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THE 
 
 OCT 17 1923 
 %0B!CSL %V10 / 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 SCOTLAND, 
 
 From the Year 1423, to the Year 1542, 
 
 CONTAINING THE 
 
 Lives and Reigns 
 
 O F 
 
 JAMES I. II. III. IV. and V. 
 
 ByWILLIAM DRUMMOND, Efq; 
 of Hawthorn den. 
 
 GLASGOW; 
 Printed by R. Urie, MDCGXLIX. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary Library 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/historyofscotlanOOdrum 
 
To the Riqht Honourable, 
 My very good Lord and Chief, 
 
 J O H N 
 
 Earl of PERTH. 
 
 SOME may think, that the writing of 
 this hiftory proceeded from ambition or 
 the defire of fame ; others, that my defign 
 was to compliment the high and mighty prince 
 Charles, as affecting fome place orpenfr 
 on. I have always been carelefs and negli- 
 gent about fame and reputation. According 
 to my duty, I have writ papers of another 
 kind, vindicating his majefty's juft govern- 
 ment, and taxing his difloyal fubje&s with 
 rebellion, and overthrowing the ftate. But 
 my greatefl reafon for writing this is, that 
 I found in the hiftories of Scotland, James I. 
 A a 
 
iv DEDICATION. 
 
 a man eminent in all virtues, a man born of 
 the fame country with myfelf, a prince, and 
 the fon of a Drummond, lineally defcended 
 of your lordfhip's ancient family, of which 
 fo many great perfonages have fprung. The 
 founder of your family, who firft bore the 
 name, came from Hungary to Scotland as 
 admiral with St. Margaret, queen to 
 king Malcolm Can mo re, above fix hun- 
 dred years ago, when (irnames were firft 
 known in this kingdom. In king Robert 
 BRucE'sdays, Walter de Drummond, 
 fonto Malcolm begDrummond, your 
 lordfhip's predeceflbr, was, according to 
 Stow's annals, clerk-regifter, or fecretary 
 to the king, and one of the commiflioners for 
 making a peace or ceflation of arms at New- 
 caftle, in the year of God 1323, betwixt 
 king Robert Bruce and Edward II. 
 king of England. In king David Bruce's 
 time, the Drummonds were very famous, 
 as being implacable enemies to the Mon- 
 t eith s (who had bafely betrayed that great 
 hero Sir William Wallace) whom 
 they fought feveral times, and killed m.ny 
 of them ; as we may fee by an agreement 
 made between them, by the king's fpecial 
 
 command, 
 
DEDICATION. v 
 
 command, at the fight of his two jufliciarles 
 Sir Hugh Eglinton and Sir Robert 
 Erskine of Alloa. An original copy of 
 this agreement is to be feen in your lord- 
 fhip's charter-cheft, written on fine parch- 
 ment, and in ornate Latin; it is dated on the 
 banks of the river Forth over-againft Stir- 
 ling, Sunday the 17 th of May 1360. Sir 
 Malcolm Drummond, brother to queen 
 Annabella Drummond, married Dou- 
 glas heirefs of Mar, and was made 
 earl of Mar, but died without fucceflion. 
 He was an excellent and valiant man, and 
 in great reputation with king David 
 Bruce, Robert II. and Robert III. 
 For his good fervices at the battle of Otter- 
 burn, in taking prifoner Sir Ralph Percy, 
 brother to Henry Percy, called Hot- 
 fpur, earl of Northumberland, he got a 
 yearly penfion of five hundred pounds out 
 of the cuftoms of Invernefs during life. 
 When king Jam es I. was captive in Eng- 
 land, we find a paffport granted by the king 
 of England to one Dungallus Drum- 
 mond, who had been at London attending 
 his royal matter, to return home. Among 
 the nobility and gentry who were delegated 
 A 2 from 
 
vi DEDICATION. 
 
 from Scotland, and had paffports from Eng- 
 land to meet at Durham, and convoy king 
 J am e s I. home after his long captivity, was 
 Sir John Drummond ofStobhall, a very 
 confiderable man in thofe days. He was 
 married to Eleanor Sinclair earl of 
 Orkney's daughter, whofe mother was law- 
 ful daughter to Robert II. Sir John, by 
 his fiiterqueen AnnabellaDrummond, 
 was uncle to king James, and his lady was 
 coufin-germantohim; fo he was more than 
 one way nearly related to the royal family. 
 John Drummond, youngeft fon to Sir 
 John Drummond of Stobhall, and ne- 
 phew to Sir Malcolm above-mentioned, 
 went abroad in the year 141 9, and fettled 
 in the iflands of Madera, and was called 
 John Escortio Drummond; from whom 
 is defcended a numerous offspring very rich 
 and potent, as feveral letters to your lord- 
 fhip, and to your lord/hip's predeceflbrs, do 
 abundantly teitify. Your lordfhip's great- 
 grand-father, John, firft lord Drummond, 
 was a wife and brave man; he was juftice- 
 general of Scotland for many years: In the 
 reignsofkingjAMEs IH.andkingJ ames IV. 
 he made a very confiderable figure, and was 
 
 very 
 
DEDICATION. vii 
 
 very remarkable both for arms and arts, 
 though he fell into great misfortunes by too 
 clofely adhering to his friends and relations 
 the Douglaffes, as all our hiftorians inform 
 us. Your lordlhip's brother, James, firft 
 earl of Perth, was well educated in France ; 
 and when James VI. came to the crown 
 of Great-Britain, he was lent ambaflador with 
 Charles earl of Nottingham high admiral 
 of England, to Philip III. king of Spain, 
 for taking that king's oath upon the ratifica- 
 tion of the articles of peace concluded be- 
 twixt the two crowns, and for mediating a 
 peace betwixt Spain and the Low-countries: 
 which embally he performed with fuccefs and 
 applaufe. From fuch early appearances, we 
 had juft reafons to expect great things would 
 follow: But foon after his return he died, 
 being not much above 20 years of age. And 
 I may fay about your lordihip, without flat- 
 tery, which I abominate, that even in thefe 
 worn 1 of times, you are eminently confpicu- 
 ous for piety and prudence, for loyalty to- 
 wards the king, for real affection towards 
 your country, for kindnefs towards your 
 friends, and for the care you take in preferv- 
 ing your family, and managing your affairs fo 
 A 3 juftly 
 
V11I 
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 juftly and frugally. I have only mentioned 
 fbme few of your lordfhip's predecedbrsj for 
 if I mould tell all the great and illuflrious per- 
 fonages of your name, and the alliances your 
 family hath with other great houfes in this 
 nation, it would fwell this beyond the true 
 bounds of a dedication. But the cn-eateft 
 honour of all, and no fubjecl: can have 
 any greater, is, that the high and mighty 
 prince Charles king of Great-Britain, and 
 the moft part of the crowned heads in Eu- 
 rope, are defcended of your honourable and 
 ancient family. 
 
 It may feem ftrange to many, that I, who 
 the moft part of my life, have been writing 
 about fmall things in verfe, fhould adventure 
 to write about fo many great and weighty af- 
 fairs in profe: But what could not the love I 
 carry to your lordmip's family make me at- 
 tempt to do, and the virtues of fo high and 
 great a prince as king James I. defcended 
 of your lordfhip's houfe? If we believe fome 
 fchool-men, that the fouls of the departed 
 have fome dark knowlege of the anions 
 done upon earth, which concern their good 
 or evil; what folace then will this bring to 
 James I. that after two hundred years, he 
 
 hath 
 
DEDICATION. ix 
 
 hath had one of his mother's name, and 
 race, that hath renewed his fame and atti- 
 ons in the world? That your lordihip may 
 live long to be the ornament of your name 
 and nation, to be a prote&or of your friends, 
 and a patron of learning and learned men, is 
 the fincere defire of, 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 Your Lordihip' s moft humble, 
 Moft obedient, and moft 
 
 Faithful fervant and kinfman, 
 
 Will, Drummond. 
 
 A 4 THE 
 
C ii 3 
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Reign of J A M E S I. 
 
 TH E nobles of Scotland being wearied with the 
 form of their prefent government; (for though 
 they had a king, they enjoyed not the happi^ 
 nefs of his fway, by his reftraint afar off, under the 
 power of a ftranger;) fbme of them were pofTefled with 
 hopes, by the change of the head, to find a change in 
 the body of the flate, and a flow of their ebbing fortunes ; 
 the church-men and the gentry having ever continued 
 loyal and well-affected to trje lawful heir of the crown; 
 the commons, men delighting in novations, and ordina- 
 rily preferring uncertainties, and things unleen and to 
 come, to what for the time they did hold and enjoy ; 
 the governour of the kingdom alio himlelf, irritated by 
 the mifdemeanour of his children, and forecafting the 
 danger he might be plunged into, if the ftates mould 
 purchafe the recovery of their king, he not complying 
 with their defign ; all unanimoufly and together deter- 
 mine, without longer prolongings, to work the delivery 
 of their native prince, James, forth of England, where 
 he had been detained eighteen years as a prifoner. 
 
 They who were chofen and got commiffion to nego- 
 tiate his liberty were Archibald earl of Douglas, 
 Ion to Archibald duke of Turrain, William 
 Hay conftable of the realm, Alexander Irvine 
 
 of 
 
12 The History of the Reign 
 
 of Drum knight, HenryLighton bifhop of Aberdeen, 
 and Alexander Cornwall arch-dean of Lothian. 
 
 Thefe coming to London, were gracioufly received 
 by the ftate, and feveraily entertained by king James, 
 and fo many friends as either his alliance or virtues had 
 acquired. After fome few days ftay, defiring to have 
 audience in council, they were admitted ; where bifhop 
 Lighton is laid to have fpoken to this efFe.fr. 
 
 " Therefpecland reverence which the nation of the 
 " Scots carrieth towards all kings, is every where 
 " known ; but chiefly that love and loyalty which they 
 *' have to the facred perfons of their own native prin- 
 li ces : for, as monarchy is the mod ancient form of 
 " government, fo have they ever efteemed it the beft, 
 " it being more eafy to find one inftructed and trained 
 " up in heroical virtues, than to find many. And how 
 *' well foever governours and vicegerents rule the com- 
 " monwealth ; yet is that government but as the light 
 *< of the moon or liars in abfence of the fun, and but 
 " reprefentations of fhadows for real bodies. This hath 
 •• moved the three eftates of that kingdom to direct us 
 " here unto you. 
 
 " Our king thefe many years hath been kept from 
 " us, upon juft or unjuit grounds we will not argue. 
 " That providence, which hath appointed every thing 
 ' ; to its own end, hath done this for the belt, both to 
 " you and us: And we are now to treat with you for 
 " his delivery -, befeeching you to remember, that his 
 u father, of facred memory, recommended him, out of 
 " that general duty which one prince oweth to another, 
 " to your king's protection, in hope of fandruary, and 
 " in requeft of aid and comfort againft fecret, and 
 " therefore the more dangerous, enemies. And to con- 
 " fefs the truth, hitherto he hath been more allured 
 '■ amongft you, than if he had remained in his own 
 " country, your favours being many ways extended 
 t( towards him ; having in all liberal fciences and vir- 
 " tues brought himup: that his abode with you feem- 
 <v oth rather to have been a remaining in an academy, 
 " than in any captivity-, and thus he had been loft, if he 
 " had not been loft. Befides, though we have the happi- 
 " nelb to claim his birth and Item, ye have the claim of his 
 
 " fuc- 
 
of JAMES I. 13 
 
 *' fucceffion and education, he being now matched with 
 « the royal blood of England in marriage. Thus his li- 
 " berty, which we entreat for, is a benefit to yourfelves, 
 ** and thofe princes which fhall claim the defcent of his 
 " offspring. For if it fhould fall forth (as what may 
 «' not, by the variable changes of kingdoms, come to 
 " pafs ?) that this prince by ufurpers and rebels were 
 M difgarnifhed of his own crown, they are your fwords 
 ** which (hould brandifh, to fet him on his royal throne. 
 '« We expect, that as ye have many ways rendered him 
 u yours, you will not refufe to engage him yet more 
 " by his liberty, which he mult acknowlege wholly 
 " and freely to receive from you : and by benefits and 
 «' love to overcome a king, is more than by force of 
 " arms. And fince he was not your prifoner by chance 
 " of war, having never raifed arms againft you, but by 
 " way of protection detained here, and entertained; lb 
 " ye will, reflecting your ancient honour and genero- 
 " lity, fend him freely back to his own. Yet if it be 
 " lb, that ye will have acknowlegement, for what ye 
 <; have beftowed on his education, the diftrefs of the 
 '* prefent eftate of his fubjecls and crown confidered, 
 " we will not ftand upon trifles of mony for the re- 
 " demption of a prince above ail price." 
 
 The lords of the council were diverfe ways inclined 
 to this embaffy. Some thought not fit todifmifs him; 
 for his remaining in England feemed the more to aifure 
 the kingdom of Scotland unto them : having the king 
 and his children in their cuftody, what dared they not 
 enterprize, or not bring to pafs ? Or if Scotland fhould 
 plot any thing by way of rebellion, the king having 
 his party within the realm, by the afliltance of the Eng- 
 iifh would keep under the other factions ; and thus the 
 eftate by both being made weak, it would be a fair 
 breach for a conqueft, and the annexing that kingdom 
 to the crown of England : that he knew too much of the 
 dtate and affairs of England to be fent away to a na- 
 tion ever their enemies : that being at liberty and a- 
 mongtt his own, he might refent the injury of his long 
 reflrainr. 
 
 Others of the council thought it beft to difmifs him. 
 T! • y had learned by experience, that the keeping of 
 
 the 
 
 
14 The History of the Reign 
 
 the king of Scots hindered no ways the Scots from af- 
 fixing the French; yea, rather that it did exafperate 
 their choler, and make them in revenge addicT: them- 
 felves wholly to the French : the governour no ways 
 keeping to the Englifh, but fiding with the French, up- 
 on whom to be revenged they could find no furer way 
 than to let at liberty the king, whofe return of necefTity 
 mult needs change the face of the ftate, and trouble 
 him. As for the conqueft of the crown of Scotland, it 
 was not at that time of fucb moment for England, they 
 having the molt part of France in their fubjection, which 
 was as much, if not more, as they could hold. Then 
 it would prove a more harmlefs and fure purchafe to 
 make Scotland theirs, by the fucceflion of lady Jane 
 of Somerfet, than by war; the event whereof is ever 
 doubtful and beyond any afTurance of man. The li- 
 berty of the king of Scots might prevent the encrealing 
 llrength of the king's enemies in France, and fecure the 
 peace and tranquillity of the commonwealth at home: 
 king James being all Englifh by education, if he prov- 
 ed not of their party, yet he mult prove neutral to both 
 the kingdoms. 
 
 Henry VI. then king of England, being of under- 
 age, was governed by his two uncles of his father's (ide, 
 Humphrey duke of Glocefter, who was made pro- 
 tector of his perfbn and realm, John duke of Bedford, 
 who was efiablilhcd regent of France, and Thomas 
 i 1 uke of Exeter. But Henry Beaufort cardi- 
 nal, bifhop of Winchelter and chancellor of England, a 
 man eminent in blood and riches, uncle to the lady 
 Jan e, in effect governed all. Thefe gave way, rather 
 than approved that the king of Scots fhould be fet at li- 
 berty and fent home. And though they would have 
 difmiifed him freely, in refpect of the dowry of hisqueen, 
 which was not delivered, having ufc of prefent money 
 for the maintenance of the wars in France, and the more 
 to cover the injuftice of his captivity, they thought it 
 expedient to fet a ranfom upon him. 
 
 The commiffioners having met, it was declared, that 
 
 for a fufficient 1'um of money their king might return, 
 
 and enjoy his own liberty ; the one half to be paid in 
 
 hand, able holla^es remaining in England till the other 
 
 * & half 
 
of JAMES I. 15 
 
 half was fully difcharged. The ranfom agreed upon 
 was four hundred thoufand merks; but by the powei 
 of the cardinal the third was difcharged, for which he 
 was long after accufed before the king by the duke of 
 Giocefter. 
 
 The governour and eftates of Scotland, having known 
 thefum laid uponthemfor the liberty of theking, though 
 the hafty acquiring of it was grievous unto them, pre- 
 ferring glory and things neceflary to matters ot mony, 
 immediately difpatched fo much as could be gathered, 
 together with many young noblemen of the kingdom 
 to remain hoftages for the reft; who, according to the 
 Englifh writers, were David fon to the earl of Athole, 
 Alexander earl of Crawfurd, the lord Gordon, 
 John de Lindsay, Patrick fon and heir to 
 Sir John Lyon, David de Ogilby, Sir Wil- 
 liam de Ruthven, Miles Graham, David 
 Moubray, and William Oliphant. Theie 
 were honourably received, entertained, and keeped. The 
 king's brother-in-law, the earl of Somerfet, and the car- 
 dinal his uncle, accompanied the queen to the borders, 
 and there taking their leave returned back. The king 
 with the reft of their train, received with many troops 
 of nobles and gentlemen, who fwarmed from all parts 
 of the kingdom to give him a dutiful welcome into his 
 native foil, and themfelves the contentment of behold- 
 ing one they had fo long defired and expe&ed, with loud 
 acclamations and applaufes of the commons as he held 
 his progrefs, on the paflion week, in Lent, came to 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 During his abode there, he affembled many of the 
 eftates, liftened to their petitions, and prepared for the 
 approaching parliament, which had been fummoned 
 before his coming. The folemnities of Eafter finifhed, 
 the king came with his queen to Perth, and from thence, 
 in the beginning of the month of May, to Scone, where, 
 in the year 1424, by Mordock the governor, duke 
 of Albany and earl of Fife (to whom that charge by cu- 
 ftom of the kingdom did appertain) and Henry bifhop 
 of St. Andrews, in the 27th year of his age, there was 
 a joint coronation of himfelfand his queen, being ac- 
 
 ' cording 
 
16 The History of the Reign 
 
 cording to the computation of the old Scotifh hiftory, 
 the hundred and one king of Scotland. 
 
 At which time Sigismond, fon to Charles IV. 
 was emperor of the weft ; J o h n VII. the fon of A ndro- 
 nicus, oftheeaft; Amurath II. great Turk; Al- 
 phonsusV. king of Spain ; Charles VII. king 
 of France; Henry VI. king of England; and with 
 Martin V. many claimed the chair of St. Peter. 
 
 The ends in calling the parliament were, the cor- 
 ronation of the king, to make the people fee a prince's 
 authority was come, where they had but lately a go- 
 vernor's ; the eftabli/hing a peace amongft the fubjedts, 
 and taking away all factions ; the exacting a fubfidy for 
 the relief of the hoftages in England. To this laft, the 
 nobles held ftrong hand, by reafon many of their fons 
 were engaged. Here a general tax was condefcended 
 upon through the whole realm, as twelve pennies of 
 the pound to be paid of all lands, as well fpiritual as 
 temporal, and four pennies of every cow, ox, and horfe, 
 for the {pace of two years together. When the com- 
 mons had taken it grievoufly that the fubfidy, grant- 
 ed by the ftates of the kingdom in parliament, was ex- 
 acted moftly of them ; after the firft collection, the 
 king, pitying their poverty, remitted what was unpaid, 
 and, until the marriage of his daughter, thereafter ne- 
 ver exacted any fubfidy of his fubjedts. For he would 
 gently ftrain milk, and not wring blood from the breaft 
 of his country, rendering the difpofure thereof chaft, fin- 
 cere, and pure for expences neceflary and profitable, not 
 for profufions, which neither afford contentment nor re- 
 putation ; for mony is both the nerves which give mo- 
 tion, and veins which entertain life in a ftate. A- 
 mongft others whom the king honoured, Alexander, 
 lecond fon to duke Mordock, was dubbed knight. 
 
 The parliament difTolving, the king came from Perth 
 to Edinburgh, where having aflembled all the prefent 
 officers, and fuch who had born authority in the ftate 
 during the time of duke Robert and duke Mordock, 
 efpecially thofe whofe charge concerned the rents of 
 the crown, he underftood by their accompts, that the 
 mod part of all the rents, revenues, and lands pertain- 
 ing to the crown, were wafted, alienated, and put a- 
 
 way, 
 
of JAMES I. 17 
 
 way, or then by the governors beftowed on their friends 
 and followers, the cuftoms of towns and buroughs only 
 excepted. This a little incenfed his indignation; yet 
 did he fmother and put a fair countenance on his paf- 
 lion, (eeming to flight what he moft cared for. Occa j 
 lion thereafter no fooner ferved, when he began to coun- 
 tenance and give way to promoters and informers (ne- 
 cefTary, though dangerous inftruments of ftate, which 
 many good princes have been content to maintain, and 
 Fuch who were not bad never denied to hear, but ufing 
 them no longer than they were necefTary for their ends) 
 to rip up fecret and hidden crimes, wrongs fuftered or 
 committed during the time of his detention in England. 
 He received the complaints of the churchmen, coun- 
 try-gentlemen, merchants, againft all thofe who had 
 either wronged them or the ftate, and would have the 
 caufes of all accufers to be heard and examined. Here 
 many, to obtain the favour of the prince, accufed o- 
 thers. 
 
 Upon pregnant accufations, Walter Stuart, 
 one of the fons of duke M or dock, was arretted, and 
 fent to the Bafs, to be clofe kept; fo was Malcolm 
 Fleming of Cumbernauld, and Thomas Boyd 
 of Kilmarnock, committed to ward in Dalkeith. Not 
 long after, the nobility interceding, Malcolm and 
 Thomas (goods being reftored which they had taken 
 wrongfully, and fines laid upon them for their offence, 
 promifing to fatisfy all whom they had wronged) were 
 pardoned all faults, and then fet at liberty. 
 
 The king, by liftening to promoters, came to the 
 knowlege of many great infolencies committed by 
 fundry of his nobles: which as it bred hatred in him v 
 fo fear in them, and both appeared to ftudy a novati- 
 on : they for their own fafety, he to vindicate juftice 
 and his authority. The duke had highly refented the 
 committing of his fon, as had his father-in-law the earl 
 of Lenox. The malecontents being many, if they 
 could have fwayed in one body as they came to be or" 
 one mind, threatened no fmall matter. The king, from 
 the intelligence of clofe meetings, fecret leagues, fbme 
 plots of his nobles, began to forecaft an apparent ftorm 
 in the ftate, and danger to his own perfbn : whereupon, 
 
 being 
 
18 The History of the Reign 
 
 being both couragious and wife, he proclaimeth again 
 a parliament at Perth ; where the three eftates being af- 
 fembled, in his throne of majefty he fpoke in this man- 
 ner. 
 
 " I have learned from my tender years, that royalty 
 
 " conlilteth not fo much in a chair of Hate, as in fuch 
 
 " actions which do well become a prince. What mine 
 
 " have been lince my coming home and government a- 
 
 " mong you, I take firft God, and then yourfelves for 
 
 " witnefles. If all of them be not agreeable to you all, 
 
 " and if any rigorous dealing be ufed againft fome, let 
 
 *' him who is touched lay afide his particular, and look 
 
 ,{ to the fettling of jultice in the ftate, and public good 
 
 ** of the whole kingdom, and he fhall find his fufFerings 
 
 " tolerable, perhaps neceflary, and, according to the 
 
 " time, deferved. I have endeavoured to take away 
 
 " all difcords, abolifh factions, fupprefs oppreflion : as 
 
 " no foreign power hath attempted ought againft you 
 
 " hitherto, fo ye mould not endeavour ought one 
 
 " againft another, nor any thing againft the weal-pu- 
 
 " blic and fovereignty. Slow have I been in punifh- 
 
 " ing injuries done to myfelf, but can hardly pardon 
 
 ,c fuch as are done to the commonwealth : for this have 
 
 " I called this parliament. Let rapine and outrage no 
 
 " more be heard of, but every man recal himfelf to a 
 
 " civil and regular form of life. Efpecially you, my 
 
 " nobles, think virtue and civility true nobility ; that 
 
 " to be accounted nobleft which isbeft, and that a man's 
 
 " own worth begets true glory. By thefe, and the o- 
 
 " bedience to their princes, your anceftors acquired 
 
 " what ye now enjoy : there is no ftronger means to 
 
 " keep the goods acquired from a prince, than the fame 
 
 " by which they were firft purchafed, which is ftill o- 
 
 " beying. Though by leagues, factions, and the con- 
 
 " founding of all true policy and order of goverment, 
 
 " man may imagine he can fliun the judicatories of 
 
 " man ; let none, how great foever, conceive he can 
 
 " fave his wrongs unpunifhed from the almighty hand 
 
 " of God. Ye muft not hereafter count authority, ho- 
 
 " ncfty, and virtue, idle names; nor reckon that right, 
 
 " which ye may win or hold by dint of fword. For 
 
 ' me, I will behave myfelf in my proceedings, as I 
 
 " muft 
 
of J AMES I. i 9 
 
 '.* muir. anfwer to God; and for you, my fubjecls, do 
 " fo as ye fhall anfwer to God firft, and after to your 
 *.' prince whom God hath fet over you. No man's 
 " greatnefs fhall appal me in doing right, nor the mean- 
 " nefs of any make him fo contemptible, that I fhall 
 " not give earj:o his grievance : for I will ftrive to do 
 " juflice on opprelfors, and fupport the innocent to my 
 V uttermoft." 
 
