Kings Favourites were impeached amongst which Arch-Bishop Laud was one and soon after him the Earl of Strafford This Year 1641. His Majesty went towards Scotland where he was entertained with great Demonstrations of Affection and confirmed the Treaty between the two Nations by an Act of Parliament which he summoned himself during his abode there In the mean time the horrid Rebellion in Ireland broke out wherein those cruel Butchers did most barbarously murther about 200000. Protestants Men Women and Children The King being then in Scotland moved the Parliament to send thither Sir George Monroe with 2500. men to reduce the Rebels The King being returned from Scotland the Parliament then sitting at Westminster the breach daily grew wider wherefore the Scotish Commissioners interposed between the King and Parliament for composing their differences which were now grown to such a height that the King not long after left London and returned to York Now began the Calamity of a sad War for which they began Vigorously to make preparations on both sides The Scots finding as they pretended that the King was refractory to an Agreement with his Parliament and giving ear to those vile Libels that were spread abroad which accused His Majesty of conniving at the Papists both in England and Ireland being called by the Parliament to their assistance entred England Jan. 16. 1643. their Army being in number 18000. Foot and 2000. Horse In the mean time matters are fitting in Scotland by James Earl afterward Marquess of Montross who having received the Kings Commission by Sir Robert Spotswood to be General Governour of Scotland passed into the heart of the Kingdom where he raised what men he could for the Kings Service resolving with them to divert the Covenanters They upon the other side raised an Army to oppose him Their first Rencounter was near Perth where the Covenanters under the Command of the Lords Elcho Tullibardine and Drumond were quite routed here the Atholmen and Irishmen of which he had 1500. did him good service From thence he marcht Northward to Aberdeen where at the Bridge of Dee he defeated another Body of the Covenanters under the Lord Burleighs command After this Victory he went about most of the Northern Countries and brought a great many of them under Subjection though himself and his Army were reduced to great straits by reason of the coldness of the weather and scarceness of Victuals yet he would not give over his enterprise From thence he marched into Argileshire where he burnt destroyed all before him and returned back again to Lochabor He stayed not long there when hearing that Argile was coming against him and was already the length of Innerlochy He resolves finding his men bent for 't to fight him which accordingly he did and quite worsted him Not long after he had an absolute Victory over General Major Hurry at a place in the Highlands called Aldearn which did very much weaken the Covenanters And Baily resolving revenge at Alford was served with the same sauce himself The next Victory that this Valiant Champion obtained was at Kilsyth a fatal day it was to the Covenanters for here they lost a great many Gentlemen of Quality besides a vast number of common Souldiers yea such of their Leaders as escaped this bout finding as they thought their strength quite gone fled some to England others to Ireland and some also came in and Submitted to Montross upon Mercy Thus things being in humane probability brought to great order Montross receives Orders from the King at Oxford to march Southward with his Army Where His Majesty promised to send him some recruit of Horse to fight Sir David Lesly who was coming from England against Montross But Lâ—sly preventing the Kings recruits surprises Montross at Philiphaugh where he quite routed him Thus the wheele of Fortune turnes now upon this gallant Nobleman who was Conqueror hitherto and forces him with a very few followers to shift for himself leaving many of his Friends dead in this fatal place Montross by this loss being brought very low he marched toward the North with the few men he had and after many endeavours to make up his Army again he is surprised by a Message from His Majesty Commanding him to lay down his Armes and go into France where he should stay till further Orders which accordingly he did though with great reluctancy in the Year 1646. But to return to the Scots Army in England They after they had served the Parliament upon several occasions and particularly at Marston-Moor where they helpt them to obtain a Victory against Prince Rupert retired to New-Castle The King being brought so low that he was hardly able to keep any thing of an Army in the Field came thither in disguise acquainting the Scotish-General That he would now commit himself to him looking upon him as a man of Honour that would do nothing but what is Just and Loyal in a matter of such weight The General answered His Majesty He would with all his heart serve him and that the most effectual service that he thought he could do him was to mediate a Peace between His Majesty and His Parliament The Parliament being Advertised that the King was in the Scotish Army sent their Messengers thither to know upon what account they detained the King of England in their Camp who were only called in to assist the Parliament but not to Act by themselves Telling them further That if the King were in Scotland as he was then in England they would not presume to keep him up from his Subjects there as the Scots did in England the Committee of the Army answered That they knew very well the People of Englands Right to the King to be as good as theirs neither did they detain His Majesty from them but that he was with them as their King in no wise under restraint but at full Liberty as became his Majesty to be And further that it was their earnest desires to see a well-setled Peace between His Majesty and his two Houses Presently after they had another message desiring them to return home for that the Parliament had no further service for them thanking them withal for the Service they had done The Committee replyed that they came not to England without the Parliaments call and that the Terms upon which they were invited thither were not fulfilled by the Parliament their Army wanting almost 500000 l. of their Arrears That upon payment of it they would go home At last it was agreed that the Scots should have 200000 pound of their Arrears in hand and the rest should afterward be sent after them So that within weeks after they would draw the Army out of England As for the Kings Person it was agreed That he should be kept by the English in Honour and Splendor suitable to his Royal Dignity and that nothing should be transacted in England concerning His Majesty without the Advice and Consent of the Scots Thus were they
