the Process did depend it being a safer way in Judgement to absolve the guilty than condemn the innocent But the most part gave her over to the Assizers the better part of which being in voices fewer the greater who neither respecting conscience within them nor shame with the present age and posterity nor the supreme justice of Heaven find this poor Lady guilty and she is condemned to be burnt alive Her sentence was executed the fifth day after the beheading of the Master of Forbess on the Castle hill of Edenburgh in sight of her Husband who either out of Revenge or Fear after this tragical end of his Lady seeking to save himself by escape out of the Prison whilst he came over the Wall by the shortness of the Cable was dashed against the Rock and found dead Though the tender years of the Lord Glammes her son proved his innocency he remained prisoner in the Castle till after the Kings death The old Priest when after torture nothing could be proved against was set at liberty William Lyon the author of this calumny was banished the Countrey which justifyed the Ladies integrity and verifyed than however Princes love to find out Treason they hate the Informers except upon cleer grounds Upon the like suspitions Droomlenrigge and Hemps-Field antient Barons having challenged others had leave to try the verity by Combate the lists were designed by the King who was a Spectator and Umpire of their Valour at the Court of of the Pallace of Holy-rood-house They appeared upon the day armed from head to foot like antient Palladines and after many enterchanged blows to the disadvantage of their Casks Corslets and Vantbraces when the one was become breathless by the weight of his arms and thunder of his blowes and the other who was short sighted had broken his ponderous Sword the King by Heraulds caused separate them with disadvantage to neither of these Champions and the verity which was found was that they dared both fight in close Arms. The Abbot of Arbroth and the Lord Maxwell by many enterchanged letters full of Princely love had assured the King and the Lady Mary of Lorrain and articles being agreed upon to the great content of the French they were espoused by Proctors as is the costome amongst Princes with great triumph in the City of Paris in the presence of the French King and many Peers after which solemnity Monsieur d' Annabault Admiral of France accompanied herto New-haven in the beginning of the Moneth of Iune1538 where she embarqued and with many French Ships when she had been tost on the Seas came to Fysses-ness where at Cayrel she was attended by the Noblemen and the King who consumated the mariage in the Cathedral Church of St. Andrews in Iuly Nothing more linketh the affections of the marryed than children the first year the Queen answereth her husbands hopes and in S. Andrews was delivered of a Son who was named Iames the Arch-bishop of St. Andrews and Earl of Arran being his God-Fathers and the Queen the Kingâ— Mother his Godmother 1539. in Febr. thereafter she was crowned Queen of Scotland in the Abby Church of Holy-rood-house by the Abbot of Arbroth at which time Margarite the old Queen falling sick at Methven in few daies departed and was buryed in the Chaâ—terhouse of St. Iohnstoun near the Tomb of King Iames the first The King her Son with all the Nobility and Gentry being present at her funerals which were celebrated in most solemn and pompous manner Not long after Iames Beatoun Arch-bishop a man of great age followed this Lady to the other World he had provided Successors to his Benefices and his Arch-bishops See to David Beatoun afterwards Cardinal whom the King accepted and admitted without contestation The kingdom now began to be divided in opinions of Religion they which held the helm of State labouring in vain â—o reconcile them the King was sore perplexed and uncertain what course to follow suppress them he could not to give way to them without shaking the strongest beams of the policy of his Kingdom seem'd unto him impossible his privy Counsellours being more of his antient Servants than Nobles or Church men of which many were piping through these flecked clouds of ignorance as they favored gave their opinions some one way some another and a freedome of speech being given one of them as they were in his chamber together spake to him to this purpose Sir amongst the many blessings your Subjects enjoy under this your Government this is not the least that for the Weal of your Majesty and the publick good of the Kingdome the meanest of your Subjects may freely open his mind and declare his opinion unto you his Soveraign And if ever there was a time in which grave good and sound couâ—sel should be delivered to your Majesty it is this and the difficulties of the Common-wealth do now require it Nor ever in matters of advice and consultation can we embrace and follow what is most reasonable and what according to Laws Iustice and Equity should be but what necessity driveth us unto and what is most convenient for the present time to be and what we may well and fairly accomplish and bring to pass The Estate of your Kingdome is troubled with diversity of opinions concerning Religion It is to be wished that the one onely true Religion were in the hearts of all your Subjects since diversity of opinions of Religion and heresâ—es are the very punishment of God Almighty upon men for their horrible vices and roaring sins And when Men forsake his fear and true obedience God abandoneth them to their own opinions and fantasies in Religion out of which arise Partialities Factions Divisions Strife intestine Discords which burst forth into civil war and in short time bring Kingdoms and Common-wealths to their last periods But matters arising to such a height and disorder as by all appearance they are like to advance in this Kingdom the number of the Sectaries dayly increasing without dissembling my thoughts to your Majesty The preservation of the People being the Supream and principal law which God Almighty hath enjoyned to all Princes I hold it more expedient to give place to the exercise of both religions than under pretence and shadow of them to suffer the common Peace of your Subjects to be torn in pieces What can wisdom Sir advise you to do with these Separatists Either they must be tolerated for a time or they must altogether be removed and that by death or banishment So soon as a Prince beginneth to spoil banâ—sh kill burn his people for matters abstract from sense and altogether spiritual he becometh as it were a Plague unto them It is an Errour of State in a Prince for an opinion of Piety to condemn to death the adherers to new doctrine For the constancy and patience of those who voluntarily suffer all temporall miseries and death it self for matters of faith stirr up and invite numbers who at