 Here he eafily found the power which the prefence 
 of a prince hath over fubjedts : for having confirmed 
 the minds of the parliament, a mutual oath paffed be- 
 tween him and his fubjecls : the king fwore, if any made 
 war againft Scotland, or went about to overthrow the 
 ancient laws of the kingdom, to refill and invade him 
 with all his power: the eftates fwore, if any by open 
 rebellion (hould revolt or confpire againft the king, or 
 be found to be the authors of factions and novations, 
 they fhould aflift and fide with the king with all their 
 forces, after what manner he fhould command. A fo- 
 lemn act was made, that none of the fubjedts fhould bind 
 up a league together. 
 
 The king, the more to affure the clergy unto him, 
 fwore to defend the liberties of the church, making an 
 act, that all church lands unjultly detained from them, 
 during the time of his captivity, fhould be reftored un- 
 to them. 
 
 The body of the eftates holding good for the king, 
 Mordock duke of Albany, with his fons Walter 
 and Alexander, were prefently arrefted and com- 
 mitted; as were likewife Duncan earl of Lenox, and 
 Robert Graham (a man that dared attempt thofe 
 things which no honeft man ever could think :) they 
 were fent to Falkland, but the duke to Carlaverook. 
 Archibald earl of Douglas, with William earl of 
 Angus, the king's filter's fon, George earl of March, 
 and Walter Ogilby were committed, but after 
 fet at liberty. Adam Hepburn of Hailes, Thomas 
 Hay of Yefter, with others, were fent to the caitle of 
 St. Andrews. That fame day the duke was committed, 
 the king feized on his caftles of Falkland in Fife, and 
 Down in Monteith, out of which he removed the 
 duchefs to Tantallon in Lothian. James the young- 
 Si eft 
 
20 The History of the Reign 
 
 eft fon of the duke, whom former carriage and harm- 
 lefs behaviour had exempted from all fufpicion of treach- 
 ery, after the committing of his father and friends (whe- 
 ther of a youthful infolency, or defperate rage, refolv- 
 ing to do and fuffer all extremities, or that he was con- 
 temned) accompanied with a number oi out-laws, and 
 mountaineers, on the Holy-rood -day, called the inven- 
 tion of the crofs, came to the town of Dumbarton, fet 
 it on fire, furprized there John Stuart of Dun- 
 donald firnamed the Red, uncle to the king, flew him 
 with thirty others : after which cruelty, advifing with 
 fear and defpair. he fled into Ireland, where he died. 
 The wife of Walter Stuart his brother, with 
 her two fon? A ndre^v and Alexand er, with A r- 
 thur a bafe-born, hafted with him, where they 
 mained till the reign of king James III. 
 
 The barbarous fiercenefs of James highly incenfed 
 the king againft his father and race, and diverted the 
 current of his clemency : for when he thought by gentle 
 incarcerations to have reftrained their malice, now he 
 .finds that that deaf tyrant, the law, can only fee u re him- 
 feif, and bring reft to his fubjecls. Whereupon the. 
 year following he calleth a parliament at Stirling, where 
 the eftates aflembling, the duke, with his two fons„ 
 and father-in-law the carl of Lenox (accufations being 
 engrofTed, and articles exhibited againft them out of 
 the acts of former times, of what had been done unjuft- 
 ly, cruelly, or amifs, during the king's captivity) were 
 prefented, arraigned, and condemned : W T ALT£Rearl 
 ofAthole being judge, to whom were adjoined many 
 noblemen and barons. 
 
 That fame day on which their fatal fentence was pro- 
 nounced, the two young men, Walter Stuart 
 and Alexander, fons to the duke, were taken forth 
 to the hill which arifeth againft the caftle of Stirling, 
 and had their heads cutoff. The day following, Mor 
 dock duke of Albany, late governor, with D u n i 
 Lenox earl of Lenox, was beheaded. 
 
 The deaths of thefe noblemen were fo far from breed- 
 ing any diftalle in the common people, that out of their 
 depraved difpofition arid envy againft their betters, they 
 flouted at their fall, reproached their infolencies. delight- 
 ed 
 
of JAMES I. 21 
 
 ed in their execution ; and as much without reafon rail- 
 ed on them when they were dead, as they had flat- 
 tered them being alive. 
 
 Whether by the wifdom of the king it hath fallen 
 out, who cauled abolifh the indictment, being againft 
 perfons fo near'«»nto him in blood, or bluntnefs of thole 
 times, which thought fuch clear evidences needed no 
 records, the particulars of the attainder of thefe great 
 men are fwallowed up in dark oblivion. Moved at the 
 imprifonment of his fon, didMoRDOCK with Le- 
 nox, hating him whom they had wronged, attempt 
 againft the king's perfon; and that fame very treafon 
 which afterwards had fuccefs, was it then between the 
 plot and the execution furprized,. and in the very head 
 cut off.' The earl of Athole, a man whofe defires were 
 both extremely wicked and unbounded, was a greataftor 
 in this tragedy. Did the king, (landing infearoftheirex- 
 traordinary greatnefs, bend his eyes upon the difpolition 
 of the offenders, fquaring their actions by the rule of 
 their intentions, and weighing what, not how far they 
 did offend? for princes quickly free them felves frorry 
 their very fhadows in matter of jealoufy of Hate. And 
 they have great reafon to prevent fuch crimes, which 
 cannot be punifhed when they are committed ; nor mould 
 they expecl to amend a mifchief, when the criminals 
 are become mailers of their judges. People believe not 
 that any conjure againft a prince, till they find the trea- 
 fon to have taken effedl, and diftruft the plot, till they 
 fee him dead. But the death of fuch, who are fufpecled 
 to be the authors of diforders in a commonwealth, fpar- 
 eth an infinite number of lives, and much civil blood 
 when they are firft furprized ; neither are too Uriel cir- 
 cumftances of law to be obferved, when a fmall delay 
 may abolifh all obferving of order and laws. 
 
 The duke, to raife his own reputation to the difad- 
 vantage of the king, with all fecrecy of his intentions, 
 had procured himfelf a vail authority with the nobles, 
 by a femblance of liberality, wailing the patrimony of 
 the crown, as remitting treafons, restoring again lands 
 annexed to the crown. He had ftudied Co to conciliate 
 to him the minds of the commons, that the defire of a 
 king did not much touch them, ufing fuch moderation 
 B 2 in 
 
22 The History of the Reign 
 
 in his proceedings, that his government feemed unto 
 many, not only tolerable, but defirable. 
 
 He had efTayed to draw the earl of Douglas, and 
 had drawn the earl of March, to enter into a league with 
 him; and thefe noblemen, then in thecaltle of St. An- 
 drews, divided the nobility, and made* them break their 
 allegiance to the king. Upon which attempt, it feem- 
 eth that that act of this king's fecond parliament was 
 made; " That no fubjects mould league themfelves to- 
 " gether." 
 
 The king efteemed all that government of Robert 
 and Mordock to be an ufurpation of the crown, and 
 feared the like heareafter. 
 
 His fon James had burnt Dumbarton, and treach- 
 eroufly killed the king's uncle, which was not done 
 without his knowlege, if not counfcl. 
 
 Though he relieved the king of his captivity, he fnf- 
 fered him to remain very long a prifoner; neither did 
 he pra£tife his deliverance, till he perceived the whole 
 /bates of the kingdom revolved to call him home, and 
 was compelled by the injuries of his own children. 
 
 To exafperate new injuries by old rancours, his fa- 
 ther Robert, fpurred by ambition, had famifhed to 
 death the king's brother David, in the calHe of Falk- 
 land; to efcape vvhofe tyranny, the king, yet a child, 
 was committed to the protection of (Iranger princes. 
 
 Whatever the particulars of their accufations have 
 been, it is above the polfibility of any governor, or man 
 in eminent place and authority, fo to carry himfelf, but 
 a difcontented prince, if he will fet him to a trial, mail 
 bring fbme one or other of his anions to whirl him with- 
 in the compafs of juftice. Thus the imprecation of 
 Robert III. took effect upon the race of Robrrt 
 the governor : for after the death of the duke of R o- 
 thesay, he is faid to have curfed him moft deadly, 
 praying, as he had llain his brother's fon, and filled 
 their houfe with blood ; fo God would punilh him, his 
 ftock and pofterity. There is not any wickednefs v 
 which beareth not its punifhment and repentance at 
 the lad, if we can have patience to attend the laft a>1 
 of thofe tragedies played on this theatre of the world. 
 By the attainder of the duke, the earldoms of Fife 
 
 Mo- • 
 
of J AMES I. 23 
 
 Monteith, and Lenox, were devolved to the crown. 
 The caftle of Inch-Merin in Loch-Lomond, which 
 had a while been kept good for James, who fled into 
 Ireland, was by John Montgomery and Hum- 
 phrey Cuningham brought to the obedience of 
 the king. 
 
 When the lords and gentlemen who were in prifons, 
 attending the king's pleafure, underftood what necef- 
 fary juftice had been executed upon the duke and his 
 fons, they were grievoufly perplexed; yet the king, 
 like a wife phylician, would take no more blood than 
 might take away the difeafe and all further caufes of 
 faction. For within twelve months thereafter, he lets 
 them all at liberty, and received them into his wonted 
 favour, upon promife of their loyal demeanour and du- 
 tiful obedience in time to come. But being thus free- 
 ly difcharged, the conceit was taken, that Mor-dock's 
 head, and his fons, with Lenox's, was only the aim, 
 and that they were ufed but as a countenance of date 
 to dazzle the eyes of the people. 
 
 The wars continuing between the Englifh and the 
 French, the one to keep what he was in poifeflion of, 
 the other to re-obtain what he had loft ; Charles VII. 
 a wife and victorious prince, knowing the friend/hip of 
 Scotland to be of no fmall importance to any that would 
 fight againft the Englifh, the flower and ftrength of the 
 Scotifh fbldiers, which had followed the French wars 
 being then blafted and fpent, fendeth John Stu- 
 art of Darnley, marfhal of agarrifon of hoifemen, 
 with the earl of Douglas, as the French write, then 
 marfhal of France, to Scotland, to have a frefh fupply 
 of men of arms, and Renauld of Charters arch- 
 bifhop of Rheims, who there had crowned his maftcr, 
 and was chancellor of France, to renew the ancient 
 league between the French and Scots. But the main bufi- 
 nefs about which the archbifhop came, was the traffick- 
 ing of a marriage between Lewis the Dau phin, though 
 then very young, with Margaret daughter to king 
 James. This match the Englifh had either neglect- 
 ed or contemned, which afterward they fued for. The 
 renewing of the old league and amity between the two 
 nations was eaflly condefcended unto, it being but a 
 B 3 witnefs 
 
 
24 The History of the Reign 
 
 witnefs to the world of their mutual kindnefs. The 
 chief articles of which were ; 
 
 The war or injury, moved or done by the Englifhmen to 
 one of the [aid nations, to be as common wrong to both. 
 
 If the Englifhmen make war on the French nation, then 
 the Scots, at the coft and charges of the French king, fliall 
 minifler to them fuccours. 
 
 Likewife, if the Scots be molefled hy the Englijh wars, 
 the French nation, having their charges allowed, jhall be 
 to them aiders and afliflers. 
 
 That none of both nations (hall either contrail or make 
 peace with the realm of England, without the confent and 
 agreement of the other. 
 
 The marriage being found commodious for both na- 
 tions, was likewife with great contentment agreed up- 
 on, and concluded; frefh recruits of foldiers were levi- 
 ed, and difpatched with the ambaiTador to France. 
 
 The fbuth and champain parts of Scotland brought 
 under obedience, and a peaceful government, the king 
 will have the remote!! countries of his kingdom, even 
 thofe blocked and barricaded by the fnowy clifts of 
 Grantsben, to acknowlege his juftice. The wildnefs 
 of the foil had made the inhabitants there more fierce 
 than fiercenefs itfelf, and let them out to all unlawful 
 riots and rapines. To reftrain their infblent humours, 
 and bring them within compafs of civility, in the year 
 1426, he caufed repair the caflle of Invernefs, fituated 
 in the uttermofl: borders of Murray, which by their in- 
 curfions had been turned defolate. Hither fome years 
 after cometh he in perfon, and keepeth open court, that 
 being near the evil he might have the better means to 
 provide for, and confider it. But he fcemed to have 
 arrived in fome territory of the Scythians, having known 
 and found things, which none did, nor dared relate un- 
 to him : for he had learned that not many miles off, 
 there were men, fome of which had one thoufand, fome 
 two thoufand robbers at their call, who were accuffom- 
 ed to drive preys from the more civil neighbours and 
 borders, pilling and fpoiling, polluting and ravifhing, 
 without any difference of right or wrong, holy or pro- 
 fane; but only following their ravenous and info- 
 lent humours. On the quieter fort they fet tribute ; 
 
 otheii 
 
r 
 
 of J AM ES I. 2 5 
 
 others they compel to minifter to them fuftenance and 
 necelTaries : the God, prince, law, which they obey, 
 are their barbarous chieftains, among which he is thought 
 the belt who doth moft tranlcend in villany. 
 
 The king feemed to give fmall faith to thefe relati- 
 ons, entertaining kindly, and feafting from all parts, 
 all fuch who deigned to fee him, moftly thofe who were 
 the chiefs and principals of the families in thefe bounds ; 
 by whofe means, all, whom innocency did guard, came 
 freely to court ; and many guilty, by fair promifes and 
 hopes of the king's clemency, prefented themfelves. 
 Others, though moft refractory, and unwilling at firft, 
 that they might not feem out of the fafhion of their 
 companions, and appearfufpe<fted,reforted thither; think- 
 ing thefe offices might be interpreted to proceed of good 
 will and obedience, which were done of emulation. 
 Forty of thefe leaders and chiefs, meeting at once, 
 and being together within the inclofure of the caftle 
 walls, were furprized, and committed to clofe prilons. 
 Some days after, two, whofe wickednefs was throughly 
 known, Alexander Macrore, or Macra- 
 rey, and John Macarture, were hanged. 
 JamesCampbel, for the murther of J o h n of the 
 ifles, renowned amongft his own, was beheaded. The 
 reft, upon hope of further trial, were committed to pri- 
 fons, of which, for example and terror to others, many 
 were executed ; the remains in peaceful manner fent 
 home, the king having gracioufly exhorted them to a 
 life, according to the law of God and man. 
 
 Alexander of the iQes, earl of Rofs, being tak- 
 en in this trap, was brought by the king to Perth, where 
 he was accufed of oppreffion, and many barbarous 
 cruelties were proved againft him -, yet, fuch was the 
 king's clemency, he was only fome few days commit- 
 ted, and after lovely advice at the council-table, rather 
 to obey his prince, than render hi mfelf chieftain of thiev- 
 ilh troops, he was freely difmilTed. But benefits oblige 
 not ignoble minds, and mercy fhown to a fierce and ob- 
 ftinate nature difgraceth the beauty of the clemency 
 of a prince; for no fooner was he returned to his own 
 territories, where interpreting imprifonment a difhon- 
 our and fhame to a man of his power and qualities, and 
 B 4 telling 
 
z6 The History of the Reign 
 
 telling that a promife made by one imprifoned, by the 
 judgment of lawyers themfelves, was nothing worth, 
 he gathered together a rabble ofout-Iaws and mountain- 
 eers, came towards the town of Invernefs, which peace- 
 ably he entered, and was courteoully received ; having 
 before difperfed his men among the fens and hills to- 
 wards the weft, they fo foon as night had brought the 
 inhabitants to reft:, fpoiled them, and fet their houfes 
 on fire. And becaufe the caftle was the place in which 
 he had been furprized, he befiegcd it with a thoufand 
 lewd fellows practifed in daily depredations and rob- 
 beries. 
 
 At the noife of this cruelty, the gentlemen of the 
 neighbouring (hires, from all quarters, aftemble them- 
 felves for the defence of their friends; the king lifteth 
 fpeedy preparations. At the approach of which, the 
 Clans, Chat on s and Camerons, with other 
 thieving troops, difperfed themfelves, and fled into their 
 lurking-holes. Alexander, abandoned of their for- 
 ces, with lb many as he could keep together, fled into 
 Lochaber, from thence paffed to the Hies, deliberating 
 to go to Ireland : but things anfwered not his expecta- 
 tion; for by his fpy, finding that he was way-laid, and 
 that numbers of people, a price being fet upon his head, 
 in all places laboured to furprize him; when he had 
 long continued defolate and a vagabond, at laft he be- 
 gan to intercede with his friends at court for mercy to 
 him from the king. Sundry tempt the king's cle- 
 mency ; but he will not promife nor affure them of any 
 favour, before A lexander in perfon, as fupplicant, 
 render himfclf and his eftate to his difpofure Thus 
 finding no efcape, and deftitute of all help, he was im- 
 boldened to come privately to Edinburgh ; there on 
 Eafter-day, wrapped in a mourning garment, and con- 
 cealed in the drag of the multitude, the king being in 
 the church of the Holy-rood at divine fervice, he fell 
 proftrate at his knees, befecching him for grace, which, 
 at the requeft of the queen, and other aflifters, he ob- 
 tained. His life and private eftate was granted him: 
 but that he fliould do no more harm, and be reduced to 
 a more modeft behaviour, William Douglas earl 
 of Angus was appointed to rake him to cuflody, and 
 
 that 
 
of JAMES I. 27 
 
 that within the caltle of Tantallon. His mother Eu- 
 pheme, daughter to Walter Lesley, fometimc 
 earl of Rofs, a mannifh implacable woman, who had 
 folicited and railed her fon to all that milchief, was com- 
 mitted to the illand of St. Colm. 
 
 Donald Ballogh, coufin-german to Ale- 
 xander lord of the iiles, a man of a haughty mind, 
 refenting the king's proceedings again!! his coulin, rail- 
 ed a great number of out-laws and robbers, and invad- 
 ed Lochaber, omitting no cruelty, which enraged la- 
 vages ufe to commit. AlexanderStuart, earl 
 of Mar, and Alan earl of Caithnefs, with fuch 
 numbers of people, as they could in halte raife, came 
 to defend the country againft the incurlions ot thefe 
 highlandmen, and rencountered them at Innerlochy ; 
 where, by an over-weening opinion of victory, which 
 eafily deceiveth young foldiers, imagining they went 
 to right with untrained, raw thieves, who would never 
 abide their march, and mifregard of martial diicipline, 
 Al an was (lain, and Alexander earl of Mar dip 
 comfited ; andBALLOCH, infolent of his victory, with 
 a great booty, returned to the ides. The king ac the 
 rumour of this difafter, in all celerity with a greav 
 army, came to DunftafTage, intending from that to pais 
 to the ides ; which when the Clans and other chief men 
 underftood, turning their defence into fubmiihon, they 
 came in hade to DunftafFage, and humbly begged par- 
 don, laying the fault of the whole rebellion on Bai- 
 LOCH, and fome adventuring thieves, many o( which 
 Balloch had preiTed to that mifchief againlt their 
 minds : the king finding extreme rigour at that time a 
 cure unfeafonable, taking their oath of fidelity, and 
 that they mould puifue Balloch and his followers, 
 accepted them into his favour, only tranfporting fome 
 of the mod factious along with him. They in few days, 
 to feem worthy of the king's mercy, furprized a great 
 number of them, three hundred of which died all on 
 gibbets. And punifhment had taken away a much 
 greater number, had he not confidered, that there is no 
 man ib miferable, who is not a member of the (late. 
 
 The king, left hope of impunity might cherilh re- 
 bellion, refolves to find Balloch, and hearing he 
 
 lurked 
 
28 The History of the Reign 
 
 Jurked in Ireland, in the bounds of one named Odo, 
 he fends to have him delivered. Odo, either out of 
 fear of the king's difpleafure, or hope of rewards, feiz- 
 eth on him ; and fufpefting if he fent him alive, he 
 might by power or ftratagem flight his convoy, chopped 
 off his head, and lent it to king James, then remain- 
 ing at Stirling. 
 
 The Clans, Chatons and Camerons, fparing 
 the magiflrate's fword, yet executing juftice by mutu- 
 al ilaughters, one of another, had rendered the north 
 very peaceable of that fcum of thieves: fome chieftains 
 were (hut up in fall prifons, among which, two molt emi- 
 nent in all mifchiefs, hating mortally others, and hated 
 of ail good men, Angus Duff of Strathnavern, and 
 Angus Murray: thefe the king, out of policy of 
 Hate, let out, and let at liberty, of purpofe that they 
 might be thruft forward into a greater danger. Return- 
 ing to their wild countries, Duff, nothing refpecling 
 the king's'clemency, accompanied with many thieves 
 and robbers, driveth a great prey of cattle and other 
 fpoils from the confines of Murray and Gaithnefs; which 
 to recover, Angus Murray, that he might attempt 
 fomething worthy of his life and liberty, followeth with 
 a great power of like foldiers ; having now authority to ju- 
 ftify his revenge on a guilty enemy, he overtaketh 
 Duff near unto Strathnavern. There ftrongly is it 
 fought, neither of the parties being inferior to other in 
 number, cruelty, or defpair. This conflict continued 
 fo fierce and eager, that of both fides there remained 
 fcarce twelve perfons alive, and thole lb wounded, that 
 juftice had not whom to purfue. An overthrow de- 
 lightful and commodious for the peace and quiet of all 
 : .he honeft and virtuous fubjecls of thefe countries. 
 
 Thefe many executions nothing appalled one Mac- 
 donald born in Rofs, a thief flefhed in all murders, 
 mifchievous without mercy, equally greedy of blood 
 and fpoil, who by robberies had acquired great riches. 
 Amongft other cruelties, he is faid to have nailed horfe 
 fhoes to the foles of a widow, becaufe in her grief (he 
 had fworn in hafte to repot t his wickednefs to the king. 
 Being brought to Perth by men of his own qualities 
 with twelve of his aflbciates, the king caufed them in 
 
 like 
 
of J AMES I. 29 
 
 like manner to be fhod as they had ferved the woman ; 
 and when three days, for a fpeclacle to the people, they 
 had been hurried along the town, his companions were 
 gibbeted, and he made ftiorter by the head. 
 
 Grofs enormities cut away, factions reprefled, the 
 king maketh a progress throughout all the parts of his 
 realm, doing jultice upon all forts of malefavfhors ; nei- 
 ther did pardons granted by the late governor avail, it 
 being alleged, that they expired by his death; and 
 though fmall faults might have been patTed by fuch re- 
 miflions, yet horrible and crying crimes were not with- 
 in the compafs of fuch authority. While he thus con- 
 tinues in the adminiftration of juftice, the favourable 
 eye of providence looked upon him, and in the year 
 1430, in the month of October, queen Jane is delive- 
 red of two fons at Holy- rood -ho ufe, Alexander and 
 James: the one deceafed in his infancy, the other fuc- 
 ceeded to his father, and was king. To heighten the 
 joy of his people, and diffufe it univerfally, many pti- 
 ibners are fet at liberty ; amongft which were Archi- 
 bald earl of Douglas, and Sir Gilbert Kennedy, 
 the king's lifter's fon ; the earl had been kept in Loch- 
 levin, the other in Stirling. They had been commit- 
 ted rather upon fufpicion of the times, than men ; hav- 
 ing fpoken too freely againft the prefent government ; 
 Alex ander earl ofRofs was alfo fet at liberty. And 
 that the king intended a real and fincere reconciliation, 
 the earl of Douglas was made parent of his children at 
 the font. At this folemnity fifty knights were dubbed, 
 the firft of which was William Douglas, fon to 
 the earl, who after fucceeded to his father in the earl- 
 dom of Douglas. 
 
 A fweet calm diffuflng itfelf through every corner of 
 the realm, the king, imagining the reft of his reign to be 
 but the enjoying of a crown, fets his thoughts wholly 
 to the works of peace. Many unreafonable cuftoms, 
 which were become to the vulgar laws, had many years 
 continued in his kingdom ; thefe he will either have a- 
 bolifhed or amended. To this effect he feledleth per- 
 fons commended for wifdom, gravity, and uprightnefs 
 of life through his realm, to pry into all abufes, hear 
 and determine all forts of quarrels and fuits, if any were 
 
 brought 
 
30 The History ot the Reign 
 
 brought unto them, whereof the ordinary judges, ei- 
 ther for fear dared not, or power of ftronger could not, 
 or for hatred or favour would not give any perfect judg- 
 ment. To them he gave full authority to make in- 
 quifition of the breach of penal ftatutes. Some hereby 
 were punifhed by fines, others in their lives. He took 
 away the deceit which had been occafioned by variety 
 of meafures. For this end certain iron meafures were 
 appointed to be made, unto which the reft fhould be 
 conform and like. Before his reign not only in every 
 town and (hire, but in every mannor and houfe, differ- 
 ent meafures were current •, which abufe he abolilhed 
 by parliament. 
 
