in a certain Familiar Discourse with some young Portugal Gentlemn upon mention made of the Eucharist he should affirm That in his Judgment Austin was more inclinable to the Party Condemned by the Roman Church in that Controversie There were also other Witnesses produc'd against him as some years after it came to his Knowledge viz. Iohn Tolpin a Norman and Iohn Ferrerius of Sub-Alpine Liguria their Testimony was That they had heard from divers Creditable Persons That Buchanan was not Orthodox as to the Roman Faith and Religion But to return to the matter after the Inquisitors had wearied both themselves and him for almost an year and a half at last that they might not seem to have causelesly vex'd a Man of some Name and Note in the World they shut him up in a Monastery for some Months there to be more exactly Disciplined and Instructed by the Monks who to give them their due were Men otherwise not uncivil or bad though Ignorant of all Religion 'T was principally at this time that he rendred most of David's Psalms into several sorts of Latin Metre At last he was set at Liberty and suing for a Pass and Accommodations from the King to return into France he was desired by him to stay where he was and he had a small parcel of Money bestowed upon him for his daily Expence till some better Provision might be made for his Subsistence But he being tired out with delay as being put off to no certain time nor on any sure Grounds of hope having got the opportunity of Passage in a Ship then Riding in the Bay of Lisbon was wafted over into England He made no long abode in England though fair offers were made him there for he saw that all things were in an Hurry and Combustion under a very young King the Nobles at Variance one with another and the Minds of the Commons yet in a Ferment upon the account of their Civil Combustions Whereupon he returned into France about the time that the Siege of Metz was raised There he was in a manner compell'd by his Friends to Write a Poem concerning that Siege which he did though somewhat unwillingly because he was loth to interfere with several of his Acquaintance and especially with Mellinus Sangelasius who had composed a Learned and Elegant Poem on that Subject From thence he was call'd over into Italy by Charles de Cossé of Brescia who then managed matters with prosperous Success in the Gallic and Ligustic Countries about the Po He abode with him and his Son Timoleon sometimes in Italy and sometimes in France the space of Five Years till the year of Christ One Thousand Five Hunderd and Sixty the most part of which time he spent in the Study of the Holy Scriptures that so he might be able to make a more exact Judgment of the Controversies in Religion which in those days did Exercise the greatest part of Men. 'T is true those disputes were somewhat silenced in Scotland when that Kingdom was freed from the Tyranny of the Guises of France so he returned thither and entered himself into the Church of Scotland Some of his Writings in former times being as it were Redeemed from a Shipwrack were Collected and Published by him The rest of them which are yet in the Hands of his Friends he commits to the disposal of Providence At present being in the Seventy Fourth Year of his Age he is in Attendance on the Education of Iames the Sixth King of Scotland to whom he was appointed Tutor in the Year One Thousand Five Hundred Sixty Five where being broken with the Infirmities of old Age he longs for the desired Haven of his Rest. He departed this Life at Edinburgh on the 28 th day of September in the Year of our Salvation One Thousand Five Hundred Eighty Two The Names of the KINGS of SCOTLAND I. FErgus I. pag. 95. II. Feritharis p. 97. III. Mainus p. 98. IV. Dornadilla Ibid. V. Nothatus p. 98. VI. Reutherus p. 99. VII Reutha p. 101. VIII Thereus Ibid. IX Josina Ibid. X. Finnanus p. 102. XI Durstus Ibid. XII Evenus p. 103. XIII Gillus Base Born p. 104. XIV Evenus II. p. 105. XV. Ederus p. 106. XVI Evenus III. p. 107. XVII Metallanus Ibid. XVIII Caratacus Ibid. XIX Corbred I. p. 108. XX. Dardanus Ibid. XXI Corbred II. Sirnamed Galdus p. 109. XXII Luctacus p. 111. XXIII Mogaldus p. 112. XXIV Conarus p. 113. XXV Ethodius I. p. 116. XXVI Satrael p. 117. XXVII Donald I. Ibid. XXVIII Ethodius II. p. 119. XXIX Athirco Ibid. XXX Nathalocus p. 120. XXXI â—indochus p. 121. XXXII Donald II. p. 122. XXXIII Donald III. p. 123. XXXIV Crathilinthus Ibid. XXXV Fincormachus p. 125. XXXVI Romachus Ibid. XXXVII Augusianus p. 126. XXXVIII Fethelmacus p. 127. XXXIX Eugenius I. Ibid. XL. Fergus II. p. 133. XLI Eugenius II. p. 138. XLII Dongardus p. 144. XLIII Constantin I. p. 145. XLIV Congallus I. p. 147. XLV Goranus p. 148. XLVI Eugenius III. p. 154. XLVII Congallus II. p. 155. XLVIII Kinnatellus Ibid. XLIX Aidanus Ibid. L. Kenneth I. p. 158. LI. Eugenius IV. Ibid. LII Ferchard I. Ibid. LIII Donald IV. p. 159. LIV. Ferchard II. p. 160. LV. Maldvinus Ibid. LVI Eugenius V. p. 161 LVII Eugenius VI. Ibid. LVIII Amberkelethus p. 162. LIX Eugenius VII Ibid. LX. Mordacus Ibid. LXI Etâ—nus p. 163. LXII Eugenius VIII Ibid. LXIII Fergus III. Ibid. LXIV Solvathius p. 164. LXV Achaius Ibid. LXVI Congalâ—us III. Ibid. LXVII Dongalâ—us Ibid. LXVIII Alpinus Ibid. LXIX Kenneth II. p. 167. LXX Donald V. p. 172. LXXI Constantin II. p. 174. LXXII Ethus p. 175. LXXIII Gregory Ibid. LXXIV Donald VI. p. 78. LXXV Constantine III. p. 179. LXXVI Malcolm I. p. 18â— LXVII Judulfus Ibid. LXXVIII Duffus p. 182. LXXIX Culenus p. 184. LXXX Kenneth III. p. 187. LXXXI Constantine IV. Sirnamed The Bald. p. 196. LXXXII Grimus p. 19â— LXXXIII Malcolm II. p. 200. LXXXIV Donald VII p. 207. LXXXV Macbeth p. 211. LXXXVI Malcolm III. p. 224. LXXXVII Donald Banus VIII p. 220. LXXXVIII Duncan Ibid. LXXXIX Edgar p. 221. XC Alexander I. Sirnamed Acer Ibid. XCI David I. p. 222. XCII Malcolm IV. p. 227. XCIII William p. 231. XCIV Alexander II. p. 237. XCV Alexander III. p. 240. XCVI John Baliol p. 250. XCVII Robert Bruce p. 261. XCVIII David II. p. 282. XCIX Edward Baliol p. 286. C. Robert II. p. 306. CI. Robert III. p. 223. CII James I p. 338. CIII James II. p. 359. CIV James III. p. 396. CV James IV. p. 1. CVI. James V. p. 73. CVII Henry Stuart p. 28. and Mary Stuart p. 175. CVIII James VI. p. 214. THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND BOOK I. WHen I first determined to Write the Famous Atchievements of our Ancestors and after I had purged them from the mixture of vain Fables to vindicate them from oblivion I thought it conducive to my purpose to repeat from the very beginning as much as so long a distance of Time and first the scarcity then
poised Temper that by the advantage of his natural Disposition he did equal or rather exceed those Princes who are instructed in the Liberal Arts and from thence come to the Helm of Government Dongardus The Forty Second King THE same Year that Eugenius died which was in the 452 Year of our Lord his Brother Dongardus was made King in his place He was of a Disposition like his Brother for as he was willing to embrace Peace upon good Conditions so when occasion required he was not afraid of War And therefore in reference both to Peace and War he not only prepared all things necessary to resist the Invasion of an Enemy but also he trained up the Youth and Soldiery of his Country in Pains and Parsimony That so they might be restrained from Vice and their minds not grow feeble and languid by long Quiet and too much Prosperity But the Seditions at home raised by the Brittons were the Cause that his Arms were not much famed abroad But being freed from that Encombrance he gave himself wholly up to the Reformation of Religion for the Reliques of the Pelagian Heresy did as yet trouble the Churches To confute them Pope Celestine sent Palladius over in the life of his Father Eugenius who instructed many that grew afterwards famous for Learning and Sanctity of Life and especially Patricius Servanus Ninianus Kentâ—gernus The same Palladius is reported to have appointed Bishops first in Scotland Whereas till then the Churches were govern'd only by Monks without Bishops with less Pomp and external Ceremony but with greater Integrity and Sanctimony of Life The Scots being thus intent about purging and settling Religiâ—n and Divine Worship escaped free from that Tempest of War which did shatter almost the whole World In the Second year of the Reign of Eugenius Vortigern was deposed and his Son Vortimer chosen King of the Brittons He renewed the Ancient League with the Scots and Picts that so he might more easily break the Power of the Saxons which was also made Tripartite of Three Nations against the Romans in the Days of Carausius Dongardus did not long survive this League for he died after he had reigned Five Years Constantine I. The Forty Third King COnstantinos his youngest Brother succeeded him in the Government who in his private Condition lived temperately enough but as soon as he mounted the Throne he let loose the Reins to all Debauchery He was avaricious and cruel towards the Nobility but familiar with men of an inferiour Rank He gave himself wholly to the Constupration of Virgins and Mâ—trons and to excessive Feastings having always Musicians and