides that at Night the darkness whereof was the first commander of Cessation each Army thought it self overcome no man appearing next day morning to claim the glory of the Victory onely the poor Village Harlaw where the Battel was is famous from it to this day This Rebellion over the Dauphine of France sendeth an Ambassadour to Scotland to demand Assistance against the English according to their ancient League then warring in France declaring with a sad Narrative that himself was disinherited and the English King Henry the 5th Married to his Sister the Lady Catharine declared Regent of France in present and Heir apparent to the Crown with whom likewise the Duke of Burgundy had joyned his whole Force this pitiful Letter soon quickened the Scottish Nobility dreading the effects of King Henry his Greatness an Army of 7000 resolute and stout men are sent immediately over into France under the Conduct of John Earl of Buchan Archibald Earl of Wigton Son to Archibald Earl Dowglas with whom were divers Persons of Quality all safely arrive and are immediately sent by the Dauphine towards Turon the Duke of Clarence Brother to the English King well high surpriseth them in their way they take the Alarm nigh Bergie and on Easter-Eve they give Battel to the English fought with great valour and various fortune on both sides at last the Duke of Clarence is dismounted his whole Army routed 2000 slain on the spot amongst whom were the Duke of Clarence the Earl of Kime the Lords Gray and Ross Many Prisoners likewise taken whereof divers Persons of Quality as the Earls of Huntington and Somerset and others The Earl of Salisbury a man of singular vertue and valour endeavoureth to repay this loss but could effect nothing save the recovery of the dead Body of the Duke of Clarence which he afterwards sent over into England After this Victory the Dauphine createth Buchan Constable of France one of the highest Preferments in that Kingdom In the same Year 1420 Robert Duke of Albany departed this Life and his Son Mordake established in his place Buchan returneth from France and is immediately recalled he arriveth at Rochett accompanied with Archibald Earl of Dowglas and Five thousand Auxiliary Foot the Dauphine much cheared up at their arrival receiveth them with ample Gratulation John Duke of Bedford is sent over from England much about the same time with 4000 Horse and 10000 Foot and soon after King Henry himself arriveth and with him James King of Scotland of purpose by his presence to withdraw the Scots from the Dauphine or at least to render them the more suspected to him but he is disappointed in both the Scots unanimously declaring that they could not render whilst a Prisoner the Obedience otherwise due to him Soon after both the French and English King depart this Life Henry the Sixth of England about Eights Months old is Proclaimed King of England and France John Duke of Bedford appointed Regent of France The Dauphine at the same time Proclaimed by his Adherents King of France by the Name of Charles the 7th The Regent advanceth against him with a powerful Army the Duke of Alenson encountereth him Charles himself is with general consent and unanimous request of all his Friends desired to withdraw and not to hazard his Person the miscarriage whereof was an apparent ruine of them all and giveth him Battel not far from Vornoil The Fight continued very fierce for some hours at
last the English obtain the Victory 4000 French and Scots killed amongst whom were John Earl of Buchan Archibald Earl Dowglas his Son the Earl Wigton and divers other eminent Persons the Duke of Alenson and many great ones are taken Prisoners a great Victory and bought at a great price the lives of above 2000 English lost on the place The Scottish Parliament thinketh it now more than high time to endeavour the Liberty of their King Ambasladors are sent to that end and are honourably Entertained by the Duke of Glocester then Governing all in England in the Non-age of his Nephew The Scots demand their King the Duke adviseth the English Council to Treat with them A great Ransom is demanded The Scots having no other remedy consent to Engage for it in lieu of one Moiety the Dowry of the Scottish Queen Joan Daughter to the Earl of Somerset a woman of singular Vertue and Beauty taken to Wife by the Scottish King at the earnest desire of the Duke of Glocester was detained and for the other certain Noble Men are sent Pledges an hard measure to an Infant Prisoner who it seems paid Dear for his Schoolgate And thus after his Years Imprisonment King James returneth Anno 1423 a Parliament is immediately called the King and Queen Crowned an Act passed for the payment of the 20th part of every man's Personal Estate for