gave to the Representatives of the Kings of Scotland which was only due to free Princes together with the Judgment of Forreign Princes Lawyers and Historians about it but also to the acknowledgment of the Kings of England themselves 1. King Henry of England having intreated the Assistance of Alexander King of Scotland against Simeon Earl of Leicester did by Letters under his hand publickly declare that he did not crave this Assistance as Superior to which Superiority he had no pretence but to which is very Considerable the King and Parliament of England have treated with the Ambassadors of Scotland whereas no Superior can Treat with his own Vassal as a Forreigner We freely Grant that the Kings of Scotland did hold the Lands of Northumberland Cumberland and Westmerland in Capite of the Crown of England which yet was no Disparagment to them that being most ordinary amongst Sovereign Princes for thus Henry King of England and several others of their Kings did Homage to the Kings of France for the Provinces possest by them in France as the King of Spain also doth this day to the Pope for Naples and Sicily And yet the Homage done for those Countries have been the occasion of an Ignorant mistake in some and a malicious Pretence for others to Mis-represent it as done for the Kingdom of Scotland Advertisement By reason of the Authors absence from the Press several Faults have escaped which the Reader is desired to amend A List of the KINGS of SCOTLAND 1 FErgus 2 Ferithar 3 Main 4 Dornadill 5 Hothat 6 Râ—ther 7 Rutha 8 Thereus 9 Josine 10 Finnane 11 Durst 12 Euen 1 13 Gill 14 Euen 2. 15 Eder 16 Euen 3. 17 Metelan 18 Caratack 19 Corbred 1. 20 Dardan 21 Corbred 2. 22 Luctack 23 Mogald 24 Conar 25 Ethod 1. 26 Satrael 27 Donald 1. 28 Ethod 2. 29 Athirck 30 Nathalock 31 Findoch 32 Donald 2. 33 Donald 3. 34. Crathilinth 35 Fincormach 36 Romach 37 Angusian 38 Fethelmach 39 Ewen 1. 40 Fergus 2. 41 Ewen 2. 42 Dongard 43 Constantine 1. 44 Congall 1. 45 Goran 46 Ewen 3. 47 Congall 2. 48 Kinnatell 49 Aidan 50 Kenneth 51 Ewen 4. 52 Ferchard 1. 53 Donald 3. 54 Ferchard 2. 55 Maldwine 56 Ewen 5. 57 Ewen 6. 58 Amberkelleth 59 Ewen 8. 60 Mordach 61 Etfin 62 Ewen 7. 63 Fergus 3. 64 Solvat 65 Achaius 66 Congall 3. 67 Dongall 68 Alpine 69 Kenneth 2. 70 Donald 5. 71 Constantine 2. 72 Eth. 73 Gregory 74 Donald 6. 75 Constantine 3. 76 Malcolm 1. 77 Indulf 78 Duff 72 Culen 80 Kenneth 3. 81 Constantine 4. 82 Grim. 83 Malcolm 2. 84 Donald 7. 85 Macbeth 86 Malcolm 3. 87 Donald Bane 88 Duncan 89 Edgar 90 Alexander 1. 91 David 1. 92 Malcolm 4. 93 William 94 Alexander 2. 95 Alexander 3. 96 John Balliol 97 Robert Bruce 98 David 2. 99 Edward Balliol 100 Robert 2. 101 Robert 3. 102 James 1. 103 James 2. 104 James 3. 105 James 4. 106 James 5. 107 Henry Stewart and Mary Stewart 108 James 6. 109 Charles 1. 110 Charles 2. AN EPITOME OF THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND THe Scots by the most judicious Writers and by those who have most carefully studied not only their own Antiquities but those of other Nations are acknowleged although they be not of the greatest to be undoubtedly among the most antient People in Europe But to speak more particularly of their antient Nation we must know that the whole Island 〈◊〉 it is a part was at first called Albion or Albium As Theophrastus Ptolomy Tacitus and Seneca tells us which Name the true race of the ancient Scots retain to this day calling the ancient Country Albin and themselves Albinich always keeping their primitive Name notwithstanding of the many different People that have since inhabited it The Etymology of this Name is disputed by many but it seems to be really derived from Alb or Alp signifying a Hill or high place The antient Inhabitants of the Northern parts of this Island were called Scots who were divided into two sorts the one who were the first Possessors and this Posterity doth inhabit it to this day were called the Scoto-Brigantes Some have taken upon them to be very accurat in giving an Account of their descent and the manner of their coming hither even from the far ends of the Earth but with so little appearance of Truth that I will not put my Reader nor my self to the trouble to refute it The most probable Conjecture and that which carrieth most Evidence with it is that these first Inhabitants came in Colonies from Spain to Ireland nor is it improbable that these Colonies were Originally from France who either for want of Accommodation to live at home or being thrust out by stronger hands came over to Ireland where they continued long for either themselves or their Children desirous of new Habitations transported themselves to the north Islands where they continued in an unsetled Course of Life for a long time the time of their entring Albion is said to have been from the Creation about 3530 years The first place they took Possession of was Argyle they being divided into sundry Tribes elected every Tribe their own Captain to govern them in Peace and War this very name they had in great Veneration Then after about 150 as some write a German or as Beda saith a Scythian Navy arrived upon the coast of Ireland being as is probable beat thither by a Tempest having neither Wives or Children with them the men were in want of every thing having by tedious Sailing consumed all their Provision They sent to the Inhabitants desiring they might have a residence among which they told them they could not afford in regard of the Barrenness of the place and the multitude of Inhabitants that possess it already but that there was a habitable Land called Albion not far from them whether they might go it being for the most part as yet un-inhabited and such as did inhabit it like to ruin one another by civil Discords Those men afterward called Picts following their Advice set Sail and came to that part of Albion that lyes toward Germany and having Landed soon beat out the Inhabitants and made them draw themselves within less bounds Possessing themselves of Caithness Ross Murray Merus Angus Fiffe and Lothian together with Orkney which some say was their first Habitation They were a civil People Ingenious and Crafty both in Peace and War Having fixed their residence they sent Messingers to the Scots desiring their Daughters in Marriage alledging that if they condescended it would highly conduce to the Welfare of both of them being thereby made strong for either an offensive or defensive War with any of their Neigbours This message the Scots at first rejected but upon mature Deliberation they condescended So having agreed upon the Terms which were that they should concur with all their Forces when they were invaded and as often as the Crown of Picts came to want an Heir
Hepburn came with fresh Men to the Scots Whereupon the English retreated leaving eighteen hundred of their Men dead in the place and a hundred and forty taken Prisoners among which were the two Peircies above mentioned But the Valiant Earl of Douglass dyed in this Battel being thrice run through the Body and Mortally wounded in his Head which was a greater loss and Grief to his Nation then the gain of this Victory could ballance The next year a Parliament was called at Perth wherein Robert Earl of Fife the Kings second Son was elected Governor the King himself by reason of his great Age not being able to Govern He was a Valiant Victorious and fortunate Prince in all his Wars for his Governours and Captains returned always with Victory He was very constant and a great Iustitiar hearing patiently the Complaints of the Poor causing all wrongs to be redressed He dyed peaceably in the Castle of Dun-Donald the seventy fifth year of his Age and the nineteenth year of his Reign The same year John his eldest Son was called to succeed who thinking that Name ominous to Kings and there wanted not Examples as of him of England and him of France and thinking something of the Felicity of the two former Roberts was Crowned by the Name of 101. Robert the third A. D. 1390. He was more remarkable for his Peaceableness and Modesty then for any other Vertue the first seven years of his Reign were past in Peace by reason of his Truce with England but not without some fierce Fiends among his Subjects especially the Clankays and Clanchattes the King seeing the Difficulty of reducing them made this Proposition to them that three hundred of each side should try it by Dint of Sword before the King the Conquered to be pardoned and the Conqueror advanced this being agreed to a place was appointed upon the North-side