lawfull Council and forsake their errors when they shall be clearly and fairly demonstrated unto them Heresie is an errour in the fundamental grounds of Religion Schism intendeth a resolution in Separation Let a good Council be convocated and see if they be ready or not to râ—unite themselves to us That which they believe is not evil but to some it will appear they believe not enough and that there is in them rather a defect of good than any habit of evil Other points when they shall be consider'd shall be found to consist in external ceremonies of the Church rather than in substance of doctrine or what is essential to Christianity These men should be judg'd before condemn'd and they should be heard before they be judg'd which being holily and uprightly don we shall â—ind it is not our religions but our private intrests and passions which troubleth us and the State The King followed not this opinion but gave himself over to the counsel and Government of the Prelates They remonstrate to him that he should not rashly alter approv'd and long received customes that there was nothing more dangerous in Government than to abase the authority of antient Laws Let him well consider and set before his eyes the malice of Man who ever when he is drawn off one course of evil precipitateth himself in a worse It was less evil in State to tolerate disorders known unto which usual and accustomed remedies might be applyed than by altering and changing foundations to give way to new to find out Remedies to which would take and consume a whole age That this would be a way not only to take away the abuses but even the good uses of every thing and put in hazard all matters and main points concerning Religion They desired him to consider how there were two sorts of persons affecting these new opinions and studying Novations The multitude or common people and some of the Nobility and Gentry It was likely the common people might be deceiv'd and to give them satisfaction and appease them by granting them a Reformation or change in religion would not be a means to illuminate and instruct them but to bring in a popular licence If he should suffer them to misbelieve distrust call in question points of Religioâ— or search or find out more light they would immediately thereafter presume to make Laws and limit the Government by degrees restraining the Soveraign authority and after they had examined sifted narrowly and discust Ecclesiastical authority they would essay to correct and find the difficulties of the Temporall That it was more easie to oppose and resist the first demands of the multitude than pleasing them in a part after bound and limit their desires and petitions As to the great Men of his Nobility and Gentry he might be assured they had not Religion and piety for their ends but to impatronize and lay hold on the Church Rents and Ecclesiastical goods To turn absolute and free men acknowledging neither Church nor King To this end many reserved themselves and kept close their opinions attending the change which once appearing their faces would turn all one way Which imminent evils if the King would prevent there was no other means than to use his authority and power whilst the most and greatest part of his Kingdom yet obey'd him That celerity in this was most necessary before their number increas'd and erâ— they discover'd that universal commodity which would follow the imbracing of these new opinions It was safer to compose these Tumults by his absolute command and authority and if this produced not the wished effect to perform it by arms than to give reins to a popular licence and the ambition of great Men. After this counsel had prevailed most rigorous inquisitions are established and punishments denounced against all who professed opinions differing to the Church of Rome Whereupon some out of a muffled zeal of Religion others to revenge their particular quarrels most to possesse moveables and lands pursue many to judgment Of which some are executed by fire others banished many imprisoned amongst which was the famous Poet and Historian George Buchanan who whilst his Keepers slept escaped by a Window of the Prison the Muses holding the Cable the more frequent the publick executions were and banishments the greater number embraced the opinions of them which suffered The King of England having understood that the Pope giving out the confirming of a Peace between the Emperour and the French King had a meeting with them at Nice a maritime Town upon the confines of Provence and assuring himself that matters there would be both consulted upon and determined to his prejudice sendeth again to his Nephew the King of Scotland that he would come and see him at York for now he had more vehemently irritated the Pope having condemned as Rebels and confiscated the goods of all who maintained Papal authority and raised from their Tomb the Bones of Thomas Becket commonly named Saint Thomas of Canterbury canoniz'd by Pope Alexander the third for being kill'd for the maintenance of the liberties of the Church 1171. to whom there was yearly a Festival Day kept by the Roman Church and by the hands of a common Executioner caused burn in ashes and throw them in the River The revealing of which to the world was a secret more derogatory to the Pontificial State than any stumbled upon heretofore or opened up Upon this the Sentence of Ex-communication some years deferred was pronounced against him By which he was deprived of his Kingdom and those who adhered to him declared uncapable of what they possessed His Subjects were dispensed from their Oath of Allegiance and discharged to obey him Strangers were inhibited traffick with his Kingdom All Christians charged to arise in arms against him The Estates goods and persons of such Subjects as followed him given over to be a prey and spoil to any would invade them It was time for him to look to himself Such of the Nobility as loved peace and the Weal of the two Kingdoms stirr'd King Iames to this interview especially they who favour'd the reformed Religion assuring him King Henry was disposed with all demonstrations of good will that his person would be far from any danger And if by this conference they should join in bands of Amity a great benefit to themselves Country and posterity would redound Why would King Henry in the face of the World and Neighbour Princes brand so his Reputation as to break the Laws of Hospitality wrong a Prince whom he had invited to come and see him Why would he violate those of consanguinity attempting against his own Nephew The Emperour Charles the fifth had been his Guest and after Royal entertainment was friendly dismissed He met with Francis the French King at Bullen which meeting seemed rather of Brothers come to countenance some marriage Pomp than contending Neighbours If King Henry had born any discontent against his Nephew he might
wrought not alittle on the unquiet spirits of these young men The Duke of Albany having been taken upon the Seas by the English was honorably intertained by him and with great hopes sent home after which time King Edward and he kept alwayes private intelligence together The Duke being promoted to the keeping of the Castle of Dumbar and Town of Barwick the King of England to insinuate himself in his affection was wont to whisper unto such who loved him that if his brother kept not fair with England he would one day set him in his Place upon his Royal Throne At this time the King was served by men whom his opinion of their worth and love towards him had advanced to places and whose fortunes and estates wholly depended upon his safety and who were less apt to do him harm His counsel was likewise of men approved for their affection to him and thus secluding great men from his familiarity and affairs he gave them cause of offence His brothers long masking their ambition under discontentment stirr the male contents to complain against the Government which ordinarily falleth forth not because a people is not well governed but because great ones would govern themselves These upbraided the King with inglorious sloath and endeavour by his dishonour to increase the credit of his Brothers These spared not to speak evil of him every where and what they pleased of his Ministers and Favorits they said he neither used rule nor moderation in his proceedings that his counsel was base and of men of no great account who consulted only to humor him That a Mason swayed â—a Kingdome this was Robert Cochranne a man couragious and bold first known to the King by his valour in a