discharging the other Moiety of the King's Ransom Commissioners appointed to Collect it the People every where repine against it as unaccustomed to such Impositions some Great ones hunting after the vanity of Popular Applause cherish their Discontent which the good King perceiving remitted the Tax finding out another Expedient to discharge his Ransom In the same Parliament divers of the Nobility are Imprisoned for high Misdemeanors The King immediately releaseth them only Mordake Duke of Albany his two Sons and his Father in Law the Earl of Lenox remained under restraint and by Sentence of their Peers the usual manner of Trying Great ones in that Nation are adjudged to Death for their manifold Treasons and were accordingly not without the vigorous influence of Atholl their Uncle Beheaded on the Castle hill at Sterlin The same Year came Ambassadors from France to renew the Antient League and to crave in Marriage Margaret Daughter to King James for the Dauphine of France Lodovick Son to Charles the 7th both propositions are chearfully assented unto and the Ambassadors after much honourable Entertainment return satisfied the King forthwith bendeth himself to a Reformation and great need there was for as once in Israel so now in Scotland when there was no King every man did what seemed good in his own Eyes whereby the Kingdom groaned under the greatest Confusions and Disorders that could be the Civil Estate after much pain and trouble is at last reduced into some tolerable Condition Heads of Rebellious Factions men some taken off some Imprisoned some in hope of amendment pardoned Oppressions suppressed Roberies restrained and promising foundations laid to prevent such Insolence in time to come Amongst those pardoned in hope of Amendment Alexander Lord of the Isles was one a Great man and of a restless Spirit no sooner enlarged than he beginneth to meditate Revenge for his Imprisonment as short as it was He raiseth an Army of 10000 men falleth down to Ennerness burneth the Town to the ground and layeth Seige to the Castle the King sendeth an Army against him he raiseth his Siege flyeth to the Mountains maketh a stand about Lough Aber resolving to run the hazard of a Battel in those places of advantage two great Clanns Clan-Chaton and Clan-Chameron revolt from him many others are suspected by him in this fear he disbandeth his Army and with a few Attendants he flyeth into the Isles from thence he sendeth his Orators to the King to implore his Pardon nothing could be obtained though the Messengers were gracious enough to their Sovereign Alexander himself is required to appear in Person before the King committing himself wholly to his Majesty's mercy the Rebel conscious of his own Guilt is much perplexed nevertheless considering his present condition how desperate it was resolveth to fly to Mercy and privately repaireth to Edenburg where then his Majesty was On Easter-day Morning he Addresseth himself to Court covered with a Flaxen Frock he prostrateth himself before the King as he past to Divine Service with a most humble and penitent Oration he beggeth Pardon and Restoration to his Majesty's Favour and that for his sake whose restoring to Life they that day Celebrated The Time the Place the Habit his mournful Oration move at present to Compassion especially the Queen who became a most earnest Mediatrix on his behalf the King delayeth his Answer to the end of Divine Service which being performed his Majesty resolving neither absolutely to Pardon nor condignly to Punish for security of the Peace Alexander is sent Prisoner to Tamtalion and his Mother as the great Instrument of all his Pernicious ways is sent to St. Colmes In revenge of this Imprisonment Donald Maloc a Great man in the Isles breaketh out in a new Rebellion for Suppressing of whom the Earls of Marre and Caithnes are sent Donald Surpriseth them and putteth Caithnes and most of his Army to the Sword Marre happily escaping puft up with this Success Donald marcheth to Loughaber the King goeth out in Person against him Donald having done much Mischief in the Countrey flyeth into the Isles Divers Heads of Clannes undertake to Suppress him notice whereof being given to that Arch-Rebel he privately conveyeth himself into Ireland many of his Associates are killed 300 of them taken Prisoners are sent to the King all without exception of any deservedly Hanged which exemplary Justice proved happily to preserve those Barbarous places in Peace for a longer time than could be expected As his Majesty shewed his Justice in the Case I now mentioned about the same time he gave a manifest of his Mercy in enlarging two notable Robbers Duffe and Murray being enlarged they quarrel one with another Cull together their