of Perth but when the Clans presented themselves there was one of one side missing whom then his party could not supply A Trades-man steps out and for half a French Crown and promise of Maintenance during his Life filled up the Company The first was furious but none behaved himself more furiously then the other Mercenary Champion who was the greatest cause of the Victory for of his side their remained ten grievously wounded the other party had but one left who not being wounded yet being unable to sustain the stroak of the other threw himself in the Tay and escaped with his Life By this means the fiercest of the two Clans being cut off the remainder being Headless were quiet Two years after the King in Parliament made his two Sons Dukes which was the first time that Title was known in Scotland Next year Richard the second of England being forced to resign Henry the fourth succeeded in the beginning of his Reign tho' the Truce was not expired yet the Seeds of War began to bud upon this occasion George Earl of March betrothed his eldest Daughter to David the Kings eldest Son Archibald Earl of Douglass incensed at this got a Vote of Parliament to revoke this Marriage and giving a greater sum of Money got a Marriage confirmed in Parliament betwixt David and Mary his Daughter The Earl of March nettled at this demands Redress but not being heard he leaves the Court and with his Family and Friends goes into England to the Lord Percy who with his Assistance did much hurt to the Lands of the Douglasses the Scots declare the Earl of March an Enemy and sends to demand him of the English which they refusing several Incursions happened upon both sides till at length Piercy was defeated by the Douglass's at Lynton-bridge At this time David Earl of Cravford and the Lord Welles in England ingaged to run certain Courses on Horse-back with sharp Spears for Life and Death upon London-bridge which they performed most gallantly The People Perceiving the Earl of Cravford to sit so stifly cryed the Scotch man was lock'd in his Saddle he hearing this leapt out of the Saddle upon the Ground and presently mounted again to the great wonder of the Beholders The second time they run without any hurt but the third time the Lord Welles was beat out of his Saddle and sorely hurt with the fall By this time the Queen dying her Son David who for his Extravagancies was by her means kept under restraint broke out into his former disorders and committed all kind of Rapine and wickedness complaint being brought to his Father he committed him to his brother Robert this Design was to root out all that Off-Spring the business was so ordered as that the young man was shut up in Faulkland Castle to be starved which yet was for a while delayed one Woman thrusting in some Oaten Cakes at a Chink and another giving him Milk out of her Breasts through a Trunk but both these being discovered the Youth being forced to tear his own Flesh dyed of a multiplyed Death which Murder being whispered to the King he was so abused by the false Representations of his Brother that Grief and Imprecations was all the relief that he had left him and being now retired sickly to Boot Castle and unable to punish him The King therefore Solicitous to preserve James his youngest Son is resolved to send him to Charles the sixth of France And having taking shipping at the Bassas he passed by the Promontory of Flambrough and whether he was forced by a Tempest or that he was Sea-sick he was forced to Land there he was taken by the English and detained Prisoner notwithstanding the eight years Truce and tho' it came to be debated at the Councel Table yet his Detention was carried in the Affirmative But the News so struck his aged Father that he had almost presently dyed but being carried to his Chamber with voluntary abstinence and Sorrow He dyed within three days the sixteenth year of his Reign and was buried in Pasley Upon this the Parliament confirm Robert for Governour about four years after Donald of the Isles enters Ross as his pretended Inheritance with ten thousand Men which he easily subdued thence he went to Murray and Mastered it also and so went on to Aberdeen to stop this Torrent Alexander Earl of Marr followed by most of the Nobility met him at Harlaw where they joyned in so bloody a Battel and lost so many noble and considerable Persons that tho' Night parted them neither could pretend to the Victory to this year the University of S. Andrews owes it's Rise The English being taken up with a War with France nothing considerable was acted between them and the Scots for ten years after at which time Robert the Governour dyes and Murdoch his Son a very unfit Person was put in his place who suffered his Sons to come to that petulancy that they were not only offensive to the People but with all disobedient to their Father who having a brave Faulcon which his Son Walter had often begged but in vain he
his Brother to Court to know the Kings mind towards him The King promised upon his Submission to accept of him which he performed making him for his further Encouragement Lieutenant General of his Forces But he stood not long privately in his Prosperity for going to the Court of England upon some design the King was highly dissatisfied with him yet upon his humble Submission he is pardoned but divested of all publick imployment within the Kingdom Thus being degraded from his Honnour 's he gives himself wholly to study revenge and that he might the more successfully effect his Design he gets the Earls of Cranford Ross-Murray the Lord Balveny with many other Barons and Gentlemen to enter in a Confederacy both offensive and defensive with him after they broke out in unsufferable Insolences spoiling and plundering the Lands of such as were not of their Faction and killing and destroying such as offered to oppose them The King begins to be apprehensive of their Design therefore thinks it high time to look to himself and his Country Whereupon he sent for Douglass to come and speak with him at Sterling which he at first feared to do but upon second Thoughts he accompanied with many of the Confederates went to Court where the King very Graciously received him the day being far spent the Gates of the Castle shut all removed except some of the Council and the Guards the King takes the Earls apart very friendly and remembred him of Favours received and wrongs forgotten Taxing him with the exorbitant abuses of his followers then he told him of a Covenant which he heard was made betwixt him and some of the other Nobility and desired to know what he had to say Douglass answered in plain terms it was so but that the Covenant was made for his own safety the King further expostulated with him to break it which he refusing to do the King with his Dagger ended the Quarrel killing him in the place About the end of this Tragedy a pair of Spurs between two Platters is directed to Sir James Hamilton as a part of the Kings Banquet Whereupon he and the rest takes the Allarum and setting Fire to divers places of the Town they make their escape the King to vindicate himself emits Declarations shewing all his good Subjects the Reasons that moved him to take Douglass's Life that it was not a fit of Passion nor an Act of private revenge but meerly to save the State from utter Ruin Yet the Mobile were diversly affected some justifying the Fact as Noble and Just but others as the greater number as boldly Condemned it as Inhumane and Cruel these of the League missing no Opportunity that was for their Interest made it their work to sow Sedition and Discord and to encourage all Breaches and Contempt of the Laws which encreased their number