MEMOIRES OF THE FAMILY OF THE Stuarts And the Remarkable Providences of GOD towards them IN An Historical Account OF THE LIVES Of those His MAJESTY's Progenitors of that Name that were KINGS of SCOTLAND Fallitur egregio quisquis sub principe credit Servitium Nusquam libertas gratior extat Quam sub rege pio Claudianus LONDON Printed by J. Wallis for Walter Kettleby at the Bishop's-Head in St. Paul's Church-yard 1683. THE PREFACE THough by the Providence of him by whom Kings reign the most Ancient and Unconquer'd Crown of Scotland hath continued by Succession maugre all Opposition in the Heirs of the Royal Fergus the first King of Scotland whose Inauguration was about 330 Years before the Incarnation of the Blessed Jesus Yet some Translations there have been for want of Heirs Male and by inter-marriages some later Families of their Ancient and War-like Nobility have been grafted into that Royal Stock and have thereby grown up to bear that Virgin Crown The STVARTS were the last that were Honour'd in this kind of whom there have not been many Kings yet all of them so Good so Vertuous and Wise that no History whether Sacred or Civil can paralel the Succession The Various Dispensations of God towards them especially in their Dangers and Deliverances may in a great measure be seen in this ensuing Mirrour As for the Occurrences in Political Affairs since the day of our happy Union of Crowns in James the Sixth of undying Memory though it be true we may in them be furnish'd with more Instances of signal Preservations than from former Ages and tho' God in our late miraculous Revolutions as also in those extraordinary Qualifications conferr'd upon our Kings adequate to the weight of a Prince's Crown hath evidenc'd a special regard to and approbation of Kingly Government Yet in regard our English Histories do abound with the Remarks and Memoirs of those times to supply the Defects of our Memories it would appear an over-acted Design to lanch further into other Mens Labours than what I have here offer'd to View and would rather seem to Encumber than Accommodate the Age we live in If it shall appear strange to any that these Posthumous Sheets She-Orphan-like be expos'd in the World without the Reputation or Protection of some Honourable Patron It is not for want of Persons that would willingly and could truly have Dignified the Endeavours of our Deceased Authour by suffering their Names to be prefixed hereto but because the Design having relation only to the Ancestors of our King I feared an alienation of its Dedication might look injuriously upon the Royalty of his Sacred Majesty to whom alone with his most Illustrious Brother I imagine the Right of Patronage doth belong But so little is my esteem of my Self and so great my Veneration for Royal Majesty that I dare not think my self worthy to offer any thing tho' the best I have at his Feet Which Consideration alone hath diverted me from the thoughts of a Dedication Yet I hope in recommendation of the Work I may tell the World that the Author was a Native of Scotland and so may be thought no Stranger to the History of his own Countrey His early Merits advanced him at the Age of Twenty Three to be Preacher at the Cannigate in Edenburgh about the Year 1636. that by no worse interest than that of the Learned Spotswood Here he continued not long before the Scottish Covenant so Fatal to all Loyal and Religious Men forc'd him for the security of his Life and Loyalty to retire from that Honourable and Advantageous Imployment to London whither the Storm pursued him The Presbyterian Faction so Embroiling the Affairs of that Blessed Prince Charles the First whose Memory is too great and too good to be intermixt with the common History of the Age that they soon reduc'd him from his Princely Estate wherein he was always ready and willing to afford Protection to his Friends to so Low a fortune that he the best of Kings could in his Three Kingdoms find no place of Safety or Defence for himself All that our Author could then acquire was a presentation to a small Vicarage in Norfolk as I suppose in the King's hands Sir Thomas Corbet a Young Gentleman of an Ancient and Honourable Family the Patron of it being then a Minor and his Majesty's Ward Here he lived in Repute with all good Men for his Eminency in Learning Loyalty and Religion until the exrraordinary respects and affections of the honest and loyal Gentry provok'd the malice of the Rebellious Committee against him and that place could afford him no longer security Then by the favourable Recommendation of Lieutenant-Colonel Bendish one of his Majesty's Deputy Lieutenants and Alderman of Norwich a great lover of Loyalty Religion and Learning to whom greater Acknowledgements are due he was remov'd to Kirkby Cane a Rectory in the same County in the Gift of Richard Cateline Esq a Gentleman whose Sufferings were too severe Testimonials of his Fidelity to his Prince and his whole Life a Contexture of great Prudence Piety and Charity Amongst the many blessings that attended his Life it was not his least happiness that he was the Father of the present Sir Nevil Cateline who was his Eldest Son that surviv'd