 The roughnefs of the times, and perpetual wars and 
 troubles of his anceftors, had neat taken away the arts 
 and handicrafts, and turned the fciences contemptible, 
 efpecially fince the reign of Alexander III. the 
 commons, by the manifold changes and miferies of the 
 age, affecting barbarity, the nobles making arms their 
 whole ftudy and care. To the further advancement of 
 the commonwealth, and that his fubjecls might have 
 occafion to avoid floth and idlenefs, the king from the 
 neighbour continent, and from England, drew unto him 
 the belt artifans and manufaclors, whom either large 
 privileges or mony could entice or oblige. Of which 
 fuch a fair number came, and were fb gracioufly receiv- 
 ed, that they forgot their native countries, and here 
 made their perpetual abode. And what till this day 
 Scotland enjoyeth of them, owe all their beginning to 
 thefe times. Schools of learning were founded, to which 
 great liberties and privileges were granted ; the king 
 well knowing that whatever is excellent in any eftate, 
 from them had beginning and feed, and that there is 
 no better means to fweeten and tame the wild nature of 
 men, than to bufy their fpirits with peaceful and feden- 
 tary exercifes; rude and untrained minds being inclin- 
 able of themfelves to tumult and fedition. To make 
 a necedity of learning, he made an act, that none of 
 the nobility fhould fucceed to their anceftors heritage, 
 except they had fomc tafte of the civil law, or practice 
 of the country-cuff oms; but this after was by them 
 abolifhed. 
 
 Many 
 
of JAMES I. 31 
 
 Many famous men in all fciences from the nobleft 
 univerfities in chriftendom came hither, as to the fan- 
 Ctuary of the mufes, where often the king himfelf in 
 perfon graced their lefTons, and when great matters did 
 not withdraw him, was umpire to their harmlefs con- 
 flicts. Being himfelf religious, he advanced men learn- 
 ed and of good life to eminent places in the church •, and 
 that the belt, defervers might be difcerned, he diftinguifh- 
 ed the learned into degrees, making a law, that none 
 mould enjoy the room of a canon in any cathedral 
 church, unlefs he were bachelor in divinity, or at leaft 
 of the canon law. Though he challenged king David, 
 and named him a grievous faint to the crown, for di- 
 lapidating fo much rent in extraordinary donations to 
 the church; yet with great colt and magnificence he 
 founded the convent of Charters in Perth, and bellowed 
 fair revenues upon it. The excellent (kill which he 
 had in mulic, and delight in poefy, made him affect 
 chorifters-, and he was the firft that erected in his own 
 chapels, and the cathedral churches of Scotland, or- 
 gans ; being not much known before his reign to the 
 nation. 
 
 Peace hath its own dangers no lefs than wars ; yea, 
 often fuch Mates as have increafed their dominions, ana 
 become mighty by wars, have found their ruin in a lu- 
 xurious peace ; men by a voluptuous life becoming lefs 
 fenfible of true honour. The court, and by that ex- 
 ample the country, was become too foft and delicate, 
 fuperfluous in all delights and pleafures. Mafques, 
 banqueting, gorgeous apparel, revelling, were not only 
 licenfed, but ftudied and admired : nothing did pleaie 
 which was not ftrange and far brought ; charity began 
 to be reftrained, public magnificence falling into pri- 
 vate riot. What was wont to entertain whole families, 
 and a train of goodly men, was now fpentin dreflingof 
 fome little rooms, and the womanifh decking of the 
 perfons of fome few Hermaphrodites. 
 
 To thefe the wife king had a while given way, know- 
 ing that delicate foft times were more eafy to be go- 
 verned, and a people given to mild arts and a fweet 
 condition of life, than rough and barbarous, fo they 
 turned not altogether womanized ; and that it was aa 
 
 eafy 
 
32 The History of the Reign 
 
 eafy matter to bring them back again to their old po- 
 fture. At thefe abufes ibme of the feverer fort of the 
 clergy began to carp ; yet could they not challenge the 
 prince, who in the entertainment of his own perfbn, 
 fcarce exceeded the degree of any private man, yea was 
 often under the pomp and majefty of a king. But the 
 blemifh of all that excefs was laid on the Engliih, who 
 by the queen, their country-woman, with new guifes 
 daily reforted hither, and turned new-fangle the court. 
 The king not only liftened to their plaints, but called a 
 parliament to fatisfy their humours. Here Henry 
 Ward law, bifhop of St. Andrews, highly aggravat- 
 ing the abufes and fuperrluities of court and country, 
 all dilbrders were pried into, and flatutes made againft 
 them. They abolifhed riots of all forts of pearl (many 
 rivers in Scotland affording them, not only for ufe, but 
 for excefs ;) only women were permitted to wear a fmall 
 carkanet of them about their necks. CofUy furs and 
 ermines were wholly forbidden, together with the abufe 
 of gold and filver lace. Penalties were not only impof- 
 ed upon the tranfgrelfors, but on workmen which mould 
 make or fell them. Exceffive expence in banqueting 
 was rellrained, and dainties banifhed from the tables of 
 epicures, with jefters and buffoons. In this year 1430, 
 the firft of June, was a terrible eclipfe of the fun, at 
 three of the clock afternoon, the day turning black 
 for the fpace of an half-hour, as though it had been 
 night : therefore it was after called by the commons 
 the black hour. 
 
 The laft and greateft matter which bulled the king's 
 thoughts, was, the encreafing of his revenues, and 
 bringing back the demefnes of the crown: a work no 
 lefs dangerous, than deep and difficile, and which at laft 
 procured him greateft hatred. For till then fmotlur- 
 ed malice did never burft forth into open flames. And 
 though this diligence of the king concerned much the 
 public weal ; yet fuch as were interefted, by rendering 
 what they had long poffeffed, though without all rea- 
 fon, efteemed themfelves highly wronged. The pa- 
 trimony of the crown had been wafted and given away 
 by the two governors, to keep themfelves popular, 
 and fnun the envy of a factious nobility. Thus the 
 
 king 
 
 
of JAMES I. 33 
 
 king had neither in magnificence to maintain himfelf 
 nortobeitow upon his friends or ftrangers. 
 
 He had advifedly perufed all evidences and charters 
 belonging to the crown : hereupon he recals all fuch 
 lands as had been either alienated from it, or wrongful- 
 ly ufurped. Together what was wont to be idly given 
 away, as forfeitures, efcheats and wards, were remain- 
 ed to the crown and kept to the king himfelf. 
 
 There remained upon considerations of increafing 
 the demefnes of the crown, the lands of the earl of 
 March, whofe father had rebelled againft the king's fa- 
 ther Robert; though faults be perfonal and not here- 
 ditary, and the heirs of ancient houfes hold little of 
 their laft pofTetrors, but of their predeceffors : thofe the 
 king feized on. The earl proved by good evidences 
 and writings brought forth, that his father had been 
 pardoned for that fault by the regents of the kingdom. 
 He was anfwered again, that it was not in the regents 
 power to pardon an offence againft the ftate, and that it 
 was exprelly provided by the laws, in crimes of iefe-ma- 
 jelty, that children ihould undergo punilhment for their 
 father's tranfgreffions, to the end that being thus heirs 
 to their father's rafhnefs, as they are to their goods and 
 lands, they fhould not at any time, with vait ambition 
 in the haughty pride of their own power, plot or pra- 
 i5Hfe, to fhake and tear the public peace of the prince and 
 country. 
 
 Thus was the remiflion by the parliament declared 
 void, and earl George himfelf committed to the caftie 
 of Edinburgh. William earl of Angus, warden of 
 the middle march, William Creighton chan- 
 cellor, Sir Adam Hepburn of Hailes, immediately re- 
 ceived the caltle of Dumbar, the keeping of which 
 was given to Sir Adam Hepburn. 
 
 The king not long after let earl G e o r g e at liberty, 
 and to fave him from the like dangers, which were wont 
 to befal his predeceflbrs (to fly into England for every 
 fmall crofs, and light difpleafure at court) he beftowed 
 on him, as it were in exchange, for thefe lands in the 
 Merfe, the earldom of Buchan in the north, with a year- 
 ly penfion to be paid out of the earldom of March, fet- 
 ting Tay and Forth betwixt him and his too kind .friends 
 
 of 
 
34 The History of the Reign 
 
 of England. Buchan had fain to the king by the deceafe 
 of J o h n, who was fon to Robert the governor and 
 earl of Buchan. He was /lain at Vernueil in France, 
 with the marihal Douglas, and left no lawful child- 
 ren after him to fucceed. The earldom of Mar was in- 
 corporated alfo to the demefne royal by the deceafe of 
 Alexander Stuart earl of Mar, who was natu- 
 ral fon to Alexander Stuart, who was the 
 fbn of R o b e R T II. He was a man of lingular prow- 
 efs, and in his youth followed the wars under Philip 
 duke of Burgundy ; he married Jane, daughter to the 
 earl of Holland, and had greatly obliged his country by 
 tranfporting ftallions and mares hither out of Hungary, 
 the flood of which continued long after to his great 
 commendation and the commodity of the kingdom. 
 
 The earldom of Strathern was appropriated alfo to 
 the crown by the deceafe of David Stuart earl of 
 Strathern, uncle to the king, who having but one only 
 daughter (who was married to Patrick Graham, 
 a younger brother of the lo:d Graham) the earldom 
 being entailed to the mafculine line, was devolved a- 
 gain to the crown. Thus did king James fucceed to 
 three brothers who weie fons to Robert II. 
 
 All good men with thefe proceedings of the king were 
 well pleafed ; for if princes could keep their own, and 
 that which juftly belongeth unto them, they could not 
 be urged to draw fuch extraordinary fubfidies from the 
 blood, fweat, and tears of their people. Yet this was 
 the (belt on which this prince perifhed : for many who 
 were accuftomed to be co-partners of fuch off-fal lings, 
 began to ftorm and repine at his actions : but none was 
 fo implacable as Robert Graham, uncle and tutor 
 to Miles Graham, the fon of E u p h e m e daughter 
 to Da viDearl of Strathern. For, plotting mifchief, he 
 began to rail, fpeak in high terms, aflociate himlelf 
 with others of his own mind. Notwithstanding that 
 the king, anno 1428. in September, had beftowed on. 
 his nephew the lands and earldom of Monteith in com- 
 penfation of that of Strathern, to which he pretended 
 right, it being an appenage of the crown. 
 
 About this time, ambafladors came into Scotland from 
 E r 1 c u i king of Denmark, requiring of kinj^ J a 
 
 the 
 
of JAMES I 35 - 
 
 the payment of a yearly tribute, which was due to him, 
 as king of Norway, for the weftern ides, according to 
 the covenant and agreement made byALtXANDE R.1IL 
 king of Scotland, and his predcceilbr Magnus, the 
 fon of A c h o, then king of Norway. The ambaffador 
 was honourably received, and Sir WilliamCreigh- 
 Ton chancellor directed to go with him to Denmark, 
 who there renewed the old league between the realms, 
 fettled queftionable matters, and confirmed a perfect a- 
 mity and Itedfalt peace. 
 
 Ambaffadors came alfo from Charles the French 
 king, not only to conhrm the old amitv between Scot- 
 land and France, but, for a better alTurance thereof, to 
 have Margaret eldeft daughter to king James (al- 
 ready betrothed to Lewis the Dauphin, who now 
 was thirteen years of age) delivered to them, and con- 
 voyed to France. The Englifh, foreknowing this alli- 
 ance, had before fent the lord Scroop, with other al- 
 fbciates to him in embaffy, to have the old league between 
 the French and the Scots diffolved, and to join the 
 king's daughter in marriage with Henry VI. their 
 king ; promifing, if the king would thereto agree, and 
 join in league with them, that the town and caftle of 
 Berwick mould be delivered to the power of the Scots, 
 with all the lands lying between Tweed and the Re- 
 Crofs, which, when Will i am the conqueror granted 
 Cumberland to the Scots, marched England and Scot- 
 land, and is now a fragment of a crofs in Richmond- 'hire, 
 near the Spittle on Stanmoor, about which is nothing 
 but a wild defert. 
 
 Having audience, the lord ScrooP fpake before the 
 council to this purpofe : 
 
 " I am directed hither by my mafter and his coun- 
 " cil, about a bufinefs, which concerneth thr: honour 
 " and profit of the two kingdoms, above any other 
 " which can be projected; and it is the eftablifhing of 
 " a perpetuil peace and concord between them, and 
 " happily, when it (hall pleafe the higher providence, 
 u their uniting in one body, under one prince, one 
 " day. How vain the attempting of this heretofore by 
 " arms hath proved, the world can but too well bear 
 M witnefs : The many proofs of either's valour againft 
 C " them- 
 
36 The History of the Reign 
 
 " themfelves having been but a Javifh effufion of hii- 
 
 " man blood. The faireft way, the eafieft means to make 
 
 " enmities ceafe, and thefe ancient quarrels, was begun, 
 
 " Sir, in your perfon, by the happy marriage of the 
 
 " daughter of J ohn duke of Somerfet, brother to king 
 
 " Henry IV, and fon to the duke of Lancafter; and 
 
 " profperoufly hath continued thefe years paft. Now 
 
 " that peace may be lading, and the affections and minds 
 
 " of the two nations foldered together, our requefl is, 
 
 " That this alliance may be again renewed, by the 
 
 " marriage of your eldefl daughter with our young 
 
 " king, a moft fitting and equal match. And in feek- 
 
 " ing of her, we crave but otsr own ; (he is defcended 
 
 " of our royal flem, and if again flie be ingrafted in that 
 
 " ftock out of which (he fprang, it is but natural. And 
 
 " you, my lords, where can ye find a match more ho- 
 
 " nourable for both nations ? Where can ye find a bet- 
 
 " ter and more profitable friendfhip than ours ? Are we 
 
 " not a people inhabiting one ifland, have we not both 
 
 " one language, are we not of like habit and fafhion, of 
 
 " like quality and condition of life, guarded and fepara- 
 
 " ted from the other world by the great depths of the 
 
 " ocean f WJiat evil cuftoms have come into your country 
 
 " by your laft alliance with us ? Nay what civility, 
 
 *' policy, and laudable fafhions, to the confufion of bar- 
 
 " barity, have not followed hereupon ? By this the glo- 
 
 " ry of both realms will encreafe, either being fufficient 
 
 " not only to furnifh necelfaries, but even all lawful 
 
 " and moderate contentments of life to fupport others. 
 
 '• Befides that, an afTurance of defence, fixength and 
 
 *' power to invade, and eafe in undergoing public 
 
 " charges, will hereby follow. 
 
 " We are not ignorant that your lady is defigned for 
 *' France; but how long, alas, will ye continue prodi- 
 " gal of your blood for the French ? What have ye ad- 
 •• vantaged yourfelves by your aliiance with France, 
 " fave that they engage your bodies in their wars, and 
 u by conferring upon you unprofitable titles of honour, 
 •' take from you what is truly real ? Ye are refierved as 
 '* a poftern-gate, by which they may enter England, 
 " diverting our forces, and tranfporting the ftage of 
 " the war upon our borders, Learn to forget your 
 
 " French ; 
 
of JAMES I. 37 
 
 " French; or if ye be fo enamoured with Fiance, love 
 " her after our manner ; come take a fhare, be partak- 
 " ers of our victories. Are not our forces, being join- 
 " ed, fufficient to overcome, nay bring in chains hi- 
 " ther that king of Bourgej, and make ourfeJves ma- 
 " Iters of his continent ? France did never fo much good 
 " to Scotland in twenty years, as Scotland hath had 
 ct lofs by England for the love and caufe of France in 
 " one. Are not your wounds at Vernueil and Crevani- 
 " yet bleeding, and all for the French ? It hath been 
 <c your valour, and not the French, which heretofore 
 " empeached our conqueft and progrefs in France: 
 " were it not for your fwords, we had made ere now 
 " the loftieft tops of the Alps or Pyrenees bear our tro- 
 " phies. Ye fay, ye reverence and cannot break your 
 '* old league and confederation with that kingdom. 
 " Happy leagues, but wo to the keepers of them ! Un- 
 " happy Scotland, and too too honeft ; and the more 
 " unhappy, for that thy honefty is the great caufe of 
 " thy mishaps ! How long fhall that old league (count- 
 " ed amonglt the fables of the ancient Paladines) make 
 " you wafte your lives, goods, and fortunes, and lofe 
 « your better friends ? The genius of this ille feemeth to 
 « cry unto us her nurfelings to (lay our cruel hands, 
 " no longer to be her defolation, and the wrack one of 
 " another, not to pafs over and neglect thefe fair oc- 
 " cafions of mutual alliances, which will not only ef- 
 " fedtuate truces and leagues amonglt ourfelves, but at 
 c< laft bring a perpetual peace and union : for by inter- 
 *' change of marriages, being united, this ifle fhall con- 
 " tinue ftronger by entertaining peace and amity, than 
 " by all thefe giant walls, rampiers of mountains, and 
 " that huge ditch of Teas, by which nature hath envi- 
 " roned and fortified her. Now, that ye may know 
 " how dearly we eftcem your friendfhip and alliance, 
 " whereas others go to take from you, we will give 
 " you Roxburgh and Berwick, and all the lands be- 
 " tween Tweed and Re-Crofs. If fhadows prevail and 
 li prove ftronger with you than eflential reafon, and 
 " that ye difeiteem our offer, lofing this good occafion; 
 " we as neighbours and friends entreat you, that ye do 
 " not uphold the French now in the fun-fet of their for- 
 C a " tunes. 
 
38 Thr History of the Reign 
 
 '* tunes, and at their weakefl: ; that ye would not fhould- 
 " er this falling wall ; but that ye would live quiet with- 
 " in yourfelves, keeping your own in a neutrality, re- 
 " ceiving both fides, French and Englifh, in the way of 
 " friendfhip, neither fide in the way of faction." 
 
 The French ambafTador fpoke to this purpofe. It 
 " feemeth ftrange to me, that it fhould be queftion- 
 " ed, and fall within the circle of deliberation, whe- 
 " ther old, ever true, and allured friends-, or old, ne- 
 " ver trufted, and only enemies, fhould in an honour- 
 " able fuit be preferred : whether ye fhould ftand to a 
 " nation, which, in your greateft calamities, never a- 
 " bandoned you ; or embrace and be carried away with 
 " one which hath ever fought your overthrow. The 
 " Englifh fue for your alliance and friendfhip, but it is 
 " to make you leave your old confederates, and turn 
 " the inftruments of their ruin, and at lafr. bring the 
 " yoke of bondage upon yourfelves. The French fue 
 " for your friendfhip, and alliance, both to fupport 
 *' thenifelves, and hold fervitude from you. Were not 
 " your friendfhip with France, their power, policy, and 
 " number had long ere thefe days overturned your re- 
 " aim •, or had France but fhown hcrfelf an indifferent 
 " arbitrefsof the blows between Scotland and England, 
 " ye had fcarce till now kept your name, lefs your li- 
 " berties. Can ye prove ib ungrateful as not to fup- 
 " ply them who fupported you ? Can ye prove fo in- 
 *' conftant, after fo many glorious wounds received in 
 " the defence of France, as cowardly to turn your 
 " backs upon her in her greateft need, defacing all 
 •' the traces of your former fame and glory? "VYkh 
 «' what countenances could ye look upon thofe Scots, 
 " which at Vernueil and Crevant, in the bed of J10- 
 " nour, left their lives, if unrevenged ye fhould ad- 
 " here and join yourfelves to their enemies and kil- 
 " lers? Now though ye would forfake the Frenc!\ 
 " at this time intangled in many difficulties, not rcgard- 
 " ing {heir well-being, nor follicitous of their {landing ; 
 " at lcaft, be careful of your own. 
 
 " It cannot fubfift with your well and fafety, to (i\f- 
 " fer a bordering nation, always at enmity with you, 
 <l toarife to that height and power by fuch an addition 
 
 " as 
 
 I 
 
of J AMES I. 39 
 
 " as is the kingdom of France. So foon as a {late hath 
 
 " a neighbour itrong enough and able to fubdue it, it 
 
 " is no more to be efteemed a free eitate- The Eng- 
 
 " lilh are already become fo potent, that no lefs than 
 
 u united forces of neighbour kingdoms will ferve to 
 
 " flop the current of their fortune. NeglecT not the 
 
 " certain love of the French, your often tried and an> 
 
 " cient friends, lor the uncertain friendship, and, vvith- 
 
 <c in a little time, forgotten alliances of the Englilh your 
 
 *' late reconciled enemies. 
 
 " But it may be, after mutual marriages have one 
 
 " day joined your two kingdoms in one, they will feek 
 
 " no pre-eminency over your flate, nor make thraii 
 
 « your kingdom, but be knit up with you in a perfect 
 
 " union. Do not (mail brooks lofe their names when 
 
 " they commix their itreams with mighty rivers ; and 
 
 " are not rivers ingulfed, when they mingle their 
 
 " waters with the feas? Ye enjoy now a kind of mixed 
 
 " government, my lords, not living under abfolute la- 
 
 «' vereignty : \ our king proceedeth with you more by 
 
 « prayers and requefts than by precepts and command- 
 
 " ments, and is rather your head than ibvereign, as rul- 
 
 <c ing a nation not conquered. But when ye ihali bo 
 
 " joined in a body with that kingdom which is abfoiute- 
 
 " ly royal and purely monarchical, having long fuffer- 
 
 " ed the laws of a conqueror, ye lhall lind a change and 
 
 " a terrible transformation. The free managing of 
 
 " your own affairs lhall be taken from you; laws, ma- 
 
 " giftracies, honours, iliall depend on them; the wealth 
 
 " of your kingdom lhall be transferred to theirs ; which 
 
 " to obey and prollrate yourfelves unto, if ye be found 
 
 " ftubborn, ye (hall fuifer as a nation conquered, be re- 
 
 " darted into a province, have deputies and governors 
 
 " fet over you, garrifons in your ftrongdl holds and 
 
 4< caftles, and by a calm of peace and union receive 
 
 " more feaiful blows than ye could have fufFered bi 
 
 " any tempelt of war, the miferies of a rmoll laincnt- 
 
 h able fervitude. What courtefy can ye expert at their 
 
 " hands, who, contrary to all divine and burn-air raws, 
 
 " detained your king eigh'.ecn years prifoner, and he- 
 
 " fides an exorbitant ranfom, as if he had been taken 
 
 " in a lawful war, did not without hoibges {end him 
 Z 2 ,l home ? 
 
40 The History of the Reign 
 
 " home? We of France did never forfake you in your 
 " extremities, and we expect ye will affilt us with all 
 s< your power. They are in fuit of your daughter, but 
 " it is long after the was alTured unto us ; in claiming 
 il her we claim but our own. This time palf, ye have 
 *' only had the cuflody and education of her; yet, if 
 " they be fb ambitious of your alliance, God hath blef- 
 " fed you with more than this. But it is not that which 
 " they fue for, it is to make you difclaim your friends, 
 *' hate thofe which love you, and love them which hate 
 " you ; and they are working upon you as upon a rude 
 " unpolilhed people. They offer to render you Ber- 
 " wick and Roxburgh : thefe gifts of enemies are to be 
 " feared ; they know it is in their own power to re-ob- 
 " tain them when they pleafe. 
 
 " As for that point, wherein they would have you 
 " indifferent fpeclators of the blows, and that it fnall 
 " be profitable for you not to meddle with this war. Ye 
 " are too near engaged •, neither is there any thing can 
 " be more damageable unto you : for, if ye be not of 
 *' the party, ye may affure yourfelves that your country 
 " fhall remain a prey and reward to the conqueror, 
 " with content and applaufe of the vanquilhcd, who is 
 u not bound to fuccour thofe who refufed to a/Hft and 
 " help him in his necefTities. Prove firm and conftant 
 "• to us your firft confederates; combine your forces 
 " with ours, and by the affidance of that liipreme pro- 
 " vidence who pitieth at la(t the oppreffed, we have fair 
 " certainties and true hopes, to cut fo much work ab- 
 *' road to the Englilh, that they fnall do little or no 
 " barm to you at home." 
 
 The king and nobles, though it feemed more profit- 
 able for the prefent time to follow the Englilh, weigh- 
 ing their offers, yet held it more advantagious, and fure 
 for times to come, to follow the French. For if the 
 Englilh fhould make conqucft of France, the conquefl 
 of Scotland would fcarce be one month's work to their 
 power : And for matter of alliance, God knows how 
 jittle princes regard it, when occafion is offered to en- 
 large their power and dominion. Thereupon they de- 
 clare they will not break the ancient league and pence 
 th'.y have kept with France. 
 
 The 
 
of JAMES I. 41 
 
 The Englifh ambalTadors, denied of their fuit, went 
 from prayers and requefts to threatnings and menac- 
 ings, and having friendship refufed, denounced war; 
 if the king gave his daughter to the French, that they, 
 if they could, would hinder her pafTage by fea, having 
 already a fleet prepared to this effect. And thus went 
 away the Englifh ambaffadors. 
 
 The king was fo far from being moved by thefe 
 threatnings, that immediately he made ready his (hips; 
 and knowing more affairs to be brought to a good end 
 and finifhed by the opportunity of occafions, than by 
 force and power, with an able company of mariners and 
 foldiers fetteth his daughter to fea. 
 