so that the King was reduced to a very low condition till at last Cranford one of the Confederates being routed by the Earl of Huntly he recovered some strength and having called a Parliament at Edenburgh summoned the Confederate Lords to appear before which they scornfully refused to do Whereupon the King levying an Army forced them to retire yet the Country suffered sadly by their unbridled Fury At length after much loss on both sides the King daily prevailing the Earl of Cranford submitted himself to his mercy as several others did afterward Whereupon the Earl of Douglass fled to England there having gathered together several desperate Men he made several inroads upon the Border The King having with much difficulty recovered the Royal Authority of his Ancestors England in the mean time being at the point of utter ruine by the contest of Henry the sixth and the Duke of York was much solicited by both of them but he told the Ambassadors that he had more reason to look to his own concerns then to assist either of them which he intended to do thereupon raising a Powerful Army he passed the Tweed and besieged Roxburgh where having applyed his battery to the Castle he began to storm it but by the space of an over-charged Piece the King's thigh bone being broken was struck immediately Dead the twenty Fourth year of his Reign having left three sons James who succeeded Alexander Duke of Albany and John Earl of Marre and was buried at Holy-Rood house After his death the Queen with her Son came to the siege and encouraged the Nobles who took and demolished the Castle and also the Castle of Warke 104. To him Succeeded his Son James the third A. D. 1460. A good Prince corrupted by wicked Courtiers who with advantage of his years being but seven years of age when he began to Reign his education is intrusted to his Mother the Government of the Kingdom to the Earls of Anaudale Castle Orkney and the Lords Boyd and Graham the Bishops of St. Andrews Glasgow and Dnubek In this Princes Nonage great confusions increased both at home and abroad at home by the Islanders who extreamly infested the country and came as far as the Blairth of Athole and burnt S. Brides Church where the Earl and his Lady took Sanctuary carrying them to the Island Ila from whence as these Savages were going further they were all miserably destroyed by a tempest Nor was it better abroad England being in a flame by the Civil Wars Henry being taken and released again by his Queen flees to Scotland desiring their assistance against his Enemies and that he might be the better heard caused the Town of Berwick to be delivered to the Scots thereupon the Queen who managed the War geting some supply marched taking the King with her into England but was soon overthrown at Durham A. D. 1466. the Queen of Scots dyed having left many sound and profitable instructions to the King her Son who now coming to fifteen years of age is by his Regents committed to the Lord Boyds Brother to be Educated in the Excercise of Chivalry by which means the Boyds became to darken all others in the State nothing being done without them the Kenedies who had been the Kings best Friends seeing things go thus left the Court after which the Glory of the Court and Country suffered a great Eclipse The Lord Boyde to be yet higher gets the sole Government setled upon himself which laid the Foundation of his ruine and not satisfied with this he obtains his Son to be Married to the Kings eldest Sister this highly displeased the rest of the Nobility that his ambition should be so boundless which gave matter to his former Enemies to work upon all oppression and violence is winked at on purpose at last they procure Complaints from all parts of the Kingdom against the Boyds which made the Kings affection begin to turn away from them A. D. 1468. A match being proposed and agreed upon between the King and Margaret Daughter to the King of Denmark the Boyds Enemies procures the Earl of Arran who had Married the Kings Sister to be
Noble and Wise Prince in the thirteenth year of his Reign He was buried in the Charter-house of Perth which he himself had founded 103. The three Estates of the Kingdom set the Crown upon the Head of James the second at Holy-rood-house while yet a Child in the sixth year of his Age A. D. 1437. The Government is intrusted to Alexander Levingston of Calander and the Custody of the Kings Person to Sir William Crichtoun Whereupon Archibald Earl of Douglass grudging that these Honours had been conferred upon Men far below himself retired home and gave Orders that none of his Vassals should acknowledge the present Government also he used all means to weaken the hands of the Chancellor and Governour sowing by his Instruments the Seeds of Division between them which accordingly answered Expectation they begin to cross and Counter-act one another which made them at length that neither of them was obeyed the Country having usurped a Licencious Liberty doing what he thought best The Queen seeing things thus mis-managed betwixt them and finding that the Chancellor was mostly to blame she at last resolves to change the Game of State To effect her design she came to Edenburgh and with fair Speeches prevailed with the Chancellor to let her enter the Castle and delight her self some days in the Company of her Son after some days staying where having fixed every thing for her purpose she puts the King into a Trunck as if he had been some Fardel of her Apparel and conveys him by water to Sterling presently after Proclamations are made against the Chancellor and he Commanded to render the Castle which he refusing to do he is presently besieged But the two Rulers being better advised considering that Douglass waited to see them undo one another come to an agreement Much about this time the Queen Dowager married James Stewart's Son to the Lord of Lorn the Governour fearing what might follow upon the Novation committed them both to the Castle of Sterling then the Queen began to repent her of her former Courtesies to the Governour resolving once more to Face about which the Chancellor observing lays hold upon the Opportunity and strikes in with her presently they contrived how to take the Prince out of the Governours hands which they after effected thus the King being one Morning hunting in the Park the Governour being at Perth the Chancellor coming to him by the Queens assistance prevails with him to go to Edenburgh and take the Government upon himself which when the Governour hears of he very calmly came to Edenburgh where the Chancellor and he becometh Friends The great Confusions that were in the Country did necessitate the the calling of a Parliament where many grievous Complaints were brought against several Oppressors and among the rest William Earl of Douglass Son to Archibald was represented as the Source whence the Miseries of the Country sprang The Parliament resolve to proceed against him by way of Rigour but the Governor and the Chancellor advise them rather to write a fair Letter to him and invite him by fair means to come in and submit which was accordingly done and wrought so effectually upon him that he resolves presently to obey hoping thereby to get himself set up He upon his arrival was together with his Brother David and Sir Malcolm Flyming of Cummerald with great Ceremony conducted by the Governour to the Castle of Edenburgh where the King was at this Table he was set to Dine this so elevated his Heart that he Blessed himself with the Expectation of other Favours But amidst these Entertainments behold the Instability of Fortune near the end of the Banquet the Head of a Bull which was the sign of present Death