Retainers maintained on the Spoils of the People and being 1200 on each side furiously Engage in a bloody Conflict such Execution done on both sides that not above to on the one and 9 on the other side escape alive Notwithstanding all which Disasters Mr. Donald a notorious Robber breaketh out into an open Rebellion after some Mischief done Mr. Donald is apprehended himself Beheaded and twelve of his Associates Hanged Before his Execution the Law of Retaliation is by the King 's special Command executed upon him A poor Widdow pillaged by him threateneth him with resolution to repair to the King for Redress and I will fit thee for thy Journey said the Rogue he calleth for a Black-Smith and commands him to Nail to her Feet two Horse-Shooes go on saith he now these will preserve thy Feet from bruising the poor Woman dissembleth her resolution and is dismissed Mr. Donald being
of a Dangerous Traitour The Earl thus destroyed and without Issue his Cousin James succeedeth him in the Rights and Honours of the Earldom his Sister Beatrice enjoying whatsoever was not Entailed to the Heir Male James dyeth soon after his Son William Succeedeth and Marrieth his Cousin Beatrice to the great encrease of his Wealth and Power with which increased Pride and Insolence and with both Envy and Fear which the Earl perceiving resolveth to satisfie the People whom he had deeply Oppressed and to pacifie the King now come to Age whom he had highly displeased to this end he repaireth to Court submitting himself to the King whose Pardon he craved promising Amendment in all things done amiss the King receiveth him into Favour in hope of better things and indeed such was his Reformation that he was admired of all and dreaded of some especially the Vice-Roy and Chancellor knowing Guil and Fear being always inseparable Companions who suspecting and expecting the result of all his Counsels to be their Ruine they withdraw from Court laying down their Places in publick Affairs the Vice-Roy to his House in the Countrey the Chancellor to Edenburgh-Castle Earl Dowglas takes the opportunity of their Absence and by his Counsel especially both are Summoned to appear before his Majesty and great Council to give an Account of their publick Imployments both make shew of a great desire to obey but at present excuse their Non-appearance pretending Danger by reason of Earl Dowglas his Power and Enmity against them by Influence of the Earl his Counsel they are declared Traitours and their Estates confiscate Costersine a Retainer to the Earl is sent with Commission to levy their Personal Estates and to return them to the Exchequer which was accordingly done In revenge of all which the Chancellor raiseth some Forces first pillageth and then burneth Costersine his Estate and many Lands belonging to Dowglas himself This Quarrel occasioneth many Stirs in divers places in the Countrey At last Dowglas Besiegeth the Chancellor in the Castle of Edenburgh After nine Months Siege the Castle for want of Provisions is forced to surrender upon Articles of which this was the Chief A general Act of Oblivion to be past by the King in Parliament in behalf of the Chancellor and his Friends and leave to be granted to him to live in peace at his own House without Molestation of him or his This over Dowglas bendeth himself against the Levistons many of them are cited before the Parliament at Edenburgh all accused of Treason divers found Guilty Condemned and Executed Soon after Chrichton is reconciled to the King and by him made Chancellor again and sent Ambassador to France to renew the old League and to demand some Princess of the Blood in Marriage to the young King Mary Daughter to the Duke of Geldria by the Duke of Burgundy his Sister is forthwith Espoused and next Year after Arriveth in Scotland is Married to the King and Crowned Queen at Halyrude-House Anno 1449. By this time the Truce between the two Kingdoms England and Scotland determineth new Stirs begin and after some Depredations on both sides the Truce is renewed and continued for Seven Years but to very little purpose restless Men soon break the Peace the English break into Scotland spoil and plunder many places the Scots do the like in England the English raise a great Army to Invade the Scots under the Command of the Earl of Northumberland and one Magnus a Knight a Man of great Valour and Experience in War-like affairs The Scots likewise raise an Army under the Command of George Earl of Ormond Brother to the Earl Dowglas the two Armies joyn Battel between Anand and Eske in Scotland Magnus too daring a Man adventureth too far and falleth by his own rashness his Fall is the Ruine of all the whole Army runneth and is put to a satal Rout Three Thousand English killed