the Calamity of the Civil War a Gentleman he is whose Vertues are sufficient Indications of his Birth he Inheriting not only the outward fortune but also the internal Noble and Generous Qualifications of his Parents Minds and though he may seem to have stept before some of his Ancestors in Titles of Eminency yet none that rightly knows him can think his Titles keep equal pace with his Merit Here he spent a dozen Years and upwards in a Retir'd and Pious Solitude living in great Regard and Esteem with his good Patron and is not yet dead in the memory of his Son until the happy Restauration of His Sacred MAJESTY when True Religion and Loyalty might unmask themselves and with their Primitive Confidence look into the World Then having weather'd out the Storm at the first appearance of the Long-benighted Sun he resorted to London to Congratulate the Joyful Change in National Affairs he had the Honour to kiss His Majesty's Hand and receive some further assurances of his Bounty but returning in a Pleonasm of Joy he expir'd in the Extasie without any more marks of Royal Favour upon him He left these loose and unpolish'd Papers behind him doubtless design'd tho' not perfected to be offer'd to His Majesty as a Congratulation of his Return to his Three Kingdoms But that opportunity being lost I have since thought them no better than Useless Papers until lately perusing of them and Reflecting upon the Scepticism of some Polititians and the Incredulity of all disaffected and discontented Minds not to be convinc'd of Day-light by the brightest Beams that ever darted from the Sun I was induc'd to believe that the Idiome and Exuberance of the matter and Phrase being
oppressions not to be so stupid as to endure the Usurped Power of those Men who breaking through all the Laws of God and Man Murthered the last King detaining upon the matter this present King under the bondage of their own Wills which tyranny was so much the rather not to be endured because they arrogated to themselves to be called the Restorers and Preservers of the Scottish Liberties when indeed they exercised a most cruel and unsupportable Tyranny keeping their fellow Subjects in Slavery and abusing the King's Authority to the final destruction of all those who were faithful to his Father and to inflame the affections of the People the more Alexander Forbese chief of that Family carrieth on the point of a Spear through Aberdeen and all the cheif Towns and Cities in the North the King's Shirt torn in divers pieces and all bloody by the Wounds his Majesty received inviting all Men who had any sense of Humanity or Religion to avenge that horrid Murther the Earl of Lennox bestirring himself on this side Forth to the same purpose an Army in this Popular fury rolleth together as in a moment marcheth to Sterlin where finding the Bridge Fortified resolve to Foard over some Miles above where they that night Encamped without Order or Watch or any persons designed for the exercise of Military Discipline This looseness is bewrayed to the Enemy who advanceth Surpriseth all Killeth many and Imprisoneth more some of whom were afterwards put to death Thus was this tumultuary Army as suddenly ruined as raised This Tumult over King Henry of England inraged at the disaster of his five Ships and looking upon it as a publick dishonour propoundeth great Rewards to all such as would undertake to bring to him Wood the Scotch Captain dead or alive Sir Stephen Bull undertaketh the Service and with three choice Ships of the English Navy setteth Sail casts Anchor at the May where he attends Captain Wood then returning from Holland in few days Wood appeareth the Ships draw up and give Fire Fighting bitterly all that day next day morning the Conflict is renewed they Grapple and fasten by Iron Hooks their Ships one to another fighting with that eagerness that none of them perceiving the motion of the Tide all are carried over to the Mouth of Tay where the Water being shallow and the English Ships great and in danger of the Sands the English are forced to yield the Ships are brought to Dundee 10. August 1490. Sir Stephen Bull and other the most eminent Officers and Gentlemen are brought to King James by whom they were Nobly entertained after much commendation of their Valour he grants them their Liberty desiring them to return with their Ships with a tender of his Royal Respects to their Master King Henry King Henry much pleased returneth thanks to King James declaring the great Esteem and honourable Respect he bare to him for his Royal and extraordinary Munificence By this time a Parliament is called in Edenburgh where his Majesty endeavoured by all possible means a Composure of the grand Divisions of the Kingdom some Laws are enacted for preservation of the Peace and the late unhappy Battel nigh Sterlin where the King was Slain is so hudled up that the business of that Day should never after be remembred to the Prejudice of either Parties a very strange Close considering that this Convention was composed most of such as opposed the former King The moderation and discretion of the young King not yet arrived at the Fifteenth Year of his Age was such