 The Englifh fleet had waited upon her, but, provi- 
 dence fo appointing, fhe efcaped them, and they en- 
 countered a fleet of Spaniards keeping their courle to- 
 wards the Netherlands. Them they befet with four- 
 fcore veffels, commanding the ladies and all of their 
 company to be delivered unto them : when they would 
 not accept of friendly anfwers, they fall to handy blows, 
 till in end, by Jofs of men and fome fhips, they under- 
 wood their error. The lady Margaret, thus with- 
 out danger by the weftern feas, arrived at RocheJ, hav- 
 ing for her convoy a whole colony of gentlewomen, the 
 hiltories fay anhundred and forty went with her, ail of no- 
 ble parentage, of which train were her five fillers. From 
 Rochel fhe held her progrefs to Tours-, there with an 
 extraordinary pomp and magnificence the 24 of June, 
 anno 1436. was fhe married to the dauphin Lewi s. 
 
 The king to defray the charges raifed by tranfporting 
 and marriage of his daughter (the French feeking with 
 her fmall or no dowry, thefe times preferring parentage 
 and beauty before gold or riches, all that was craved be- 
 ing a fupply of men of arms for their fupport againff. 
 the Englifh) laid a fubfidy on his fubjecls ; the one half 
 of which being levied, and the people grudging and re- 
 pining at the exacting of the other half (it being taken 
 from men who lived hardly in a barren foil) he caufed 
 render a part of it again, and difcharged the remainder. 
 
 At this time, by fea and land, the Englifh, in re- 
 venge of the refufal of the offers of their ambalTadors, 
 began to ufe all holtiiity againlt the Scots. Henry 
 C4 Percy 
 
42 The History of the Reign 
 
 Percy of Northumberland invadeth the country with 
 four thoufand men : whether of his own bravery, ab- 
 horring eafe and idlenefs, or that he bad a commillion 
 fo to do, is uncertain. With him came Sir Henry 
 Clydesdale, Sir John Ogie, Richard Percy, 
 and many men of choice and worth, 'i he frontier- 
 garrifons invaded ali places near unto them. To refill 
 thefe incur fions, William Douglas, earl of An- 
 gus, getteth charge; a man refembling his ancestors in 
 all virtues either of war or peace, and the molt eminent 
 of his time: with him went Adam Hepburn of 
 Hailes, Alexander Elphinston of Elphinlton 
 in Lothian, and Alexander Ramsay of Dal- 
 houfie, in all being four thoufand fhong. Thefe, co- 
 vetous of glory, befides the ancient quarrel of the two 
 nations, having the particular emulations of their ance- 
 Itors to be fpurs unto them, make fpcedy journeys to 
 have a proof of their virtue and courage. The liiis of 
 their meeting was Popperden, a place not far from Bram- 
 Iton, Rhodam, Rofeden, .Eglinham, all cheated with 
 the (heam of a fmall brook, named BrnniiTiifh, which, 
 arifing out of the Cheviot, lofeth its name in the Till, 
 as the Till after many windings dilgorgeth itfelf in the 
 Tweed. Adam Hepburn and A l f. x a nder El- 
 phinston led the vanguard of the Scots; Sir Rich- 
 ard Percy, Sir John Ogle, of the Engl i(h ; Ale- 
 x a n D e r R a m s a y and Henry Clydesdale 
 kept the rears. The two geneials rode about the ar- 
 mies, remembering them of their ancient valour, the 
 wrongs icccivcd, the juitnefs of the quarrel, the glory 
 of the victory, the nume of the overthrow. No foon- 
 cr were they come within diftance ofjoining, when the 
 found of the drums and trumpets was outnoifed by the 
 (liouts of the a'Tailants, v. ho furioully encountered. The 
 guns being about ihis time found out, were hcic firli 
 pradifed between the Scots and the EngJifh in an open 
 field. When the light with equal order had been long 
 maintained on both (ides, now the Scots, then the Eng 
 lifii yielding ground, many of the c< mmandersat length 
 began to fall, molt of the Engli/h. Then was Percy 
 ponllrained to be at once commander and foldier; but 
 tie he could be heard, fome companies had turned 
 
 their 
 
of J AM ES I. 43 
 
 their backs, among the thickeft throngs of which breaking 
 in, he found fo great diforder, that neither by authority, 
 intreaty, or force, lie was able to ftay their flying. 
 Thus diffracted between the two courfes of honour and 
 ihame, he is hurried far from the place of fight, and 
 victory declared herfelf altogether for the Scots ; which 
 was not lb great in the execution, as in the death and 
 captivity or fome brave men. Of the Scots two hun- 
 dred gentlemen and common foldiers were flain, among 
 which was Alexander Elphinston, maintain- 
 ing the battle with his {word, voice and wounds, and 
 two other knights. Of the Englifh died Sir Henry 
 Clydesdale, Sir JohnOgle, Sir Richard 
 Percy, with fifteen hundred gentlemen and common 
 foldiers, of which forty were knights ; four hundred 
 were taken prilbners. 
 
 The king irritated by the way-laying of his daughter, 
 the invading of his borders, and encouraged not a little 
 by this little fmiie of lortune at Popperden, it being 
 more fure to prevent than repel dangers, and -with the 
 fame policy to defend, by which the enemies offend, re- 
 folveth by open war to invade England. He was alfo 
 ftirred unto this by his intelligence from his friends in 
 France, who had brought greater matters to pafs than 
 in fo ihort a time could have been expected : for con- 
 cealed envy and old malice, burfting out between 
 Richard duke of York, and Edmond duke of 
 Somerfet, Philip duke of Burgundy being entered in 
 friendfhip with king Charles, the Engliih began to 
 be daily lofers, and were put out of Paris and many 
 towns of Fiance. To this efFect king James having 
 railed an army cometh to Roxburgh, a place fatal to 
 his, and there belieged the caftle of March mont, which 
 is Roxburgh. It was valiantly defended by Sir R At P K 
 Gray: But when he was come {'o near the end of his 
 labours, that they within the caftle were driven to terms 
 of agreement and conditions for giving up the fort, the 
 queen in threat hafte cometh to the camp, reprefenting 
 :o her husband a confpiracy, the greatnefs of the peril 
 of which, if it were not fpeediiy prevented, fhould en- 
 danger his eftate, perfon, and race. Whether (he had 
 any inkling of the conlpiracy, or contrived this to di- 
 vert 
 
44 The History of the Reign 
 
 vert bis forces from the affault, and farther harm of 
 the Englilh her friends and country-men, it is uncer- 
 tain. The king who found his imagination wounded 
 upon this point, after many doubtful refolutions and 
 conflicts in his thoughts, raifeth the fiege, disbandeth 
 the army, and accompanied withfome chofen bands of 
 his moft affured friends, returneth back, to provide for 
 his own fafety. A ft range refolution, to disband an 
 army for a tale of treafon ! Where could there be a 
 greater fafety for a king than in an army ? Yet have 
 confpiracies been often in camps ; and in his own time, 
 Richard earl of Cambridge, brother to Edward 
 duke of York, Henry lord Scroop, with Sir Tho- 
 mas Gray knight, at the inftigation of the Dauphin 
 of France, for a great fum of mony, confpired to mur- 
 der H E n r Y V. king of England, in the midft of his 
 armies, if they had not been furprized. The king fear- 
 ed all, becaufe he had not yet heard the names of any ; 
 but moft the army, by reafon of the nobility, many 
 of which, who liked not the prefent form of govern- 
 ment, were irritated againft him. Were the confpir- 
 acy a rebellion, and in general by them all, they were 
 ready in arms to maintain their fatfions ; and if upon 
 fufpicion the king fhould attack any, being fecretly join- 
 ed in a league, lie would hardly have meddled with 
 their perfons, without a civil war, which, in regard of 
 his engagement with England, he endeavoured to fpare. 
 Perplexed, penfive, and fad, he cometh to Perth, ftay- 
 eth in the convent of the Dominicans, named the Black- 
 Fiiers, a place not far from the town-wall, endeavour- 
 ing fo fecretly as was poffible to find out the confpir- 
 acy. But his clofe praclifing was not unknown to the 
 confpirators, as that there was more peril to refolve 
 than execute a treafon, a diftance of time between the 
 plot and execution difcovering and overthrowing the 
 enterprize. Hereupon they determine to hazard on 
 the inifchief, before trial or remedy could be thought 
 upon. 
 
 The confpirators were Robert Graham, un- 
 cle and tutor to Miles Graham, Robert 
 Stuart nephew to Walter carl of A thole, and 
 one of the king's fworn domeilics : but he who gave 
 
 motion 
 
of J AMES I. 45 - 
 
 motion to all, was the earl of Athole himfelf, the king's 
 father's brother, whofe quarrel was no lefs than a 
 pretended title and claim to the crown ; which he 
 formed and alleged thus. His brother David and 
 he were procreated by king Robert II. on his firft 
 wife Eupheme Ross, daughter to the earl of 
 Rofs, and therefore ought and mould have been 
 preferred to the fucceflion of the crown, before king 
 John, named Robert, and all the race of E liza- 
 bethMoor, who was but his fecond wife, and next 
 them, but heirs to king RobertII. They were the 
 eldeft fons of king Robert after he was king, Jo h n 
 and Robert being born when he was but in a pri- 
 vate ftate, and earl of Strathern : for it would appear, 
 that as a fon, born after his father hath loft his king- 
 dom, is not efteemed for the fon of a king, fo neither 
 he that is born before the father be a king. Thefe rea- 
 fons he thought fufficient, the king taken away, to fet 
 him in the room of ftate : but confidered not how fa- 
 cred the name of king is to the Scots nation ; how a crown 
 once worn quite taketh away what defers foever ; and 
 that it was not eafy to diveft a king in prefent poflef- 
 fion of a crown, who had his right from his father and 
 grandfather, with the authority of a parliament approv- 
 ing his defcent, and fecluding all others ; lefs came it 
 in his thought, that thole children are legitimate and 
 lawful, which cannot be thruft back and reje&ed with- 
 out troubling the common peace of the country, and 
 opening a gate to foreign invaiions, domeftical difturb- 
 ances, and all diforders, with an unfettled courfe of 
 fucceflion ; the common error making the right or law. 
 Athole animated by the oracle ofa footh-fayer of his 
 Highland country, who had allured him he mould be 
 crowned in a folemn aiTembly before his death, never 
 gave over his hopes of obtaining the crown : and being 
 inferior and weak in power and faction to the other bro- 
 thers, -to compafs his defigns he betaketh himfelf to 
 treacherous devices. It was not in his power to ruin 
 fo many at once : for mifchief required there mould be 
 diftance between fo many bloody acts ; therefore he 
 Jayeth his courfe for the taking away of his kindred 
 one after another at leiiuie : He, foweth jealoufies, en- 
 
 tertaineth 
 
46 The Hi story of the Reign 
 
 tertaineth difcords, maintaineth factions amongft them. 
 By his counfel David duke of Rothefay, the king's 
 eldeft brother, was famifhed in the tower of Falkland : 
 neither had J a mes, then a child, efcaped his treach- 
 ery, if far off in England he had not been preferved. 
 He perfuaded the earl of Fife, that, making out of the 
 way the king his brother, he fhould put the crown on 
 his own head : he trafficked the return ofkingjAMEs; 
 and, he being come, he plotted the overthrow of duke 
 Mordock, by fit inftruments for fuch a bufincfs, prov- 
 ing the crimes laid againft him in the attainder, and he 
 himfelffat judge againft him and his children. Thus 
 ftirring one of the kinfmen againft another, he fo en- 
 feebled the race of Elizabeth Moor, that of a 
 numerous offspring there only remained James and 
 his fon, a child not yet fix years of age, upon whofe 
 fepulchres building his defigns, with a fmall alteration 
 of the flare, he thought it an eafy ftep to the crown. 
 
 Robert Graham had been Jong imprifoned, 
 and at laft releafed ; but being a man implacable once 
 offended, and cruel, whom neither benefits could oblige, 
 nor dangers make wife, an enemy to peace, factious 
 and ambitious alike, by many wicked plots afterwards, 
 and crimes againft the laws of the country, driven to 
 an out-lawry, and to live as banifhed, he had ever a 
 male-talent againft the king fince the adjudging of the 
 earldom of Strathem from his nephew Miles. 
 
 Robert Stuart was very familiar with the 
 king, and his accefs to his chamber and perfon advan- 
 ced the enterpiize : being a riotous young man, gaping 
 after great matters, neither refpecting faith nor fame, 
 and daring to attempt any thing for the accomplifhing 
 of his own foolifh hopes, and his grand-father's aims 
 and ambition. Thefc having affociated unto them the 
 molt audacious, whom either fear of puniJhments for 
 their mifdeeds, or hopes of preferment by a change ot 
 the government would plunge into any enterprize ; in 
 the month of February, fo fecretlv as was poffible, af- 
 lembled together, where the earl (pake to this fenfe un- 
 to them. 
 
 " Thefe engagements which every one of you have 
 M to another, and which I have to 1 y one of you, 
 
 " founded 
 
of J AMES I. 47 
 
 " founded on the ftrongeft grounds of confanguinity, 
 " friendfhip, intereft, of committed and received wrongs, 
 " move me freely here to reveal my fecret drifts, and 
 " diicover the depths of my hidden purpofes and coun- 
 " fels. The ftrange tragedies which in the Hate and 
 " government have been acted, fince the coming of 
 " this Englifhman to the crown, are to none of you un- 
 " known: M or do c k with his children have been 
 " beheaded ; the earl of Lenox his father-in-law had 
 " that fame end •, the nobility repine at the govern- 
 " ment of their king ; the king is in jealoufy of his 
 * nobles ; the commons are in the way of rebellion. 
 " Thefe all have been the effects of my far-mining po- 
 " licies. And hitherto they have fallen forth as for- 
 " tunately as they were ingeniously plotted. For what 
 " more ingenious and cunning ftratagem could be pro- 
 " jedted, to decline the rank growth of thefe ufurpers, 
 '* than to take them away by handles made of their 
 " own timber ? And, if there was -any wrong in fuch 
 u proceedings, in fmall matters wrong muft be done, 
 " that juftice and equity may be performed in great. 
 ■* My fear was, and yet is, that the taking down of the 
 " fcaffold of M o r d o c K mould be the putting up of ours. 
 " Crowns fuffer no corrivals ; the world knows, and 
 " he himfelf is confcious to it, that the right and title 
 " to the crown, by defcent of blood from Robert II. 
 " my father, was in the perlbn of Da vid my brother, 
 " and is juftly claimed now by me and our nephew. 
 " As for an act of parliament confirming the right of 
 " that other race, and for oaths of allegiance, no parlia- 
 " mentary authority can take away juftice, and the 
 " law of God. Neither is an oath to be obferved, when, 
 " it tendeth to the fuppreflion of truth and right : And 
 " though for a time fuch acts and oaths have prevailed, 
 " our defigns having good fuccefs, we fhall have a par- 
 u liament approving our right, abolifhing their preten- 
 ** fions, and declaring them ufurpers. This one man 
 u and a child taken away, if we can give the blow, 
 " the kingdom muft obey the lawful fucceflbr; againft 
 " whom whatfubjedl will revolt, or who dare take arms? 
 " And here is more fear than danger. But think there 
 " were; the only remedy of imminent dangers is new 
 
 ' l dangers 
 
4& The History of the Reign 
 
 " dangers. It was fimplicity in him to think by final! 
 ■• benefits that old injuries are abolifhed and forgot, and 
 " that I fhould take patiently the title of earl, when 
 " I fliould have been king myfelf. By his tyrani- 
 " zing juftice, if he be not hated, he is not beloved, 
 " but become terrible to his people, who now through 
 *' their poverty and grievances affect a novation, and 
 u obey him not out of any affection, but through necef- 
 " fity and fear ; and now he alfo feareth, that fome do 
 " that to him which he hath deferved. 
 
 " Let us refolve his doubts ; our ends are honour and 
 " revenge, our wills againft him all alike and one. The 
 " heavens feem to confpire with us, having brought 
 " him to disband his army, and render himfelf in the 
 " wifhed place of our attempts ; and let us rather fol- 
 " low them and fortune, which favours great actions, 
 " than virtue that preacheth cowardly patience; re- 
 " membring how fair gloffes of valour for the molt part 
 " have been caft on the fouled deeds, and the mightiell 
 " families have from them derived their honours, fhame 
 " feldom or never following victory, however it be at* 
 u chieved and purchafed. That fovereignty at the 
 " firft was but a violent ufurpation of the Uronger over 
 " the weaker. How great enterprizes mult begin with 
 '■ danger, but end with rewards, that death fhould ra- 
 11 ther be prevented than expecled, and that it is more 
 *' honourable to die, than prolong a life in mifery, 
 *• wandering in the fcorn of other mens pride. Be re- 
 " folute in our plot, put the enterprize in execution. 
 " Hade is the fpirit of actions of danger. The worft 
 •' that can befal us is, fince we cannot fubfift he being 
 " alive, that he be taken away, whilft we run a hazard 
 " of death, which happeneth to all men alike, with 
 " only the difference of fame or oblivion with polterity, 
 " which arifeth of an evil action, as well as of a good, 
 " if the action and attempt be great. But let us not 
 " fpend the time of execution in deliberation." 
 
 Not long after, when they had pondered and digeft- 
 ed the defign, Graham and Stuart, with their ac 
 complices, guided by refolution, and guarded by the 
 darknefs of the night, came to the Black-Friers of Perth, 
 and having the way made open unto them, entered the 
 
 gallery 
 
of J AMES I. 49 
 
 gallery before the king's chamber door, where they at- 
 tended fbme of their confederates, who fhould have ftoln 
 away the bar, by which means they might enter the 
 chamber : but before their coming fortune cafteth the 
 occafion in their hands. 
 
 For Walter Straton, one of the king's cup- 
 bearers, came forth of the chamber, and finding armed 
 men rufhing rudely to force their entry, terrified with 
 the boldnefs of the facl, with a high voice gave the al- 
 arm of treafon to his mailer. While they are working 
 his death, a maid of honour, of the name of D ouglas, 
 got to the door, and eflayed to fhut it ; but, for that 
 the bar was now away which mould have made it 
 faft, me thruft her arm in the place where it fhould 
 have pa(Ted; but, that eafily broken, the confpirators 
 rufh into the chamber, and flaying all fuch of the wait- 
 ers as made defence (amongft which was Patrick 
 Dunbar, brother to G e o r g e fometime earl of March) 
 they at laft flruck down the king ; whom whilfr. the 
 queen by interpofing her body fought to fave, being 
 hardly pulled from him, fhe received two wounds, and 
 he with twenty eight, moft towards the heart, was left 
 dead. 
 
 Thus was James I. who had fo fuperabundantly 
 defer ved well of the commonwealth, murdered the 21ft 
 of February, in the end of the year 1436, the 44th of 
 his age, when he had reigned 1 3 years. 
 
 This king was, for the proportion and fhape of his 
 body, of a middle ftature, thick and fquare, rather fome- 
 what mean than tall, not fuch as is counted for dainty, 
 but for gracefulnefs and majefty. His hair was abourn, 
 a colour between white and red. He was of fo flrong 
 and vigorous a conflitution, that he was able to endure 
 all extraordinary extremities both of travel and want; 
 and furpaffed for agility, and nimblenefs in any exercife, 
 his companions. He was of fo fharp and pregnant a 
 wit, that there was nothing wherein the commendation 
 of wit confifted, or any fhadow of the liberal arts did 
 appear, that he had not applied his mind unto ; feem- 
 ing rather born to letters than inftrucled. He wrote 
 verfes, both Latin and Englifh, of which many are yet 
 extant. He exercifed all inftruments of mufic, and 
 
 equalled 
 
5<5 The History of the Reign 
 
 equalled the heft profefTors thereof. He had ftudied ail 
 philofophy, but molt that which concerns government ; 
 in which what a mafter he was, the order, which he 
 eftablilhed in fuch a confufion as he found in the ftate. 
 doth witnefs, and many old laws commodioufly renew- 
 ed and amended, others for the public good eftablilhed. 
 He was a great obferver of religious forms •, eafy for ac- 
 cefs, fair in fpeech and countenance, in behaviour kind, 
 ufing deep and meat to live, not for voluptuoufnefs. 
 He had good command over his pafiions, his defires ne- 
 ver being above his reafon, nor his hopes inferior to his 
 defires. Though he was much obliged to the gifts of 
 nature, yet was he more to his good education and train- 
 ing in England. Scarce had he palled the ninth year 
 of his age, when he was committed to the fea to fhun 
 the treafons of his uncle, and was furprized at Flam- 
 borough-head in Holdernefs. Windfor caftle kept him 
 a prifoner, but by commandment of king Henry he 
 was fo carefully inftrucled, that no prince could have 
 been better bred in the fchools of Europe. What his 
 valour was, the wars of France bear witnefs : for accom- 
 panying the king of England there, he laid feige to the 
 town of Direx, and with fuch violence and valour, faith 
 the Englifh hiftory, afTaulted it for the fpace of fix 
 weeks, that with main ftrength he compelled it to be 
 rendered into his hands, and gave it to king He KRY. 
 That commendation which was given him by that fame 
 king of England, being recorded by their writers, prov- 
 edjprophetically true of him : for the king remembering 
 him of his benefits received, and promiling him greater, 
 with free liberty to return to his own country, if he 
 could caufe the Scots, who were adherent to the Dau- 
 phin of France, to return to their native foil, and leave 
 him : To this he anfwered, He was a prifmer, had no 
 poffefion of his realm ; that he was neither [worn to his 
 fubjefts, nor they by any oath of allegiance bound to him ; 
 and though he were bound to them, and they ts folhw his 
 commandment, he would fore fee whether it were to him 
 honourable, and to his realm honefl, to leave their old friend 
 ef France in his extreme neceffity without aid or comfort. 
 With this anfwer, though the king was not content, 
 when James went out of his prefer.ee, he is recorded 
 
 to 
 
of JAMES I. 51 
 
 to have (aid, Happy pall they be which jhall hefubjefls 
 to a king endowed with fuch wifdom of fo tender years of 
 age. His feverity in jultice was traduced by fome un- 
 der terms of cruelty ; but confidering the difbrders of 
 his country, by the fierce nature of the people over 
 whom he ruled, who by often rebellions did not only 
 exafperate him to fome feverity, but even conftrain 
 him to keep them in awe, his rigour was rather an ef- 
 fect of neceffity than of his natural difpofition. No 
 prince did more reverently entertain peace at home a- 
 mongfl: his fubjedts, nor more willingly conclude the 
 fame amongft llrangers. There is no prince more cruel 
 than he, who by a facility and evil-meafured pity, fuf- 
 fers robberies, rapes, murders, and all fort of oppreflion 
 and abufes to overturn his country, in which a whole 
 ftate is interested, when the ltrieteft juftice toucheth 
 but fome particular perfons. By him abufes were re- 
 formed, defects repaired, fedition and difcord was put 
 from the nobles, equity and induftry reftored to the 
 country, every man had a certainty of enjoying his 
 own with fecurity. Into all men was either infufed a 
 will to do well, or a neceflity of lb doing impofed upon 
 them, virtuous actions being honoured, crimes punifh- 
 ed. The mean man did refpecl the great, not fear him ; 
 the great man did precede the mean, not contemn him ; 
 favour was mattered by equity, ambition by virtue : for 
 the excellent prince by doing well himfelf, had taught 
 his fubjeifts fo to do. 
 
 He was one of the worthiefl: of all the kings of Scot- 
 land till his time : Of the former kings it might have 
 been faid, The nation made them kings, but this king 
 made that people a nation. He left behind him one fon 
 and fix daughters, king J a m E s II. Margaret wife 
 to Lewis XI. king of France, Eliza bet h duchefs 
 of Bretaign, Jane firft of Angus, and then countefs 
 of Huntley, Elenora married to S 1 g i s m o n d arch- 
 duke of Auftria, Mary wife to the lord of Campvere, 
 and An nab ell a. He was buried in the Charter- 
 houfe of Perth which he had founded, where the doub- 
 let in which he was flain was kept almoft to our time 
 as a relic, and with execration fcen of the people, eve- 
 ry man thinking himfelf interefted in his wrong. 
 
 D The 
 
52 The History of the Reig^n 
 
 The rumour of his murder blazed abroad, it is incre- 
 dible what weeping and forrow was through all the 
 country ; for even by them, to whom his government 
 was not pleafant, he was deplored, and the act thought 
 execrable. The nobles, of their own accord and motion, 
 from all parts of the kingdom, affembled and came to 
 Edinburgh, and ere they confulted together, as if they 
 had all one mind, directed troops of armed men through 
 all the quarters of the kingdom, to apprehend the 
 murderers, and produce them to jultice. Such dili- 
 gence was uled, grief and anger working in their minds, 
 that within the fpace of forty days all the confpira- 
 tors were taken, and put to fhameful deaths. The 
 common fort, as Christopher Claw n, or Col- 
 houn, and others that were of the council in the con- 
 fpiracy, having had art or part in the plot, were hang- 
 ed on gibbets. The chief atfors, that the common- 
 wealth might publicly receive fatisfaclion, were made 
 fpeclaclcs of jultice by exquifite torments. The punifh- 
 ment of Athole was continued three days : on the firft 
 he was ftriped naked to his fhirt, and by a cran fixed in 
 a cart, often hoiled aloft, disjointed, and hanging fhown 
 to the people; and thus dragged along the great ftreet 
 of the town. On the fecond he was mounted on a 
 pillar in the market-place, and crowned with a diadem 
 of burning iron, with a placard bearing. The k'tng of 
 ell traitors : Thus was his oracle accomplished. On the 
 third he was laid naked along upon a fcafTbld, his 
 belly was ript up, and his heart and bowels taken out 
 and thrown into a fire flickering before his eyes. Laflly, 
 his head was cut off, and fixed in the molt eminent 
 place of the town, and his body fent in quarters to the 
 molt populous cities of the kingdom to remain a tro- 
 phy of jultice. 
 