and divers Prisoners of Quality a Rich Plunder obtained by the Scots with the Loss of 600 of their Men. This Overthrow enrageth the English a new Army is appointed to be Levied Civil Wars in England cross all An Ambassador is sent to Scotland to desire Peace Peace could not be obtained A Cessation of Arms only concluded and that with much ado for three Years Earl Dowglas next Year following desirous to see the Papal Jubilee travelleth through France with a Princely Retinue to Rome No sooner gone than whole troops of People Oppressed by him have their recourse to the King praying instantly and incessantly for Reparation of wrong done by him His Majesty is in a strait the Petitions being such as could not in Justice be refused and the Earl not being present could not in Justice be Condemned in the mean time the Earl his Proctor is called for to get in what Answer he could who refusing to appear is committed to Prison Many counsel harder things against him as guilty of high Contempt of Royal Majesty the King inclining to Moderation calleth for him out of Restraint and Commandeth him to Plead for his Lord freely and without Fear which the Proctor thus encouraged accordingly performed His Majesty having patiently heard all that possibly could be said adjudgeth reasonable Satisfaction to be made to the Oppressed The Proctor craveth respite till the return of his Lord The King adjudgeth present Satisfaction and to that end Lord William Sinclare Earl of Orkney and at that time Lord Chancellor is sent into Galloway and Dowglasdale to Commissionate Collectors to Levy my Lord's Retinue for Satisfaction of the Sums adjudged the Collectors all slighted and continued return home having done just nothing This inrageth his Majesty the chief Obstructors are sent for who refusing to appear are all denounced Rebels and Forces sent to reduce them to Order they fly to strong Holds against which the Party sent could do nothing the King marcheth in Person against them Maban Castle immediately Yieldeth Dowglas Castle reduced not without some loss to the King is laid level to the ground all the Faction at length submitteth and payeth out of Dowglas his Estate the Sums adjudged The Earl having notice of all these Troubles returneth from Rome much perplexed making a Pause in England until by his Brother he understood the King's gracious Affection towards him in the assurance whereof he Addresseth himself to his Majesty craving his Pardon for all former Miscarriages and promising all dutiful Obedience for the future is not only received into Favour but soon after declared Vice-Roy This extraordinary Grace is as soon forgot made use on to none other purpose save to advance his own Ambitious Designs whereof all Men were the more Jealous by his private withdrawing into England where he entertained a Clandestine Conference with the English King of which giving none other Reason save the Petition of some Plundred Goods the Scottish King is no less Enraged against him than Jealous of him and which the Earl understanding and knowing his Majesty's Clemency craveth
The two Armies appearing in view one of another the Earl of Huntley sendeth an Herald to the Protector offering Combat either single or Ten to Ten or Twenty to Twenty for the determination of the Quarrel and for avoiding the effusion of Christian Blood the Protector inraged by the slight of his last Letter slighteth the Challenge both Armies Engage in Pinkey Field nigh Musselbraugh in a bitter Conflict the Victory at first on-set inclineth to the Scots many English slain their Horse put to Rout the Scots pursue and having spent their Shot return to the main of their Army in some Confusion the Main observing in what Disorder that strong Party returned supposed the English to be on their Rear all on the sudden possessed with a Panick fear they cast down their Arms and run the English Rally and pursue with no small Execution divers both of the Gentry and Clergy are killed many Prisoners of all sorts one of the Scottish Lords a Prisoner being demanded how he liked the Marriage of the Scotch Queen to the English King I always liked the Marriage saith he but upon my Faith I fancy not the Wooing by Fire and Sword After this Victory which happened to the English April 10. 