Stage-players about him and all other Ministers of Lasciviousness and Pleasures The Scotch Nobility being offended at these Miscarriages came often to him to put him in mind of his Duty He received their Admonitions very haughtily bidding them to look after their own Affairs saying That he had better Advice from others He also told them That they were much mistaken if they thought to Limit their King on pretence of Advising him And as he was thus arrogant towards his Subjects so he was as abject and submissive to his Enemies For he granted them Peace at first asking and forgave them the Injuries they had committed withal he demolished some Castles and deliver'd up others to them This Carriage of his did so far incense the Scots and Picts that the Scots were ready to Rebel and the Picts who before had secretly dealt with the Saxons set up for themselves and at last made a publick League with them But amongst the Scots there was one Dugal of Galway of great Authority amongst the Commons he for the present restrained the Multitude by an Insinuating Oration wherein he acknowledged That many of those things which they complained of were true and what they desired was just But yet if War should come as an accession to their other Miseries the Kingdom would be endangered yea hardly retrievable from Destruction especially seeing the Picts were alienated from them the Brittons since Vortimers Death but their uncertain Friends and the Saxons who were very strong and potent and who managed there Victories with great Cruelties and in whose Commerce their was no Faithfulness were always intent upon the Destruction of all their Neighbours Thus by the Prudence of the Ancienter the Tumult of the Common People was appeased but the King continuing to reign tho' with the Hatred and Contempt of all was at length slain by a Nobleman of the Aebudae for vitiating his Daughter by force in the Fifteenth year of his Reign This is the common Report concerning his Death but I rather incline to the Opinion of Iohannes Fordonus who says in his Scotochronicon that he reigned 22 years and at last died of a wasting Disease In his Reign Aurelius Ambrosius came into This Britain out of the Lesser beyond Sea he was the Son of Constantine who held the Kingdom some years before but he being Treacherously Slain and his Brother who reigned after his Father being also slain by Vortigern by like Treachery the Two other remaining Sons of Constantine were conveyed by their Fathers Friends into Gallick Bretagne I think this Original of Aurelius Ambrosius is truer than That which others deliver among whom is Bede for they say that he was the last of the Roman stock who reigned in Britanny These two Brothers when Vortimer was slain by the fraud of his Stepmother and Vortigern had made himself King without Authority or Power being now grown up and fit to Govern returned with the great Favour and Expectation of all men into the Island to recover their Fathers Kingdom and withal they brought no inconsiderable number of Britains out of Gaul along with them After their Arrival before they would alarm the strangers they subdued Vortigern in Wales and then sent Messengers to the Scots and Picts desiring their Allyance and craving their Conjunction in Arms against the Saxons the most bitter Enemies of the Christian Name Their Embassy was kindly received by the Scots and the League before made with Constantine was again renewed which from that day remained almost inviolate till the Kingdom of Britanny was oppressed by the Angles and the Kingdom of the Picts by the Scots But the Picts answered the British Ambassadors That they had already made a League with the Saxons and that they saw no Cause to break it but they were resolved to run all hazards with them for the future as partakers of their good or bad success Thus the whole Island was divided into Two Factions the Scots and Brittons waging continual War against the Picts and Saxons Congallus I. The Forty Fourth King COngallus succeeded Constantine the Son of Dongardus Constantine's Brother He was inclineable to Arms but durst not then attempt any thing in regard the People were effeminated and weakned by Sloth and Luxury during the Reign of his Uncle And tho' Many in compliance with his
Between Barra and Vyist lie these small Islands following Orbansa Ovia or Eoy Hakerset Garulinga Flada Buiia the greater and Buiia the less Haia Heldisay Gega Linga Fara Fuda Heath Island From these towards the North lies Vyist Thirty Miles long and Six broad The Tide flowing into this Island in two places represents the appearance of Three Islands but when it Ebbs it again coalesces into One In it are many Lakes of fresh Water the biggest of which is Three Miles long The Sea wearing away the Land hath made it self a passage into this Lough neither can it be excluded by the Inhabitants no not by a Jitty or Bank of Sixty Foot high but that it insinuates it self between the Stones not well compacted together and there often leaves some small Sea-Fish behind There is a Fish taken in it in other respects like a Salmon save that his Belly is white and his Back black and he is without Scales like to Salmon Moreover there are in it abundance of Loughs of fresh Water It hath Caves in it covered with Heath which are lurking places for Robbers There are Five Parish-Churches in it for the performance of Holy Duties Eight Miles from thence towards the East lies Helscher Vetularum so called as I suppose because it belongs to the Nuns of the Island of Icolumkill A little further towards the North appears Havelschyer to which at certain seasons of the year many Sea-Calves or Seals do resort and are there taken About Sixty Miles beyond that to the North-West stands Hirta very fruitful in Corn Cattle and especially in Sheep which are here fatter than in any other of the Islands The Inhabitants are ignorant of all Arts and especially of Religion After the Summer solstice the Lord of the Island sends thither his Proctor or Steward to gather up his Rent or Tribute and with him he sends a Priest to Baptize all the Children which were born the year before but if the Priest come not then every Man baptizeth his own Children they pay to their Lord a certain number of Sea-Calves and of Muttons dried in the Sun and also of Sea-Fowl The whole Island doth not exceed a Mile in length and it is almost of equal bredth neither can any part of it be seen from any neighbouring Island besides Three Mountains which are on the Shore and these cannot be discerned neither but from the highest places of other Islands In those Mountains there are Sheep exceeding beautiful but by reason of the Violence and Rapidness of the Sea-Current and Tide they can scarce become at by any Body But to return to Vyist on the North Promontory thereof there is situate the Isle Valay a Mile broad and two Mile long Between that Promontory and the Isle Harrick these Islands are interjacent small indeed but not unfruitful viz. Soa Stromoy Pabaia Bernera Erisay Keligera Saga the less Saga the greater Hermodra Scarvay Gria Linga Gillan Hea Hoia Ferelaia Soa the lesser Soa the greater Isa Senna the less Senna the great Tarransa Slegana Tâ—ema and above Harick Scarpa and due West there are Seven Islands at Fifty Miles distance above Lewis which some call Flavanae others the Sacred or Sanctuary Islands they arise up into Grassy Mountains but are void of all human Culture neither are there in them any four-footed Beasts but only wild Sheep which the Hunters catch but eat them not when they have done For they esteem the Fat more palatable than the Flesh for the Flesh is so unpleasant that no Man will eat it unless enforced by extremity of Hunger Furthermore almost in the same Tract nearer to the North lie Garvellan i. e. the Craggy Island Lamba Flada and Kellasa the two Berneraes the great and the small Kirta Buiia the little Buiia the great Vexa Pabaia and Sigrama the great or Cunicularia so called from its plenty of Conies Sigrama the less and the Island of Pygmies in this last there is a Chapel where the bordering People do believe that Pygmies were heretofore buried for many Strangers digging deep into the Earth have found and yet do find little and round Heads and the small Bones of other parts of human Bodies nothing derogating from the ancient Reports concerning Pygmies In that Shore of the Island Lewis which looks toward the South-East Two Bays of the Sea do break into the Land one of which they call the South the other the North Lough both of them do yield abundance of Fish to those which take pains to catch them and that during the whole year From the same shore of Lewis more to the South stands Fable Isle then Adams Isle then the Isle of Lambs as also Huilin Viccoil Havera Laxa Erin the Isle of â—columkill Toray Iâ—â—ert Scalpa Fladâ— and Shevy At the East side of this Island there is a subterraneous passage Arched at Top longer than a Man can shoot an Arrow into Under which Vault small Ships use to shelter themselves making to it by Sails or Oars to avoid the Violence of the Tide which rages at the Neighbouring Promontory with a huge Noise to the extreme Terrour and Danger of the Mariners More to the East lies an Island