that a Concord is made up far above all means hope or expectation every man had a dutiful regard to so hopeful a Prince Being thus setled the reflections of his Grace appear daily more evidently towards his Fathers Friends two of his own Cousins Daughters to his Aunt Mary he bestows in Marriage to two Eminent Men amongst them the one Daughter to the Lord Boyd to the Lord Forbese the other Daughter to Earl Hamilton to Mathew Earl of Lennox And to Manifest the deep sense he had of his Father's Fall he begirt himself with an Iron Chain as I have mentioned before which galled the hearts of the Rebellious Faction his pretended Friends more than it did his own Flesh though it made impressions therein deep enough insomuch that Fear more than Love restrained them from breaking out against him About this time a strange Monster was born in Scotland a Male Child which from the Navel downward differed nothing from the common form of other Men but from the Navel upward there were two distinct Truncks of the Body with Head Arms and all other Members as to two several individual Persons the Faces were one towards another what the one did was by the advice and consent of the other and if either transgress'd this Rule Strife arose between them and peradventure Blows oftentimes Scratching Nipping and Pricking one another if they received a Punch or Blow below the Navel both were sensible but if above where their Members were distinct only he was sensible whose parts were touched This Monster King James carefully educated and caused them to be instituted in the knowledg of Letters wherein they marvellously profited especially in the knowledge of diverse Tongues they were most exquisite in Musick and both admired for the sweetness of their voices they lived some twenty eight years the one died before the other some three or four Months by the smell of the defunct body the survivor was much annoyed and daily languished until the hour of his death And about the same time too a Monstrous Cheat came into Scotland and much cherished by the King too Peter Werbeck who pretending himself to be Son to King Edward the Fourth of England happily escaped from the cruel Claws of his Uncle Richard had admittance to King James his presence who behaved himself with a behaviour so beseeming his condition and in a most elocuent Oration did so pathetically deliver himself touching the distress of his Family and his own marvellous preservation that the King and most of his Council though not without the reluctancy of some of the wiser took compassion of him and resenting his condition as the common interest of all Princes with incredible in consideration promise him assistance towards the regaining of his just Rights provoked the rather as was pretended to satisfie such as opposed Peter's design by the breach of Truce made by the English Ships whilst Scotland was gasping under the confusion of a Civil War indeed the late horrid Rebellion in which James the Third perished Peter is highly honoured and exposed to the People by the Title of the Duke of York a most vertuous and beautiful Lady Katherine Daughter to Earl Huntley one of the chief Peers of that Nation is given to him in Marriage an Army is likewise levied and marcheth into England passeth quietly through Northumberland no adverse Army appearing nay nor any one Man coming in to own Peter the pretended
necessary if possible to prevent the Conjunction of Dowglas and Hammilton to that end he advanceth to Linlithquo where the Hammiltons were drawn together Dowglas then at Edenburgh marcheth with all possible expedition bringing along with him to countenance his affairs the person of the King who all along retardeth the journey accounting Lennox more his Friend than those with him pretending indisposition of Body ever and anon dismounteth making shew to pay some necessary office to Nature Dowglas frets and in vain spending many entreaties for expedition at length George Dowglas Brother to the Earl is so peremptory with him as in most Rebellious terms to tell him That rather than their Enemies should get possession of his Person they would rend him in pieces and divide him in halves between them This Traiterous word made an indelible impression on the heart of the King though at present silence was his best and only return At last the Armies joyn Lennox and his Patty are put to the rout many slain the Earl himself killed bewailed of all Hammilton and Dowglas both mourn for him above all the King is afflicted the remnant of his Party with sorrow and grief enough submit and are all forced to compound for their Treasons as was pretended in bearing Arms against the King the Earl of Cassils refusing to submit was way-laid and killed by one Hugh Campbell Lennox his Death divulged maketh a very deep impression in the hearts of most men especially his own Retainers one of his Servants resolveth with himself to avenge his Lord's death on the Person of the Bastard Hammilton by whom Lennox was killed To that end he repairs to Edenburgh and on his way meeting with one of his Fellow-servants he asked him saying Didst thou see Hammilton the Bastard Yea said he I saw him