single combat and after from an Architect or Surveyor of his buildings preferred to be of his counsel a silly Wretch swayd the soul of a great King and curbed it as it were interdicted or charmed to his pleasure His contributions were the rewards of Parasites to whom fortune not merit gave growth and augmentation that honors wept over such base men who had not deserved them and the stately frames of ancient houses upbraided with reproaches the slender merits of those new-up-starts who enjoyed them that he began to look downwards into every sordid way of enriching himself That his Privadoâ—s abused him in every thing but in nothing more then in making him believe what was plotting against them was against his Person and Authority and that it was not them his brothers and the Nobility sought to pull down but his Soveraignty His counsellors servants and such who loved him having long busied their wits to save their Masters reputation and that no shadow of weakness should appear to the Common people understanding by whom these rumors were first spread abroad and observing many of the Nobility and Gentry to favour the proceedings of his brothers not daring disclose themselves to the King what their suspicions made them fear would come to pass knowing him naturally superstitious an admirer and believer of Divinations suborn an aged woman one morning as he went a hunting to approach him and tell she had by Divination that he should beware of his nearest kinsemen that from them his ruine was likely to come This was no sooner told when the woman was shifted and some who were upon the Plot began to comment the Prophesie of his brothers A Professor of Physick for his skill in Divination brought from Germany and promoted to some Church-benefice about that same time told the King that in Scotland a Lyon should be devoured by his Whelps William Schevez then Archbishop of Saint Andrews by way of Astrological predictions put him in a fear of imminent dangers from his kindred though truly he had his knowledg by Geomancy and good informations upon earth by the intelligence between the Nobility and Church-men Many such like aspersions being laid upon the King the people cryed out that he had only for his fellow-companions Astrologers and Sooth-sayers whom as occasion served he preserrd to Church-benefices and Bishopricks Patrick Graham then Prisoner in Dumferling a man desolate and forgotten as if there had not been such a man in the world taking the opportunity of the rumors of the time sent a Letter to the King which contained That the misery of his imprisonment was not so greivious unto him as the sad reports which he heard of his Majestyes estate he was hardly brought to believe them but by his long detention and imprisonment he was assured his great enemy was in great credit with him That he had brought the King very low in making him jealous of his brothers by giving trust to his vain Divinations and no wonder these Arts bring forth dissentions which have their precepts from the father of lyes and discord to foment discord among brothers was reproachful to Religion and outragious to Policy to seek to know things to come by the Stars was great ignorance that Oracles leave a man in a wilderness of folly That there was no other difference betwixt Necromancy and Astrology saving that in one men run voluntarily to the Divel and in the other ignorantly Humanity attains not to the secrets above and if it did it is not wise enough to divert the wisdom of heaven which is not to be resisted but submitted unto that never any had recourse to these Arts but they had fatal ends that Almighty providence permitting that to befal them out of his justice of necessity which before the Oracle was sought was scarce contingent that he should rest upon the Almightyes Providence and then all things would succeed well with him whose favors would wast him out of the surges of uncertainties After this free opening of his minde Patrick Graham was removed out of Dumferling to the Castle of Lockâ—leven a place renowned long after by the imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scotland where in a short time he left the miseryes of this world The people now throughly deceived and incensed against their King the most audacious of the Nobility had brought his brothers on the way of taking the Government to themselves their power being able to perform what their ambition projected and the murmuring of the people seeming to applaud any Insurrections The Earle of Marr young and rash purblind in foreseeing the events of things is stirred up to begin the Tragedy some of the Nobility of his faction being present with more liberty then wisdom he broke out in meanacing and undecent speeches as that his brother did wrong to his Majesty in keeping neer him and being so familiar with such contemptible fellows as these of his Bed-chamber and Officers withal railing against the Goverment of the State and Court The King passionately resenting his words caused remove him from his presence and he persevering in his railing was committed to the Castle of Craigmillar where surmising that he was in a Prison his anger turned into a rage his rage kindled
about these times a good and vertuous Lady died 1486. and was buried at Cambu-kennel the 29. of February The overthrow and death of Richrd being known abroad King Iâ—mes taking the advantage of the time besieged the Castle of â—umbar The garrison'd Souldiers finding no reliet nor assistance from their Countrey and ascertained of the change of their Master rendered up the Fort to the hands of the Scots it was of no great importance to the English and only served to be a fair bridge of Treason for Scottish Rebels and a Cittadel of Conspiracies Henry King of England after his victory and Coronation sent Richard Fox Bishop of Excester and Sir Richard Edgecomb Embassadours to King Iames for renewing the Truce and if it were possible to agree upon a stable and lasting Peace between the Realms King Iames taking a promise of the secrecy of the Embassâ—dours that what he imparted to them should not be laid open to his Nobility told He earnestly affected a Peace with all his Neighbours but above all others with their King as much for his own valour as for the honour and interests of the two Kingdoms But he knew his people so stubborn and opposite to all his designs that if they understood his mind and resolutions they would endeavour to cross his intentions wherefore publickly he could only condescend to seven years truce a long peace being hardly obtained from men brought up in the free licence of war who disdained to be restrained within the Narrow limits of Laws Notwithstanding they should undertake for him to King Henry in the word of a Prince that this Truce before the exspiring of it should be renewed and with all solemntyes again confirmed The Embassadours respecting his good will towards their King accepted the conditions Thus was there a Truce or Peace convenanted and confirmed for seven years to come between the two Realms After so many back-blows of fortune and such canvassing the King enjoying a Peace with all his Neighbours abroad became exceeding religious the miseries of life drawing the mind to the contemplations of what shall be after it During hisresidence at Edenburgh he was wont to come in Procession from the Abby of Holy-rood-house to the Churches in the High-Town every Wednesday and Fryday By which devotion he became beloved of his People Nothing more winning their hearts than the opinion they have of the Sanctity of a person And that he did not this for the fashion nor hypocrisy the application of his wit and power to the administration of strict