which they call Schan Castle a place naturally fortified abounding with Corn and Fish and also affording sufficient Provision to the Inhabitants by Eggs of Sea-Fowl which there make their Nests At the Shore where Loch-Brien or Broom opens to the Land lies the Isle En which is almost all covered with Woods and good for nothing but to harbour Thieves in to rob Passengers More to the North is the Island Gruinorta being also full of Woods possessed by Robbers and Pyrates And looking towards the same Coast is an Island named the Island of Cleirach which beside Pasturage abounds with the Eggs of Sea-Fowl Next to that is Afulla and then Harary the Greater then Harary the Less and nigh it the Island of Horses or Naâ—stich and near that again the Isle Mertaâ—ka These Eight Islands are situate before the Mouth of the Bay which is vulgarly called Lough-Broom or Brian At some distance from these Islands which lie before Lough-Broom Harrick and Lewis run toward the North They are Sixty Miles in length and Sixteen in bredth These make but one Island for they are not distinguished by the Arms of the Sea that slow into it but by the Meers of the Land and the Possessions of their several Lairds But that part which is exposed to the South is wont to be called Harray In it there was a Monastery called Roadilla built by Maccloyd of Harray The Soil is fruitful of Corn but it yields its increase rather by digging than plowing The Pastures in it are very fit for Sheep especially one very high Mountain which is green with Grass even to the very Top. Donald Monro a Learned and Pious Man relates That when
he was there he saw Sheep for that kind of Cattle very old wandring up and down without any certain Owner And the Number of them is increased from hence that neither Fox Wolf or Serpent was ever seen there though betwixt This part and Lewis great Woods are interjacent which breed many Stags but low ones and not big-bodied at all In this part of the Island is a River very full of Salmon In the North part lies Lewis inhabited enough towards the Shore It hath four Parish-Churches in it one Fort seven great Rivers and twelve lesser ones all of them according to their bigness full of Salmons in many places the Sea penetrates into the Land and there diffuses it self into Bays all abounding with plenty of Herrings There is also great plenty of Sheep which wander freely amongst the Thickets and Heath-Bushes The Inhabitants drive them into a narrow place like a Sheep-fold and there every Year they sheer them after the ancient custom The Champion part of the Country abounds with Heath-Bushes in which the Earth is black at top occasioned by Moss and the Coalition of Rotten Wood gathered together for many Ages even a Foot thick This upper Crust being cut into long and slender Turffs and dryed in the Sun serves for Firing in stead of Wood The next Year after the naked Ground being Dunged with Sea-Weed is sown with Barley In this Island there is commonly so great a quantity of Whales taken that sometimes as the old Inhabitants relate Twenty seven some very great some smaller fall to the share of the Priests for their Tithes There is also a great Cave in this Island in which when the Tide is out the Water is yet two Fathom deep but when the Tide is in 't is above four Fathom There Multitudes of People of both Sexes and of all Ages sitting on the Rocks with Hooks and Lines do promiscuously catch all sorts of Fish in great abundance There is a small Island about Sixty Miles from Lewis to the North-East of a low and plain Soil and well inhabited its Name is Rona the Inhabitants thereof are rude Persons void almost of all Religion The Laird of it assigns a certain number of Families to Inhabit and Till it and he allows them a sufficiency of great and small Cattle whereby they may live well and pay their Tribute too that which is above their own provision they send every year to Lewis to their Land-lord who lives there they commonly pay him in the Name of a Tribute or Rent a great quantity of Barly-Meal sewed up in the Skins of Sheep for that kind of Grain grows plentifully amongst them Muttons and Sea-Fowl dried in the Sun as much as remains as a Surplusage of their yearly Provision and if the multitude of Heads doth abound they send also the Supernumerary Persons to their Land-lords So that these in my Judgment are the only Persons in the whole World who want nothing but have all things to Satiety And besides being ignorant of Luxury and Covetousness they enjoy that Innocency and Tranquillity of Mind which others take great pains to obtain from the Precepts and Institutions of Wise Men. And this they have from their Ignorance of Vices neither doth any thing seem to be wanting to their great Happiness but that they do not understand the excellency of their Condition There is in this Island a Chapel dedicated to St. Ronanus wherein as old Men say there is a Spade always left wherewith if any one Dye there is alway a place marked out and prepared for his Grave moreover in this Island besides other Fishery many Whales are also taken Sixteen Mile from thence towards the West lies the Island Suilkyr a Mile long which brings forth no Grass no not so much as Heath only it hath black Rocks some of which are covered with black Moss Sea-Fowl do commodiously lay their Eggs and hatch them there Before the young are fledg'd enough to fly away the neighbour Islanders sail thither from Lewis and they allow themselves Eight days time more or less to cull or gather them up untill they load their Skiffs with their Flesh dried in the Sun and also with their Feathers In this Island also there is a rare kind of Bird unknown in other parts called Colca it is little less than a Goose she comes every year thither and there Hatches and Feeds her young till they can shift for themselves About that time her Feathers fall off of their own accord and so leaves her Naked then she betakes her self to the Sea again and is never seen more till the next Spring This also is singular in them that their Feathers have no Quâ—lls or Stalks but do cover their Bodies with a gentle Down wherein there is no Hardness at all Next follow the Orcades lying scattered in the North of Scotland partly in the Deucaledonian and partly in the German Seas Concerning the Name of them Writers both Ancient and Modern do well enough agree but the reason of the Name no Man that I know hath explained Neither doth it appear who first possessed them All say that they were of a German Original but from what Nation of Germany they say not If we may form a conjecture from their Speech both heretofore and now they use the Gottish Language Some think they were Picts induced by this Argument that the Sea dividing them from Caithness is called the Pentland Sea or Firth They judge also that the Picts themselves were of the Race of the Saxons grounding their Opinion chiefly on the Verses of Claudian in his seventh Panegyrick which run thus Maduerunt Saxone fuso Orcades incaluit Pictorum sanguine Thule Scotorum Tumulos flevit glacialis Ierne Englished thus The Orcades were moist with Saxon's Gore The Blood of Picts there spilt warm'd Thule's Shore For Tombs of Scots Icy Iern wept sore But their error may easily be refuted partly out of Bede the Anglo-Saxon who affirming that the Britains sang the Praises of God in five several Languages reckons the Pictish to be one but if the Picts had then spoke the Saxon Language he would not have distinguished it from the Saxon which then the English used without corruption And partly also out of those very Verses of Claudian where he expresly declares That the Picts were a different People from the Saxons For he says that the Orcades were the Country of the Saxons and Thule of the Picts but whatsoever their Original were in this our Age they use a Language different both from Scotch and English but very near the Gothish In their daily conversation the common People do as yet retain much of their Ancient Parsimony and therefore they are very sound in mind and healthy in Body Few of them dye of Diseases but almost all of them of old Age and their Ignorance of Delights and Pleasures contributes more to the maintaining of their health