and hast thou not killed him unthankful Wretch who murthered our Dear Lord and Master said the Fellow Go and be hang'd thou art not worthy to live and with these words he pass'd on in his way and came streight to Holyrude House where in the Pallace-Yard stood Two thousand Armed men all Retainers to Dowglas and Hammilton there the Fellow walks full of Revenge and waiting the opportunity to execute the desire of his heart Hammilton unawares comes in his way without Arms the Fellow falls upon him in the Penthouse under the Porters-Lodge and wounds him in six several places of his Body the Armed men are all presently in confusion and well nigh in one anothers blood The Hammiltons suspecting this bold attempt to be done by the Dowglasses newly only reconciled to them to avenge some old Quarrels The Fellow is at last apprehended who had opportunity fair enough had he attempted it to escape with his Sword in his hand still smoaking with Hammilton's blood he is forthwith hurried to Tolbnith boldly professing that what he did was to revenge the death of his Dear Lord declaring with inexpressible confidence that he was sorry for nothing but that he was disappointed of his design so bravely begun by him he is put to Torture for the discovery of such as animated him to that bold attempt his Flesh is seared with burning Irons which he endured with such courage and resolution as no man could spy either by his words or by his countenance or otherwise any the least sense of pain in him at last his Right Hand was cut off which he endured without shrinking calling out to such as stood by That unhappy Hand well deserved this punishment which executed not the design of a Resolute mind The Dowglasses think themselves now secure enough no man daring to oppose them in any thing But in the midst of their security the King makes an escape from Faulkland to Sterlin there the Nobility from most parts of the Kingdom fly to him by whose advice his Majesty issueth out an Edict inhibiting the Dowglasses any further medling in publick Affairs discharging them or any of their retainers under pain of Death to come within Twelve Miles of the Court this Edict being served on the Earl in his Journey towards Sterlin he retreats to Edenburgh and prepareth Forces for his defence A Proclamation issueth from the King to call a Parliament to Assemble November the 3d. in the interim his Army advanceth towards the City Dowlas withdraws The King peaceably entreth the City Terms of Peace are offered to the Dowlasses viz. That the Earl himself should confine himself on the North of Tay his Brother George and his Vncle Archibald to the Castle of Edenburgh The Conditions are refused they are Summoned to appear before the Parliament they disobey the Earl himself his Brother George his Uncle Archibald and his dear Friend Alexander Drumond of Carnock all by sentence of Parliament Banished all People charged under pain of Treason not to relieve them the Dowlasses break out into open Violence Arguile is sent to reduce them to order whose advance they prevented by flight into England The King spendeth some time with great care and charge in suppressing the Depredations then very great on the Borders which Expedition over he establisheth the Court of Sessions formerly indeed set on foot by the Vice-Roy the Duke of Albany Constituted of Fifteen Judges of the most learned of the Law impowred to hear and determine all Civil Causes a very grave Court continuing in great Honour and deserved Respect in that Nation to this day About this time King Henry of England prepareth for War against the Scots irritated thereunto by the Scotch Exiles and Refuges in England King James having Constituted the Earl of Murray his Vice-Roy prepareth for Defence by Mediation of the French then a common Friend to both Peace is concluded King James sends Ambassadors to France to treat concerning his Marriage to a Daughter of France The King of England to prevent it sends the Bishop of St. Davids and William Hrward Brother to the Duke of Norfolk Ambassadors into Scotland to invite King James to a Personal Conference with himself whereunto he is soon persuaded by the great Promises they made of Marriage to Mary the King 's eldest Daughter if all other things succeeded well in the Treaty The Scotch Council especially the Clergy fearing Innovations in Religion then set on foot by King Henry are much troubled that his Majesty had consented to this Conference they ply him with continual surmises of Ruine to Himself to the State to Religion should this Conference hold the King is over-ruled and observeth not the day appointed but forthwith Saileth into France and is immediately espoused to Magdalen Daughter to Francis King of France the Marriage solemnized on New-years Day 1537 and both arrive in Scotland about the end of May following within six Weeks after the young Queen Dyeth to the inexpressible grief of all the Nobles put on Mourning Apparel not before that time in use in that Kingdom Immediately after David Beton Cardinal and Robert Maxwel are sent to France to demand Mary of the