1547 Louthian is most burnt and wasted by them the Islands of Inchkeeth and Inchcolme and the Castle of Brochty Fast Castle Hume Castle Lauder and Roxbrough all Garrisoned by the English the rest of the Army returneth into England The Scottish Nobility Assemble at Sterlin to consult what to do in such an Exigent as then the Affairs of that Nation stood in the young Queen is safely conveyed into France Ambassadors are likewise dispatch'd thither to crave Assistance according to their League Six thousand Men are granted and arrive at Leith under the Command of Monsieur Dessins by whose assistance the Vice-Roy layeth Siege to Hadington which proving too tedious a business Dessins marcheth into Tividale and from thence maketh divers Incursions into England Dessins is called home and Monsieur Termins is sent over to Command the French They again prepare to lay Siege to Hadington which the English understanding their Stores being spent they Fire the Town and withdraw some other of their Garrisons are likewise deserted and some surprised by the Scots and all on the sudden the English are wholly voided out of Scotland and in May following the French return into France Next Year 1552 The Queen Mother Saileth into France whither likewise the Vice-Roy sent the Lord Carnegi Ambassador to render thanks for their Seasonable Assistance He is honourably received and entertained The French King earnestly desires that the Vice-Roy would deliver up his Government into the hands of the Queen Mother The Ambassador ingageth himself to imploy all his interest that his Majesty's desire may be satisfied and forthwith returneth accompanied with the Bishop of Ross then Legier in France Both move the Vice-Roy to satisfie the desire of the French King the Vice-Roy with much ado yields his assent he being first discharged in Parliament of all Accompts which ought to be made by him as Vice-Roy which accordingly was done and no other thing required of him save that he should promise upon Oath to deliver whatever he had in present possession belonging to the late King The Queen Mother returneth into Scotland accompanied with one Monsieur de Oysell appointed to assist her in Council and in a Parliament held at Edenburgh the Vice-Roy delivereth up the Regalia into the hands of Monsieur d' Oysell who received them in the Name of the Queen and delivered them to her by consent of Parliament by the Title of Queen Regent Anno 1555. These things exceedingly please the French King The Vice-Roy is created Duke of Chastellhe-Roy and Twelve thousand Livres given him in a Yearly Pension and he declared in the Scotch Parliament Heir to the Crown should the young Queen dye without Issue The Queen Regent gives the first Essay of her Government against the stubborn Red-Shankes amongst whom were many Notorious Robbers all reduced into Obedience by the Queen Regent with little noise and admired success After this Highland Expedition a design was set on foot by the French Council about the Queen Regent to conduce a certain number of Mercinary Souldiers as a standing Army for the Defence of the Kingdom for maintenance whereof a certain Monthly Rate was to be setled on all the Real and Personal Estates proportionably through the whole Kingdom This design is deeply Resented by the whole Nobility and Gentry Two are sent the Lords Calder and Weems to declare their dislike of this design and to represent to the Queen Regent that this design as it was without Precedent in that Kingdom so it could not be endured being not only Dishonourable to the whole Nobility whose Ancestors from whose worth they were not yet degenerated have been a sufficient Guard against the strongest Invasions and most desperate Insurrections that ever were but likewise most Dangerous to the whole Nation in regard that the boundless Lusts of such men so impowred were like enough to break out into such Exorbitances as might confound all and into such Insolences as their very Masters and Maintainers might sooner mourn for than mend and that it could not in reason be supposed that Men of mean or no fortunes should be more tender of the welfare of the Kingdom than such who by their Estates and Fortunes were interessed in the Common good and that it could not be expected that such Fellows who had nothing to lose could be so faithful and valiant in defence of other Mens Estates as they whose large Fortunes and Families do engage them to assert the Liberty and Welfare of the Nation and that it could not be apprehended that such Mercinary Men would be so tame as willingly to lay down their Arms when at once they must therewith relinquish their living at ease in the Cream of other Mens Estates and return to their former painful and Mechanick Occupations This Remonstrance was so lively represented to her Majesty that she utterly disclaimed and cried out upon the Design declaring the deep sense she had of all those Mischiefs which were so discreetly and timely represented to her Soon after the young Queen Mary growing on towards years fit for Marriage being of singular Beauty and adorned with such rare and admirable Parts both for Vertue and Wisdom the French King Henry the Second at whose Court whither she was conveyed soon after the Battel at Muslebrugh she had such Royal Education as well became her Birth very earnestly desired to Marry her to his Eldest Son the Dauphine of France to which purpose he writeth to the Queen Regent desiring that the Scotch Nobility might declare their Assent to this so much desired Marriage and forthwith to send over certain Commissioners to be present at the Nuptials A Parliament is called at Edenburgh the French King's Letters are read three of the Nobility the Earls ' of