Dominion of the Bishop of Rome only and gave himself out to be the only Arch-Bishop of the Isle of Britain and withal introduced a Dispute neither Necessary nor Advantageous concerning the Day on which Easter was to be kept and did by this means mightily trouble the Churches Yea he so loaded the Christian Discipline which was then inclining toward Superstition with such new Ceremonies and feigned Miracles that he scarce left any Mark or Footstep of true Piety behind him Kennethus I. The Fiftieth King AFTER Aidanus Kennethus was Elected King he did nothing Memorable in his time He died the 4th or as some say the 12th Month after he began to Reign Eugenius IIII. The Fifty First King AFter him Eugenius the Son of Aidanus was made King In the year of our Lord 605. He was brought up as the Black Book of Pasley hath it piously and carefully under Columba being very well educated in human Learning yet in This he swerved from the Institution of his Master that he was more addicted to War than Peace For he exercised the Saxons and Picts with daily Incursions His Government was very severe and rough Those who were proud and contumacious sooner felt the point of his Sword than they received from him any Conditions of Peace but to those who asked Pardon for their offences and voluntarily surrendred themselves he was very merciful and easy to forgive and not at all insolent in his Victories This is what That Book reports concerning Eugenius But Boetius says on the contrary That he lived in great Peace which happened not so much from his Foreign Leagues as from the Discords of his Enemies who maintain'd Civil Wars amongst themselves For the English inhabiting the South Parts making Profession of Christianity whilst they endeavoured to revenge the injuries offered to them deprived Ethelfrid the Potent King of Northumberland both of his Life and Kingdom together Edvinus succeeded him and the kindred of Ethelfrid fled into Scotland amongst whom were Seaven of his Sons and one Daughter This was done in the Tenth year of the Reign of Eugenius He entertain'd these Saxons flying to him for Refuge tho' he knew them to be Enemies both to him and the whole Christian Name with great Courtesy and Humanity as long as he lived giving them Royal Reception and causing them to be carefully educated in the Christian Religion He died in the Sixteenth Year of his Reign and was much Lamented by all Men. Ferchardus I. The Fifty Second King HIS Son Ferchardus was substituted in his room in the Year of Christ 522. and in the 13th year of Heraclius the Emperour He being a Cunning and Politick Man endeavoured to change the Legitimate Government of the Land into Tyranny in order whereto he nourished Factions amongst the Nobility supposing by that means to effect what wickedly he designed with Impunity But the Nobles understanding his Malicious aim secretly made up the Breach amongst themselves and calling an Assembly of the Estates Summoned him to appear which he refusing to do they Stormed the Castle wherein he was and so drew him per force to Judgment Many and grievous Crimes were objected against him and particularly the Pelagian Heresy the Contempt of Baptism and other Sacred Rites When he was not able to purge himself from any One of them he was committed to Prison where That he might not live to be a publick Spectacle of disgrace he put an End to his own Life in the 14th Year of his Reign Donaldus IIII. The Fifty Third King HIS Brother Donaldus or Donevaldus mounted the Throne in his stead who calling to mind the Elogy of his Father and the Miserable end of his Brother made it his Business to maintain the true Worship of God and that not only at home but he sought by all Lawful means to propagate it abroad For when Edwin was dead he furnished the Kindred and Children of Ethelfrid who had remained Exiles in Scotland for many Years with Accommodations to return home he bestowed upon them Gifts he sent Forces to accompany them and gave them free Liberty to pass and repass as occasion required This Edwin afore spoken of was slain by Kedvalla as Bede calls him King of the Brittons and by Penda King of the Mercians One of which was his Enemy out of ancient hatred to the Nation The Other for his new embracing of Christianity but Both for the Emulation of his power The Victory is reported to have been most Cruel for whilst Penda endeavoured to root out the Christians and Kedvalla the Saxons their Fury was so great that it spared neither Age nor Sex After the death of Edwin Northumberland was divided into Two Kingdoms Osticus Cousin-German to Edwin was made King of the Deiri and Eanfrid as Bede calls him but our Writers name him Aâ—defridus Ethelfrides Eldest Son King of the Bernici They renounced the Christian Religion in which they had been diligently educated one by the Scotish Monks the other by Paulinus the Bishop and revolted to their Ancient Superstition but were both shortly after outed out of their Kingdoms and their Lives too by Penda Oswald the Son of Ethelfrid succeeded them Both a studious Promoter of the Christian Religion He sent Ambassadors into Scotland to Donaldus to desire him to send him some Christian Doctors which he did Men of great Sanctity and Learning and who were accordingly received by him with great curtesy entertained magnificently and rewarded amply Neither did he think it below his Kingly Dignity to interpret the Sentences of their Sermons Preached to the People who did not so well understand the Scotish Language whom he gathered together for that purpose all which is clearly expressed by Bede Donaldus died in the 14th year of his Reign leaving the precious Memory of his Virtues behind him Ferchardus II. The LIV. King FERCHARDVS his Brother Ferchardus's Son succeeded him a most slagitious Person unsatiable in his desires of Wine and Wealth of inhuman Cruelty towards Men and of as great Impiety towards God When his Cruelty and Rapine had raged against those without he converted his Fury upon his Domesticks killing his Wife and Vitiating his Daughter for which hainous Wickedness he was Excommunicated out of the Society of Christians And as the Nobles were about to Assemble by way of Consultation about his Punishment Coleman that Holy Bishop stopped them for he openly told him That Divine Vengeance should speedily overtake him and the Event verified his Prediction for a few days after as he was a Hunting he was hurt by a Wolf and fell into a Feaver and not being able to abstain from his former Intemperance at last his Body was eaten up by the Lowsie Disease and then he cryed out That he was deservedly punished because he had not hearkned to the wholsom Advice of Coleman Thus at last seeing his Error and Coleman comforting him with hopes of Pardon in case he truly repented He
caused himself to be carried abroad in a Litter meanly Apparrel'd and there he made a publick Confession of his Wickedness and so dyed in the Year of our â—edmption 668. Scotland groaned under this Monster 18 Years Maldvinus The LV King MAldvinus the Son of Donald succeeded him who that he might strengthen those Parts of the Kingdom which were weakned by the Tyranny of the former King made Peace with all his Neighbors Having quieted things without he was disturbed by a Sedition at home arising between the Argyle and Lennox Men. Maldvinus drew forth against the Authors of this Tumult that so he might punish them without prejudicing the Commonalty They to avoid the King's Wrath composed their private jars and fled into the Aebudae Isles The King sent for them to have them punished and the Islanders not daring to retain them delivered them up Their punishment kept the rest in their Duties About this time it was That when the Scotish Monks had spread the Doctrine of Christ very far over England and had so instructed the English Youth that now they seemed able of themselves to Preach the Gospel plainly even to their own Countrymen together with their Institution and Learning they also entertained and suck'd in some Envy against their Teachers so that by reason of this Prejudice the Scots-Monks were forced to return into their own Country Which Contumely as it cut off the Concord between both Kingdoms so the Modesty of Those who had received the wrong kept both Nations from open Hostility only frequent Incursions were made and Skirmishes hapned in divers places There fell out at this time a terrible Plague over all Europe such as was never Recorded by any Writer before Only the Scots and Picts were free therefrom By reason of the frequent Injuries mutually offered and Preys driven away on both sides Both Nations were like to break forth into an open War if the death of Maldvinus had not prevented it After he had Reigned 20 years his Wife suspecting that he had been naught with an Harlot Strangled him and Four Days after She herself was punished for the Fact by being burnt alive Eugenius V. The LVI King AFter him Eugenius the 5th Son of King Dongard undertook the Kingdom Egfrid the King of Northumberland with whom he principally desired to be at Peace sought to deceive him by fained Truces and he again assaulted Egfrid by the same Art Thus when Both made shew of Peace in Words they each secretly prepare for War When the Truce was ended Egfrid thô his Friends dissuaded him from it joyned Forces with the Picts and entring into Scotland he foraged Galway But he was overthrown by Eugenius the Picts giving ground in the Fight and lost almost all his Army so that he hardly escaped wounded and with a few Followers home The next Year his Friends then also Dissuading him he drew forth his Army against the Picts who pretending to run away drew him into an Ambush and cut him off with all his Men. The Picts laying hold of This so fair an Opportunity recovered those large Territories which had been taken from them in former Wars And the Brittons who freed themselves from the Government of the Angli or English together with the Scots entred Northumberland and made such an Havock there that it never recovered itself since Soon after Eugenius dyed in the 4th Year of his Reign Eugenius VI. The LVII King EVGENIVS the VI the Son of Ferchard succeeded Eugenius the V As did Alfrid Brother to