Family of the Guise Widdow of the late Duke of Longoville in Marriage to King James the Marriage is agreed to the Year following she arriveth in Scotland and the Marriage solemnized at St. Andrews 1538. This Year exemplary Justice was done upon divers Persons of Quality conspiring the Death of the King some the Year following were Burnt some Banished for embracing the Protestant Doctrine Preached in Germany by Luther and others James Hammilton the Bastard accused of High-Treason is sentenced to Death his Head and Quarters affixed to publick places in Edenburgh the King soon after thought in his Dream that Hammilton cut off first his right and then his left Arm threatning withal to appear again to take his own Life the King awaking is very much troubled with thoughts of this Dream and revolving with himself what might be the meaning of it a Messenger comes to him with the sad News of the Death of both his Sons at the same time the one at Sterlin the other at St. Andrews King Henry of England sendeth the second time to invite King James to a Conference at York the Scotch Clergy still oppose it and the Conference again refused King Henry in great Indignation against his Nephew for refusal of Conference with him resolveth to talk with him in harder Terms and to that end he raiseth an Army and sendeth it into Scotland and under the Command of the Duke of Norfolk The Scottish Ambassadors in vain intreating a Cessation King James prepares a considerable Army for defence the English enter into Scotland and after some mischief done at the approach of the Scotch Army they retreat the Lord Gordon marcheth before the main body with Ten thousand Men doing much hurt and annoyance to the Rear of the English Army King James with all earnestness presseth an Engagement with the English the Nobility peremptorily oppose him in it the King enraged upbraideth them with Cowardise unworthy to be owned as Sons of their Noble Ancestors vowing that though they should all desert him himself and his own Family alone should give the Enemy Battel The Lord Maxwell to pacify the King tendereth his Service to lead into Cumberland Ten thousand Men thereby to divert the Enemy The King accepteth his Service but being enraged against the whole Nobility he resolves that none of them should have the Honour of any thing done in that Expedition and for the cause giveth a Dormant Commission to Oliver Sinclare Brother to the Lord Roslin Having entred Cumberland and now in view of Five hundred English Horse Sinclare produceth his Commission it is read at the head of the Army Maxwell is thereby inraged the whole Army falleth in Mutiny and in such a confusion that they become a Prey to the Five hundred English Horse divers of the Nobility and the new General Sinclare are sent Prisoners to the Tower of London this dishonourable Disaster which hapned at Solway strikes the Valorous King with such grief and sorrow that he never after joyed but soon after departed this Life having first made Peace with King Henry at whose request he recalled Archibald Earl of Angus Thus dyed King James the Fifth a Prince of singular Endowments most patient of Cold Hunger and Travel sometimes setting on Horseback Twenty Four hours when the necessity of his affairs required it a great Justitiary and a person of singular Foresight and Wisdom THE LIFE OF QUEEN MARY QUeen Mary was the only Child James the Fifth her Father left to Inherit the Crown born to him not above eight days before his death James Hammilton Earl of Aran is therefore chosen Vice-Roy to whom King Henry of England sent his Ambassador Sir Radolph Sadler to procure Peace between the two Kingdoms and to demand Mary in Marriage to his Son by the influence of the late Prisoners in England especially the Exiled Dowglasses whom King Henry had wrought much to his Service by his Royal Favours whose Counsels were now very prevalent in the management of publick affairs both were assented the Contract of Marriage Signed and Pledges promised for better performance of all Conditions agreed upon notwithstanding of the Opposition of the Queen and Cardinal who fearing the Subversion of Popery still established in that Kingdom by this agreement endeavour what they can to cross all Tumults are stirred against the English Ambassador and daily Affronts put upon his Attendants in the Streets the Ambassador complaineth and demandeth the Pledges promised for confirmation of the Agreement lately made exemplary Justice is executed upon the chief movers in the Tumults in answer to this Complaint but the Cardinal by the influence of his power had so obstructed the matter of his demand that not one of the Nobility would yield up himself voluntarily a Pledge to the English and to such a business none could be compelled King Henry hereby provoked seiseth all the Scottish Ships in the English Havens and Harbours and proclaimeth War against the Scots in the mean while the Queen Mother sendeth to France to entreat the French King to send home Matthew Earl of Lennox to strengthen her against the English Faction otherwise Religion and the French League were like to come to nothing Lennox is sent home and forthwith levieth Four Thousand men and with this strong guard cometh to the