 His nephew Robert Stuart was not altogether 
 fo rigoroufly handled, for that he did but confent to o- 
 thers wickednefs, being only hanged and quartered. 
 
 But for that it was notorious Robert Graham 
 had embrued his hands in the king's blood, a gallows 
 being railed in a cart, he had his right-hand nailed to 
 it, and as he was dragged along the Itreet, executioners 
 
 with 
 
ofJAMESI. 53 
 
 with burning pincers, tore the moft flefhy parts ofFhis 
 carcafe. Being niped, torn and flayed, his heart and 
 entrails were thrown into a fire, his head exalted, and 
 his quarters fentamongft the towns, to fatisfy the wrath 
 and forrow of the injured people. Being afked during 
 his torture, How he dared put band in his prince ? He 
 made anfwer, That having heaven and hell at his choice, 
 he dared leap out of heaven and all the contentments 
 thereof, into the flaming bottoms of hell : An anfwer wor- 
 thy fuch a traitor ! 
 
 /Eneas Sylvius, then legate in Scotland for pope 
 E u g e N I u s IV. afterward pope himfelf, having feexi 
 this fudden and terrible revenge, being a witnefs of the 
 execution, faid, He could not tell whether he fiould give 
 them greater commendations that revenged the king's death, 
 or brand them with /harper condemnation that diftained 
 themfelves withfo hainous a parricide, 
 
 Vi THE 
 
C ss I 
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Reign of J A M E S II. 
 
 SCARCE were the tears dried for the lofs of the 
 father, when the three eltates of the kingdom meet, 
 and, at Holy-rood-houfe, fet the crown upon the head 
 of the fon, then a child, in the fixth year of his age. 
 The government of the reaJm is trufted to Sir Ale- 
 xander Li vin gs ton of Callander ; the cuftody 
 of the king's perfon, with the caitle of Edinburgh, are 
 given to the chancellor Sir W I L L i A m C r e i g ii t o n ; 
 men (for that they had been ever faithful to the fa- 
 ther, without apparent vices, of no capacity to fucceed, 
 nor entertaining afpiring thoughts for a diadem) held 
 worthy of thefe charges and dignities. Good men may 
 fecure themfelves from crimes, but not from envy and 
 calumnies ; for men great in truft in public affairs are 
 ever alfaulted by the ambition of thofe who apprehend 
 they are lefs in employment than they conceive they 
 are in merit, 
 
 Archibald earl of Douglas grudged mightily that 
 the (fate had bellowed thofe honours upon men far in- 
 ferior to him, as though by this the many merits of his 
 anceftors had been forgotten, and his own fervices ne- 
 glected ; they being ever accuflomed in times of peace 
 to be neareit the helm of the ftate, and when any dan- 
 ger of war blazed, fent abroad to encounter it. In a 
 confufion of thoughts being diverlly toifed, he retireth 
 D 3 to 
 
56 The History of the Reign 1 
 
 to his own caftles, and after great refolves, proclaimeth 
 that none of his vaffals or tenents, efpecially within 
 Annandale and Douglas-dale, parts remote from the 
 more civil towns of the kingdom, mould acknowlege 
 the prefent government, or obey any precepts, licen- 
 ces, or proclamations, whereunto the governor's or 
 chancellor's hands were fet. If any queftion of law 
 or contention arofe amonglt his friends, valTals, and 
 tenents, he knew none fitter to be their judge, fentence 
 all their wrongs, atone, and take up their quarrels, 
 than himfelf. To difcover to the world the weaknefs 
 of the two rulers, and how men never fo well qualified, 
 fmall in means, and filly of power, were not for great 
 places; he giveth way for the increafingofevil; over- 
 looking many diforders of which he was the fccret caufe, 
 efpecially the infolencies of vagabounding and ravaging 
 borderers, men of purpofe fent forth to fpoil and rifle the 
 more quiet parts of the country, and to cut out work to 
 thefe ftrengthlefs ftatefmen, as he named them. Thus, 
 as overcome with floth and pleafure, he pafTed fome 
 months amidfr. country contentments, expecting what 
 effect time would bring forth of the equal authority of 
 thofe two governors : for to fit minds equal in authority 
 to fo even a temper, that they fhould not have fome 
 motions of diflenting, he thought impoffible. Neither 
 did this conjecture fail him, the event being the only 
 judge of opinions: for after this the governor began to 
 jar with the chancellor for ingro fling wholly to himfelf 
 from his partner the perfon of the king, as an honour 
 which could not altogether be feparated from his place, 
 and which would give the greater authority to his pro- 
 ceedings; urging that the chancellor in many other 
 matters, had ufurped and taken upon him more than 
 the parliament had granted. The chancellor was no 
 better affected toward the governor; what the governor 
 commanded to be done, he, one way or other, over- 
 turned. The buildings of the one were by the other 
 demolifhed: by common and continual brawlings thus 
 living in turmoil, neither of them was obeyed, the 
 country ufurped a licentious liberty, every man doing 
 what he thought beft tor his particular advantage and 
 gain. The remote villages ol the kingdom are left a prey 
 
 to 
 
of JAMES II. 57 
 
 to the lawlefs multitude : where their authority is fcorn- 
 ed, they turn places of robbery ; where admitted, places 
 of faction. 
 
 The queen all this time, after her ordinary cuitom, 
 remained in the caftle of Stirling. The divilions,- par- 
 tialities, and jealouhes of the rulers, fhe taketh in an evil 
 part, knowing ufually they had a dangerous confequence. 
 She had ever found the governor fmcere and loyal in 
 his proceedings ; againft his council and will her fon 
 was kept from her by the chancellor, whom the great 
 ones hated for polIeUing the king, for drawing to of- 
 fices of belt trult and benefit his own creatures, displac- 
 ing fuch as he fufpe&ed to favour his partner in rule : 
 and the commons loved him not, as managing every 
 thing after his pleafure to their damage and lois. Tran- 
 fported by divers motions, (he at laft relblveth to change 
 the game of Hate, and by a womanilh conceit to befool 
 mafculine policy. To efTecluate her purpofe, fhe came 
 to Edinburgh, and by many fair and paffionate fpeeches 
 obtained of the chancellor to enter the caftle, and de- 
 light herfelf fome days with the company of her fon. 
 Then to countenance her plot, fhe giveth out a pil- 
 grimage intended by her to the white kirk in Buchan : 
 there will fhe make offerings for the health of the king, 
 and perform her other vows. The honeft Itatefman, 
 who thought it difloyalty to diftruft a queen, and a mo- 
 ther whom years had made reverend •, and impiety to 
 hinder fuch religious intentions, giveth leave to herfelf, 
 with fome fervants, to remain in the caftle, and to 
 tranfport her houfhold-ftufT and other neceflaries after 
 what manner fhe pleafed. In this time (lie perfuadeth 
 the king, wantonly fet and delighting to be obfequious 
 to her, his mother, to be handibmely couched in a 
 trunk, as if he had been fome fardel of her apparel, and 
 convoyed by one of her truftieft fervants upon a fum- 
 pter-horfe to Leith : from whence he was put forward 
 by water to Stirling, there received by the governor, 
 and welcomed with great joy and laughter, at the man- 
 ner of their fo quaintly deceiving the grave man. 
 
 By this advantage the reins of rule were now taken 
 
 by the governor •, the queen's trick is approved, his own 
 
 proceedings are (Irengthened and confirmed. Procla- 
 
 D 4 mat ions 
 
58 The History of the Reign 
 
 mations are made againft the chancellor, and he charg- 
 ed to render the caftle of Edinburgh to the king : which 
 he refuting to do, by a great power railed by the go- 
 vernor of the country, and the queen's, and his own 
 followers, he is belieged and blocked up within the 
 caftle. 
 
 The chancellor ready to fall in the danger, confider- 
 ing he had to do with too ftrong a party, imploreth the 
 affiftance of the earl of Dowglas : but the earl, as a 
 matter he had long expected and earneftly wifhed might 
 fall forth, refufeth to affift any of them, faying, it be- 
 longed not to the ancient nobility to fuccour thefe mufh- 
 roms, whofe ambition with no lefs could be fatiated, 
 than the government of the whole realm. This difdainful 
 anfwer procured a meeting of the two rulers, which con- 
 cluded in the rendering of the caftle to the governor, 
 and a promife of true friendlhip between them, that they 
 might not prove fport to the envious nobility. The 
 governor, to (hew the roundnefs of his intentions and 
 his honefty, continueth the chancellor in his office; 
 and reftoreth him to the keeping of the caftle of Edin- 
 burgh. After this agreement the earl of Douglas left 
 this world at Reftalrig, the year 1439. leaving behind 
 hill) a Ion born of the earl of Crawfurd's daughter, nam- 
 ed William, who fucceeded to his father's honours 
 and ambition. 
 
 Malcolm Fleming of Cumbernauld and A- 
 L a n Lawther, upon this young earl's oath of allegi- 
 ance to the crown of France, obtain to him from the 
 French king the duchy of Turrain ; which his father 
 had enjoyed, and was at firft given to A R c h i b a l d his 
 grand-father (lain at Vernueil. This foreign dignity, 
 with his titles at home, made the young man very 
 haughty, and to forget moderation ; dilcretion in youth 
 feldom attending great fortunes. He furpalled far the 
 king in his followers and train, being accuitomed to 
 have hundreds of horfe-men attending him; mod of 
 which were robbers, and men living upon unlawful 
 fpoils, all under his protection. But, however thus he 
 feemed to fet forth his greatnefs, this feemed much to 
 bewray a diltruft, and that he rather travelled amongft 
 
 a 
 
of JAMES II. 59 
 
 a people which hated him, than amongft his friends and 
 men lovingly difpofed. 
 
 James Stuart fon to the lord of Lorn, about this 
 time married the queen dowager, not fo much out 
 of love to her perfbn or dowry, as out of ambition, by 
 her means intending to reach the government of the 
 ftate, and get into his cuftody the perfon of the king. 
 And that it might rather feem the work of others out 
 of conveniency, than any appetite of his own, he fo in- 
 iinuateth himfelf with the earl of Douglas, that the 
 earl eflayed to lay the firft ground-work of his aims. 
 The governor, who never wanted his own fpies near 
 the queen, at the firft inkling of this novation, com- 
 mitted both him and his brother W i l 1 1 A m in the caftle 
 of Stirling. The queen, whether me followed her hus- 
 band, or was reftrained, uncertain, ftayed with them, 
 and now began to repent her of the former courtefies 
 done to the governor •, wilhing her fon had yet remained 
 in the cuftody of the chancellor, who, not fb difpleafed 
 at their imprifonment, as he appeared in outward fhow, 
 delighting in the errors of his partner, by Ale- 
 xander earl of Huntley trafficked and wrought their 
 liberty. Thus infinuating himfelf in the queen's favour, 
 he irritated her againft the governor; whom yet out- 
 wardly he entertained with ceremonies of friendfhip, 
 approving his fagacity in preventing a ftorm in the 
 ftate before it brake forth. Here the governor found 
 how that fame key which can open a treafure can (hut 
 it up ; for after this the queen prepared her (on for a 
 change. The governor carefully miniftring juftice at 
 Perth, the chancellor one morning cometh to the park 
 of Stirling where the king was hunting, by the provi- 
 dence of his mother more early raifed for this fport. 
 She bewailed the prefent eftate of his court, " That he 
 •• was thralled to the covetoulhefsand pleafureofothers, 
 " living under the power of a man greedy of rule : 
 " that a king of France is declared to be of full years 
 " and major the forteenth of his age. That a prince 
 " Ihould transfer his aifeclion efpecially in tender years. 
 " That by an efcape he might enjoy a princely free- 
 " dom, better know himfelf, and make his rulers reliih 
 " his authority. That three hours were fometimes of 
 
 " more 
 
6*o The History of the Reign 
 
 '* more importance than three days, and one hour of 
 " more than all the three. That he fhould take hold 
 ** of the prefent occafion offered him." 
 
 Prepared with fuch informations he is no fboner ac- 
 cofted by the chancellor, when, approving his motions, 
 he pofteth towards Edinburgh with him ; received all 
 the way as he went with many companies of the chan- 
 cellor's friends and attendants. The governor finding 
 the face of the court altered, by a king young in years 
 and judgment, pofleffed by his mother, diffembling his 
 interelt, in a patient and calm manner cometh to Edin- 
 burgh. There, after long conference and mediation of 
 friends in St. Giles's church, he meeteth the chancel- 
 lor, and by the bifhop of Murray's and Aberdeen's dili- 
 gence, an agreement is between them concluded, which 
 was, that the king fhould remain in the cuftody of the 
 chancellor, and the governor fhould ftill enjoy his charge. 
 Amongft thefedivifions of the rulers, the queen all this 
 time handfomely kept fome authority, affecting and 
 entertaining fometimes the one of them, fometimes the 
 other, as by turns they governed the king and ftate. 
 
 The many and great diforders in the country invited 
 a parliament : The authority of magiltrates was defpifed, 
 no jultice was adminiitred in many places ; few could keep 
 their goods, or be affured of their lives, but by taking 
 themfelves to the fervitude of one faction or other. 
 Troubles arofe in the welt by the flaughter of Sir Alan 
 Stuart lord Darnley, killed by Sir Thomas Boyd; 
 and by the revenge of his death, taken by Sir A le- 
 xander Stuart of Bolmet his brother, upon the 
 Boyd. The highland illanders invade the territories 
 adjacent to them, fpoil and burn the Lenox, where 
 John Colquhoun ofLufsismaffacred. Thefe cruel- 
 ties and infolencies againft all jultice and authority, be- 
 ing avouched fuch to be, were held fit to be remedied, 
 and courfes laid down to obviate them. But Wil- 
 l ia M earl of Douglas, permitting wickednefs, and wink- 
 ing at mifchief, often approving them for lawful and 
 ^ood policy, whilft he neither reformed them himfelt 
 by his power, nor fuffered the rulers to proceed againft: 
 them by their authority, purchafed to himfclf the name 
 and reputation of a Jaulds and (trong oppreftbr. The 
 
 three 
 
of JAMES II. 61 
 
 three eftates affembled, complaints being given up a- 
 gainft oppreftbrs, moft againft him and his followers, 
 as the iburce from which the miferies of the country 
 fprang, he appeareth not, nor any to anfwer for him. 
 
 The parliament determineth to proceed by way of 
 rigour againft him : but to this the two rulers oppofe, 
 perfuading them : " That fair fpeeches and entreaties, 
 " were a iafer and eafier way to draw unto them a young 
 " man, mighty in riches and power, arrogant by his 
 " many followers and vaffals, than to give out a fen- 
 " tence- againft him before he were heard, and by 
 " threatenings ftir his turbulent and ambitious thoughts, 
 *' which, inltead of making him calm, might turn his 
 " neutrality into a perfect rebellion, and his infolency 
 »' into madnefs and defpair. Neither, as the prefent 
 " ftate of the country ftood, could he without civil blood 
 " be commanded and brought in, which by moderation 
 " might be effected. That verity enjoyed not always 
 " that privilege to be fpoken in every place and time : 
 " it was good to keep up in filence matters concern- 
 " ing him, the fpeaking of which might produce any 
 " dangerous effecl:. 
 
 Upon this, letters in their name are fent unto him; 
 " Remembering him of the fplendor and glory of his an- 
 *' ceftors, the place and dignity he polTeffed by them in 
 " parliament: that without his prefence they neither 
 " would nor could proceed in great matters. If he 
 " apprehended any cauie of let or ftay by the offences 
 ". and diforders committed by his attendants and fol- 
 " lowers, they would freely remit them, as accidents 
 " following the injury of the times, and his yet tender 
 u years, his greateft fault being his giving way, out of 
 " ralhnefs and negligence, to the faults of others. That 
 " of himfelf they had conceived fuch lingular hopes of 
 " great towardnels and all virtues, if he would come 
 ' 5 and take a part with them, giving in his complaints 
 " and grievances, he (hould not only have full fatis- 
 " faction, but be honoured with what place or charge 
 " in the government he liked beft : by honouring them 
 " with his prefence he lliould oblige not only his 
 *' country infinitely, but particularly every one oi them 
 
 " to 
 
6i The History of the Reign 
 
 " to ftand for him to the utmoft of their powers and 
 " wifhes. 
 
 This letter wrought powerfully upon the mind of the 
 earl, by nature and years, defirous of glory and preferment, 
 and believing eafdy that which was plaufible to his hopes. 
 His friends, who now began to promife to themfelves 
 new heavens, think upon great matters, and forecafl to 
 themfelves by the change of their lord's fortune, a 
 change of offices in the ftate, perfuade him likewife to 
 come to the parliament ; and they divulged the certainty 
 of his progrefs. The chancellor, when he underftood 
 he was upon his way, rode forth of Edinburgh to meet 
 him, and by many obfequious compliments and friend- 
 ly blandifhments, allured and drew him to his caftle of 
 Creighton which was in his way : where fome days he 
 refted, and was honourably entertained. Amongft many 
 healthful admonitions by way of counfel, he told him, 
 " That the greatnefs of a fubjed confided in due obe- 
 " dience to his prince, whom he mould acknowiege to 
 " be his lord and malter. That by obedience, he would 
 " vindicate the name and families of the Douglasses, 
 " not only from blame of ireafon, but from all fufpi- 
 " cion of novations. That he would endeavour to exe- 
 " cute jufticc more (triclly than he had done in times 
 " paft, not protect oppreiTbrs againft. law and equity, 
 '* but fupprefs all infolencies againlt thieves and robbers, 
 " becaufe cruelties and wrongs never ftood fecure be- 
 " fore cither God or man. That the eltates of ancient 
 '' houfes were often maintained more by reputation of 
 " things done, than any other foundation, which a lit- 
 " tie difobedience to a prince might (hake, if not alto- 
 " gether ruin. That it was fatal to all princes in their 
 " under-age, and the beginnings of their reigns, to have 
 " troubles and feditions, and be tormented by fome of 
 " their fubjecls who (tudied novelties : but when thefe 
 '' princes came to perfect years, they knew well to cha- 
 " mfe thofc who troubled the government in their 
 " youth. That he would hereafter rather content himfelf 
 " with mediocrity, than expofe himfelf as a mark to 
 •' envy. Thnt he would make a proof of his power, 
 " not in excefs and riot, or pride of his ancient ho- 
 " nours, but in bounty and religious charity towards h:s 
 
 " country- 
 
of J AMES II. 63 
 
 <l country-men. That he wifhed, as his houfe had 
 " long continued, it might, by following what he had 
 " fpoken unto him, ever flourifh." 
 
 The earl, of a good inclination, if flatterers and wick- 
 ed company had been removed, took in good part his 
 advertisements and counfel, thinking he fpake as he 
 thought ; and, perhaps, then fo he did ; for he had not 
 yet put on his double vifage ; and promifed to repair 
 what offences by youth, negligence, rafhnefs, or rather 
 indifcretion, had efcaped him. Thus, with his bro- 
 ther David, the chancellor accompanied him to Edin- 
 burgh. 
 
 He had not long there flayed, when the frequent 
 meetings, many fecret conferences of the governor and 
 chancellor at their feveral houfes, which often held the 
 greateft part of the night, who were not wont to be fo 
 kind to others, bred a great jealoufy and fufpicion in 
 fome of the earl's friends, that fome lurking mifchief 
 was a-plotting to intrap him; that fmall truft fhould be 
 had in a reconciled enemy, and his many courtefies, 
 and too exceeding favours, were to be fufpetfed. Here- 
 upon fome freely counfel the earl to return home, and 
 to leave off private meetings with them. Others in- 
 treat him not to enter the caftle of Edinburgh at all, or 
 if he mould, to difmifs his brother David, to keep 
 themfelves fcatterecl, that they might not be inclofed 
 in one net, as their father, upon his death-bed, had in- 
 ftrucled and admonifhed them : for if any violent courfe 
 were intended againft them, men would not dare to put 
 in a<ft againft one of them, which they would againft 
 both. David, prefaging fome ftrange accident to fol- 
 low this fudden kindnefs of the rulers, was meditating 
 an efcape. The earl took this counfel in evil part, 
 faying, " Great families never wanted turbulent friends 
 ** to whom common confufions ferved ordinarily for 
 " fteps to enlarge their ftates, when peace fendeth 
 " the moft part of them home to live private men : 
 « and they cared not what blame were laid on their 
 ** chiefs, fb it flood with their own commodity. 
 " That the pretence of his departure would be 
 " worfe than the departure itfelf, and that he would 
 " be obnoxious to worfe furmifes, and more miferable 
 
 » miftak- 
 
64 The History of the Retgn 
 
 " miftakings by going away, than if he had neve* 
 " appeared. That he preferred the approved truft of 
 " the chancellor, whofe gueft he had been, to aH 
 " the objections of dangers they could imagine : which 
 *' fufpicions he requefted them to fupprefs; for to 
 " fufpedt cauflefly, inftead of imagined wrong, re- 
 " turned a real injury; and being known, would be 
 " a mean to breed new jars, and break their begun 
 " friendfhip." Thus blind-folded by deftiny, and ac- 
 companied with fome of his deareft friends, amongft 
 whom was Sir Malcolm Fleming of Cumbernauld, 
 in folemn pomp, with his brother, he entered Edin- 
 burgh caftle the 24th of November : the remainder, 
 who were thruft back, with fad countenances and di- 
 ftrufting hearts, fcattered themfelves in the town. 
 
 The governor, that the envy might be divided and 
 fhared, and all feem to be done by an univerfal confent, 
 with a ceremonious welcome, and fuch as hate and e- 
 mulation could fufFer to be tempered together, did meet 
 him and guide him to the king : at whofe table he was 
 fet to dine. Which favours turned the heart of the 
 young earl fo foft and relenting, that he wifhed he had 
 iboner come to court, and challenged himfelf of his 
 miftruftful thoughts, but more his fufpicious friends, 
 whofe prefence he could have defired to be witnefs a- 
 gainft themfelves. The counfel given him at Creigh- 
 ton-caftle, by obfequioufnefs, he refolveth to thank : 
 the king's benign afpecl, and courtefies of the rulers, 
 had advanced him to the higheft degree of honour. 
 
 Amidft thefe entertainments, behold the inftability 
 of fortune ! near the end of the banquet, the head of a 
 bull, a fign of prefent death in thefe times, is fet down 
 before him : at which fudden fpeclacle he leapt from 
 the table in horror and all aghaft. But this doth little 
 avail him, he hath no power; for he is feized upon by 
 armed men, who rufliing out of a cruel tiring-houfe, 
 Jed him to the outer court of the cattle, not regarding 
 the plaints, cries, and tears of the young king, who 
 pitifully mourned to fee him manacled with cords : 
 there, with his brother David, and Sir Malcolm 
 Fleming, his condant friend and co-partner of all his 
 fortunes, he had his head and ambitious thoughts cut 
 
 off- 
 
of JAMES II. 6$ 
 
 off. With this great blow of (tare the parliament broke 
 up, leaving grief, terror and aftonilhment in the hearts 
 of all the people, whoever after hated the actors of this 
 tragedy. 
 
 "William earl of Douglas and D a v i d his brothei 
 taken away, the baron of Abercorn their uncle, fucceded 
 to the earldom, by reafon of his Mature and corpulency 
 named James the grofs : a man free of any vice or 
 heroical virtue, whofe years were not many after his for- 
 tune to be earl. He was father to feven fons, the eldeit 
 of which, by a difpenfation from the pope, he married 
 to B e a t r I c E, the only filler of his brother's fon W i l- 
 li a m, named, the fair maid of Galloway, not lb much 
 in refpect of her beauty as her fortunes ; the lands not 
 entailed in Galloway, Annandale, Balveny, and Ormond, 
 falling from the heirs male to be her portion. This 
 marriage was much blamed and cried out upon by the 
 earl of Angus, Sir John Douglas of Dalkeith, and 
 other gentlemen of that name, not, as they gave out, 
 for the propinquity of blood, being between coulin-ger- 
 mans, but that fo fair and eafy a purchafe was taken 
 out of their arms. They had always followed the king, 
 and procured prohibitions of the marriage : but thefe 
 with fpur-hafte advanced the celebration of it, and up-- 
 on a Friday, which the common people prognosticate to 
 be ominous, and to have fome lad event. 
 
 This earl, ambitious, factious, popular, fubtile, vin- 
 dicative, prompt in the execution of his enterprizes, li- 
 beral, and far from thedormoufe humour of his father, 
 began to think neither himfelf nor his kindred in fafe- 
 ty, if the deaths of his brothers and coufins, wrought 
 by the two rulers, remained unrevenged : and therefore, 
 lince openly, without troubling the common peace of 
 the country, he could not ; by fecret and umbragious 
 ways he laboureth to bring it to pafs : procuring a far 
 off a dilbbedience to their decrees, and contempt of 
 their authority, by men in a great diftance from him in 
 place, blood, friendlhip and familiarity. Thefe who 
 after any fafliion grudged, repined, and complained of 
 the prefent form of government, or aggravated imagin- 
 ary wrongs, are fupported and protected by him : His 
 houfes turned places of refuge to diltxefled malecontents. 
 