Egfrid succeed him in Northumberland Both Kings were very Learned especially in Theology according to the rate of those times And also friendly one to the other on the account of their common Studies So that the Peace was faithfully maintain'd betwixt them Alfrid made use of this Tranquillity to settle the bounds of his Kingdom thô in narrower Limits than before But the Scots had neither an Establish'd Peace nor yet a Declared War with the Picts Excursions were frequently made with different and interchangable Successes thô Cutberectus an English Bishop and Adamannus a Scotish Bishop did in vain labour to reconcile them Yet This they effected that they never fought a pitched Battel In the mean time Eugenius being inflamed with an inexpiable Hatred against the Perfidiousness of the Picts was stopped in the midst of his Career to Revenge for he dyed having Reigned 10 Years In his Reign it is reported That it Reigned Blood all over Britain for 7 days and that the Milk Cheese and Butter were also turned into Blood Amberkelethus The LVIII King AFter him Amberkelethus the Son of Findanus and Nephew of Eugenius the 5th obtained the Kingdom At the beginning of his Reign he counterfeited Temperance but soon returned to his Natural Disposition and broke forth into all manner of Wickedness Garnard King of the Picts laying hold of this Opportunity gathered a great Army together and invaded the Scots Amberkelethus could hardly be excited to take Arms without much Importunity but at last he did as he was going forth in the Night to ease himself with Two Servants he was slain with an Arrow it was not known who shot it when he had not Reigned full Two Years some say That when he pressed upon the Enemy in a thick Wood that he was hurt with an Arrow by them and so dyed 10 days after Eugenius VII The LIX King EVGENIVS the 7 th Brother of the former King was Declared King by the Suffrage of the Soldiers in the Field that so the Army might not disband nor be without an Head He putting little confidence in an Army Levyed by a slothful King lengthened out the War by Truces and at last concluded it by Marrying Spondana Daughter of Garnardus She not long after was slain in her Bed by Two Athol-men who had conspired to destroy the King The King himself was accused of the Murder but falsly and before he was brought to Judgment the Murderers were found out Whereupon he was freed The Offenders were most exquisitely punished When Matters were composed abroad the King turned himself to the Affairs of Peace delighting much in Hunting But his chief Care was for Religion It was his Design and Appointment That the Noble Acts and Enterprizes of Kings should be Registred in Monasteries He maintain'd a continued Peace 17 Years with all his Neighbours and then dyed at Abernethy Mordacus The LX King EVGENIVS a little before his Death commended Mordacus the Son of Amberkelethus to the Nobility to be his Successor There was Peace all over Britain during his Reign as Bede says about the end of his History He did imitate Eugenius not only in maintaining Peace but in endowing of Monasteries also He Repaired the Convent of White-horn which was demolished He dyed at the Entrance into the 16th Year of his Reign Etfinus The LXI King IN the Year of our Lord 730 Etfinus the Son of Eugenius the 7 th
fought with and slew him and some of his Followers Douglas took the Fact so hainously that he made a Solemn Oath never to rest till he had expiated the Murder by Colvil's Death Neither were his Threatnings in vain for he Storm'd his Castle took and plunder'd it and killed all therein that were able to bear Arms. This Fact though 't was performed against Law and Custom yet some did excuse and in effect commend as proceeding from Indignation a Passion not unbeseeming a Generous Mind Thus as it commonly happens in degenerate Times Flattery the perpetual Companion of Greatness did clothe the highest Offences with Honest and Plausible Names Moreover Douglas was so lifted up with the Flatteries of Fortune which did now incline to his Destruction that he had a great Ambition to make an Ostentation of his Power even to Foreign Nations as if the splendor of so great a Family oâ—â—ht not to be straitned within the narrow Theatre of one Island onâ—â— so that he had a Mind to go to Rome he pretended Religion but the principal design of his Journy was Ambition the Church of Rome had adopted the old Rites of the Iewish for as the Iewish Church every Fiftieth year was to forgive all the Debts of what kind soever to their Country Men and to restore all Pledges Gratis and also to set their Hebrew Servants at Liberty So the Pope taking an Example therefrom as Gods Vicar on Earth did arrogate the Power of forgiving all Offences For whereas at other times he trucked out his Pardons by Peice-Meal every Fiftieth Year he open'd his full Garners thereof and pour'd out whole Bushels full of them publickly to all yet I will not say Gratis Douglas with a great Train of Nobles who were desirous partly to see Novelties and partly allur'd by hopes of Reward sail'd over into Flanders From thence he Travelled by Land to Paris and took with him his Brother appointed Bishop of Caledonia who afterwards seeing Douglas had no Children was by the Kings Permission put in hopes to be his Heir In France he was highly caressed partly upon the account of their Publick League with the Scots and partly in Memory of his Ancestors Demerits from that Crown hereupon all Rome was filled with the Expectation of his coming About Two Months after his departure from Scotland his Enemies and Rivals began to lift up their Heads they durst not for Fear complain of him when he was present but now they laid open all the Injuries they had received from him And when it was once noised abroad that the Access to the King was easie and that his Ear was open to all just Complaints The Troop of Complainants lamenting their Sufferings did daily increase so that all the ways to the Palace were almost stopt by them The King could not well either reject the Petitions of the Sufferers nor yet condemn the Earl in his absence without hearing of him so that he gave a middle Answer which satisfi'd their Importunity for the present viz. That he would Command the Earls Proctor or Attorney to appear that so in his own Presence a fair Tryal might be had Whereupon the Proctor was summon'd but did not appear so that the Kings Officers were sent out to bring him in by force when he was brought to Court some alledged that he ought to be immediately punisht for disobeying the Kings Command in regard that by too much Patience the Kings Authority would be despis'd and run low even amongst the meaner sort for under the pretence of Lenity the Audaciousness of the Bad would increase and the Impunity of Offendors would open the way for more Crimes The King was not mov'd by those Instigations but remain'd constant to his Resolution which was rather to satisfie his greatest Accusers by the Compensation of their Losses than to satiate their Vindicative Minds with the spilling of his Blood Hereupon he caus'd the Earls Proctor to be brought out of Prison and to plead in his Masters behalf telling him That if he had any thing to allege in Purgation of the Crimes objected he should freely declare it without any fear at all When he was cast in many Suits and the King Commanded him immediately to pay the Damages The Proctor answer'd He would defer the whole matter till the return of the Earl who was expected in a few Months This he spake as 't was thought by the advice of Ormond and Murray the Earl's Brothers When the King was inform'd of his Resolution he sent William Sinclare Earl of the Orcades who was then Chancellor first into Galway and then into Douglasdale he appointed Sequestrators to gather up the Rents of Douglas's Estate and so to pay the Damages adjudg'd by Law But in regard Sinclare had not Power enough to inforce his Order some eluded others Contumeliously abus'd him so that he return'd without effecting his Business The King being provokt by this Contempt of his Authority Commands all the Favourers of Douglas his Faction to be Summon'd to appear which they refusing to do were declared Publick Enemies an Army was Levy'd against them which marcht into Galway At their first coming the Commanders were driven into their Castles but a small Party of the Kings Forces pursuing after the rest through Craggy Places were repuls'd and not without Ignominy driven back to the King The King taking it in great Indignation that a few Vagabond Thieves should dare to make such Attempts resolv'd to redeem their slighting of him by attempting their Strongs Holds he took the Castle of Maban with no great difficulty but his Soldiers were so much toil'd and weary'd in the taking of Douglas Castle that therefore he wholly demolisht it As for the Vassals and Tenants who had submitted themselves and their Fortunes to him he Commanded them to pay their Rents to his Treasurers till Douglas's Estate had fully satisfi'd what was awarded against him by Law And when this was almost done he dismist his Army having obtain'd a good Report for his Lenity and Moderation even amongst his very Enemies When these Matters were related to the Earl at Rome his great Spirit was mightily mov'd yea his Esteem did then abate amongst his own Attendants so that a great Part of them deserted him and he enter'd upon his Journy homewards with but a few Followers He came through England and drawing near to the Borders of Scotland he sent his Brother Iames to feel the Kings Pulse how he stood affected towards him And when the King was appeasable he return'd home and was kindly receiv'd only he was admonisht to abandon and subdue all Robbers especially those of Annandale who had plaid many Cruel and Avaritious Pranks in his absence Douglas undertook to do so and confirm'd his Promise by an Oath Whereupon he was not only restor'd into his former Grace and Favour but also made Regent over all Scotland so that every one was injoin'd to obey his Commands But