whatever Spoils were taken from the Enemy to be converted to the Queen's use the Scots to receive and exercise the same Religion professed and used in the Church of England and to send Pledges into England to remain there as Hostages during the Marriage of the French King and the Scots Queen and one Year after All Sealed and Ratified at Barwick the 27th of February 1560. Six thousand Foot and Two thousand Horse Auxiliaries are sent down under the Command of the Lord Grey unto whom the Lords of the Congregation joyn their Army at Hadington and in this conjunction they march towards Leith lay Siege to it both by Sea and Land an English Navy lying then in the Road many bloody Skirmishes there were on both sides The French Bishop cometh into the Scots Camp and from thence he went to the Castle at Edenburgh to speak with the Queen Regent retired thither for her safety and protection and earnestly endeavours a Peace but all in vain the Scots not hearkning to any unless the French were all in the first place sent home which could not be yielded to at this time a great Fire happened in Lieth which put the Besieged into a great Consternation the English likewise fired the two Mills belonging to the Garrison and assault the Town by Storm but are repulsed with loss the French quickly repairing the Breaches the English made who at length begin to think the work tedious and full of trouble they send to Queen Elizabeth to know her pleasure the Duke of Norfolk encourageth them much by sending them new Supplies no less than Two thousand well appointed men Assuring them that neither Men nor Money should be wanting so long as it was in his power to supply them promising if need were his own presence in the mean time he sendeth his Tent and adviseth them to set it up in the view of the Town This gives Life to the business again the Siege is renewed and the Queen of England sends Sir William Cecil one of the Privy Counsellors and Secretary of State and Doctor Wootton Dean of York one also of the Council to treat with the French in order to a Peace a meeting is appointed in July following but in the interim the Queen Regent wasted with care and grief dyeth at Edenburgh Castle a Woman of singular wisdom and vertue honoured by most of the worst of her enemies and her Death much lamented by all after her death Commissioners are appointed and meet to treat of an Accommodation which had then been agreed upon but that the French insisted upon a freedom to carry home whatsoever Booty Bag or Paggage they had got whereof they had store by their Winters plundering of Fife which would not be granted by the Scots and therefore Acts of Hostility Sallies and Onsets are made with various fortune and success At last both Parties sufficiently weary and straitned in Provisions the Treaty is renewed and Articles agreed on viz. That neither the French King nor his Queen of Scotland should thenceforth use the Arms or Titles of England and all Letters Sealed with those Arms should be called in within six Months space that the French transport themselves with their Booties Bag and Baggage within twenty days and that the English supply them with such Ships as they should want they leaving Pledges with the English until the safe return of their Ships That Leith be delivered up to the Scots and Dismantled That the Forts built by the French at Dunbar be demolished That the English immediately after the performance of Articles do return into England That the French should still keep a Garrison at Inch-Keeth and Dunbar Castle That an Act of Oblivion first past by the Queen and the French King her Husband be afterwards Confirmed by their Authority in the ensuing Parliament to be held in August On these Terms Peace was Proclaimed Soon after the French King Francis dyeth the Queen heavily afflicted with grief for the death of her Husband and much perplexed by the turbulent condition of the state of France resolveth to return into Scotland and fearing the English Navy by reason of an Offence given to Queen Elizabeth by placing the English Arms in the Scots Coat she privately goes aboard a small Vessel which none would suspect to be Fraught with so rich a Cargo and safely arriveth in Scotland immediately before her