in those days is set down before him At which sudden Spectacle he leapt from the Table all agast but he is presently seized upon by armed Men who led him to the outer Court of the Castle and notwithstanding the Tears and Crys of the young King that they might spare his Life he together with his Brother and Flyming had their Heads cut off This Act left Grief and Terror in the Hearts of the People who ever after hated the Actors of the Tragedy The Kings Nonage being now near expired he takes the Government upon himself and finding the two Rulers being so long settled in the Government not to be Ambitious and Head-strong he resolves to entertain another Faction more powerful than they So setting his thoughts upon William Earl of Douglass Son to the Baron of Abercon him he received into Favour This sudden change of Court moved the two Rulers to withdraw after which they were both removed from their Offices and at last summoned before the King to answer such things as they should be Legally accused of They finding that there was a design upon them did not appear Whereupon they were both forfeited This produced great Confusion in the State all being divided into Factions and Parties Whereupon followed much Effusion of Blood especially between the Layndsays and the Ogletives Douglass to keep himself high did much abett these Broils making his own use of them yet not long after the Chancellor notwithstanding Douglass's power and Policy is restored to his Fortune and Dignity The King being setled upon the Throne married Mary Daughter to the Duke of Gnilders soon after the Peace with England expired and the Borders of both Kingdoms break and mutually invade each other which issued in a Truce for seven yeers But this Truce stood not long both Nations being equally inclined to break it Whereupon after several Incursions on both sides at last they came to a Battel The Scots were Commanded by the Earl of Ormond the English by the Earl of Northumberland Magnus Red-beard a man trained from his Youth in the Wars of France who is said to have required no more for his Service to the Crown of England then that by his own Valour he must Conquer of Scotland Here it is valiantly fought for a long time with doubtful Victory till at length Magnus being killed it inclined to the Scots the loss of the English was great many brave Men being killed and taken Prisoners upon their side but the Scots lost few of any Note except Cragy Wallace This Battel brought on a Truce for three years This Victory no sooner was obtained and thereby Peace abroad but presently they fall out at home this Douglass being always the first mover of strife But now finding himself over-powered by Adversaries both at Court and in the Country he leaveth the Kingdom and goeth to Rome he was not long gone but by the means of his Enemies he is cited to appear before the Council upon several days together with his Brother and Vassals to answer such things as should be objected against them and upon not appearing are all denounced Rebels the Earl of Douglass hearing of this unexpected News at Rome takes a Journey and comes to the Borders of Scotland whence he sent
like number from France these two Armies grievously infested the Country The next Year the Queen was at Six years of Age Transported by the West Seas into France escaping the English Fleet that watched for her about Calice and soon after Married to the Daulphine However the Reformation goes on notwithstanding the Queen-Mother who is now stiled Queen-Regent her opposition She was Assisted in her Designs by the French as the Reformers were also by the English but her Death put a stop to the Persecution which gave the Protestants opportunity of putting things in order relating to the Worship of God Great Preparations were making in France for invading of Scotland and root out the Reformed Religion This terrified the Reformers mightily but while they were in a Consternation not knowing what to do the King of France Dyed and their Queen remained a Widdow this was a great Deliverance to them for by his Death the intended Invasion came to nothing Soon after the Queen comes Home and sets up Mass in her Chappel which the Reformers opposed This bred much confusion in the State but the Queen finding that the Body of the People with most part of the Nobility were against her Way she became a little more calm condescending that some Maintenance might be settled upon the Ministers About this time the Earl of Huntly breaks out in a Rebellion in the North to oppose which the Queen went her self in Person and Routed him near Aberdeen his Sons and many of his Friends being Slain himself also Dying in the place without any Wound The Easter following Mass began to be very publick at Edinburgh which so incensed the Lords and others That they Imprisoned several Priests The Queen began to Storm at this but they told her That what they did was according to Law and they would Justify it in Parliament In July 1564. The Earl of Lenox with his Son Henry Stewart Lord Darly return from England and were very graciously received by the Queen who took such Affection to Darly that she Posts away Lethington to Queen Elizabeth shewing her That she meant to Marry him Queen Elizabeth pretending her disliking of such Contracts of Princes with Subjects labours to diswade her from it but under-hand promotes it for her own ends The Queen with some difficulty gets her intended Marriage ratified in Parliament which was afterward Proclaimed by name Henry and Mary King and Queen of Scotland and Solemnized the Twenty-Seventh of July 1565. This procures great Alterations in the State for several Lords and Gentlemen of the Reformation being Summoned to Appear before the King and Queen and upon Non-appearance were declared Rebels Whereupon the King and Queen presently take Armes the Lords with their Intention fled into England where they stayed a while under Queen Elizabeth's Protection who afterward dismissed them writing to the King and Queen in their Favours at length they came to an Agreement which yet continued not long For the King beginning to be jealous of the daily resort of French-men to Court and of their great Favor with the Queen caused one of them called Rizio who from a Musitian was advanced to be the Queen's Secretary for French to be seized in her Chamber and presently put to Death and finding that this Action brought him under the odium of the Papists he made a shew of turning Protestant calling home several of the Banished Lords and others But however from that day he began to be despised by the Queen and Bothwel is advanced The Nineteenth of June 1566. The Queen at Edinburg was Delivered of a Son to the great Joy of all the Kingdom he was Baptized at Sterlin December the Seventeenth and called James the Witnesses were the Earl of Bedford for Queen Elizabeth who in her Name presented a Font of pure Gold valued at Three Thousand Crowns the Count de Briance for the French King and an Ambassador for the Duke of Savoy The King finding himself daily slighted by the Queen repaired to his Father at Glasgow where by the way he was taken very Ill with a Pain in his Stomack when he came to Glasgow his Body breaks out in blewish Blisters which when the Physitians saw they knew him to have been Poisoned but with their Antidotes and his own vigorous Youth he Recovered Not long after the Queen Visited him at Glasgow and prevailed with him to come to Edinburg he Lodged in the Kirk-Field for his Health as was pretended But many suspected that the Earl of Bothwel had a Design upon him but few durst adventure to tell him of it Yet the Earl of Orkney told him That if he retired not