Queen the Vice-Roy inferior in Power sends Commissions to treat for Peace by agreement the young Queen is committed to the Education of Four Indifferent Noble Men ingaged in neither Faction viz. the Lords Graham Areskin Lindsay and Leviston and accordingly they take charge of her at Sterlin where all the Nobility do Homage to her The Vice-Roy joyneth himself wholly to the Cardinal which Conjunction so inrageth Lennox that immediately he flyeth to Arms raiseth an Army marcheth to Leith and provoketh the Cardinal to Fight the Cardinal keeps himself close in Edenburgh Castle Lennox through want of Provisions is forced to withdraw and to put himself in a posture of Defence in and about Glascow King Henry hearing of these Stirs sends into Scotland to demand the custody of the young Queen until she came to years fit for Marriage The French Faction now prevailing his Demands are refused An Army is therefore forthwith sent into Scotland under the Conduct of the Earl of Hereford and a great Navy of Two hundred Sail under the Command of Viscount Lisle as Admiral The English enter the City of Edenburgh without resistance first they Pillage and then they Fire it and divers other Towns and Villages about it the like fate befel the Town of Leith and forthwith they return to England laden with Spoil The Queen Mother writeth to the French King and layeth all these mischiefs at Lennox his door as the only enemy of their Peace and Union by reason of his private Feud against the Vice-Roy for the death of his Father At her Request Lennox is recalled to France but finding the French King provoked against him he still keeps to his posture of Defence
Cassils Rothus and Cumberland three of the Clergy the Arch-Bishop of Glascow the Bishop of Orkney the Pryor of St. Andrews two of the Commons the Provost of Edenburgh and the Provost of Montross are sent they safely arrive and are honourably entertained at the French Court the Marriage solemnized April 24. 1558. in great State in the Church of Nostra Dama in Paris the Scotch Commissioners the chief days of the Solemnity being past prepare to return to their own Countrey abundantly satisfied not so much by beholding the incredible Magnificence of the French Entertainment as by observing the admired deportment of their most Gracious and Illustrious Queen Before their departure an unhappy dash of Discontent was given the Chancellor of France is sent to them to move That the Crown of Scotland may be sent over into France for Coronation of the Dauphine after the custom and manner of the Kings of Scotland The Commissioners refuse the motion and soon after take their Leave of the Court and return home In their return the Earl of Cassils the Earl of Rothus the Bishop of Orkney and the Lord Cumberland depart this Life And now began the great Stirs touching Reformation of Religion which we shall briefly touch Certain Lords assisted by some Knights and Gentlemen who afterwards were termed the Lords of the Congregation knowing the Heart-burnings of the People occasioned by the Death of George Wisheart and Walter Mill both lately Burnt for Religion send privately their Scrolls all the Kingdom over to receive the Subscriptions of all who favoured the Reformation of Religion which being done Propositions are sent to the Queen Regent by the hands of Sir James Sandelands Lord Caulder viz. That all Popish Priests be forthwith removed and Godly Ministers chosen by the People established in their places and that all publick Prayers may be said in the Vulgar Tongue The Popish Bishops though much inraged yet make a motion and a fair offer to refer all to publick Dispute the Lords of the Congregation refuse all Dispute whilst the Popish Bishops are their Judges The Bishops make a second Tender That if the Mass Invocation of Saints Prayers for the Dead were continued in due esteem together with the belief of Purgatory that then it should de lawful for them to use the Scottish Tongue in their publick Prayers and Ministration of Baptism and the Lord's Supper This is likewise rejected by the Lords of the Congregation who peremptorily adhere to their first Proposals requiring the Queen Regent to hearken thereunto Her Majesty yields to them That it shall be lawful for them to use their Vulgar Tongue in their publick Prayers provided all other Rights be duly observed and none of their Preachers appear in the Pulpits of Edenburgh They of the Congregation finding themselves discountenanced and unsatisfied send John Ariskin of Dunne a well learned Man to Solicit the Parliament in their behalf but with no success In May following another Parliament is called at Sterlin thither Commissioners are sent viz. Alexander Cuningham Earl of Glencarne and Sir Hugh Camphell Provost of Aire to pacific the Queen Regent provok'd by some Popular Tumults and to pray that nothing might be denied through the occasion of the said Tumults which was formerly granted to them The Queen Regent in much wrath threameth the Banishment of their Ministers as main Incendiaries The Commissioners urge the remembrance and performance of her Promises which she resusing they peremptory threaten and protest to renounce