Ambassadors were presently sent into France Cardinal David Beton and Robert Maxwel to bring over Mary of the House of Guise Widow to the Duke of Longoville for the King presaging the Loss of his Wife had cast his Eye upon her This same Year the Earl of Bothwel because he had past over secretly into England and also had held private Cabals with the English in Scotland was banish'd out of England Scotland and France Moreover about the same time many Persons were accused and condemned for high Treason Iohn Forbes an active young Man the Head of a great Family and Faction was brought to his end it was thought by the Emulation of the Hâ—ntly's for there was one Straughan a Man fit for any flagitious Enterprize who was many Years very familiar with Forbes and was either privy to or else Partaker or Author of all his bad Actions He being not as much respected by him as he thought he deserv'd deserted him and apply'd himself to his Enemy Huntly and before him accused Forbes of Treason or as many think he there plotted the Accusation with Huntly himself against him viz. That Forbes many Years before had a Design to kill the King The Crime was not sufficiently prov'd against him nor by fit and unexceptionable Witnesses neither was the Plot of his Adversaries the Huntlys against his Life hid in the Process yet on the 14 th of Iuly the Judges who were most of Huntly's Faction condemn'd him and he had his Head struck off His Punishment was the less lamented because though Men believed him guiltless as to the Crime he suffered for yet they counted him worthy of Death for the Flagitiousness of his former Life Straughan the Discoverer because he had concealed so foul an Offence so long was banish'd Scotland and liv'd many Years after in France so deboistly and filthily that Men thought him a fit Instrument for any wicked Prank whatsoever The King not long after as if he had repented of his Severity against Forbes took another Brother of the Forbes's into his Family and another he advanced to a rich Match restoring to them their Estate which had been confiscate A few Days after there was another Trial which on the account of the Family of the accused Parties the Novelty of the Wickedness charged on them and the heinousness of the Punishment was very lamentable Ioan Douglas Sister to the Earl of Angus and Wife to Iohn Lyons Lord of Glames also her Son and later Husband Gilespy Cambel Iohn Lyons Kinsman to her former Husband and an old Priest were accused for endeavouring to poison the King All these tho they lived continually in the Country far from Court and their Friends and Servants could not be brought to witness any thing against them yet were put on the Rack to make them confess and so were condemn'd and shut up in Edinburgh-Castle The fifth day after Forbes was executed Ioan Douglas was burnt alive with the great Commiseration of all the Spectators The Nobleness both of her self and Husband did much affect the Beholders besides she was in the vigour of her Youth much commended for her rare Beauty and in her very Punishment she shewed a manlike Fortitude But that which People were most concern'd for was That they thought the Enmity against her Brother who was banish'd did her more prejudice than her own objected Crime Her Husband endeavoured to escape out of the Castle of Edinburgh but the Rope being too short to let him down to the Foot of the Rock he brake almost all the Bones of his Body in the Fall and so ended his Days Their Son a young Man and of greater innocent Simplicity than to have the Suspicion of such a Wickedness justly charged upon him was shut up Prisoner in the Castle and after the King's Death was released and recovered the Estate which had been taken away from his Parents Their Accuser was William Lyons he afterwards perceiving that so eminent a Family was like to be ruined by his false Information repented when it was too late and confess'd his Offence to the King and yet he could not prevail to prevent the Punishment of the Condemned or to hinder their Estates from being confiscate The next Year following on the 12 th of Iune Mary of the House of Guise arrived at Balcomy a Castle belonging to Iames Laird of Lermont from whence she was conveyed by Land to St. Andrews and there in a great Assembly of the Nobility she was married to the King In the beginning of the Year following which was 1539 many Persons were apprehended as suspected of Lutheranism And about the End of February five were burnt nine recanted but many more were banish'd amongst the Sufferers of this Class was George Buchanan who when his Keepers were asleep made his Escape out of the Window of the Prison to which he was committed This Year the Queen brought forth a Son at St. Andrews and the next Year another in the same Place Also this Year and the former Matters were rather somewhat hushed than fully composed some Men wanting rather a Leader than an Occasion to rebel For tho many desired it yet no Man durst openly avow himself Head of any Insurrection And now the King having Heirs to succeed him and thereby becoming more confident of his Settledness and Establishment began to slight the Nobility as a sluggish and unwarlike Generation and not likely to attempt any thing against him whose Family was now rivetted and confirmed by Issue-Male So that he applied his Mind to sumptuous and unnecessary Buildings he stood in need of Mony for that Work and in regard he was as Covetous as he was Indigent both Factions of Nobles and Priests were equally afraid and each of them indeavoured to avert the Tempest from falling upon them that it might light on the Other And therefore whenever the King complain'd of the Lowness of his Exchequer amongst his Friends One Party would extol the Riches of the Other as if it were a Prey ready for the Seisure and the King hearkned sometimes to the One and sometimes to the Other and so kept both in Suspence between hope and fear So that when Ambassadors came at that time out of England to Court to desire the King to give his Uncle a Meeting at York promising some mighty Advantages by that Interview and making a large Harangue concerning the Love and Good-will of their King towards him The Faction which was adverse to the Priests persuaded him by all means to meet at the Time and Place appointed When the Sacerdotal Party heard of this they thought their Order would be quite undone if they did not hinder the Meeting and so disturb the Concord by casting in Seeds of Discord betwixt the King and his Nobles And considering of all ways how to effect it no Remedy seemed more ready at hand for the present Malady than to attempt the King's Mind which
if they sent away the Queen they must expect perpetual War from England and Bondage from the French others were of opinion that by reason of Agreement in Religion and the Condition of the present Times it was best to embrace the Terms offered by the English which were a Ten Years Peace with no bad Covenants or Obligations on the Scots For the whole of the League was That if the King of England or Queen of Scotland died within ten years all things should be on both sides as they were before and though no fortuitous Event should happen between yet the Kingdom might be hereby freed from its present Pressures which had almost broke its Strength and the Souldiery which were almost all lost in the late Battel might have time to grow up and increase in a long continued Peace and that intestine Discord being laid asleep they might more maturely consider of the Grand Affairs than they could do amongst Drums and Trumpets And in such Consultations Delays were oftentimes of great Advantage and rash Festination was attended with speedy Repentance Thus They. But all the Papists favoured the French and some others too whom French Bounty had either forestalled or else had rais'd up to great hopes of Advantage amongst whom was the Regent he had an yearly Revenue of 1200 French Pistols promised him and the Command of an 100 Curiassiers so that the most Voices carried it for the Queen 's going into France The Fleet which was to convey her rode at Leith and making as if they would go away they sailed about all Scotland and came to Dunbarton where the Queen went on Ship-board having staid some Months for its Arrival in the Company of Iames her Brother Iohn Erskin and William Levingston She was tossed with