arrival her base Brother James procured a Commission from her to hold a Parliament which was accordingly done The French Ambassador moveth That the French League may be renewed and that which the English lately made may be broke off and that the Revenues of Ecclesiastick Persons may be restored to them But the Scots Parliament now wholly constituted of such as pretend to the Reformation of Religion answered That the French League should be continued but that with the English could not be broken without the greatest Dishonour and Ingratitude in the world The Restauration of the Revenue of the Ecclesiasticks was wholly rejected and an Act passed for the demolishing all the Abbies and Priories in the Kingdom which was immediately put in execution The sorrowful Queen being arrived had no better remedy than Silence and Convenience and was forced to condescend That the state of Religion as it was lately renewed and established by the Lords of the Congregation should not by her nor her Authority suffer any Change or Alteration no Mass to be said publiquely any where except in her Majesty's Chappel which was all the indulgence the Lords would afford her The Ministers moved both by their own Zeal and the Instigation of the Earl of Arran Cry out and Thunder in their Pulpits against this Permission and Admonish the Lords of their Duty to reduce her to order a submission to and a susception of the Directory for publick Worshin The Nobility notwithstanding all these over-loud Clamours encroach not upon the Queen's privilege for which the Ministers turn the edge of their Tongues as sharp as Swords against them crying out of their Apostacy and lukewarmness in the Cause of God William Mettelane is sent Ambassadour to England to tender to Queen Elizabeth the great Respects of the Scottish Queen towards her and with this Message the Lords sent also their Letters to the Queen humbly thanking her for her late Seasonable Assistance and requesting her to continue her Princely Favour towards their Queen and a firmer establishment of Union between both Kingdoms as an Expedient thereunto they propound to her Majesty That she would be pleased to pass an Act of Parliament Declaring That in case her self should dye without Issue the Queen of Scots to be her rightful Heir and lawful Successor to her Crown This last motion highly displeased Queen Elizabeth saying That it was most unreasonable to require her to Sew her Winding-Sheet with her own hands and to expose it every day to her own view After much Debate it was at last agreed upon First That the Scots Queen should forbear
overthrown her self for Safety is forced to fly into England to shelter her self under the Protection of Queen Elizabeth her nearest Cousin The Regent or Vice-Roy after his Victory packeth a Parliament wherein divers of the Queens Friends and Adherents are declared Traytors and their Estates Confiscate Himself Marcheth into divers Places of the Kingdom spoils and lays wast and demollisheth the Houses and Castles of such as continued in their Loyalty Queen Elizabeth hearing of the Scotch Queens Refuge into England Commanded her by a Condoling Letter to stay at the Lord Scroops House until she had further Order from her and in the interim writeth to the Vice-Roy of the danger of the Example in which all the Kings and Crowns of the World were concern'd and desiring some Commissioners might be sent to her to give her a full Account of all their Proceedings against their Queen The Vice-Roy having the French King his Enemy already durst not run the hazard of Offending the Queen of England too whereas now his Friend in whose displeasure he might plainly read his own Destruction he resolveth to gratifie the Queen of England and to send Commissioners to shew her the best Prospect of the Story but the Nobility ashamed of the thing refuse to be sent upon so Unworthy and Dishonourable a Message or to be Employed in a matter so detestable he resolves himself to undertake it which accordingly he did Accompanied with one or two of the Rebellious Nobility and George Buchanan a devoted Slave to the Vice-Roy whose heart did as much thirst after the Blood of the Queen as ever his Venomous Pen had Surfeited it self in the pollution of her Sacred Name which so wounded his gangered Conscience when it was too late That he Craved of God no longer time to Live than he might be able to Cure those Sores and Salve those Wounds which himself had made in the Fame and Reputation of that Good and Vertuous Queen The Duke of Norfolk the Earl of Sussex and Sir Ralph Sadler Commissioners for the Queen of England give them a Meeting at York whither likewise repaired some Agents for the Exiled Queen who gave their Audience Protesting that they did not