all Obedience to her beseeching her in time to consider what Mischiefs were like to ensue thereupon In the interim the Ministers of the Congregation get into the Pulpits at St. John's Town A Messenger is dispatched to Patrick Ruthuen Provost of the place to Suppress them and the Stirs made by them the Provost refuseth the Service A Messenger is likewise sent to Dundee to demand the Person of Paul Messan a Popular Preacher who privately withdraweth and escapeth A General Proclamation is likewise made requiring the Celebration of Easter after the accustomed manner The whole Ministers of the Congregation disobey who are therefore cited to Sterlin May the 10th to answer their Contempt for countenancing of whom a great Confluence rush thither from all parts of the Kingdom The Queen Regent calls to her Areskin of Dunne a Popular Man and Requests him to persuade the Multitude to return peaceably to their several homes assuring him that nothing should be done against any of their Sect by his means some return more stay whereby the Queen is highly provoked such of the Ministers as were Summoned and appeared not are Banished to no purpose John Knox Preacheth at St. Johnston and inflameth all the Multitude forthwith brake down the Altar and all the Images in the Church do violence to the Person of the Priest then attending to say Mass into immediately after they rush into the Monasteries of the Franciscans and Dominioans and by assistance of the Souldiery then and there in Arms they spoil and plunder and in two days lay all those stately Buildings level to to the ground at Cowper of Fyfe they do the very like The Queen Regent being informed of all these detestable Outrages sendeth to the Earls of Arguile Hammilton and Athol to attend her with all their Retainers which they forthwith did and advance to St. Johnston May the 18. the Queen perceiving their Forces both greater and more resolute to Fight than her own dispatcheth Commissioners viz. the Earl of Arguile and James Stuart Bastard Son to the late King who remained with the Regent on purpose to discover all her Counsels and Resolutions to that Adverse Faction to the Lords of the Congregation to treat with them for Accommodation Alexander Cunningham and John Areskin above-named are appointed by the Lords to treat with them Articles are agreed upon that the Forces on both sides should be Disbanded The Queen and the Nobility with her enter the Town for their refreshment during their pleasure without Damage to be done by any the French not to approach within Three Miles of the Town all other matters of Difference referr'd to the next Parliament The Armies accordingly dismissed the Queen Regent and those of the Nobility with her are received into the Towns Arguile with James Stuart abovenamed withdraw to St. Andrews The Queen Regent jealous of them and seeing no hopes of a lasting Peace setleth new Magistrates and having restored the Mass leaves a Garrison at St. Johnston's and returns to Sterlin from thence sends threatning Letters to Arguile and James Stuart to return to her but all in vain they now both publiquely joyn with whom they were before in private ingaged to the Lords of the Congregation New Forces are levied on both sides those of the Congregation assemble in great numbers Vowing the Destruction of the Adverse Party enter St. Andrews having Defaced the Church at Carell plunder spoil and level to the ground the two Monasteries of the Dominicans and Franciscans the
Arch-Bishop scarce escaping to Faulkland where the Queen Regents Army lay but the Queen understanding their approach sendeth from Faulkland where her self lay and requireth Hammilton Duke of Casteaulroy the Commander in chief to send Commission to Treat Three of the most Popular Nobility are sent yet could not prevail for any terms of Peace all that would be granted was the agreement to a Truce for eight Days Provided that the Queens Army remove into Louthian Whilst another Treaty may be had at St. Andrews which accordingly her Army did and immediately Hammilton and James Stuart advance to St. Johnston lay Siege to the Town which in few days yielded to them They proceed to Scone which they consume with Fire and from thence to Sterlin where all the Religious houses are pillaged and laid level to the ground then advancing to Lithquo the like is done there then entring Edenburgh they find business enough there to stay them for some days to demolish Religious houses to purge the Churches from Images and beautiful Sculptures and to establish Zealous Preachers of the Reformation in them The Queen having retreated to Dunbar returned towards Edenburgh when the Armies were ready to engage by the Negotiation of the Duke of Casteaulroy and the Earl of Morton a Cessation of Arms was at last agreed on from July the 24th to January the 10th next following In the mean time there was an universal toleration of Religion and no Man compelled to the use of any Rites or Ceremonies therein there was no Garrison to be placed at Edenburgh the Priests were peaceably to enjoy the Tithes of the Church for that Year no more Religious Houses were to be demolished or alienated the