justice did prove for he began to suppress the insolencies of strong oppressors defend and maintain the Rights of the poor against Tyrants and abusers of their Neighbors He sitteth himself in Council dayly and disposeth affairs of most weight in his own person In the Moneth of October following the Peace with England 1487. a Parlament was called in which many acts were made against Oppressours Justices were appointed to pass thorough the whole Kingdom and see malefactors deservedly punished Acts were made that no convention of friends should be suffered for the accompanying and defence of criminal Persons But that every one attainted should appear at the most with six Proctors that if found guilty they should not be reft from Justice by strong hand Such of the Nobility who feared and consequently hated him finding how he had acquired the love of his people by his piety in the observance of Religion and his severity in executing Justice were driven unto new meditations They began to suspect he would one day free himself from these turbulent Spirits who could not suffer him to enjoy a Peace nor raign He had advanced at this time to Offices of State and Places men whose Fortunes did wholly depend upon his safety and wel-fare at which some Noblemen whose Ambition was to be in publick charge and of the Counsell pretending to that out of right which was only due unto them by favour did highly storm and look upon those others with envious eyes The King thus falling againe into his old sickness they bethought them how to renew their old remedie They were also jealous of the remembrance of the dis-service they had done him and that he would never forget old quarrells They were prepared and ready to make a Revolution of the state but had not yet found their Center to begin motion nor a ground for Rebellion All this while there was not matter enought for an insurrection nor to dispose the Peoples Hearts to a Mutinie The King delighted with his Buildings of the Castle of Sterlin and the amenity of the Place for he had raised there a faire and spacious Hall and founded a College for divine service which he named the Chappel Royal and beginning to be possest and taken up with the Religion of these times endeavoured to endow this foundation with constant Rents and ample Revenues and make this Rock the choyse Sanctuary of his Devotions The Priory of Coldingham then vacant and fallen in his hands he annexed the same to his Chappel Royal and procured an Act of Parliament that none of the Lieges should attempt to doe contrary to this union and annexation or to make any Impetration thereof at the Court of Rome under the paine of Treason The Priors of this Convent having been many years of the Name of Hume it was by the Gentlemen of that Name surmi'sd that they should be interested and wronged in their Estates by reason of the Tithes and other Casualtyes appertaining to this Benefice if a Prior of any other Sirname were promoted to this Place The King being often petitioned and implored that he should not alter the accustom'd form of the Election of that Prior nor remove it from their Name nor suffer the Revenues to be otherways bestowed than they were wont to be of old and he continuing in his resolution of annexing them to his Chapel after long pawsing and deliberation amongst themselves as men stirred up by the male-contents and a proud faction fit for any the most dangerous entrprise they proceed upon stronger Grounds to over-turn his intentions and divert his purpose The Lord Hailles and others of the Sirname of Hepburn had been their constant friends Allies and Neighbours with them they enter in a combination that they should mutually stand to the defence of others and not suffer any Prior to be received for Coldingham if he were not of one of their two Sirnames This Convâ—nant is first privately by some mean Gentlemen sworn who after draw on their Chiefs to be of the Party Of how small beginnings doth a great mischief ariseâ— the male contended Lords knowing those two Sirnames to be numerous active and powerfull in those parts of the Countrey where they remayn'd lay hold upon this Overture and beginning from their particulars they make the cause to be general They spread Rumours abroad that the King was become terrible and not to be trusted notwithstanding all his Protestations and outward
disorder and boldness of the King of England moved the Emperour and the Pope to try if they could win the King of Scotland to arise in arms against his Vncle King Henry The Emperour essayeth it under pretence of other business of great importance For having given way to new opinions in Religion amongst his Countreymen of Germany and finding them mounted to that height as to have produced the effects he deâ—ired by this division laying a foundation to turn the Imperial Crown Hereditary to his own House which Germany being all of one mind and undistracted he could never have brought to pass he compelleth the Bishop of Rome to condescent to a general Council or Assembly of the Clergy of Europe the only and soveraign remedie to cure diseased minds and accord different opinions but he knew well that by the Church of Rome men would be delegated to this meeting turbulent and so far from pacifying tumults began that instead of Water they would apply Oyl and Wood to these flames turn opinions before disputable irreconciliable and leave matters worse than they found them Having implored the aid and assistance of the Potentates about him to the setting forward of so pious and holy a work he sendeth Goddes callo Errico a Sicilian for greater secrecy cie by Ireland to the King of Scotland This Embassadour for a token of that affection the Emperour his Master carryed to the person and virtues of King Iames presenteth him with the Order of the Golden-fleece 1534. with solemn Protestations for the observing of these antient Leagues and Confederacies contracted between the Princes his Masters Predeceslours and the Kings of Scotland to continue ever amongst themselves His other instructions were Plaints of the wrongs done to his Aunt Katharine most injustly repudiate and forsaken by a King forsaken of God and abhorred of men The marriage of Ann Bullen should wound deeply King James it being likely by her Succession he should be barred of his Right to the Crown of England The Emperour by his Ambassadour expostulating the wrongs of his Aunt had gained nothing but that for his sake shee was the worse entertained To make more strong and lasting the Emperours friendship with King James he if he pleased would make him an offer and give him the choice of three Ladies three Maries all of the Imperial Stem Mary of Austria the Emperours Sister the Window of Lovis King of Hungary Mary of Portugall the Daughter of his Sister Eleonara of Austria Mary of England the Daughter of Katharine and King Henry And would undertake the performance of this last either by consent of her Father or by main force The greatest but last of his instructions was that to suppress the Heresies of the time he would concur with the Emperour for the convocating a General Council and obviate the calamities then the threatning the Christian Religion The King with great cheerfulness and many thanks that the Emperour entertained him with such respect and held him worthy so fair and Royal Allyance and the participation of affairs of such importance and moment received this Embassage For the Council providing it were a general Council lawfully convocated by the Emperour and Christian Kings as the first Councils were wont free and holy as nothing is more holy than a general convocation of Christians the most charitable and quiet of the Clergy and