hastily out of that Place it would cost him his Life this Advertisement moved the Earl of Bothwel to hasten forward his Enterprize laying a Train of Powder under the House where the King lay which in the Night time did Blow it up but it was said That the King was taken forth and brought Alive to a Stable where a Napkin was stopped in his Mouth and he therewith Suffocated Presently after Bothwel obtains a Divorce from the Pope to free him of his Wife and was Married to the Queen May the Fifteenth 1567. Whereupon the Lords take Armes the Queen and Bothwel being at Dumbar resolving to call him to an Account for what was past the Queen also and he sent to their Friends to come to their Defence the two Armies Faces each other at Seaton Then Bothwel steps out upon Horse-back between the Armies offering to Fight with any that durst Charge him with that foul Aspersion of Murdering the King James Murray offers the Combat but he is refused as not equal in Honour then his Brother the Laird of Tully-Bardine Accepts the Challenge him he refuseth because he was not a Noble-man then the Lord Lyndsay presents himself telling him That he was his Equal every way but the Queen recalled Bothwel and would not suffer them to Fight In fine the Queen finding the Confederates resolute and their Number exceeding her own she desires Bothwel to shift for himself for that she would put her self in their Hands which accordingly she did and was by them conveyed to Edinburgh and after to the Castle of Lochlevine The Queen of England sends her Ambassador to the Lords desiring That the Queen might have her full Liberty and that the Prince might be sent to England to be Educated At length Matters were wrought to that point that she must of necessity resign the Crown to her Son 108. This young Prince was Crowned at Sterline the Twenty-fourth of July Anno Dom. 1567. at thirteen Months and eight days old The Earls of Morteun and Hume taking the Coronation Oath for him Master Knox also Preached the Coronation Sermon The Earl of Murray is within a Month after created Regent he presently Summons a Parliament wherein divers are Executed as having Accession to the late Kings Murder which occasioned many Factions in the State and much hatred to the Regent In
fresh supplies where there was need of them so over powered the Kings Forces that they were forced at last to give ground after twice Rallying to retreat to the City His Majesty seeing that all was lost was forced to Retreat to the City by the same Gate he came out at having left the Duke of Hamilton Sir John Douglass Sir Alexander Forbes with many other Valiant Gentlemen behind him His Majesty was exceedingly troubled for the loss of Duke Hamilton for that he did see him behave himself so Valiantly and Fighting so desperately even when he was incompassed with the Enemies Horse and Foot It being impossible for His Majesty to keep the City long the whole Nation almost being in Armes against him he resolves to retire Accordingly with some few Attendants he marched out at twelve a Clock at Night and thinking their Number might discover them ordered every Man to shift for himself Only with three or four in his Company he came to a place called Boscobel where he disrobed himself and for want of Scissers had his Hair cut off with a Knife and so with the company of one Careless who brought him Provision he betook himself to a Wood where he lodged in that Famous Royal-Oak The Soldiers hunting about for him and a Thousand Pounds promised to any that would take Him either Dead or Alive Soon after His Majesty rode from Bently to Bristol before Mistress Lane she having a Pass for her self and her Servants whence He returned and absconded a while in Sommersetshire Wiltshire and Hampshire and at last came to Briggemstone in Sussex where He took Shipping about the end of October 1651. and was Safely wafted over to a Creek in Normandie whence he went to Diep and there provided himself of such Necessaries as served him until He came to his Mother who was at the French Court. Cromwel hearing of Iretons Success in Ireland and of Lieutenant General Monks Success in Scotland makes a Motion That for the Security of the Common-Wealth as it was then called the Parliament should be turned out as a parcel of Drunkards Whore-Masters and Oppressors which was accordingly done and then a new Convention is called July 1653. where the Government is put upon Oliver's Shoulders by an Instrument delivered to him by their Speaker Mr. Rouse In this Year and the next were Five Bloody Engagements at Sea between the English and the Dutch the English for the most part having the Victory In the Year 1656. Cromwel calls another Parliament which he had so far secured for his Interest that they invite him to take the Imperial Crown of this Realm which he as a cunning Fox knowing that this step of his Advancement would hasten his Ruine with pretented modesty declined contenting himself with being Lord-Protector which he was made three Years before Then they Petitioned him to accept of Three-Hundred Thousand Pounds a Year for his Support to have a New House of Lords to name his own Successor All which with much ado he accepted of But when Fortune had set him so High that all the World that heard of it were Astonished Behold in the midst of his Triumph he is snatched away by Death upon September the Third 1658. He lay in State at White-Hall about six Weeks and then was in great Splendor Interred in Westminster Abby among the Princes of the Royal Blood His Son Richard was presently Installed in his Place wherein he had hardly time to look about when Fleetwood and Lambert with the rest of the Army thrust him out calling the Long-Parliament again this Revolution was followed by another for soon after several Gentlemen in Cheshire under the conduct of Sir George Booth rose for the Defence of their Priviledges but were defeated by Lambert he immediately after turned out the Long-Parliament and erected a Committee of Safety His Majesties Friends looked on with some Hope all this while seeing all these Metamorphosing of Government might tend to the opening a Door for His Majesties entring General Monk hearing in Scotland how matters went in England drew his Army towards the Borders Against him Lambert marched as far as New-Castle resolving to Fight him but his men had no heart to the Work which forced him to give way In the mean time the remainder of the Long-Parliament had again Convened with some difficulty and Dissolved the Committee of Safety inviting General Monk to march with his Army to London which he accordingly did and to requite their kindness gets them Dissolved In the Year 1660. Another Parliament was called at Westminster where by unanimous Consent His Majesty was invited Home and accordingly the Twenty-ninth of May following His Majesty accompanied with the Dukes of York and Glocester and attended with a Gallant Train of Lords and Gentlemen Arrived at Dover whence He was conducted through London in great State to White-Hall where by a Lineal Legal Succession He possesses the Imperial Crown of Scotland for almost Two Thousand Years So that for Royal Extraction and Long Line of Just Descent His Majesty may Reckon with any Monarch in the Christian World AN APPENDIX To the Present STATE of SCOTLAND SECT I. Of its Climate Dimension Division Air Soil Commodities SCotland is one of the Two Kingdomes that divides the great Island of Brittain being bounded on the East by the German Ocean on the North by the Dewcalledon Sea on the West by the Irish Sea And divides it self from England by the Rivers Tweed and Solway and the Cheviot Hills Clim Edinburgh is Scituated between the