Pallace-Royal at Holyrude House with all there belonging to the Crown were to be restored to the Regent This Truce was firmly enough observed on both sides But about this time Henry the Second of France being forewarn'd of the Danger of that Day was strangely killed in a Tilt by the Earl of Montgomerry the now French King and the Queen of Scots advertised of the design of James Stuart Prior of St. Andrews to aspire to the Crown writ Letters to him adjuring him not only by common Duty but likewise by the special Favours received to return to his Obedience by deserting the Faction in which he had engaged himself whereunto James Stuart returned his Protestations of all due respects to the King and Queen but withal peremptorily declaring to adhere to those of the Congregation in despite of all Opposition This Answer is highly resented and a Garison of French is forthwith sent into Leith the Earl of Aran Son to Hammilton privately withdraweth from the French Court and comes into Scotland where he joyns with those of the Congregation with whom he likewise persuades his Father the Duke forthwith to joyn and they immediately attempt the Besiege of Leith which the French reinforce with Two Thousand Men sent over under Monsieur de la Broche with whom came the Bishop of Ameans and three Doctors of Sorbon to dispute if Occasion offered the Points of Religion then in controversie De la Broche in capacity of an Ambassador designed a Conference with the Lords of the Congregation which they refused requiring the return of the French into France and the dismantling of Leith otherwise no Treaty could be admitted The Queen Regent sendeth Forman the King at Arms to them adjuring them to return to their former Obedience to their King and Queen and to the known Laws of the Land assuring them that if they will promise to Disband their Army then at Edenburgh her Forces at Leith who had never been sent over but that their repeated Insurrections necessitated their Majesties to do it should soon be returned notwithstanding the great Contempt offered to the French Ambassadors to whom they would not so much as vouchsafe a Conference Protesting withal that nothing should be wanting in her to condescend to any thing not inconsistent with Piety towards God and Loyalty towards their Majesties In fine She requires the Duke his Son and all others of the Nobility and Gentry forthwith to withdraw from all such as were resolved still to disturb the Peace under the pain of High Treason The Lords receiving this Message are enraged and in answered thereunto return her a Suspension from her Government and in the King and Queens Name require her to forbear all exercise of Power under the pretence of any Title of Regent assuring her that against all Hazards they resolved to regain the Town of Leith out of the hands of the French and therefore out of the respect they had to her as their Queens Mother they requested her to withdraw out of the Town during the time of the Siege the like request they sent to the French Ambassadors and all their Souldiers out of the respect they bare to the French the day following they send their Commands requiring all Scotch Men then in Leith to forsake the Town then the Besiege or rather Blocking up of the Town began some Skirmishes there were in which the Besiegers had still the worst of it and in all Attempts were repulsed with loss and what added to their Calamity they begin to be jealous one of another the common Souldiers began to Mutiny for want of Pay whereupon they intended to mint their Plate but wanted Tools to do it in their streights they address to the English to whom John Cockhurne is dispatched to Sir Ralph Sadler and Sir James Crofts Governors of Barwick and the places adjacent to supply their present necessity with relief some Money is granted but Cockburne in his return is surprised by the Earl of Bothwell and sent Prisoner to the Queen The Besieged frequently make their Sallies out of the Town to the great prejudice of the Besiegers in so much that at last they are forced to retire to Sterlin where a Council was called to consider what was to be done in this Exigency John Knox Preached before the Council and persuading to a further action and a constant prosecution of the work begun be assures them of Success The result of the Meeting was to send a Message to Queen Elizabeth and crave her Assistance William Mettelane is dispatched and finds Friendly entertainment in the English Court He solicites her Majesty's aid in the common cause of Religion and Liberty Many of the Queen's Council dislike the Proposal and declare That help in this cause of Subjects against Sovereign Authority would be a President of most pernicious and dangerous consequence others of her Council think and speak more favourably of it At length the Queen's Zeal for Religion and Enmity against the French prevail with her and hopes of Assistance is given at Barwick Commissioners meet to sign Articles of Agreement which was That in case any Foreigner should Invade either Kingdoms mutual assistance is promised the Queen to pay the English Auxiliaries in Scotland and the Scottish Auxiliaries in England and