such who would pacifie matters not the most zealous and â—iery Spirits or men corrupted by rewards being delegated unto it being premonisht of the time and place he would apply his will unto his assist him thither send his best Oratours and most convenient Church-men That if a true Council could not be obtained every Prince should reform the Errors of Doctrine and faults of the Clergy within his own Dominions The Proceedings of his Vncle were grievous unto him being a man altogether thralled to his own opinions For the Good of the Christian Religion and Peace of Europe it were expedient that all her Princes were united together in amity and love and their Arms directed against the common enemy the Turk For himself he would be Mediatour to reconcile the Emperour and his Vncle endeavour to recall him to the love of his Wife nor by any perswasions to be induced to condescend to ought prejudicial to Queen Katharine The three Ladies were every one in the superlative worthy especially Mary of England for that great reason of uniting the Isle of Great Britain but she was not in her own power nor in the power of the Emperour that he could bestow her upon whom he pleased That to ravish her out of the hands of her Father would be beside the danger of the Enterprize a breach of Divine and humane Lawes It was not safe for Paris that he preferred one of the three Goddesses to the other two for prizing those three that the Emperour might know how dearly he respected and earnestly affected his affinity there remained a fourth Lady neer in blood to the Emperour Isabella Daughter of Christian King of Denmark and Isabella the Emperours own Sister whom besides her matchless virtues for the vicinity of the Nation to his and the conformity of their harmless humours he made choice to be Queen of his affections and Dominions Godscallo answered this last That a match with Lady Isabella of Denmark could not with the Emperours credit be brought to pass because she was promished already to another Frederick Count Palatine and the marriage might be accomplished before news came to the Emperour of the Kings election This choice of the Kings was but an evasion for Sir Thomas Areskin of Brichen Secretarie and David Beatoun Abbot of Arbroth under pretence of renewing the League between France and Scotland long before had been directed to France about a Marriage with the eldest Daughter of King Francis which Iohn Duke of Albany projected when the League between the two Kingdoms was renewed at Rochell Henry King of England had now renounced all obedience from the Bishop of Rome and thorough his whole Dominions abrogated his authority and Paul the third after his assuming the Papacy set forwards by the Emperour and his Cardinals who thought either to recover England or burnt it up by a Foreign or civil war never left thundering against him But after Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester was beheaded a man imprisoned for adhering to the Pope then for his persecution and that the king might carry him greater respect made Cardinal the whole Conclave stir the Pope against King Henry And full of Grief and rage remonstrate what danger would follow their Order if this Example unpunisht should have way They maintained the Papal power against all Princes which now for fear of their Lives they would be forced to forsake or to proceed with great 〈◊〉 and neglect if by any secular power they might be called in Judgement and embrue Scâ—ffolds with their blood The Pope though highly provokâ— parted not from his Resolution yet used a sort
long ere now have satisfyed his ambiâ—ion and at more easie rate when the King his father with most of the Nobility and Gentry of Scotland receiv'd that fatal overthrow by the Hills of Flowden and Banks of Till the refusing of an interview might divide the King and his Vncle upon which might follow some unnatural War Upon the other part the Church-men set all their Power to hinder this interview perswading themselves it would give a terrible blow to their Estates or Religion The principal cause say they why the King of England is so passionately earnest to have this meeting is to perswade his Nephew to conform Church-matters in Scotland to those already begun in England to abolish the Popes authority to drive Religious persons from their Lands Rents Houses invest the jewels and ornaments of the Churches Which counsel and example if King Iames should follow he would hazard or lose the friendship he had with the Pope Emperour and French King his best confederates abandoned of which he and his Kingdom would be left a Prey to the tyranny of his Uncle if Henry kept no faith to God Men had no reason to trust unto him That this Interview was to intrap his person He being the man whom the Pope and Emperour had designed to set upon his Throne and revenge their quarels That it was grosly to err to he carried away with a shadow and appearance and leave a Substance to trust at once his Crown person and liberty to an Enemy And sith examples move more than precepts let him think upon the hazard of King James the first eighteen years Prisoner and after sold to his Subjects Malcolm and William Kings of Scotland He should remember if yet he were therein to be instructed that Princes serve themselves with occasions over their Neighbours that they have greater care to satisfy their ambition than fear of shame for doing of wrongs with the present times or posterity That their Oaths were no longer kept than they observed their advantages That after he falleth in his hands he ought to follow his manners Religion forsaking and giving over his own natural disposition manners and freedom have no other affections nor motions than his For who commeth under the roof of a Tyrant turneth slave though he was a free man ere he did enter That this meeting with the body would endanger the Soul and infect it with his errours corrupting it with false opinions grounded upon a liberty to live to â—ensuality and Epicurean pleasure If upon the slighting of this Interview King Henry should denounce war against King Iames and invade his Countrey they in his just defence should furnish moneys to entertain an Army and overturn his proceedings For the present necessity they offer to pay to him fyfty thousand Crowns yearly and in any hazard of the Estate voluntarily to contribute all their rents and revenues providing it would please his Majesty to suffer justice to proceed against those who scandalously had sequestred themselves from the holy Church and to the contempt of his Laws publiquely made profession of the opinioâ—s of Luther That the goods of all who should be convict of Heresie which they esteemed to no less than an hundred thousand Crowns of yearly Rent should be brought to the Exchequer and their lands annext to the Crown To this effect they intreat his Majesty to give them sufficient Judges truly Catholick and full of zeal and severity After long reasoning upon both sides it was agreed the King should not altogether refuse to meet his Vncle but adhere to the first to offer propunded to this Embâ—ssador concerning this Inter-view The meeting to be at New castle one thousand at the most in train with either King the time to be the Feast of St. Michael the Arch-Angel These Conditions not being embraced by King Henry would if not abolish totally at the least prolong the time of this meeting the King of England thinketh his Nephew too imperious to assume the Injunction of the whole circumstances of their meeting but rather than his suit should take no effect accepteth both of the Place and number of the Train and that the might have some point yeelded unto him requireth the time may be