 One 
 
66 The History of the Reign 
 
 One John G or mack of Athole (not without fufpi° 
 oion that he wrought by the motion and order of the 
 earl, and underftood his cabal) eflayed with a great 
 number of out-laws to hinder the execution of a male- 
 factor, and take him by main force from the fheriffof 
 Perth W i l L i A m R u t h v E N : but he perifhed in the 
 enterprize. Patrick Galbraith in the caltle of 
 Dumbarton, for priority of command, killeth Ro bert 
 Semple; and to fave his perfon, or juftify his homi- 
 cide, fiyeth to the earl of Douglas, by whom he is pro- 
 tected, notwithstanding the many informations given 
 in againft him at court, and his citation to anfwer to 
 juftice. 
 
 The king, whofe non-age was now near expired, be- 
 gan to relifh the fweetnefs of government in his own 
 perfon, and became tired of the long and awful tutelage 
 of his jarring rulers ; and the flower of his youth, feem- 
 ing framed for great affairs, promifed the fruit of a wife 
 and happy reign. Finding it difficult to put men daily 
 near unto him, long experienced, and greedy of rule, 
 from high places, except by the entertaining a ftronger 
 and more powerful faction; he fetteth his thoughts 
 upon the earl of Douglas : fmall favours to him would 
 be a great umbrage to the ambition of his tutors, bring 
 them within the compafs of anfwering to what might 
 be objected to them concerning their fervice in the ftate. 
 He would not fue the earl, but as occafion ferved, he 
 gave many figns and often fpeeches, that he had not 
 altogether withdrawn his love and favour from the an- 
 cient houfe of the Douglasses, their part faults be- 
 ing by them acknowleged and recompenfed with fideli- 
 ty and obedience in times coming. The earl of Dou- 
 glas, whofe towardnefs and liberality had acquired him 
 many friends at court, upon allured advertifement of 
 his prince's good-will towards him, cometh to Stir- 
 ling, and is no fooner prefented upon his knees before 
 the king in the church, when with all demonftrations 
 of benevolence he is received into grace, pardoned, and 
 not many days after admitted to be of the privy coun- 
 cil. The king imparting to him his greateft affairs, 
 (heweth he will follow them by his advice and counfel, 
 honoureth him with the plaufible name of coufm, and 
 
 enter- 
 
of JAMES II. 67 
 
 e'ntertaineth fuch famiJiarity with him, that all others 
 give him the place. 
 
 The promotion and credit which the earl of Dou- 
 glas in a (hort time acquired about the king, his faction 
 daily increafing, moved the two rulers, by their mo- 
 deration feeking to avoid difgrace, to leave the court. 
 After which they were both removed from their offices, 
 and their places and authority in council, with their 
 whole friends and followers. They are upbraided with 
 diforders, both in their private actions, and the man- 
 ner of their government, and at laft are fummoned to 
 anfwer before the king to fuch things as they (hould be 
 legally accufed of. The murmurs every where whi- 
 fpered amongit the people, warned and certified them, 
 if they mould appear and prefent themfelves, of fome 
 fad and tragic act. Whereupon, with proteftations of 
 their innocency declining the time, appealing to the 
 king in his majority, and when he (hould be of full 
 years from thefe judges, their mortal enemies, then 
 abufing abfolute power, they fufpend their appearing, 
 declaring withal their readinefs in every thing to obey 
 the king. 
 
 This availeth them nothing; for, at a parliament 
 holden in Stirling, articles being forged and urged a- 
 gainft them, efpecially of peculate, as fale of crown- 
 lands, wafte of the king's treafure, the laying of their 
 hands upon the king's jewels, tranfporting lands to 
 themfelves and their friends, diltributing offices and 
 places of the crown and (rate, which (hould have been 
 by authority of the council, as hunters divide a prey 
 between themfelves; difpenfing with riots, and taking 
 off the force and vigour from the laws of the kingdom: 
 Thus, as betraying the adminiihation of the realm in- 
 to the hands of worthlefs and corrupted men, they are 
 denounced rebels, their perfons and eltates proicribed. 
 Charge is given to Sir John Forrester of Corflor- 
 phin, and others the Do ugl a s ses their adherents, 
 to bring all their moveables to the ufe of the exchequer, 
 demolifh their houfes, invade their iriends with fire and 
 fword, and all that fided with them. Thus the uncer- 
 tain viciflitude of human accidents overturns often 
 them who feem to be raifed to the higheft degree of 
 E honour* 
 
68 The History of the Reign 
 
 honour. The caftle of Barentoren is beGeged, taken, 
 thrown down, with other houfes upon the governor's 
 and chancellor's lands, and their farms and fmall vil- 
 lages are plundered and ranfacked. In revenge of 
 •which the rulers wafte the earl of Douglas's territories; 
 the villages, of Straw-Brock, Abercom, and Blacknefs 
 are burnt, with Corftorphin. The ravage begun, con- 
 tinueth with daily lofs to both parties, and the over- 
 throw of the commonwealth. 
 
 The earl wondereth, now having the king's authori- 
 ty, to find his enemies fo ftrong, and hold fo long out 
 againfi: him •, he fufpecteth they have fecret fupport by 
 fome not well aflfecled towards him. The mod pow- 
 erful and eminent of which he guefTeth to be James 
 Kennedy bifhop of St. Andrews, and coufm-ger- 
 lrtan to the king. He knew him jealous of his fudden 
 favours at court, and that he had whifpered amongft 
 his friends, that he feared the ambition of the earl's un- 
 limited heart was now exalted to fuch exorbitancy of 
 height, that becoming top-heavy it would fall by its 
 own weight, and turn up the root. 
 
 The earl will have this prelate lefs powerful to affift 
 the rulers, or do harm unto him. To this effect he infti- 
 gateth the earl of Crawfurd his ally, and Alexander 
 Ogilby of Innerquharity, to invade the bifhop's lands, 
 and rifle his vaflals in Fife, without order or declarati- 
 on of wrongs done by him. The bifhop, after the 
 burning and fpoiling of fundry of his farms, being weak 
 by power to refill their violence and repair his lofTes, 
 took him to his fpiritual arms, and excommunicated 
 the earl of Crawfurd. Though he made fmall account 
 of this verbal thunder, yet did not this injultice long e- 
 fcape the revenging hand of God; who raifcth up or- 
 dinarily one oppreffor to execute his jultice againlt an- 
 other. 
 
 Alexander Lindsay, fon to the earl of Craw- 
 furd, pretended a title to the baiiery of Aberbrothock, 
 out of which he was kept by Alexander Ogilby, 
 whofc title was equal to his, if not better. This en- 
 mity kindled to fuch a flame, that upon either fide 
 they afTemble their friends in arms : the Ocilev cal- 
 leth the lord Huntley ; the Lindsay, the Hamil- 
 ton 3 
 
of J AM ES II. 69 
 
 TONS to afftft their rights : frequent meetings have 
 been to calm matters, and reconcile them ; and nothing 
 agreed upon nor concluded, they refoive at laft to 
 cide the caufe by their fwords. The earl of Crawfurd 
 then remaining at Dundee, advertifed of the prefent. 
 danger of his friends, pofteth in all hafte to .' 
 thock, and cometh at the very (hock of the fkil 
 when they were to enter the fight. Here intendir 
 his vvifdomto take up the quarrel, and prefuming 
 the refpecr due to his place and perfon, he ralhly 1 1 
 eth forwards before his companies to demand a parley 
 of Alexander Ogilby with his fon : but ere he 
 could be known, or was heard, he is encountered by a 
 common foldier, who thruft him in the mouth with a 
 fpear, and proftrated him dead upon the ground. This 
 fudden accident joined the parties, who fought with 
 great courage and refolution. The victory after much 
 blood inclined to the mailer of Crawfurd. A l e- 
 xander Ogilby fore wounded, was taken and 
 brought to the caftle of Finhaven where he died ; the 
 lord Huntley efcaped by the fwiftnefs of his horfe. 
 John Forbes of Pitfligo, Alexander Barclay 
 bfGartley, Ro bert Max wel LofTealling, Wil- 
 li A'M Gordon of Borrowfield, Sir John Oliph ant 
 of Aberdagy, with others, fell on the Ogilbies fide. 
 They fought on the 24th of January 1445". 
 
 Now by attending opportunities to increafe public 
 diforders, turn the times dangerous and troublefome, 
 and confound the ftate, the earl of Douglas kept him- 
 felf in the abfolute government ; by umbragious ways 
 he nourifhed difcontentments in all parts of the country, 
 amongft the nobility, gentry, and commons of the re- 
 alm. Alexander earl of Crawfurd put to death 
 John Linton at Dundee; Robert boyd of 
 Duchal, and Alexander Lyle flew James 
 Stuart of Auchinmintee ; Patrick Hepburn of 
 Hailes furprized the caftle of Dunbar-, Archibald 
 Dunbar, as if he would but change places with him, 
 takelh the caftle of Hailes, where he was befieged by the 
 earl of Douglas, and with conditions of fafety rendered 
 it. Sir William Creight on all this time kept 
 the caftle of Edinburgh, and when neither by intreaties 
 £ 2 nor 
 
7b The History of the Reig** 
 
 nor power he could be induced to render it to the king, 
 his caftje of Creighton is plundered, a garrifon placed 
 in it, and the cattle of Edinburgh by the earl of Dou- 
 glas is befieged and blocked up. Nine months the aflfail- 
 ers lie about it : but it proveth impregnable, and with- 
 out lofs of many fubjects cannot be taken: about the 
 end of which time, mens courage waxing colder, con- 
 ditions are offered and received •, which were, that the 
 chancellor fhould be reftored to grace, place, and what- 
 foever had been withheld from him by his enemies at 
 courts an. abolition and abrogation of all former dilcon- 
 tentments mould be granted ; the befieged fhould pafs 
 out, bag and baggage free. At a parliament holden at 
 Perth, the chancellor was purged by an affize of his 
 peers, of what was laid againft him, his lands and goods, 
 feized upon by the king or Douglasses are decreed 
 to be reitored, as well to his followers as himfelf; he is 
 eftablilhed in his dignities and places of honour, not- 
 ■withflanding all edicts, proclamations, and confifca- 
 tions before, which were declared null ; all matters paft 
 put in oblivion, as not done. This, confidering the 
 credit of the earl of Douglas, was thought very ftrange; 
 but James Kennedy bifhop of St. Andrews, whole 
 refpeft and authority was great with the church-men, 
 perfected this mailer-piece of ftate ; and the earl of 
 Douglas knew, though the chancellor was unbound, 
 he had not yet efcaped. 
 
 During thefe garboils in Scotland, Margaret li- 
 fter to king James, and wife to the dauphin of France, 
 Lewis, died at Chalons in Champaign-, a virtuous 
 and worthy lady, beloved of all France, but moll of 
 Charles VII. her father-in-law, who for her refpect 
 matched her three fillers, who remained at his court, 
 honourably ; El en or a with Sigism on d arch-duke 
 of Aultria; Elizabeth with the duke of Bretaign, 
 and Mary with the earl of Campvere. She was buried 
 in the great church of Chalons ; but after when the dau- 
 phin came to be king, he caufed tranfport and bury her 
 in the Abby-church of Laon in PoiJtou. Many ele- 
 gies were publilhed upon her death, which are yet ex- 
 tant. Sir James Stuart the black knight, hus- 
 band to the queen, at this time died alfo ; he had turn- 
 
 cd 
 
of JAMES II. 71 
 
 ed a voluntary exile, to fhun the dangers and envy of 
 the, factions of' the country, which he had incurred by 
 his free fpeeches againft the mifgovernment and mi- 
 feriesof the time; and, as he was bound towards Flan- 
 ders, by the Flemings was taken upon the feas. 
 The queen out-lived not long her daughter and hus- 
 band ; (he was buried the fifteenth of July in the Char- 
 ter-houfe of Perth, near her firft husband king James I. 
 in the year 1446. She brought forth to the black knight 
 of Lorn three fons, John earl of Athole, James earl 
 ofBuchan, Andrew bifhop of Murray. 
 
 The chancellor having recovered his honours and 
 ftate, to the difadvantage of the earl of Douglas, though 
 of good years, and tired with the troublesof a public life, 
 yet findeth not any defired reft. A marriage being de- 
 figned for the king with Mary, daughter of the duke 
 of Guelders, by the inftruclions of Charles VII. the 
 French king; but fecretly by the procurement of the 
 earl of Douglas, the chancellor, as a man grave, great 
 in place, and experimented, with the bifhop of Dun- 
 keld, and Nicolas Otterburn, is fent over the 
 feas in embaffy. This troublefome and unprofitable 
 honour abroad is laid upon him, that he might be fe- 
 parate from the king, and fufpended from oppofing the 
 private defigns of the earl at home. This obftacle of 
 his ambition removed, which had neither moderation 
 nor limits, the earl may exclude fuch officers in ftate or 
 court who were not agreeable to him, and fubftitute 0- 
 thers of his creation after his pleafure; he hath now 
 room and opportunity for his greateft defigns. His 
 kindred are without paufing preferred to offices of ftate, 
 his brethren to new honours ; Archibald is made 
 earl of Murray, by the marriage of a lady of the houfe 
 of Dunbar, who was heir of the lands, and the king's 
 ward; George is created earl of Ormond; John 
 made lord of Balveny, and hath his donation ratified in 
 an affembly of the three eftates, who were convened at 
 Edinburgh for matters concerning the marriage of the 
 king, but in effecT: that the earl might purfue his old e- 
 nemies. The commiffioners are chofen after his plea- 
 fure, are prepared, inftrudted, prelimited bv him ; and 
 to combine power with craft, he entereth in an offerj- 
 E 3 five 
 
72 The History of the Reign 
 
 five and defenfive league with many noblemen, barons, 
 and gentlemen of the kingdom. All the wheels and 
 vices of his clock being right fet, Alexander Li- 
 vingston, late governor, A lex ander, his eldefl 
 fon, Robert Livingston treafurer, David Li- 
 vingston, James Dundas, Robert Bruce 
 of Clackmanan, knights, for peculate and converting 
 the prince's treafure to their private ufe, are forfeited, 
 taken and committed to fundry prifons in December, 
 1447. at which time they were brought to Edinburgh. 
 Alexander the governor, James Dundas and 
 Robert Bruce, after fines laid upon them, were 
 remitted back to Dumbarton, there to be kept prifon- 
 cr*. during the kind's pleafure. Alexander the go- 
 ■i Trior's fon, a yo r.ig man of great expectation, with 
 Robert Livingston treafurer, and DavidLi- 
 g s 1 on, not fo much for any crime proved againft 
 . as by the divine juftice in punifhing the feverity 
 e overnor, for the execution of the carl ofDou- 
 n the cattle of Edinburgh, had their heads cut off; 
 rh • people much deploring their misfortune. By this 
 bl ■' the earl of Douglas thought he was more terribly 
 avenged, than if he had proved his power againft the 
 old man; having thus, as it were, killed him twice. 
 Though by this Und: juftice he pretended the public 
 weal, his end was to govern all by his abfolute authority, 
 and make the world iee what credit he had to help or 
 harm when he pleafed, admire his pompous attendance, 
 his haughty carrying of all bufinefs, and his power in 
 irate. 
 
 The chancellor having perfected his embaiTy, M art 
 daughter to Arnold duke of Guelders, born or the 
 duke of Burgundy's lifter, a lady y°nng, beautiful, and 
 of a mafcuiiue conltitution, arrived) in Scotland; and 
 With great folemnity, accompanied with many ftrang- 
 ers, and the nobility of the kingdom, is married to the 
 king in tbe^hbey church of Fi .Iviood-houfe. As thefc 
 nuptial rites were finifhed, the peace between Scotland 
 and England expired, and the borders of both kingdoms 
 b>-e;.k, and mutually invade others. Am id ft much rob- 
 bery. fpoiL :md bavoc upon either fide, the earl of Sa- 
 lisbury, lieutenant and warden, upon the weft, < 
 
 puktcth 
 
of J A M E S II. 73 
 
 pulateth the bordering villages, and burnetii the town 
 of Dumfries; the earl of Northumberland fpoiling 
 the eaft, burneth the town of Dunbar : John Dou- 
 glas lord ofBalveny, invadeth the Englifh bounds, 
 and burneth the town of Anwick. The ravaging and 
 depravations in a fhort time turning equal, the two 
 kingdoms agree upon a fufpenfion of arms, and place 
 and day to treat about a general peace : At the laft by 
 an alTembly of the flares, 1440, a truce is condefcend- 
 ed unto for ieven. years. At this time Alexander 
 Set on, lord Gordon, is created earl of Huntley, and 
 George Lesley baron, earl of Rothes. 
 
 This truce was not long kept by any of the nations, 
 but, as it had been drawn and plaiftered up for the fafh- 
 ion, they confpire equally to break it. New incurflons 
 are made, flight fkirmifhes began to wound either fide 
 and banifh peace, and juft arms were conflrained at lalt 
 to be oppofed to injurious oppreflions. The Scots hav- 
 ing made defolate fome parts of Cumberland, an army, 
 under the leading of the earl of Northumberland is raif- 
 ed, commanded by Magnus Redbeard, whom 
 the Scots, by reafon of the length of his beard named 
 Magnus with the red mane : a man trained from his 
 youth in the wars of France ; who is faid to have re- 
 quired no more, for his fervice to the crown of Eng- 
 land, than what he might by his own valour conquer 
 of Scotland. The Englifh march from the weft bord- 
 ers, pafs the river of Solway and Annan, and encamp 
 near the river of Sark. The earl of Douglas declareth his 
 brother, George earl ofOrmond, lieutenant for the 
 king againft them; who with the power of the fouth 
 and weft lofeth no time to encounter : the earl of North- 
 umberland, the lord Percy his fbn, Magnus Red- 
 beard, Sir J o h n P e n n 1 n G t o N, and Sir R o b e r t 
 Harrington led the English batallions:- the earl 
 of Ormond, lord Maxwell, lairds of Johnfton, and 
 Craigy-Wallace, th; Scottifh. Here occafion and place 
 ferving, is it valiantly fought, the fortune of the day 
 being long doubtful ; till Magnus, whofe experience 
 and direction in war in thole days was deemed 
 xmparalleled, his courage here turning into temerity, 
 Was beaten from his horfe and flain. After his fall, 
 E 4 many 
 
74 The History of the Reign 
 
 many turning their backs, the earl of Northumberland 
 himfelf with great danger efcaped •, more in the chafe 
 were loft than in the battle ; fuch who effayed to pafs 
 the river, by the confufion and the weight of their arms, 
 were plunged in the water , others, who could not find 
 the fords, being taken, and brought to the cattle of 
 Lochmaban ; amongft which were Sir John Pen- 
 nington, Sir Robert Harrington, and the 
 Jord Percy, who by faving his father engaged himfelf. 
 Few renowned amongft the Scots were here loft, ex- 
 cept Craig y Wallace, a principal actor, who 
 governing himfelf by honour and courage, died of his 
 wounds there received, not many days thereafter. The 
 Englifh, to repair their lofs, railed an army, but by the 
 daily fupplies raifed for France, and their projected ci- 
 vil wars (the duke of York, earls of March, Warwick, 
 and Salisbury beginning to tofs the Hate) it was kept 
 at home for their own ufe, and a truce was agreed up- 
 on and concluded with Scotland for the fpace of three 
 years, anno 1450. 
 
 This victory, obtained chiefly by the valour of the 
 Douglasses, advanced highly their credit with the 
 young king, and the court founded with nothing more 
 than their praifes. But great fortunes are as hard to 
 bear 'as to acquire, and ordinarily profperity carrieth us 
 into infolencies, without pondering the confequence of 
 our actions. William Colvil knight, upon a 
 private quarrel, having flain James Auchinleck, 
 a follower of the earl of Douglas, the earl revenged his 
 death, not only with the llaughter of William, but 
 with the throwing down of his houfe, and fpoil of all 
 his lands, which turned cold the affections of many a- 
 bout the court towards him, and made him terrible to 
 all of a contrary faction to his. After this, whether 
 tired with his working thoughts, or to fhun more hatred 
 and envy ; or to try what time would produce, amidffc 
 the inward grudges and rancours of court, or that he 
 held his own country too narrow lifts for his glory, he 
 Jeaveth the kingdom, fubftituting one of his brothers 
 procurator for his affairs, and in his abfence to govern 
 his eftate; accompanied with his brother Mr. Jam e s, 
 a man learned, and brought up in Sorbon divinity, 
 
 pedant 
 
of J AMES II. 75 
 
 petfant of the bifhoprick of Dunkeld, James Hamil- 
 ton of Cadyow, the lords Graham, Seton, O l i- 
 phant, Sal ton, and many gentlemen, he arriveth 
 in Flanders, cometh to France, pafleth the Alps, and, it 
 being the year of jubilee, ftayeth at Rome; where he 
 was honourably received and welcomed. Envy never 
 leaveth great aitors ; he had not been long abfent from 
 his prince, when many are fuborned to give up com- 
 plaints againft the oppreilions, riots, and wrongs of his 
 kindred, fervants and vafTals. The faults of his go- 
 verning the king are pryed into ; every overfight and 
 efcape aggravated to the height. The king at firft was 
 loath to lend an ear to mifreports and calumnies of a 
 man lately fo well deferving, and dearly of him belov- 
 ed : but overcome by importunity, and urged by the 
 numbers of complainers, he gave way, that his brother 
 and procurators ihould make anfwer lor wrongs fuffered. 
 by the complainers. After many citations, his brother 
 not appearing, is at laft by force prefented to the coun- 
 cil; when he could not anfwer to fuch faults as were 
 laid againft the earl's vafTals and followers, nor acquit 
 them of violent oppreffions, he was only enjoined to 
 reftore to the complainers their lofs, and make up all 
 damages. Upon fair promifes of reftitution, the king 
 bringeth him off the danger, and obtaineth him liberty 
 to return home. 
 
 There, after long advifement with his other brothers 
 and fome haughty vafTals, they declare, old rapines 
 and wrongs being joined to new and recent, with which 
 they were charged, the reftitution was impolTible, and 
 like fpilt water which could not be recovered. Not 
 fatisfied with his anfwer, the council cited the earl of 
 Douglas upon fome days to appear before them, and all 
 his vafTals and followers, with his brothers, to anfwer 
 according to law, to fuch articles as fhould be given in 
 againft them. The earl was far off, and they conlider- 
 ed it confifted not with their well to hazard their per- 
 fons to the arbitrement of judges, many of which had 
 been obnoxious to their affronts. Thus, for not ap- 
 pearing, they are denounced rebels, and warrants grant- 
 ed to invade and fpoii their lands, as public enemies to 
 authority and the prefent government. This decree is 
 
 followed 
 
j6 The History of the Reign 
 
 followed by open force ; and to facilitate the executioa 
 of it, and to take up the earl of Douglas's rents, Wil- 
 liam earl of Orkney cometh to Galloway, Douglafdale 
 and Liddefdale : but he found authority, not feconded 
 with power, againft lufty rebels, to produce weak ef- 
 fects : for he returned difobeyed, and near fpoiled and 
 rifled by the earl's tenants and vaffals. 
 
 The king, to vindicate his authority, fince he could 
 riot prevail by reafon, with competent forces in perfoa 
 entereth the fame territories, taketh all the ftrong fort- 
 reffes and caflles where he came, demolilheth the caftle 
 of Douglas, placeth a garrifon in Lochmaben, givetli 
 the cuflody of fuch places as he fpared, with the whole 
 goods and moveables appertaining to them, to the 
 complainers, and men interefled in wrongs or blood by 
 the rebels. The noife of this unexpected back-blow, 
 being heard at Rome, perplexed not a little the earl of 
 Douglas ; many of his train leave him ; that, where late- 
 ly he reprefented a prince, he feemed now fcarce a pri- 
 vate gentleman; he was aflured he lived under a fove- 
 reign, who maugre all detractions would hear his own 
 defences. Upon which hopes, he refoiveth to return, 
 and taketh h'im to his journey : and for his greater hafte 
 and fafe progrefs, he obtaineth a pafs through England, 
 and cometh to the borders of Scotland. His brother 
 James is directed to the court, to underiland the 
 king's mind towards him; and if there were any pof-^ 
 fibility, in this ebb of favours, to have accefs to him. 
 
 The king ingenuoufly promifeth to accept him, and 
 performed it for all that happened by the mifdemean- 
 our of his friends in his abfence, requefting that he 
 would but live peaceably according to the order of the 
 ftate, without hating that which his prince loved, or 
 difproving that which he approved and authorifed ; 
 and that, as hhnfclf and his brothers were ever the 
 mod able and readied to repel the wrongs of Grangers, 
 i'o they would endeavour to entertain unity and concord 
 in the country itl'clf, and purge their lands of thieves 
 and robbers j if mifcliievous and wicked men were not 
 punilhcd, there would be no furcty nor fafety for the 
 good and virtuous. Pad wrongs are pardoned, the 
 garrifoiio removed from his caillcs, and they are ren- 
 dered- 
 
of JAMES II. 77 
 
 dered unto Iiim. Then, to put him inaffurance of in- 
 creasing -.favours, he is made lieutenant-general of the 
 kingdom, a place great, and requiring great aftion, be- 
 ing only to be bellowed upon a man active, great in 
 power and friends. 
 