Degrees of Latitude 56 d. 2 minutes of Longitude 3 d. 0 min. from London West Longest Day 17 hours 27 min. Aberdeen 57 d. 10. min. of Latitude 2. d. 20. min. Longitude the most Northernly parts of Scotland is Dunsby-head whose Latitude is 58 d. 5 min. Dimensions It s Length is about 480. Miles its breadth is very disproportionable there being no place in it that is above 70. Miles distant from the Sea Division The Country is divided according to its Inhabitants into Highland and Low-land The Highlanders live in the North and West Parts or in some out Islands being a bold and hardy People much given to Warlike Exercises being alwayes in readiness when ever Commanded by their Cheif Their Weapons were commonly Bows and Arrows but not so much used now as formerly they are a People that can endure as much hardships of War as any People in the World The Lowlanders bordering upon the East and South are as civil as any other People their Language much like the English differing only in the Accent Air. The Air is very wholsome the cold in Winter towards the North is very sharp but there being great plenty of Firing the Inhabitants do not suffer by it The heat is less scorching in Summer than in some other parts of the Continent The Soil is pleasant and healthful abounding with Springs and Rivers towards the North it is Mountainous yet not wanting fruitful Valleys apt to
bear any Grain Commodities The Country every where affordeth plenty of Sheep Oxen Coneys and fallow Deer as also abundance of Geese Ducks Hens Turkies Pigeons Partridges Sea-Plover Herons Quailes and Larks c. with great plenty of Fish such as Salmonds Pikes Carps and Trouts also Herrings Oysters Cockles Mussels Turpots and Lobsters Fruits As Apples Pears Plums Cherries Peaches and Apricocks Corn Barly Rie Beans Pease and Oats Also it produceth a great quantity of Tin Lead Copper Allom Salt Hops with several Silver-Mines It is accounted Richer under ground than above by reason of their Mines which when tryed yeild much in their quantities of Ore SECT II. Of the Laws of Scotland THey are made of the Municipal and Civil Laws the Municipal consists either of Acts of Parliament or of the Customes and Practices of the Colledge of Justice and when neither of these contradict the Civil Law is of force All the Rights and Evidences of the Subject are committed to Registers by which means men are sure not to be cheated in buying or conveying Estates For first no man can have a right to an Estate but by his being seised of it which is done by delivering Earth and Stone upon which an Instrument is made called a Seising and this within sixty dayes after must be Registred else it is of no force by which means all secret Conveyances are cut off Next all Bonds have a Clause in them for inserting them in the publick Registers and they being Registred without any further Action upon a charge of six dayes the Debtor must make payment A Third Instance is that any Creditor may serve a Writ on his Debtor called Letters of Inhibitione by which he can make no disposition of his Goods or Estate till the Party be satisfied if these Letters be returned Registred within twenty-one days after they are served otherwise they have no force Many such Instances may be produced by which it appears how securely the Subject may enjoy that he hath or may purchase SECT III. Of the Cheif Officers of State of the Parliament of the Privy Council of the Colledge of Justice of the Justice Court and of the Exchequer THe King administers the Government of the Kingdom by his Officers of State who are Eight in number The first is the Lord Chancellour who is Keeper of the Great Seal and President of all Courts except the Exchequer This Office is in the Person of John Earl of Perth The second is the Lord Treasurer who manages the Revenue and presides in the Exchequer who is at present the Marquess of Queensbury The third is the Lord Privy Seal which Office the Marquess of Athole enjoyes The fourth is the Lord Secretary who is at present Alexander Earl of Murray The fifth Officer is the Lord Clerk of the Registers who has the charge of all the publick Records this Office is executed by Sir George Mikenzie of Tarbet The sixth is the Kings Advocate he is commonly a Judge except in cases where the King is concerned and then he pleads for the King The present Lord Advocate is Sir George Mikenzie of Rosehaugh The seventh Office is the Lord Treasurer Deputy which Office was Executed by Sir Charles Maitland of Hattoun now Earl of Lauderdale The eighth is the Lord Justice Clerk who assists the Lord Justice General in criminal Causes The present Justice Clerk is Richard Maitland Esquire Par. The Parliament is made up of three Estates The first is Ecclesiastical consisting of Arch-Bishops and Bishops The second Estate is The Nobility and Barons The third is The Burroughs Upon the first day of each Parliament there are such solemnities and magnificent Shews as is not observed in any Kingdom upon such occasions For all the members of Parliament according to their degree Riding as it were in Procession from the Kings Palace to the Parliament House The Commissioner Riding last The Crown the Sword and the Scepter with the rest of the Honours being carryed before him they return in the same order back again to the Palace Sometimes the King makes use of a Convention of Estates which can make no Laws only by this meeting impositions are laid upon the Subjects The Parliament being the supream Court it is not impertinent to give a List of the Nobility with their Precedency and Surnames which is as follows Dukes His Royal Highness the Duke of Albany   Surnames The Dukes of Hamilton Hamilton Buccleauch Scot. Lenox Lenox  Marquesses Surnames The Marquess of Huntley Gordone Douglas Douglas Montross Graham Athol Murray Queensbury Douglass  Earls Surnames The Earls of Crawford Lindsey Errol Hay Marishall Keith Southerland Southerland Marr Ereskine Airth Grahame Morton Douglass Buchan Ereskine Glencairn Cunninghame Eglinton Montgomery Casstles Kennedy Murray Stewart Caithness Sinclare Nithifdale Maxwell Wintoune Seatoune Linlithgow Livingstone Hume Hume Pearth Drummond Dumfermling Seatoune Wigtoun Fleming Strathmore Lyon Abercorn Hamilton Roxborough Ker. Kelly Ereiskine Haddingtoun Hamilton Galloway Stewart Seaforth Mac. Kenzy Lowthian Ker. Kinnoule Hay Loudon Campbell Dumfriess Creighton Sterling Alexander Elgine Bruce Southesk Carnaigy Traquair Stewart Ancram Ker. Weimes Weimes Dalhousy Ramsey Airly Ogilvy Callender Levingstone Carnwath Dalziel Finlator Ogilvy Levin Lesley Annandale Johnstone Dysert Murray Panmuire Mauld Tweddale Hay Northesk Carnaigy Kinkardin Bruce Forfar Douglass Balcarres Lindsay Middleton Middleton Aboyne Gordone Tarras Scot. Newburgh Levingstone Kilmarnock Boyd Dundonald Cochraine Dumbarton Douglass Kintore Keith Broad Albyne Campbell Aberdeen Gordone  Viscounts Surnames The Viscounts of Faulkland Carey Dumbarr Constable Stormont Murray Kenmure Gordone Arbuthnet Arbuthnet Frendaret Creightone Kingstone Seatoune Oxenford Macgill Kilsyth Levingstone Irwing Campbell Dumbiane Osborne Preston Grahame Newhaven Sheene  Lords Surnames The Lords of Forbes Forbes Saltone Frazier Gray Gray Ochiltry Stewart Cathcart Cathcart Sinclare Sinclare Mordington Douglass Semple Semple Elphingstone Elphingstone Oliphant Oliphant Lovat Frazier Borthwick Borthwick Rosse Rosse Torphighen Sandilands Spyne Lindsey Lindoris Lesley Balmerinoch Elphingstone Blantyre Stewart Cardrosse Ereskine Burghly Balfour Maderty Drummond Cranstone Cranstone Melvil Melvil Neaper Neaper Cameron Fairfax Cramond Richardson Rae Macky Forrester Bailzy Petslâ—go Kirkudbright Mac-cleland Frazier Frazier Bargany Hamilton Bamf Ogilvy Elibank Murray Dunkeld Galloway Halcarton Falconer Belhaven Hamilton Abercromby Sandilands Carmichael Carmichael Rollo Rollo Colvil Colvil Duffus Southerland Ruthven Ruthven Mack-Donald Mack-donald Rutherford Rutherford Balanden Balanden Newark Lesly Burntisland Weimes Strathard Nairne His Majesties Privy Council is chiefly imployed about Publick Affairs the Power of it hath been mostly raised since King James came to the Crown of England by reason of which being necessitated to be absent from Scotland himself he lodged much of his power in the Lords of His Privy Council we cannot by reason of the late alterations give an exact List of the present Lords of the Council Wherefore we shall forbear The Supream Court of Judicature about the property of the Subject is called the Colledge of Justice It consists of fourteen Judges who