the first of August These Conditions being almost agreed upon three or four hundreth Riddesdale and Tinedale men with other Borderers break upon Liddesdale and therewith large incursions kill and forrage This during the Treaty falling miserably forth so much irritated King Iames that accepting the offers of his Clergy he gave over inwardly all intentions of any inter-view By prolonging time labouring to winde himself out of the Maze Hereupon he sendeth Letters full of excuses for his stay representing his many grievances and wrongs suffer'd and the seeds of discord began now to be sowen amongst them To lightâ—n and recreate his cloudy thoughts the Queen is delivered at Sterlin of another Son who with great solemnity is baptized in the Chappel of the Castle and named Arthur The Prelates after mature deliberation present Sir Iames Hamiltoun natural Son to the Earl of Arran to be supream Judge of the Inquisition against all suspect of Heresie and new opinions differing from the Faith of the Roman Church The King approving their judgements in their choice admitteth him Sir Iawes chearfully accepteth this new honour For now his ambition will find many guilty miserable supplicants Yet was this charge his ruin For whilst he persecuteth all who were informed against to be suspect of the Reform'd Religion having many in Jayls and numbers in his Scrâ—les to bring within the Labyrinth of a Process the supream Providence arresteth himself Iames Hamiltoun Sherif of Linlythgow Brother to Master Patrick Hamiltoun Abbot of Ferme who had suffered for Religion and was cousin to Sir Iames Hammiltoun of Fennard Lord Inquisitor for embracing his Brothers opinions had been persued so by the Church-men that he was constrain'd to forsake his own Countrey and some yeers wander as a banisht man abroad But by his friends at Court having purchased a License or Protection for some moneths to see his desolate Family and put his private Affairs in order cometh home Where finding the censorian Power to be in his cousins hands for where should he have Sanctuary if he were challenged by so neer a Kinsman for matters of Religion imagining to himself an over-sight and preterition out-dateth by his stay his Protection Sir Iames to curry the favour of the Church-men and testifie how dearly the cause of the Catholike Faith touched him resolveth to begin with his Cousin For if he were so burnt up with zeal that he spar'd not his own blood in the quarrell of the Roman Faith what Heretick could pass unpunisht Besides the investing himself in the Sherifs Office and Lands which he never minded to restore he had a Picque against him for that whilst he sate Judge in Lithgow he pronounced a sentence by which he was interested in some petty gain The
Sheriff falling so far short of his expectation that he findeth himself the first subject of his Cousins justice and highly resenting his Kinsmans cruelty whom he knew under pretext of Piety ready to execute his own Revenges resolveth to prevent his mischief He had sometime been familiar with Sir Iames had known his by-paths his secret Plots and ayrie brags had not escaped his observation some alike in kindred to them both were emissaries suborned to mark not onely his actions but words and behaviour by which one way or other he might be intrapt He knew Sir Iames stood in some umbrage with the King and that some suspitions by no Innocency could be taken away When at last he had found his hot-spur Cousin who threatned him with Death and Fire within the circle of his conjurations he directeth his Son to the King who at that time was ready to pass the Forth in his Barge this bashful Messenger giveth advertisement from his Father that the King should make his person sure from his foes at home for Sir Iames Hamiltoun had secret intelligence and Plots with the Earl of Angus and Dowglasses and that he attended onely the occasion when he might surprise him either alone or with a mean retinue and the or openly he would invade him or breaking up his Chamber-doors assâ—ssinate him The King giving attentive ear to a business which concerned him no less than the safety of his Person the accusation being given by a Cousin of the suspect against a family which a little disorder in the State might turn Successors to the Crown directeth the young man to Edenburgh and beyond his private instructions giveth him a Ring well known by the chief Officers to be a taken of power and seâ—recie to assemble so many of the Counsel as were resident Sir Thomas Arseken Secretary Sir Iames Lermound Master of the Houshold William Kirkcaldie Treasurer and others meet fear consult upon the Treason labour how to prevent it come to Sir Iames his Lodgeing make sure his Person in the Castle of Edenbrough and at that same time proceed according to the Kings direction to instruct his Process Sir Iames passionately resenting his imprisonment by his friends imploreth the ayd of the Church-men upon his innocency They apprehending his accusation to be a stratagem of State forg'd by these of the Reformed Religion for the stopping any further progress of the Inquisition already so furiously begun interpose their credit with the King for his Liberty to the discharging of his Commission against Hereticks If the Kiâ—g should hearken to every Informer against a man in State and Office he should never have an end for thus no man is so innocent who may not be detracted and calumniated Sir Iames was known to be a man rash and insolent in words his brains having been a little giddy like one looking from a great height by his advancement in honours and place in Court but sincere in the service of his Prince and loyal If he was arrogant in boldness of termes that was to acquire some more credit with the Commons that he might doe better service to his Prince They who committed Sir Iames Hamiltoun knowing the King facile and easie to be wrought upon by the Clergy some of them too professing or giving way to the reform'd Religion resolve if he should escape free of this accusation that an imminent ruin hung over their persons and estates Necessity and fear combining the distracted powers of their minds they come prostrate before the King beseech him not so much to look to the quality and circumstances of the crime as to the evil inclination of the man who powerful factious and naturally vindicative would never forgive nor forget the danger he was driven unto that His Majesty would consider his pass'd life terrible and cruel against all whome he could over-reach That to give him liberty and relieve him of his imprisonment before the crimes of which he was accus'd were clearly proved or not would be their and the accusers overthrow whom they esteemed loyal Subjects and except upon evident probabilities and never given informations against him That he was a man perfectly hated of the People and a more acceptable sacrifice could not be â—ffer'd unto their fury if he prov'd guilty At their Supplications the King gave the Judges full power to proceed against him and administer justice according to their consciences and the Laws of the Kingdom The pannall being found guilty of such points of the Inditement as was laid against him was condemned to die and thereafter accordingly beheaded his Quarters being set aloft on the Town gates his Lands annex'd to the Crown The Crimes of which he was found guilty as from those who lived near that time have by tradition been received were he had intelligence with the Earl of Angus and Dowglasses whom he laboured to have restored though with the Kings death he had a plot to have broken up the Kings Chamber-doors and killed him divolving the title of the Crown or at least Government of the