 The carl of Douglas, again afloat in the flream of his 
 fovereign's favours, might have continued, if his mi- 
 feries had not been decreed from above : foon after he 
 falls in a new difgrace. Whether upon a promife of re- 
 turn, or that he was fent for, or that he would offici- 
 oully give thanks for received courtelies, when he was 
 in his way homewards, he pafTeth privately to the court 
 of England, and without his mailer's knowlege or leave, 
 hath many days ferious conference with the nobility 
 of that kingdom, then many ways diilrefled by the re- 
 bellion of Kent, and the factions of the great men. 
 The pretended caufe of his journey was given out to 
 be, the repairing of his own and his vaffals lofle-s, fu- 
 itained by the inroads of the Englifh, the time of his 
 travels abroad, and the redreffing of other diforders on 
 the weft-borders. But his enemies fuggefted, he intend- 
 ed to enter into a league with fome of the Englifh to 
 the difadvantage of his mailer, and trouble of his coun- 
 try, by changing the form of government, or the of- 
 ficers of ftate. King James took this meeting with 
 the Englifh in an evil part ; but, after great intercefilon. 
 and many requefts of the queen and noblemen, after he 
 had fubmitted himfelf to his clemency, and acknowleg- 
 ed his error, received him. In the mean time, he is 
 difcharged of all public employments, his offices of ftate 
 are divided between the earl of Orkney and the lord 
 Creighton his reconciled enemies. 
 
 Removed from public employments, he giveth him- 
 felf to ftudy private revenge, and the whole fecret 
 council turn diilafteful unto him; efpecially Orkney 
 and Creighton, men perfectly abhorring his ambi- 
 tion, and who greatly feared his unmeafurable great- 
 nefs. 
 
 Their fufpedled affronts and alleged wrongs towards 
 him were increafed daily by tales of fycophants. It was 
 told the earl, that the lord Creighton, in a conference 
 with the king, had faid, " It were expedient for the 
 
 " peace 
 
78 The History of the Reign 
 
 " peace of the country, that the earl of Douglas, with 
 *' all his friends and followers, were rooted out, and 
 * their memory aboliihed ; but if that were left undone, 
 u neither fhould the king rule in due majefly, nor the 
 " fubjects ever give him that obedience which they 
 «' ought. That wife princes fuffered houfes to grow 
 " as men do fpider-webs, not taking heed of them fo 
 " long as they were fmall, but when they were ofFen- 
 " lively encreafed, they fwept them wholly away." 
 Irritated by thefe and many fuch like fpeeches, after 
 much contempt of the chancellor, one dawning as he 
 was early coining from Edinburgh to his cattle of 
 Creighron, the earl who wanted not his own intelli- 
 gence amonglt his followers, hatred being an evil coun- 
 fellor, laid an ambufh for him on the high-way. But 
 the clearnefs of the morning difcovering it, by the fwift- 
 nefs of his horfe he efcapeth •, fome of his company be- 
 ing wounded, and one of the afTailers flain in the pur- 
 fuit. A few days after, the chancellor, to repair his 
 credit, accompanied with a number of his friends and 
 followers, coming in great hafte to Edinburgh, had una- 
 wares furprized the earl of Douglas, then attended but 
 with a fmall number of his friends, if he had not fpeed- 
 ily fhifted himfelf from the danger. This contention* 
 now burfting forth into open hoftility, divided into fa- 
 ctions the whole kingdom ; the earl of Douglas main- 
 taining his, by the long continued grandeur of his 
 houfe ; the chancellor Handing by his prince's favour, 
 and a long practice of the affairs and courfe of the 
 world. The earl fearing the authority of the king might 
 fway the balance and make the party unequal, if he 
 mould be brought to call to remeinberance part actions 
 and attempts of his predeccllbrs, findeth nothing more 
 expedient to curb his enemies, and flrengthen his pro- 
 ceedings, than to renew his old confederation, and com- 
 bine with him many others. Hereupon the carls of 
 Crawfurd, Rofs, Murray, Ormond, the lord Balvcny, 
 knight of Cadyow, many barons and gentlemen, with 
 their allies, vaffals, and fervanjs, to a great number, 
 fubferibed and fwore foJcmnly, Never to defer t one 
 another during life ; that injuries done to any one of them y 
 JlmilJ be done to them all, and hi a common quarrel ; nei- 
 ther 
 
of J A M E S II. 79 
 
 t her fhould they defifl to their heft abilities to revenge them ; 
 that they fhould concur indifferently againfl ivhatfoever per- 
 fons within or without the realm, and fpend their lives, 
 lands, goods, and fortunes, in defence of their debates and 
 ■differences whatfoever. This confederation and cove- 
 nant again renewed, turned the earl imperious in his 
 deportments, prefumptuous beyond all limits, and his 
 followers and adherents infupportable to their neigh- 
 -bours : the lands of fuch who were not of their party, 
 qr refufed to think, all their thoughts, and fecond them 
 in their enterprizes, were plundered; and goodnefs was 
 a caufe to make men fuffer molt pillage and ranfacking 
 of their goods, and other miierable calamities. At this 
 time the thieves and robbers of Liddefdale and Annan- 
 dale break into the lands of J ohn lord Herreis, a noble- 
 man, who had continued constantly faithful to the king, 
 and drive with them a great booty of cattle. Com- 
 plaints being given to the earl of Douglas of the de- 
 predations of his men, and finding no redrefs, the 
 lord Herreis effayeth to drive the like prey in recom- 
 pence of the damage; but being unequal in power, 
 his misfortune was to be taken by the thieves, and 
 brought as prifoner to the earl, who laid him fait in 
 ■irons ; and notwithstanding the king's letters, full of in- 
 treaties and threatenings, without any formality of law, 
 caufed hang him as a felon. The like mifchiefwas 
 praclifed in other places. After this contempt of fo- 
 vereignty, it was univerfally blazed that the earl of 
 Douglas, in refpec"t of this new covenant, the power of 
 his kinfmen and allies, the entertaining of fuch who 
 were difcontent and difcountenanced at court, the love 
 and favour of the men of arms in Scotland, ever go- 
 verned by fome of his name, his riches, the honour 
 of his ancestors, had refolved to disTemble no longer, 
 but openly to play his game, and esTay one day, if he 
 could fet the crown upon his own head, being then 
 able to raife an army of forty thoufand warlike per- 
 sons, men ready to go with him, whither or againffc 
 whom they cared not, attending only the occasion, and 
 bis commandment. 
 
 The king, who before but difdained the pride, after 
 this league became jealous of the earl of Douglas (a 
 
 league 
 
So The History of the ReIgn 
 
 league giving a law to a king, breaking all bonds of lb= 
 vcreignty, and inviting a people to look for a new ma- 
 tter ;) and though his rnodefty and patience ferved only 
 to turn the earl more infolent, and his boldnefs more 
 active ; yet in a foul game he bare a fair countenance ; 
 knowing the laft thing which a ibvereign prince ihould 
 do, is to mow himfelf male-content and offended with 
 any of his fubjecls ; for inltead of chaftifing him, he 
 would give him fairer means and greater power to do him 
 harm; he would not (hew a token of any prejudicial 
 thought to the earl's proceedings till he had firlr. heard 
 himfelf. 
 
 Thus very calmly he defired him to come, and fpeak 
 with him at Stirling ; which he, confcious of his own 
 mifdemeanor, except upon a public aflurance under the 
 great feal for his fafe coming and return, refufed to do : 
 a fafe conduct being obtained about the fhrove-tide, in 
 the year I45"2. he came to the court then remaining at 
 Stirling cafile, accompanied with many of his confede- 
 rates, and a powerful retinue. The king with a gra- 
 cious countenance, and all apparent rcfpecl received 
 him, endeavouring rather by kindnefs and humanity* 
 than by rigour to reclaim him to his former obedience. 
 The day near fpent, the gates of the caftle fhut, all re- 
 moved, except fome of the council and the guards-, the 
 king taking the earl friendly apart, remembered him of 
 favours received, wrongs forgotten, the duties, as a fub- 
 jedt, he owed to his prince, his capitulation before he 
 would come and fpeak with him ; he taxed him with 
 the exorbitant abufes and outrages of his followers : then 
 he told him, '' What informations he had of a covenant 
 " of mutual defence and adherence betwixt him and 
 " fome of his nobles and gentlemen, which he would 
 " fcarce believe : he prayed him to confider the mur- 
 ,e muring, or rather begun fedition of his people, his 
 •' long patience in tolerating his proceedings, his mis- 
 " belief of evil reports towards him, until he had heard 
 " what he had to fay for himfelf and his innocency." 
 
 The earl anfwered the king's towardnefs in equal 
 terms, trufting much to his confederation ; " For his 
 " favours, he fhould ftrive with all obfequioufnefs to 
 " defcrve them ; that, as he had the honour to com- 
 mand 
 
of JAM ES II. 8r 
 
 " mand others who obeyed him, he knew very well 
 <J how to be commanded, and obey his prince, and in 
 V what difobedience confifted : that as none of his fub- 
 " jects enjoyed more lands and honours than himfelf, 
 *' there mould not one be found who more willingly 
 *' would engage all his fortunes and perfon for the ho- 
 *-' nour of his prince : that they who laid fnares for his 
 *' life being fo near his majefty, for the furety of his 
 " perfon he could not come to court, except upon a 
 •' public affurance, and well accompanied : for the 
 " wrongs committed by his followers and vaffals, he 
 " would give what fatisfaclion mould be required ; con- 
 " cerning the band of mutual friendlhip betwixt him 
 " and fome noblemen, they would have adhered to- 
 *' gether without any writing; they were driven there-* 
 " unto for their own fafety, nor out of mind to offer, 
 " but repel injuries : that he was infinitely obliged to 
 " his goodnefs, in not condemning him before he was 
 " heard, and for that he had not lent a credulous ear 1 
 cC to his enemies mil'chievous devices. 
 
 The king replied, " Effects, and not words, make 
 *' the affection and fubmifllon of a fubject known; and 
 *' could there be any greater furety for him, than to 
 " rely on the laws of the commonwealth and country ? 
 " efpecially, continued he, in a country where laws, 
 " and not faction rule, and where a man's own good- 
 u nefs is able to preferve him : but fuch men, as you 
 " are, raife thefe factions, to the fubverlion of all laws 
 <c and authority : and for fubjects to make an offen- 
 *' five and defenfive league againft all perfons, is to di£- 
 *' claim all government, and do what they pleafe with- 
 " out controlment; commit treafbn in the higheft de- 
 *' gree, and make your own fwords and power juftify 
 " your proceedings, which though ye firit ufe againffc 
 " mean perfons, and conceal the progrefs of your acti- 
 " ons (for there are degrees in evil, and wicked men 
 " begin at that which feemeth the leaft of evils, or not 
 " an evil at all at the firft) your laft aim is likely to be 
 " the robbing upon the crown. Confider, my lord, ye 
 *' are born under a monarchy, which admitteth no lb- 
 4C vereignty but itfeif, and it is natural to princes ro 
 " hold it in bigheft citeem, and in no cafe to faffcr 
 
82 The History of the Reign 
 
 * it to be fhaken by their fubjedls. Take your prince 
 " for your belt protection , and an innocent life : re- 
 " nounce that union and league with your peers, which 
 " unlefs commanded, or approved, or permitted by 
 " your prince, fubfifteth not in law nor in reafon, be- 
 " ing forbidden under great pains. And let it not be 
 " heard any longer, that ever fuch an unjuft confede- 
 u ration was, and fo wonted clemency fhall be prefer- 
 " red before defer ved juftice." 
 
 The earl replied, " The league being drawn up by 
 " the common confent of many lords, barons and 
 " gentlemen, and fubfcribed, it could not be cancelled 
 " nor renounced, but by their common confent ; nor 
 " was it profitable for the king, nor to him otherwife 
 " to have it done, that being together, they might con- 
 " defcend to the renouncing and cancelling of it. But, 
 " fays the king, you, to Ihow good example to the 
 <! reft, fhall firft begin ; neither, living, fliall any trai- 
 " tor in my prefence difavow and difclaim my authori- 
 " ty, in what is within my poffibility of accomplifh- 
 " ing." The earl requeues him to remember, " He 
 u came to court upon a public affurance. A public af- 
 " furance cannot fo warrant any man, but that he may 
 " fall by his own private mifdemeanor, anfwered the 
 a king." Withal, confidering a mean courage in a 
 king to be an imputation, and that he did neither 
 wrong towards God nor his fame, in revenging himlelf 
 upon the enemies of the ftate ; the place, a ftrong caftle ; 
 his prefent power, all within being his counfellors and 
 fervants ; the danger if he fhould efcapej the eafinefs 
 of fuppreffing the rebellion, the head taken away : The 
 earl continuing hot and frubborn, in debating his points 
 of the league, wrath banifhing other doubts and inte- 
 refts, his dagger performed what armed juftice fcarce 
 dared attempt: the king's blow, the noife arifing, wns 
 feconded by a number of his fervants, who rufhing in 
 the room left him dead, upon the eve of Shrove-.Tiief- 
 day, the 22d of February, 1452. 
 
 About the daft fcene of this tragedy, a pair of fpurs 
 between two platters, an emblem of fpeedy flight, as a 
 part of the king's banquet, is directed to Sir J a mf. s 
 Hamilton ofCadyow; this hecommimicateth to the 
 
 lords 
 
o f J A M E S II. 83 
 
 lords and gentlemen of the union, in which time the 
 news of the earl's death is fpread abroad. The leaguers 
 finding thcmfelves weak to carry fo ftrong a place as 
 the caftle, in hot blood fet on fire divers quarters of 
 the town of Stirling, make proclamation againlt. the 
 king and his council, for violating the aifurance grant- 
 ed to the earl : infamous libels are fpread every where, 
 and the fafeconducl of the king and his council bound 
 to a wooden truncheon at a horfe's tail is dragged alongft 
 the ftreets : in the market place', by the mouth of a 
 crier, to the found of all their hunting-horns, they de- 
 clare the king, and thofe that abode with him, faith- 
 breakers, perjured perfons, enemies to all goodnefs and 
 good men. James the next brother of the houfe of 
 Douglas, a church-man, being proclaimed carl, in rage 
 and madnefs, committing all Torts of hoftility, they o- 
 ver-run the lands and poffeffions of thofe whom they 
 fufpedted would fide with the king, and not prove of 
 their party : John lord of Dalkeith their kinfman and of 
 the name of Do ug las, they befiege in his caftle of 
 Dalkeith, for that he hated their proceedings ; the te- 
 nants and vafTals of the earl of Angus are plundered for 
 the fame caufe : the ftrength of the place railed the 
 fiege of Dalkeith ; and the earl of Angus, by their ma- 
 ny wrongs and infolencies, remained more conftant to 
 the king. 
 
 In this time the king writeth to all the good towns 
 of the realm, and church-men, giving reafons for the 
 taking away the earl, imputing the fault to the earl him- 
 felf, exhorting the people to make no ftir for the jult 
 execution of a man born for the ruin of the kingdom, 
 and who voluntarily had precipitated himfelf into his 
 own milhap; offering all his power to keep the coun- 
 try in quietnefs, according to that authority in which 
 God had placed him. This blow, as particular interefts 
 made the hearts of men incline, and as paffions were 
 various, was varioufly and in feveral manners taken : 
 fome without inquiring of circumftances, after what fa- 
 ction or occafion ioever done, allowing it, thought the 
 king had more clear and evident inducements for his 
 deed, than could fall within the labyrinths of reason- 
 ing. The majefty of a prince hardly falleth from a 
 F height 
 
84 The History of the Reign 
 
 height to a midft, but eafily is precipitated from any 
 midft. to the loweft degree and ftation : the king, faid 
 they, hath obviated this fall, hath let afoot again and 
 raifed his authority threatened with ruin ; he hath vin- 
 dicated his liberty almoft thralled, hath allured the 
 lives, honours, and eftates of many loyal fubjects, which 
 were endangered by not adhering to the league of the 
 carl, and keeping their oath of allegiance to the king : 
 he, if he pleafe, now with honour and reputation may 
 hold his parliaments, bring to pafs his defigns for the 
 confervation of his authority, and the peace of hisfub- 
 jecls. Others blamed this deed every where, and in 
 every circumfhnce; laying perjury and murder againft 
 him, and the breaking of the public faith and afTurance, 
 the common bond of human fociety, the common de- 
 fence of all, and the ground of juftice. 
 
 To which it was anfwered, that the earl was not tak- 
 en away for his paft demerits and mifdefervings, but 
 for what he had recently committed in the king's own 
 prefence, having fpoken to him with an infupportable 
 irreverence ; they which have fafe conduct, being ob- 
 liged to fhun all kind of offence towards him who gives 
 it them, any enormity being fufficient to anul the bene- 
 fit of it. 
 
 More, for the breach of faith, the earl and his con- 
 federates were the more perjured, and he the murderer 
 of himfelf; they having violated that natural oath to 
 their king, which all fubjecls owe to their fovereigns, 
 by drawing up a league among his people, to the break- 
 ing of the ties of fovereignty ; giving, by this, occafi- 
 on and jufr. caufe to the king to reward them after their 
 demerits. Moft faid the killing of the earl was evil, but 
 that it was a neccffary evil. That as nature fuffcreth 
 not two funs, lb reafon of flate fuffereth not that in 
 one kingdom there be two kings, but that of ncceflity 
 the one muft overthrow the other ; and matters going 
 thus, he who giveth the firit blow hath the advantage. 
 Thus did men judge diverfly after their proper interelts, 
 of the deeds of others. 
 
 The torrent of thcfc diforders increafing, laws are 
 neglected, towns, villages, houles, the high-ways, are 
 everywhere afflicted with rapine, fire and fury, and, 
 
 faye 
 
of JAMES II. 8<r 
 
 fave needy boldnefs, nothing is fafe and fecure in any- 
 place. 
 
 The changing multitude, like mad-men limning 
 portraits with their own blood, delight in their pro- 
 ceedings, and daily increafe in the number of the rebels. 
 In this infurredtion the king is reduced to many extre- 
 mities, and is laid to have thought upon an eicape by 
 fea to France, if he had not been diverted by James 
 Kennedy, bifhop of St. Andrews, who told him, 
 " That to leave the kingdom was to give all over to 
 " the infolency of his rebels, and for fear of burning, to 
 " leap into the fire itfelf : that befides the high and 
 u long continued title of a king, which the belt part 
 " of his fubjects yet reverenced, he had fufficient friends 
 •* and war-like men, who appearing in the field with 
 " him, would raife a juft fear in the hearts of thofe who 
 " fo hainoufly dared difobey him ; that God would be 
 " prefent to revenge wronged majefty, and turn their 
 u hopes in defpair •, that the common people were ever 
 " changing, and a little time would make them flow to 
 <c thefe from whom they did ebb; and all would return 
 '* again, except fuch as were guilty of other offences, 
 " or fuch whofe poverty made them fear a beggarly 
 " peace as their greateft punifhment; that his chiefelfc 
 " and principal city flood good for him, which example 
 " the other towns would undoubtedly follow; that re- 
 " bellion was like thunder, the noife of which, if ob- 
 " ferved duly, was often more terrible than the blow, 
 " and diflolved ordinarily in tears of repentance and 
 " fair weather: that here the prudence of a prince ma- 
 *' nifefleth itfelf, when he cannot fupprefs and flop all 
 :< the evils in his ftate, to fuffer and tolerate the lead, 
 " and with leifure and time abolifli and extirpate the 
 " greater, and make virtue of rebellion." 
 
 The king, by the bifhop's counfel and afliflance, ga- 
 thereth an army, but will not try the hazard of a bat- 
 tle, before thofe, he had advertifed and fent for, fhould 
 join with thefe already about him, and his forces from 
 all the quarters of the kingdom be united. In the north, 
 the earl of Huntley had raifed a goodly company to 
 come to his aid; but the earl of Crawford, a confede- 
 rate of the earl of Douglas, with a power of the men of 
 F 2 Angus, 
 
86 The History of the Reig# 
 
 Angus, and all who would follow him, guided by fome 
 French commanders, effayed to cut ofFhis paflage, and 
 encountereth him at Brechin. The battle is fought, 
 and the victory inclined where the king's ftandard was 
 difplayed by the earl of Huntley. The equity of the 
 caufe laid afide, the occaflon of this victory was afcrib- 
 cdtoJoHNCoLOSs of Bonnymoon, who having one 
 of the wings of the army to guide, which confiflcd of 
 battle-axes, great fwords, and long fpears, and the bed 
 invafive weapons, in the hottell of the fkirmifh, gave 
 ground, and left the middle ward naked upon his lide. 
 The realon of his revolt is reported, that the night be- 
 fore the battle, when every man was refoiving with his a.f- 
 fairs of the world, Bonnymoon requeited the earl of 
 Crawfurd, of whom he held his lands ward and relief, 
 fince the next day he was refolved cither to be victori- 
 ous or die in the field, to fubferibe a precept, himfelf 
 falling, for entering his fon to his lands. This the fu- 
 ptrior refilling, the valTal out of a jufl indignation, when 
 he ihould have charged, retired, and his company with 
 him. Such thoughts polTelled not the earl of Hunt- 
 ley's mind ; he dealt not fo fparingly with his friends 
 in hope of their good lervice ; to the Forbeses, O- 
 gilbies, Leslies, Grants, Irvine s, he free- 
 ly gave many of his own lands, which raifed their cou- 
 rage to the height. In requital of which, the king after 
 bellowed upon him the lands of Badcnoch and Locha- 
 ber. In the conflict the earl of Huntley loft two bro- 
 thers; the earl of Crawfurd, Sir John LyndsayIus 
 brother being left on the field, fled to his houfe of Fin- 
 haven, where he was heard to fay, he would be content 
 to remain feven years in hell, to have in fo timely a 
 feafon done the king his mailer that fervice the earl of 
 Huntley had performed, and carry that applaufe and 
 thanks he was to receive from him. This conflict hap- 
 pened upon the afcenfion day, the 18 day of May, 1452. 
 The king, by the confluence and refort of many wor- 
 thy fubjects unto him, having time to breathe, and find- 
 ing himfelf in a calm, keepeth a convention of the 
 Hates at Edinburgh. Hue the carls of Do t'G las, 
 Crawfurd, Ormond, Murray, the lord Bal- 
 veny, Sir James Hamilton, and others, are cit- 
 ed 
 
of JAMES II. 87 
 
 ed to anfwer according to law. They, inftead of ap- 
 pearing, in the night, upon the doors of the principal 
 churches, and other places eminent, fix many pJa- 
 carts and libels, ligned with their hands ; which bear, 
 the earl of Douglas, nor his followers will never obey 
 command nor charge in time coming, nor anfwer cita- 
 tion; for that the king is not a juft mailer, but a blood- 
 fucker, a murderer, a tranlgreifor of hofpitality, a fur- 
 prizer of the innocent, and fuch whodeferved no harm 
 at his hands. Not long after the king levied an army, 
 which by the approaching winter did little fervice ; and 
 the earl of Douglas, to fave the lands of Beatr ix his 
 brother's widow, unfeparatedfrom their houie, fought by 
 a difpenfation from the pope to have her in marriage, 
 alleging her untouched of his brother j which being re- 
 fufed him, he kept her in place of his wife, the effect of 
 his Sorbon divinity, and found hereby more briars than 
 rofes. 
 
 The earl of Crawfurd, placing two friths of feas be- 
 twixt him and the king, Ipoileth the lands of all thole 
 who forfook him at Brechin ; and Archibald earl of 
 Murray burnetii the pile of Strathbogy, pertaining to 
 the earl of Huntley. In revenge of which, the earl of 
 Huntley burnt and herried all the lands of the earl of 
 Murray beyond the Spey : the king too, in this mad- 
 nefs of mankind, defaceth his own country, pulling down 
 the houfes of his rebel- fubjecls, and wafting Annandale. 
 This ravage, and mutual overturning of all, having con* 
 tinued almoft two whole years, the faction of the earl, 
 far inferior to the king's, now weakened with fuch lait- 
 ing incurfions; fundry of the chief men and heads, con- 
 fidering the lead: faults were the beft, " That it was 
 " better to ftrike fail in time, than make a full fhip- 
 " wrack of their perfbns, honours, and the weal of the 
 " kingdom and ftate, counfel the earl, that fervours 
 " growing colder, fince it could not be undone which 
 " was done, he would not fet greater work on foot, but 
 u proceding with conveniency, fubmit himielffriendly 
 *' to the king, who had as much goodnefs as penerofity, 
 " and fought and required nothing of his fubjedts but 
 " obedience : and having now proved how difficult it 
 '* was to overcome them by arms, was, perhaps, as 
 F 3 •' much 
 
88 The History of the Reign 
 
 " much tired as they, and would pardon thefe faults 
 " which he could not otherwife amend ; neceffity in af- 
 u fairs of princes, conftraining them to yield to many 
 " things in government againft their firft conclulions, 
 " and refolve to grant that which they could not well 
 " hinder : that there were many hours in the day, and' 
 " the hearts of princes were fubject to change in them : 
 " that he mould not forfake the public weal of the 
 " kingdom for his private confiderations : that after 
 " this trouble of (fate, he might be more efteemed and 
 " fought after by the king, as it is ordinarily practifed 
 " among princes and great men, who affect only that 
 " which is neceffary unto them." 
 