sent to bring home the Queen he was no sooner gone then his Interest at Court began to fall for a Parliament being called the Lord Boyd and his Brother Sir Alexander are summoned to appear thereupon he distrusting this Case fled to England but his Brother was taken and Arraigned the Earl of Arran also though absent is declared a Rebel The Queen arriving with her fleet arriving in the Ferth My Lady Arran went aboard in disguise and informed her Husband of the calamity of his House perswaded him to do for himself whereupon he hoisted Sails and returned with his Lady to Denmark The King sendeth Letters full of promises and threatnings to move his sister to return to Scotland which when she did she was constrained to be divorced from her Husband and to Marry James Lord Hamilton not long after the Earl of Arran dyed in great misery at Antwerp Queen Margaret the third year after her Marriage brought forth a Son who was named James the King of Denmark to Congratulate the happy delivery of his Daughter released all his claims to the Isles of Orkney and Sherland but in the midst of this calm a cloud begins to overcast the Kings Splendor for his Brothers being Princes of unquiet and restless spirits they set themselves altogether to study Novelties and to bring him into contempt with his Subjects to this end they had drawn away many of the young Nobility and Gentry to follow them The King was Naturally Superstitious giving much head to divinations which gave also his Brothers occasion to vilifie him and incense his people against him yea the Earl of Marre became so Insolent that in the Kings own presence he began to raile against the Government of the state and Court which the King highly resenting caused to Imprison him where he fell in a high Fever whereof he dyed The Duke of Albany imputed the death of his Brother to the Court party but while he was keeping his Cabals in order to an Insurrection he was surprised and Imprisoned in the Castle of Edenburgh out of which he soon after made his escape to France thence he came to England and began to tamper with King Edward revealing to him the weakness of the Kingdom of Scotland and how easily it might be subdued the Nobility not respecting the King but much affecting a change in the Government which by his assistance might easily be effected he promised also to settle a corespondence with the Nobles of Scotland which he did then that they might get their design wrought gives way for the breaking loose of the Borders fierce incursions are made by the English upon Scotland and by the Scots upon the English and the discontented Nobility blame the King for all thereupon pretending the necessity of the times and the danger the Kingdom was in they entered into a Bond of association after which they enter the Kings bed chamber where they seized some of his Servants in his presence and put them to death as incendiaries in the state About this time the Duke of Gloucester set forward toward Scotland with two and twenty thousand men finding Berwick two strong for him he marches directly to Edenburgh there by publick writings at the Market places he gave out high demands all which King James being shut up in Edenburgh Castle answered with silence the disatisfied Lords having obtained what they chiefly aimed at wished the English at home again therefore they desire a peace with them which the Duke of Gloucester granted upon condition that all his demands were satisfied one of which was to reinstall the Duke of Albany which after much debate was granted and he with his Army returned home The Duke of Albany having recovered his Estate and Honours his first work was to restore the King to his Prerogatives reconciling him to his discontented Lords but he himself stood not long in his favour for by the advice of some of his Enemies about the King a Plot is resolved upon to bring the Duke within compass of Law which he being aware of fled to England to present to King Edward and the Duke of Gloucester his grievancies in his absence he is convinced of many points of Treason whereupon he and the Lord Crightton his Associate are both forfeited which when he heard he presently caused to give up the Castle of Dunbar whereof he was Lieutenant to King Edward who immediately put a Garison in it Not long after the said King Edward dyed and his Brother Richard Duke of Gloucester Succeeded The Duke of Albany obtains five hundred Horse from King Richard with which he came with the old Earl of Douglass to Lochmabban to surprise a Fair which was held there whereupon the Laird of Johnston who was warden dispatched Posts about for supply of men with which he Encountred the Duke here it is most Couragously fought on both sides but at last the English are quite routed the Duke hardly by swiftness of his Horse escaped but the Earl of Dowglass is taken and brought in Triumph to Edenburgh where the King adjudged him to perpetual confinement soon after followed a Truce with England for three years but before the time was expired Henry Earl of Richmond came with some Companies out of France of which that Famous warriour Bernard Stewart Lord Albany Brother to the Lord Darnly had the leading which by the resort of his Country men turned into an Army and Rencountred Richard at Bosworth where he was killed and Henry Proclaimed King of England King James taking advantage of this change besieged Dunbar which was soon surrendred upon Articles After this King Henry sent Embassadors to King James to agree if possible upon a lasting and firm Peace between the two Crowns at length after some difficulty they agree upon a Truce for seven years The King having settled a Peace with England betakes himself to the Exercise of Religion having founded a Colledge for divine Service in the Castle of Sterling he endeavoured to annex the Priory of Goldingham to it The Priors of this Convent having for many years been of the Name of Humealedged that they were wronged of their Right First they began to Petition but finding this uneffectual they began to associate with their Neighbours giving it out that the King was a meer Tyrant not to be trusted by which means many of the Hearts of the Subjects were alienated from the King The King understanding how things stood he made choice of a Guard to defend his Person resolving to live beyond the River Ferth of which when the Lords of the Insurrection were certified they surprize the Castle Dunbar and tumultuously over-run the Countries besouth the Ferth Thus coming to Lithgow they resolved to make the Duke of Rothesay the Kings own Son their Head whom having corrupted his Keepers with Bribes they constrained to go with them But the King loosing neither Courage nor Councel passeth the Ferth near Blackness with his Forces before his arrival at this place