Kingdom to his kinred Being ditected to have repared a Castle in Bute and to this effect receiving three thousand Crowns in April he went not thither attending some change in the State which was to be accomplished by treason against the Kings person He kept still with him men of disperate minds and fortunes who at his direction durst enterprize any mischief Where he had repaired some of the Kings houses he had placed a Statue resembling himself or which to some he had named his Statue what Mole-hills are turned into Mountains when a Prince will pry into the actions of a disgraced Subject above the Kings arms He had detracted from his Master naming him the king of Clowns and Priests and Scourge of the antient Nobility He had laboured to hinder the Kings marriage at his being in France To these points the people who rejoiced in his ruin added he had slain cruelly the Earl of Lennox at the battell of Lithgow after he was Prisoner to Purdowye he had wayâ—laid Gilbert Earl of Cassiles who was killed by his direction and Counsel This back-blow of Fortune proveth that it is dangerous once highly to offend a Prince and after remain in his service for Princes put old offences up as neglected and when the occasion serveth them surprize long after the Delinquents for some faults of which they are scarce guilty Sundry of the Nobility appall'd at this sudden fall of Sir Iames Hamiltoun for though they loved not the Man they hated the example of such strict Justice left the Court retiring to their own dwelling Houses which made the King suspitious of them and believe they favoured the reformed Religion and preferred the friendship of King Henry his Vncle to his Neither was he herein far Mistaken for some feared not to send him word that they had learned the Church-men had set him on work to extirpate his antient Nobility as if it were an easie matter
to create as many out of the Gentry in whom being his own Creatures he might have great confidence than any made by his Predecessours After this he turned so retired sullen and melancholly that every thing displeased him and he became even insupportable to himself not suffering his Domestick Servants to use their ordinary disport and recreations neer him And as all day he projâ—cted and figured to himself new cares to perplex himself some of which might fall forth others could never come to pass So in the night time the objects of his dayly projects working upon his fantasie limmed their dark shadows of displeasures which gave him terribâ—e affright in his sleep Amongst many of which two are recorded as notable one in the History of the Church the other common both seem to have been forged by the Men of those times who thought fictions as powerful to breed an opinion in discontented minds as verities and they may challenge a place in the poetical part of History As he lay in the Pallace of Lithgow about the midst of the night he leaped out of his Bed calleth for Lights commandeth his Servants to search Thomas Scot his Justice Clark who he said stood by his Bed-side accompanied with hideous weights cursing the time that ever he had served him for by too great obedience to him he was by the justice of God condemned to everlasting torments Whilst they about him labour to cure his wounded Imagination news came that Thomas Scot about that same hour of the Night was departed to the other World at Edenburgh and with no better Devotion than he was represented to the King After Sir Iames Hamiltoun had ended his part of this Trage-comedy of life he seemed to the King to have returned on the Stage and in a ghastly manner with a naked Sword in his hands he thought he parted both his arms from him advertising him he would come again shortly and be more fully revenged till which occasion he should suffer these wounds The next day after this vision which is recorded to have been the seaventh of August word came that both his Sonns were deceased and that almost in one hour Iames the Prince then one year old at St. Andrews Arthur one moneth old at Sterlin The King of England finding himself disappointed by his Nephew of their meeting and understanding it to have been occasiond by the Rhetorick and liberality of the Churchmen having many of the Nobility of Scotland of his faction whose innocency interpreted his Religion to be the reformed though indeed it was of his own stamp for he abolished the Pope but not Popacy by making prizes of Scottish Ships upon the Seas with his Fleet and incursions of his garrison'd Souldiers upon land beginneth the prologue of an unnecessary war King Iames to stop the English incursions placeth George Gordoun Earl of Huntley with his full power and authority at the Borders and directeth Iames Lermound of Darcey towards his Uncle to give sufficient reasons of his not meeting him at Newcastle withall to seek restitution of his Ships sith taken before any lawful War was proclaimed and to expostulate the hostility of the Borderers King Henry not only refuseth render the Ships or give a reason for the breaking forth of the Garrisons on the Borders but delaying the answer of the Scottish Embassadour upon advantage of time sâ—ndeth Sir Robert Bowes seconded with the Earl of Angus and Sir George Dowglas in hostile manner to invade Scotland These to the number of three thousand burn spoil small villages and ravage the Countrey neer the debatable bounds The Earl of Huntley omitteth no occasion to resist them places garrisons in Kelsoo and Iedburgh assembling all the hardy Bordrers and invadeth the English and Scottish forces at a Place named Hall-den rig here it is soundly skirmished till the Lord Hume by the advancing of four hundred fresh Launces turned the fortune of the Day for the English were put to flight the Warden Sir Robert Bowes Captain of Norham Sir William Mowbray Iames Dowglas of Parkhead with a natural Son of the Earl of Angus were taken Prisoners the Earâ— by the advantage of his horse escaping with others to the number of six hundred The Warden staied in Scotland till the Kings death This Road happened prosperously to the Scots the 24. of August 1541. being a Dise-mall St. Bartholomew to the English The War continuing till Midsommer King Henry sent the Earl of Norfolk whom he named the Rod of the Scots with great power towards Scotland with him the Earls of Shrewsbury Derby Cumberland Surrey Hereford Angus Rutland and the Lords of the North parts of England with an Army of fourty thousand men as they were esteemed With them he directeth Iames Lermound of Darcey the Scotish Embassadour to keep an equal march till they came to Bâ—rwick and there to stay that he should not give advertisement to his Master of any of his proceedings the Earl of Huntley upon advantages of places resisting the adventuring Routs who essayed to cross the Tweed But King Iames hearing the old Duke of Norfolk was their Leader raiseth from all the parts of his Kingdom Companies and assembling them upon Sâ—wteryâ— edge mustered thirty thousand men They encamped on Fallow-Moor the King having advertisement that the Duke would march towards Edenburgh Ten thousand strong the Lords Hume Seatoun Areskin to make up the Earl of Huntleys forces are sent towards the borders The King himself expecting the Artillery and other furniture of War staieth with the body of the Army in the Camp Durin this time it is reported the Lords plotteth a Reformation of the Court according to the example practised at Lawder-Bridge especially against such who were named Pensioners of the Priests but because they could not agree among themselves about those who should stretch the ropes every one striving to save his kinsman or friend they escaped all the danger That this attempt being revealed to the King he dismist some of his favourites in great fear to Edenburgh So malitious is faction armed with power Thomas Duke of Norfolk by such in the Scotish Camp who favoured King Henry having understood the preparation and mind of King Iames to meet him in an open field well knowing that Fortune had that much of a woman to favour young men more than old and that honourable â—etreits are no waies inferiour to brave Charges retireth off the Scottish ground and keeps his forces on their own marches For the valour and resolution of this young Prince might perhaps spoil and divest him of his former purchased Lawrels and Palms to the applause of King Henry who some thought being wearie of his service to this effect sent him to Scotland A great number of the Lancastrianâ— and North-Humbrians who upon hopes of spoil had followed him pretending want of Victuals and the rigorous season of the year with arms and baggage leave this Army Having done little harm to the Scots and suffered much