much foul Weather and contrary Winds but at last landed in Bretaign a Peninsule in France and by easy Journies went to Court In Scotland whilst the War stopp'd at Hadington yet the Common People in several Places were not wanting to the present Occasion For the Garisons of Hume and Fascastle doing great hurt to the Neighbourhood the Scots observing that Hume was negligently guarded by Night got up to the Top of a Rock where the Confidence of the Unaccessibleness of the Place made those within less watchful and so they killed the Sentinels and took the Castle And not long after when the Governor of Fascastle had commanded the Country thereabouts to bring in a great quantity of Provisions into the Castle at a certain Day The Country upon this occasion came numerously in and unlading their Horses they took up the Provision on their backs to carry them over a Bridg made betwixt two Rocks into the Castle assoon as ever they were entred they threw down their Burden and upon a Sign given slew the Guards and before the rest of the English could come in they seized on their Arms and placed themselves in the Avenues and thus setting the Gates open for their whole Party to enter they made themselves Masters of the Castle In the mean time the Naval Force of the English was not idle for the whole stress of the Land-War lying upon Hadington their Commanders thought that the neighbouring Parts were weakned and spoiled of all Defence so that they resolved to land in Fife And accordingly they pass'd by some Sea-Towns which were well inhabited and came to St. Minnans Kirk a Place peopled well enough that from thence they might march by Land to greater Towns but less fortified where the Pillage might be more worth their Labour Iames Stuart the Queen's Brother receiving the Alarum which the People of Saint Andrews and a few of the Country-men which were left at home made towards them and in his way many of the Neighbourhood struck in with him The English were already landed and about 1200 of them stood ready in their Arms for the Encounter The great Guns which they had landed struck such a fear into the Country-men that they quickly fled but Iames after he had a little stopp'd their Fear charged the Enemy so briskly that though he had but a raw and tumultuous Band along with him he soon routed them and drove them toward the Sea killing many upon the Place and many in the pursuit not a few of them were drowned in hastning to their Ships one Boat with all its Passengers was sunk whilst they endeavoured some in Throngs to get on board 'T is reported that there were 600 slain in the Fight and 100 taken Prisoners Whereupon the Fleet presently saâ—led to Mern a Country less inhabited their Design was to surprise Monross a Town not far from the Mouth of the River Dee They resolved to land in the Night and therefore they staid at Anchor out of sight of Land as long as there was any Light in the Sky But as they were making to Shoar in the dark they discovered themselves by their own Imprudency by hanging out Lights in every Boat Iohn Erskin of Downe Governour of the Town commanded his Men to arm without making any Noise and he divided them into three Bodies he placed some behind an earthen Bank which was rais'd on the Shoar to hinder their landing he with some Archers lightly arm'd made directly towards the Enemy and a third Band of Servants and promiscuous Vulgar he plac'd behind a Neighbour Hill adding a few Souldiers to them to govern the Rabble Matters being thus order'd he with his Archers fell upon the Enemy in their Descent and maintain'd a sharp Dispute with them till in a tumultuary kind of Fight he had drawn them on to the Banks there he join'd his other Party who stood ready at their Arms and they all fell on the Enemy yet they had not given Ground unless the last Body had shewn themselves with Colours flying from the next Hill then they made such haste to their Ships that of about 800 which came on Shoar hardly the third part escaped to their Ships In the mean time great Salleys were made about Hadington not without loss on either side but most of the English whereupon they being in some want of Provisions and fearing a greater and perceiving also that the Relief prepared came slowly on and that they were so weakned as to be hardly able to admit of the Delay In the Interim two brave Souldiers Robert Bovy and Thomas Palmer were commanded to march thither from Berwick with 1000 Foot and 300 Horse and to make all the Speed they could These all fell into an Ambush laid for them and scarce a Man of them escaped alive The English resolved to send more Aid but the French discovering their Design beset the narrow Passages by which they were to march but Dessius being deceived by one of the Enemies Scouts which he had taken who told him that the English were far off and were marching another way to relieve the Besieged left the Straits he had possess'd and went to another Place in the
and promised them to reduce all the Country beyond Dunkelden to the old Religion But they suspected the matter as having heard enough of the Disposition of the Man and fearing lest he should raise a new Storm to no purpose communicated the matter to Iames the Queen's Brother The rest of the Year was spent in Balls and Feastings and in sending away the French who out of Civility had attended the Queen and were then honourably dismiss'd only one of her Uncles the Marquess of Elbeuff staid behind Amidst these Matters William Maitland junior was sent Embassador into England to complement that Queen as the Custom is and to acquaint her how highly she stood affected towards her and how much she desired to maintain Peace and Concord with her He also carried to her Letters from the Nobility in which was mentioned a Friendly Commemoration of former Courtesies and Obligations but one thing they earnestly desired of her and That was that both publickly and privately she would shew her self friendly and courteous towards their Queen and that being provoked by good Offices she would not only persevere in her ancient Friendship but add daily stronger Obligations if possible hereunto As for their part it should be their earnest Study and Desire to pretermit no occasion of perpetuating the Peace betwixt the two Neighbour-Kingdoms That there was but One sure way to induce an Amnesty of all past Differences and to stop the Spring of them for ever if the Queen of England would declare by an Act of Parliament firmed by the Royal Assent That the Queen of Scots was Heiress to the Kingdom of England next after her Self and her Children if ever she had any After the Embassador had asserted the Equity of such a Statute and how beneficial it would be to all Britain by many Arguments he added in the close That she being her nearest Kinswoman ought to be more intent and diligent than others in having such an Act made and that the Queen did expect that Testimony of Good-will and the Respect from her To which the Queen of England answered in these Words I expected another kind of Embassy from your Queen I wonder she hath forgot how that before her Departure out of France after much urging she at last promised that the League made at Leith should be confirmed she having promised me faithfully it should be so as soon as ever she returned into her own Country I have been put off with Words long enough now 't is time if she have any respect to her Honour that her Deeds should answer her Words To which the Embassador answered That he was sent in this Embassy but a very few days after the Queen's Arrival before she had entred upon the Administration of any publick Affairs That she had been hitherto taken up in treating the Nobility many of whom she had never seen before who came from divers parts to perform their dutiful Salutations to her but she was chiefly imployed about setling the State of Religion which how difficult and troublesome a thing it is said he you your self are not ignorant Hence he proceeded your Majesty may easily understand that the Queen of Scots had no vacant time at all before my Departure neither had she as yet called fit Men to her Council to consult about various Affairs especially since the Nobility that liv'd in the furthest parts towards the North had not been yet to attend her before his Coming without whose advice Matters of such publick Moment could not nor ought not to be transacted Upon which the English Queen was something moved and said What need had your Queen to make any Consultation about doing that which she hath obliged her self to under her Hand and Seal He replied I can give no other Answer at present for I received nothing in command about it neither did our Queen expect that an account thereof would now be required of me and you may easily consider with your self what just causes of Delay she at present lies under After some Words had past betwixt them upon these matters the Queen returned to the main Point I observe said she what you most insist upon in behalf of your Queen and in seconding the Requests of the Nobles you put me in Mind that your Queen is descended from the Blood of the Kings of England and that I am bound to love her by a natural Obligation as being my near