appear there before the English Commissioners as competent Judges to determine or give Sentence in the Affairs of their Soveraign Lady but rather as in the presence of Friends and Neighbours to convince them of the unparalle'ld Wrongs and Injuries done to the Person and Honour of their Queen through whose sides they had wounded all the Kings and Supream Magistrates in the World and to Crave the Assistance of the English Queen her nighest Kinswoman in the World either to persuade her Rebellious Subjects to receive her again as their Sovereign and restore her to all the Rights and Priviledges of her Crown or that failing to grant her so considerable Forces as might be able to reduce them to Order and Obedience which would be a Concession no less Honourable to the Queen of England than Profitable to the Queen of Scotland As a Counterpoize to this Protestation the English Commissioners do also Protest That they allowed not of that Protestation to the Prejudice of the Superiority that the Kings of England had always Claimed over the Kings of Scotland which now belonged to the Queen their Mistress in the Right of the Crown of England Then they proceeded to the Business the Commissioners for the Exiled Queen first laid open all the Grievances and Wrongs that were thrown upon her and under which she now laboured in a Languishing Exile The Commissioners for the Young King in whose Name the Commission ran recriminate and highly Charge the Queen no ways Accountable to them supposing or hoping the English Commissioners to have Power to pass Sentence against their Queen in case they could by any means make them believe her Guilty of those things they Charge her withal But being frustrate in these Hopes and hearing every Article of the Charge distinctly and fully Answered by their Queens Commissioners the Vice-Roy contends That nothing was done which in the like Cases had not been done by their Predecessors and their late proceedings being Confirmed by Act of Parliament they were now past recall and could not be Abrogated by any private person whatsoever whereby he imagined that he had prevented all Arguments that might be offered for a Peaceable Reception of the Queen to her Rights which were now alienated by Act of Parliament But the English Commissioners not satisfied with these things they urge That the true Causes of such rigorous Proceedings with their Queen might be produced the knowledge whereof was the end of their present Meeting The Vice-Roy having nothing else to offer desired that first the Queen of England would Engage for the Tuition of their Young King Letters are sent to Acquaint the Queen with this motion Her Majesty desires two Commissioners of the Vice-Roy's Faction to be sent to her to London to inform her more clearly in the whole matter Two Commissioners are accordingly sent Metellane and Mackgill but the Queen upon second Thoughts judgeth it necessary that the Regent himself be there who repairs to London where after much Debate before the Queen and the Council at last the Commissioners are dismissed and no more Determined at London than at York The Vice-Roy returns home and not long after the Lord Boyd brings Letters from both Queens to the Scots Parliament wherein the Queen of England makes a Threefold Overture in behalf of Queen Mary First That she might be restored to her former Government or this not Granted That in the second place she might be admitted to Reign in Title only in Conjunction with her Son and the Exercise of the Regal Power to rest still in the Vice-Roy until the Young King came to Seventeen Years of Age and if they would not do that in the third place She might have free Liberty to return safely into her own Countrey if it should seem good to her and to Live a Retir'd and Private Life having an Honourable Maintenance allowed her The former Two were peremptorily Denied and the Last had never been yielded to but that they were well assured that the Queen would never Accept of it The Queen of Scotland's Proposals were likewise Read desiring them to Appoint certain Judges to take her Marriage with Bothwell into Cognisance That if it did appear Unlawful that it might be accordingly adjudged and annulled The Letter is Debated but no Answer returned only this Concluded That the Queen of England be first Advertised with a Suggestion that this Motion tended only to make way for her Marriage to the Duke of Norfolk wherein her Majesty of England was indeed much concerned A Messenger is dispatched with the Parliaments Resolves concerning both Letters at his Arrival the Queen of England was Offended that they should send so mean and inconsiderable a Person to Treat with Her of so great and important Affairs as the Rights of Princes he