cause it may be thoright these men found out their new Poesie differing from the Matters Manners Rules of former ages either they did not see the way of Poesie or were affraid to enter it The verses of Camillus Quernus as they are imitated by Strada seem very plausible and to admiration to some but how far they are off right Poesie children may guess These mens new conceptions approach neerer his than to the Majesty and Statelinefs of the great Poets The contempt and undervaluing of verses hath made men spare their travel in adorning them but Poesie as it hath overcom ignorance at last will overcom envy and comtempt This I have been bold to write unto you not to give you any instruction but to manifest mine obedience to your request W. D. To the Right Honourable the Earl of Sterlin WHen the pittiful news came of so dear Funerals though I had an intention to have written to your Lordship I restrained my self both because your wound was flagrant and that I had not an argument of comfort which was not your own Nothing is now left me but to manifest that the sense of this loss could not but perplex him grievously who never made any difference between your fortunes and his own I hold my self Copartner of all your Griefs as I have been of your prosperities I know your Fatherly affiction I know too your constancy which being seasoned with piety will not suffer you to repine at that which is the determinate will of God Your erudition and experience instruct you that such accidents should be taken in a good part and chearfully which are not incident to us alone and which by our sighs tears plaints we may not evite and put far from us ye must not attend till time mitigate your languor for this do the vulgar sort of men with sola dies poterit tantum lenire dolorem A wise man should prevent and anticipate time over-run newborn Grief which is an ungrateful Guest thrusting out and ran sacking the Masters of their Inn. I who am conscious to your patience and wisdom am assured ye have performed all this already upon which confidence I will leave off to trouble you further or lay a heavier burthen and needless task upon my self W. Drummond To SHould ye think to escape this Enemy of Virtue Fortune when she never spareth the most Worthy who hath ever yet in many excellencies been eminent whom she hath not either after one fashion or other if not trampled yet tossed and make not a long search in the old ages of the world and through the Mists of Antiquity but look upon our own Times and our Fathers Ye have Sidney cropped in the vigour of his Youth by a murthering Bullet Rawleigh brought to a fatal Scaffold la Nove with the Marquess D' Urfee complaining in miserable Prisons Tasso famishing in the like Thraldom the two Counts of Mirandula Spectacles of Pitty and Cruelty the one by too soon a Death if death can be too soon the other by being assassinated by his neerhst kinsemen As if Excellencies were the only Object of Disasters and some secret influence laboured to make the bravest of men and the basest equal Or that the superiour powers thought Glory to belong only to them and no praise-worthy Actions should befal poor Mortals Yet should they not envy silly men a dusty honour which in some small moments of time vanisheth and reacheth no further than the narrow bounds of some few Climates of this small Globe of the Earth We may doubt whether Excellencies and Heroical Virtues were to be desired with so many dangers and miseries lackying them or a homebred untaught rude Plobeian life W. DRUMMOND To S. W. A. SIR MY silence this time past proceeded no waies of any forgetfulness of you but from my many new cares and sorrows The loss of so many friends this season hath estranged me from my self and turned my mirth into mourning what civil arms and discord have performed in other kingdomes of Europe a still mortality hath done in this So many Funerals these many years have not been seen as in this one There are few bands of kinred societies acquaintances friendship which by death are not broken here without respect of Age vigour ranck quality and justly this mortality might claim the name of Pestilence if the Dead were deprived of customary burial Well have some Astrological Divines guessed that this year should be the great Judgement What is recorded of the years 100. and 120. that Church yards were not ample enough to contain the dead bodies but that new ground was digged up is true in this and what of the year 1348. that the third of mankind was sweeped from the Earth we may say that though this Countrey hath not lost the third yet that the Almighty providence hath taken away the tenth part of the People This is perhaps a part of that Judgement which the late blazing lights of Heaven did signifie unto us the defects of the Sun besides the malignant influences of other Caelestial Bodies This one year is enought to make men hereafter if not altogether believe yet fear Astrological Predictions which though they fail in particulars yet strangely hold true in some generals Heavens I hope shall preserve you ad molliora et meliora tempora to be a witness and Recorder of their Just Proceedings on this Globe of the Earth for the Good of your self your Friends and all that love you 1623. W. Drummond The Oath of a KNIGHT I shall fortisie and defend the true holy Catholtque and Christian Religion presently possessed at all my power I shall be loyal and true to my Soveraign Lord the King his Majestie and do honour and reverence to all Orders of Chivalrie and to the noble office of Arms. I shall fortifie and defend justice to the uttermost of my power but feed or favour I shall never flie from the Kings Majesty my Lord and Master or his Lieutenant in time of battel or medly with dishonour I shall defend my native Countrey from all aliens and strangers at all my power I shall maintain and defend the honest Adoes and Quarrels of all Ladies of Honour Widows Orphans and Maids of good Fame I shall do diligence wherever I hear tell there is any Traytours Murtherers Rovers and Masterfull Theeves and Outlaws that suppress the Poor to bring them to the Law at all my Power I shall maintain and defend the Noble and gallant State of Chevalrie with Horses Harnesses and other Knightly Apparel to my Power I shall be diligent to enquire and seek to have the knowledge of all Articles and points touching or concerning my duty contained in the Book of Chevalrie All and sundry the Premisses I oblige me to keep and fulfil so help me God by my one hand and by God himself To his loving Cousin IF wishes could have place or prevail I wish ye could be moved to separate your self from the frequent conversation and