Kinswoman which I neither can or will deny I have also made it evident to the whole World that in all my Actions I never attempted any thing against the Weal and Tranquillity of her self and her Kingdom Those who are acquainted with my inward Thoughts and Inclinations are conscious that though I had just cause of Offence given by her using my Arms and claiming a Title to the Kingdom yet I could never be persuaded but that these Seeds of Hatred came from others not from her self However the case stands I hope she will not take away my Crown whilst I am alive nor hinder my Children if I have any to succeed me in the Kingdom But if any Casualty should happen to me before she shall never find that I have done any thing which may in the least prejudice the Right she pretends to have to the Kingdom of England what that Right is I never thought my self obliged to make a strict Disquisition into and I am of the same Mind still I leave it to those who are skilful in the Law to determine As for your Queen she may expect this confidently of me that if her Cause be just I shall not prejudice it in the least I call God to witness that next to my self I know none that I would prefer before her or if the matter come to a Dispute that can exclude her Thou knowest says she who are the Competitors By what Assistance or in hopes of what Force can such poor Creatures attempt such a mighty thing After some further Discourse the Conclusion was short That it was a matter of great Weight and Moment and that this was the first time she had entertained any serious Thoughts about it and therefore she had need of longer time to dispatch it A few days after she sent for the Embassador again and told him That she extreamly wondred Why the Nobles should demand such a thing of her upon the first Arrival of the Queen especially knowing that the Causes of former Offences were not yet taken away But what pray do they require That I having been so much wrong'd should before any Satisfaction receiv'd gratify her in so great a matter This Demand is not far from a Threat If they proceed on in this way let them know that I have Force at home and Friends abroad as well as They who will defend my just Right To which he answered That he had shewn clearly at first how that the Nobility had insisted on this hopeful Medium of Concord partly out of Duty
and the Earl of Northumberland meet to settle Matters betwixt the Borderers * April 15. †In Teviotdale Iohn Armstrong with many of his Followers hanged ‖ The strange and seemingly miraculous Fast of one Iohn Scot for many weeks together with his Story Thomas Doughty a great Cheat. Fifteen Judges with Salary appointed to decide Controversal Matters in Scotland But quickly disused * The English make War upon Scotland †Upon the River Esk. ‖ The French Ambassador mediates a Peace between the English and Scotish Kings * Iames transacts with the French King and afterwards with the Emperour about a Match †Which the Hamiltons labour to hinder ‖ The chief City of Normandy * Three Maries offered by Charles the Emperor to King Iames out of which to chuse a Consort †King Iames visits the Orcades and other Isles of Scotland ‖ Lutherans severely dealt with * Mary of Bourbon offered by Francis as a Wife to Iames. †Henry of England sends Controversal Books of Divinity to Iames by his Ambassadors ‖ Ambassadors sent by Henry to Iames desiring an Interview which was agreed to Tho afterwards disappointed upon several pretences * Henry takes the disappointment of the Interview in great disdain King Iames sails over into France And marries Magdalene that King's Daughter Who died sooâ— after Mourning-garments when and upon what occasion first used in Scotland Ambassadors sent over into France to fetch Mary of the House of Guise Earl of Bothwel banished Iohn Forbes condemn'd for Treason 'T was thought unjustly The Lady Ioan Douglas c. accused for conspiring to poison the King For which she suffers Death being burnt alive * Mary of the House of Guise arrives in Scotland and is married to K. Iames. †In the East-corner of Fife ‖ Troubles in Scotland about Religion * George Buchanan the Author of this History imprisoned for the same cause but makes his Escape †Queen Mary brings forth a Son and the next year another * Ambassadors from England to desire an Interview at York Which the Faction of the Ecclesiasticks prevent ‖ Iames Hamilton set up for a Judge against Lutherans But prevented from executing his Commission Imprisoned Tried Condemned and put to Death King Iames presaging Dream * His two Sons depart this Life Henry of England being affronted about the Interview prepares War against Iames And sends an Army against him commanded by Howard his General The Nobility of Scotland refuse to fight against England which moves Iames's Passion against them * Standing upon the Tweed 14 Miles above Berwick K. Iames sends an Army into England Which is defeated The overthrow of his Army breaks his Heart K. Iames the 5 th his Character Cardinal Beton suborns a false Will of King Iames therein nominating himself with three Assessors to he Vice-gerenâ—s of the Kingdom Hamilton opposes the Cardinal Scotish Prisoners and Exile released and dismissed at London and the Reason why * The Cardinal's Cheat discovered and thereupon Iames Hamilton Earl of Arran chosen Regent †Sir Ralph Sadler sent Ambassador to Scotland to treat about a Match for the young Queen with King Henry's Son But is affronted by the Cardinal and his Faction upon colourable pretences The Decree of the Council of Constance forbids Faith to be kept with Hereticks as the Reformed are by them called †Kennedy Earl of Cassills his just Resolution to return like another Regulus into England to redeem his Hostages highly praised and rewarded by Henry of England ‖ Matthew Stuart Earl of Lennox sent for out of France into Scotland to ballance the Hamiltons * Kirk-Liston lying on the North-side of the River Annand that divides Middle and West-Lothian An Agreement made between Hamilton and Lennox The Regent recants his Opinions as to the Reform'd Religion Lennox was promised to marry the Queen but afterwards illuded by her and the Cardinal Upon which he retires and rises up in Arms and from Glascow marches to Leith But was forc'd to capitulate with the Regent at present Henry of England makes War upon Scotland Burns Edinburgh c. and retreats Lennox labours to justify himself to the French King against the Calumnies of the Queen and Cardinal * Or Grampius Glasgow Castle taken from Lennox by the Regent Lennox and Cuningham worsted by Hamilton Lennox flyes into England where he marries Margaret Douglas The English enter Scotland with an Army and garison Coldingham The Regent raises an Army but retreats shamefully The vain boast of Evers and Laiton two English Cavaleers The Regent by the advice of Angus raises a party to oppose the English In Teviotdale * The English being overconfident are worsted principally by thâ— Valour of Norman Lesley and Walter Scot. * The Family of the Frasers almost like to be quite extinguish'd †The French assists the Scots with some small Force * Hadington a Town in East Lothian twelve Miles South of Edinburgh The Scots march'd into England with an Army But again retreat Lutherans cruelly punish'd The ignorant Priests thoughâ— the Book of the New Testament was written by Martin Luther * Or Ruthven ‖ Kinfans is two Miles East of Perth on the North of Tay. The History of Wiseheart's Persecution by Cardinal â—eton and his Ecclesiasticks ‖ The Cardinal desires a criminal Judg against George Wiseheart But David Hamilton of Preston a Village in East Lothian persuades the Regent noâ— to grant one †The Regent not satisfied to proceed against George Whereupon the Cardinal proceeds against him by his own Authority Wiseheart's pious and Christian Leportment before his Death Wiseheart's Prophecy at his death concerning the Cardinal's Fall The Martyrdom of George Wiseheart The foul Character of Cardinal Beton Norman Lesly with a few Partisans surprises the Castle of S. Andrews and kills Cardinal Beton accord-to Wistheart's Prophecy before-mentioned Those that slew the Cardinal â— thosummoned yet refuse to appear * November 5. The Murderers of the Cardinal not reclaimed by the preaching of Iohn Knox. The English invade Scotland †A small River in Ewsdale The Regent marches against the English ‖ Or Lang-hope lying near the Conduence of the Rivers Esk and Ewes in Ewsdale * St. Ebbs Head on the Mouth of the Forth in Merss St. Andrews Castle taken by the Regent with the Assistance of the French The English enter Scotland and repulse the Regent's Forces †Two Miles East of Musselborough in East-Lothian The English send Letters to the Scots persuasory to Peace Which being rejected by the Regent He gives them Baâ—â—el But receives a great Overthrow †Brockty standing on a Rock on the Aâ—gus-side of Tay 2 Miles below Dundee The English retreat out of Scotland The English again enter Scotland And overtrow a Party of Scots commanded by Iames Douglas 〈◊〉 of Franceâ—ends â—ends Aid to the Scots The Queen of Scotland sails into France Hume and Fascastle garison'd by the English are surprized by the Scots ‖ Standing on the Firth of