 To thefe the earl anfwered, " That they had went 
 " too far forwards to think upon any cowardly retreat 
 " and coming back again : that the only virtue under 
 " a tyrant, was to die conftantly ; that other virtues 
 " did fight, but conftancy alone triumphed ; that for 
 " himfelf, he would never trull his life to the mercy 
 " of thofe who, under colour of friendfhip and banquet- 
 " ing, had firft made away his two kinfmen, and after 
 " his own brother; for if they being innocent, were 
 " thus handled, what might he expect who had been 
 " the occafion of fuch diffraction in the ftate ? He that 
 " had once broken his faith, except by a furety, is un- 
 " able again, in law, to contract and enter in bond with 
 u any; who will be furety between a king and his fub- 
 " jects? that treaties, agreements, covenants, and bar- 
 *' gains of a prince with rebellious fubjects, engage him 
 " no further, no longer than the term-time or day which 
 " pleafeth him to accept, obferve, and keep them, as 
 " they turn or may ti>rn to his utility and advantage : 
 " that as in nature there is no regrefs found from pri- 
 " vation to an habit, lb neither in ftate, men once dif- 
 " graced do return to their former honours ; that prin- 
 " ces mortally hated all fubjects who had either attem- 
 " ptcd to over-rule them by power, or had caft any 
 M terror upon them : and howfoevcr by conffraint they 
 " bear fail for a time, in the end they were fore pay- 
 " mailers : that there was nothing more contrary to a 
 " good agreement, than to appear to be too carneft and 
 " bufy to feek to obtain it j he would fue for none : 
 
 " that 
 
of J A M E S II. 89 
 
 M that all his days he had loved fincerity, conftancy 
 " and fidelity, and could not unfay and recant what 
 " he had promifed and pradtifed, nor do againft his 
 " heart : his friends and his own (landing was by their 
 " fwords, which (hould either advance their enterprizes, 
 " and turn them vigors, or they would die honourably 
 " like themfelves and men, and not ignobly be mur- 
 " dered like beads." • 
 
 This free and dangerous refolution of the earl mov- 
 ed many who heard it, to provide for their own fafety, 
 and refolve not to fuffer longer mifery for other mens 
 folly, finding this war was not like to have any end, 
 and that danger and death would be the only reward of 
 their rebellion. Amongft others, the earl of Crawfurd, 
 after great adverfity, when he could not move the earl 
 of Douglas to fubmit himfelf to the king's clemency* 
 with many tears and proteftations of his fincere love and 
 counfel to him, left him ; and fome weeks, as the king 
 was in progrefs in Angus, in a fad penitential manner, 
 accompanied with his belt friends, coming in his way, 
 with much humility and forrow he acknovvleged his 
 fault, pleading rather for pity to his houfe, which had 
 lb long flourished, than to his perfon. The king know- 
 ing his example would be no fmall occafion to weaken 
 the power of the earl of Douglas, and that of all the 
 rebels he was the greateft object of his clemency, was 
 content to receive him; but he would have it done 
 by the mediation of James Kennedy, bifhop of 
 St. Andrews, and the lord Creighton, once his great- 
 eft enemies, which he remied not to embrace. Thus 
 freely remitted, with thofe who accompanied him, he 
 returned to his own houfe of Finhaven, where within 
 few months he died of a burning ague. 
 
 The three eftates after afTembled at Edinburgh, 
 where James earl of Douglas, the countefs Beatrix, 
 whom he kept by way of a pretended marriage, Archi- 
 bald Douglas earl of Murray, George earl of 
 Ormond, J ohn D ougl as Lord of Balveny, with o- 
 thers their adherents, friends and followers, are attaint- 
 ed of high treafon, and their lands and goods are con- 
 fifcate and decerned to be feized on to the king's ufe. 
 The earldom of Murray is given to James Creigh- 
 F 4 T«>»> 
 
$0 The History of the Reign 
 
 ton, who had married the eldeft daughter of the earl of 
 Murray ; but he perceiving he could not poflefs it in 
 peace, returned it back again to the king. At this time 
 George Creighton was created earl of Caithnefs, 
 WilliamHay condable earl of Errol, Darnley, 
 Hailes, Boyd, Lyle, andLoRN, lords of parlia- 
 ment; the king maketh a road into Galloway, reducing 
 every ftrong hold and cadle of the country to his power ; 
 Douglas-dale he abandoned to the fpoil of the foldiers. 
 Matters at home turning defperate, the earl of Dou- 
 glas being brought to that pafs, that he knew not what to 
 wilh or fear, James Hamilton of Cadyow is fent to 
 England to invite the ancient enemy of the kingdom 
 to take a part of her fpoil, and help to trouble the king : 
 but the Englifh had greater bufinefs amongd themfelves 
 than could permit them to efpoufe the quarrel of the 
 earl. After Sir James Hamilton was returned 
 with an excufe and regret that fome of the Englidi 
 lords could not fupply their confufion, but only by their 
 counfel, he advifed the earl of Douglas to trud to his 
 own power and forces, which were fufficient, meafur- 
 ing their courage, and not counting their heads, to 
 hold good againlt the king. There was no human af- 
 fair where men were not neceflltated to run fome dan- 
 ger, nor any bufinefs taken in hand with fuch a certain* 
 ty, which by unknown caufes, and even light ones, 
 might not run a hazard of fome mifhap ; that he fliould 
 ftudy to embrace and accept of what was mod honour- 
 able and lead dangerous: it was better once to try the 
 word than ever to be in fear of it : it was lit for him to 
 commit fomething to fortune, and wifdom could coUnfel 
 nothing, but to fhun the greateft evil. This lingering war 
 would not only tire, but overcome and vanquifli them, 
 when one fair day of battle, either by death or viclory, 
 would crown their defires. Others advifed him not to 
 hazard upon a battle, except upon fcen and approved 
 advantage, and to time it out a while: in this lingering 
 war a truce might be agreed upon, which ere long might 
 turn to a peace, in which every thing pad might be for- 
 gotten and pardoned ; that wars were managed more by 
 occasions and times than by arms : that the king could 
 not be now but tired, lince he had learned, that by ef- 
 
 faying 
 
of JAMES II. 9 i 
 
 faying by arms to overcome them, he had gained no- 
 thing, but trained up his fubjec"ts, whom he called re- 
 bels, in all war-like difcipline, and had his country fpoil- 
 ed, and the policy defaced. Should they once enter 
 in blood, all hopes were gone of any conditions of 
 peace. 
 
 At this time the king befieging the caftle of Aber- 
 corn; to relieve the befieged, hither marcheth with all 
 his forces the earl of Douglas. Being come within view 
 of the king's army, he obferveth their march flow, the 
 countenances of his foldiers altered, much whifpering, 
 and their fpirits in a manner dejecled. Countrymen 
 were to fight againft countrymen, friends againft friends, 
 and all againft their prince. Interpreting this rather to 
 proceed from their wearinefs, than want of good-will to 
 enter the lifts, as well to refrefh and cherilh them to be 
 more prompt and lufty of courage the next morning, 
 as to take counfel what courfe to follow, and how to 
 difpofe of their game, he ftayeth that afternoon and 
 pitcheth his tents. To men unfortunate every thing 
 turneth an enemy. Whether Sir James Hamilton 
 gave way to this, or not, is uncertain : but after, it is 
 laid, that in a chafe he told the earl, ** He had neglect- 
 *' ed the opportunity of fight, and fhould never fee fo 
 " fair a day again, in which he might have hazarded 
 " one caft of a dye for a whole kingdom. But his for- 
 " tune was now declined, and, perhaps, would never 
 " ftand upright ; that by giving that night to his foldi- 
 " ers to paufe and deliberate on the matter, they would, 
 " perchance, take the fafeft way, be more advifed what 
 " to enterprize the next morning, readily not fight at 
 " all, conhfting of a number of bold young gentlemen, 
 " volunteers, who for the moft part out of bravery and 
 " companion followed him ; that the king's army, by 
 " his lingering and lying off, was encouraged, finding 
 *' they were to cope with men who would advife ere 
 " they fought." After which fpeeches he bade the earl 
 farewel : and now knowing that the way lay open both 
 for pardon and favour to him that would firft feek it, he 
 in the night breaketh out with fome friends, and hav- 
 ing got over the field betwixt the two camps, was 
 brought fafely to the king, who gracioufly received, and 
 
 freely 
 
92 The History of the Reign 
 
 freely pardoned him. The army, having underftood 
 the clandeftine revolt and efcape of Sir James Ha- 
 milton, disbanded, every man flipping away by fe- 
 cret pafTages to his own habitation, that on the mor- 
 row there was nothing to be feen but the folitary field 
 upon which they had encamped. The king, out of joy 
 of this bloodlefs victory, caufed proclaim in all his chief 
 towns, '' That fince fovereign authority had no lefs 
 fplendor by the actions of clemency, than by thefe 
 of juftice, all thofe who had followed the earl of Dou- 
 glas, and been of his party, rather by misfortune and 
 unadvifed rafhnefs, than any evil-will againft him, 
 fhould be freely pardoned : thole who would aban- 
 don the earl, and come to the king's camp, whofo- 
 ever they were, no jullice, no law, fhould trouble 
 them, but they fhould be received to mercy, and have 
 all pardon." After this proclamation, many fubmit- 
 ted themfclves to the king and were pardoned; though 
 Sir James Hamilton was remitted, yet that under 
 colour of reconciliation worfe mifchief might not be plot- 
 ted, the king fent him, with the earl of Orkney, to the 
 caftle of Rolling during his pleafure, and the taking in 
 of the caftle of Abercorn ; remembering alfo it was fomC 
 prejudice to a prince to be obliged to any rebel. 
 
 The earl of Douglas gathering together the fplit piec- 
 es of his fhipwrack, with his brothers, and fo many of 
 his confederates as would not forfake him, flieth to Eng- 
 land. Here with much travel, by many promifes of 
 rewards, great hopes of fpoil, gathering unto him a 
 power of out-laws, felons, bankrupts, and Inch as liv- 
 ed by rapine, as well of his own nation, as of the Eng- 
 lifh, he maketh an inroad upon the welt borders of' 
 Scotland ; fome villages being burnt, many preys, and 
 much fpoil driven into England : at laft he mecteth 
 with the valiant men who were appointed to defend the 
 marches, the Max wel ls and Scots. Here in a fu- 
 rious ,fkirmi(h his companies are difcomfited, Archi- 
 bald earl of Murray his brother is flain, and his head 
 fent to the king ; the earl of Ormond is taken priforter; 
 himfelf with the lord Balveny with great difficulty e- 
 fcapeth into a forcfr. When he fought to return again 
 into England, he findcth all pafTages (lopped up, the 
 
 ways 
 
of J AMES II. 93 
 
 ways laid for him, and beginning to feel much want, he 
 is conftrained in a difguifed habit to lurk meanly in the 
 inmofl parts of Scotland, till he wandered toward the 
 far Highlands ; where finding Donald earl of Rofs, 
 lord of the ifles, one of his league, a man cruel, arro- 
 gant, and unpoliflied ; after many difcourfes am! long 
 conference with him, being no lefs eloquent than adlive, 
 he poffeffeth him with great hopes, after a divifion ofj 
 the kingdom between them two, of an abfolute power 
 and government of all the Highlands, befides the wealth 
 and treafure which he would purchafe by the fpoil : he 
 requireth only he would break in upon the more civil 
 countries, bring all the fire-brands he could, to kindls 
 and trouble them, and cut work for the king, whilfr. his 
 with new fupplies, and a great army to be railed in 
 England, fhould invade the marches and bordering coun- 
 tries. The earl of Rofs, who thought nothing impof- 
 fible to him, being to himfelf in thefe barbarous parts 
 by phantafy a king, and was ufed to vaunt of a long 
 pedigree from Fergus, relifheth the profit and poflibi- 
 lity of this enterprize, fweareth to leave nothing un- 
 done for the accomplifhing of it ; and parting with him 
 upon mutual aiTurance, intreateth only celerity and 
 fwift performance of what they had concluded. 
 
 Scarce was the earl of Douglas in England, when the 
 earl of Rofs, the two pillars of his defigns being inju- 
 ftice and violence, fupported by fair hopes from the 
 fouth, with his wild mountaineers and iflanders, like an 
 inundation, over-runneth the neighbour bounds. Ar- 
 gyle fuffereth the firft effects of their fury ; the ifle of 
 Arran is taken, and the caftle made a bone-fire (as if 
 they were the facrifice for the fins of the reft ;) the hi- 
 lltop of the ifles faveth himfelf by flight, and taketh 
 fanctuary -, Lochaber and Murray-land are fpoiled, the 
 town oflnvernefs is fet on fire, the caftle furprized, 
 murders, ravifhings, robberies, with what infolency the 
 barbarous canibals could commit, are every where, and 
 the fad image of death ravageth amongft the common 
 people. The earl of Douglas, now at his laft fhifts and 
 efforts, leaveth no means nor helps unfbught out: fuch 
 who lived upon prey and fpoil refort unto him ; he 
 raaketh hot iacurfionS; and after a moft hoftile manner, 
 
 which 
 
94 The History of the Reign 
 
 which purchafed him the hatred of all his countrymen, 
 and turned thofe who were indifferent in his quarrel, 
 his profeffed enemies. This ravage continuing, Hen- 
 ry earl of Northumberland, after (lain at Caxton-field, 
 whom love of the valour of the houfe of Douglas, and 
 true commiferation, had brought to take arms with him, 
 invadeth one quarter of the Merfe, and the earl of Dou- 
 glas turneth towards another. But whilft they are di- 
 fperfed, and more eager and intentive to carry away 
 fpoil, than to look to their own fafety and military dil- 
 cipline, the earl of Angus, with Sir James Hamil- 
 ton of Cadyow, put them both, with number and 
 confufion over-born, to flight, (laying many, and tak- 
 ing more prifoners. After this overthrow, during the 
 king's reign, the earl of Douglas deliberating not to op- 
 pofe longer toneceifity, but to be ftill till better times, 
 never attempted to invade his country. 
 
 Amidft thefe incuriions, the earl of Ormond at Edin- 
 burgh is beheaded ; the countefs of Douglas, Beatrix, 
 all hopes being loft of reftoring her husband, defpoiled 
 of her lands and fair heritage, turned now a monfter of 
 fortune, the blame of her unlawful wedlock laid upon 
 the earl, confented to by her out of a certain fear of 
 her life, fubmitteth herfel'f to the king's clemency. 
 The king who denied not mercy to any who fought it of 
 him, that the lefs guilty amongft the feditious might 
 withdraw themfelves, and the obftinate remain the lefs 
 powerful and weak, receiveth her-, and giveth her in 
 marriage to his brother Jo hn, earl of Athole, fon to the 
 black knight of Lorn, defigning for her dowry the lord- 
 ihip of Balveny. 
 
 By her example, the countefs of Rofs, abhorring the 
 fiercenefs and cruelties, as me gave out, of her barba- 
 rous husband, but rather out of policy to be agent for 
 him, flieth to the king, and hath revenues allowed her 
 for the maintainance of her eftatc. Not long after, the 
 earl of Rofs himfelf, the mifadventure of his confederates 
 having taught him now fome wifdom, having feen the 
 king's clemency towards others equal to him in treafbn 
 and rebellion, by many humble fupplications craved 
 pardon, and begged peace. The king by his great pru- 
 dence, and the courfe of the affairs of his kingdom, 
 
 knew 
 
of JAMES II. 95 
 
 knew that it was neceffary fbmetimes to condefcend to 
 the imperfections and faults of fome fubjecls, and hav- 
 ing compaffion, to apply and accommodate himfelf to 
 that, which though according to the ftridmefs of equity 
 was not due, yet for the prefent occafion and reafbn of 
 ftate, was convenient, anfwered, " He would neither 
 " altogether pardon him, nor flatly reject him, there 
 " being many figns of his wickednefs, and few of his 
 " changed mind; when honeitly, without fraud or guile, 
 " he fhould crave a pardon, and give fatisfaction to thofe 
 " whom by blood and pillage he had wronged, and by 
 " fome noble action deface the rememberance of his for- 
 " mer crimes, then fliould it be good time to receive 
 " him. Notwithstanding this mould not difcourage 
 *' him, but he Ihould know he had a defire to make him 
 " relifh the effects of his bounty, fo he himfelf would 
 " find the means and fubject. In the interim, he wifh- 
 " ed him to keep the common peace of the country, 
 " and not opprefs any of his neighbours." 
 
 About this time the univerfity of Glafgow was founded 
 byWiLLiAMTuRNBULL bifhop of that lee. W i l- 
 HAmHay earl of Errol, GeorgeGreighton earl 
 ofCaithnefs, William lordCREiGHTON,died 1455:, 
 and the bifhop ofSt. Andrews is made chancellor. 
 
 The king partly having loofed, partly cut in pieces 
 that gordian knot of the league of his nobility, began to re- 
 obtain again the ancient authority of the kings his pre- 
 decefTors, giving and impofing laws to his fubjecls, ac- 
 cording to reafon and greateft conveniencies. Shortly 
 progreffing. through the quarters of the kingdom, by the 
 found counfel and inftructions of the bifhop of St. An- 
 drews, JamesKennedy, and WilliamSinclair 
 earl of Orkney, he ufed fuch clemency, that in a (hort time 
 he reclaimed all his turbulent fubjecls. In the year 
 1455, he held a parliament, where he ratified what 
 was refolved upon to be done for the peace and weal of 
 his people, eftablifhing many profitable laws for pofte- 
 rity. After this time ambaffadors came from England 
 and France unto him. 
 
 HenryVI. king of England, a foft facile prince, and 
 more fit to obey than command, having reflated in bloot$ 
 and allowed the defcent of Richard PLANTA GE- 
 NET 
 
96 The History of the Reign 
 
 net duke of York ; the duke under pretence and coun- 
 tenance of reforming the Hate and removing of bad coun- 
 sellors from the court, the umbrage of all rebellions, by- 
 one J a ck C ade an Irilh, a bold man, and who had a 
 lpirit which did not correfpond with his low condition, 
 who feigned himfell to be a coufin of his, of the houfe 
 of Mortimer, and other his inlhuments, raifcd a rebel- 
 lion ; which began among!! the Kentiih men, and was 
 alter continued by his confederacy with the duke of 
 Norfolk, earis of Warwick, Salisbury, Devon, and 
 others ; and notwithstanding he had fworn fealty to king 
 Henry at Blackheath, again openly took arms againlt 
 him at St. Albans ; where, in pitched field, Edmond 
 duke of Somerfet, his greateft competitor, and who had 
 been preferred to his place in the regency of France, 
 was killed, the king wounded, taken and committed in 
 the tower of London. At a parliament after, the duke 
 is made protector of the kingdom ; at another parlia- 
 ment he maketh claim for the crown as in his own right, 
 Jaying down thus his title. The fon of Anne Mor- 
 timer, daughter and heir to Roger Mortimer, 
 earl of March, fon and heir of Philip, the daughter 
 and fole heir of Lionel duke of Clarence, the third 
 fon of king Edward III. and elder brother to John 
 of Gaunt duke ofLancaller; is to be preferred by very 
 good right in fucceilion of the crown, before the child- 
 ren of John of Gaunt, the fourth fon of the faid Ed- 
 ward III. But Richard Plantagenet, duke 
 of York, is come of P h i l i p •, the daughter and fole heir 
 of Lionel, third fon to king Edward III. then to 
 be preferred to the children of the fourth fon, who was 
 John of Gaunt, and fo to Henry IV. the ufurperhis 
 Ion, to Henry {tiling himfelf Henry V. his fon, 
 and Henry VI. now wrongfully calling himfell king 
 king of England. This parliament chofen to the duke 
 of York's own mind, at firlt various, at laft unanimoully 
 enacted, that Henry during his life mould retain the 
 name and honour of a king, but that the duke of York 
 mould be continued protector of the country, and be 
 declared heir apparent, and fuccelTor of the crown after 
 the death of H e n r y. Margaret the queen, daugh- 
 ter to Ren y king of Sicily, more couragious than her 
 
 husband, 
 
of JAMES II. 97 
 
 husband, difclaimeth the parliamentary authority, and 
 this agreement of her king with the duke of York, as a 
 matter done to the prejudice of her (on, and againft the 
 laws of nations, which admit not a forced contract, and 
 done by a prifoner. 
 
 The crown of England hanging at this point, the 
 queen to her defence imploring the aid and afliftance 
 of her belt and greateft friends and allies, fendeth am- 
 bafladors to king James. Thefe remembering the du- 
 ties one king oweth to another againft rebels, and the 
 ufurpers of their crowns, the correfpondence and amity 
 of king Henry with king James during his profpe- 
 rity, expoftulating the cruelty of the rebels againft Ed- 
 mo nd the late dukeofSomerfet, uncle to king James, 
 flain by them in defence of his prince, promife in their 
 king's name, queen's and their fon's, with the appro- 
 bation of the noblemen of their party, " To reftore to 
 " the kings of Scotland, the lands of Northumberland, 
 " Cumberland, and bimopric of Durham, after the 
 " manner the kings of Scotland in former times had 
 " held thefe territories of the kings of England ; fo he 
 " would raife an army, and advance to their aid and 
 « fupply." 
 
 The duke of York fent hither alfo his ambafladors, 
 giving in many complaints againft king Henry, '' He 
 *< had opprefled the people with taxations, and all kind 
 " of exactions ; he had preferred to places of ftate and 
 " government new men, by whofe counfel, and his 
 " queen, he governed only •, he defpifed the old nobi- 
 " lity, he had loft Normandy and Gafcony ; as France 
 " had been loft by him, England was likely to run the 
 '• fame danger. They could no longer fuffer his dull 
 ;t fluggifhnels, and his wife's exorbitant pride; he was 
 " couragelefs in war, and bafe in peace. For the duke 
 " of York, if juftice did not warrant his claim, except 
 Sl his defcent were undifputable, and his title without 
 " all exception, he would not defire the poffeflion nor 
 * e fucceflion of the crown. King Ja me s mould re- 
 " member, it was king Henry who entertained the late 
 " diflentions and civil difcords of Scotland ; he fup- 
 u ported the banilhed Scots in England. And after 
 ,: they had much enlarged their difcourfe with reafons 
 
 « of 
 
98 The History of the Reign 
 
 " of a juft war againft king Henry, if king James 
 *' will arifc in arms againft him, and affift them, they 
 " promife to reftore and render all the forts and places 
 " of importance taken in the old wars from the king- 
 f dom of Scotland, to him and his fucceffors." King 
 James anfwered the Englilh ambaffadors, " That he 
 " was not ignorant of the ftate of their kingdom, nci- 
 " ther to whom their crown did appertain, but that he 
 " would not take upon him to be umpire of their fhife ; 
 " for the raifing an army, he would think upon it, 
 " though he had fmall affurancc for the performance 
 *' of tlieir promifed conditions : he had long projecled 
 " the recovering of the loft fortrcfTes of Scotland in their 
 " hands, and now he would try whom he might truft." 
 The amhalfadors difmiffed, the king raifed an army, but 
 left to the divination of pofterity, with which of the 
 parties he was to fide. The Englilh and French writ- 
 ers affirm, he was to aid king Henry, and revenge 
 the death of the duke of Somerfet his mother's brother; 
 the Scotiih, to affiit the duke of York, and that by a 
 counterfeit legate from the pope after he had been upon 
 his march, he was moved to return. It feemeth that 
 being periuaded by the French king (the ancient con- 
 federate of Scotland, and who for that end had fent his 
 ambaffador) to keep the Englifh within their own coun- 
 try, and difable them in their conqueft of France, he 
 intended upon the advantage of this civil difcord to 
 make a road into England, as the French made an al- 
 garad by fea upon Kent. 
 
 The king's army being gathered, that it fhould not 
 loiter in idlenefs, attending greater intelligence from 
 the event of the Englilh factions, having paffed the 
 Tweed, invadeth the town of Roxburgh, which, with 
 little travel is taken and equalled with the ground; and 
 the caltle, a ftrong fortrefs, is befieged. Whilft the 
 king here palTtth the time, inviting it more by courte- 
 lies and blandifhments, than ammunition and warlike 
 engines, to be rendered to him, commiffioners came from 
 the duke of York, requiring him to leave his fiege, and 
 contain himfelf within his own kingdom, unlefs he would 
 run the hazard to engage himfelf in a war againft the 
 whole body of the kingdom of England ; they give him 
 
 thanks 
 
of J AMES II. 99 
 
 thanks for his forwardnefs to their fupply : all things 
 fucceeding after their defires now, and as they could 
 have vvifhed, they requtelt him to return home ; when 
 their necefTity required his aid, they would implore it, 
 and not prove forgetful for what he Ihould do towards 
 him. King James afked the commiflioners, if the 
 duke of York and his afTociates had lent any direction 
 concerning the keeping of their promifes to him, when 
 he mould appear with an army ; they alTuring him they 
 had no fuch commiflion; I, anfwered the king, before 
 their embafly came, had refolved to take in and throw 
 down this cattle built upon my bounds, and being by 
 no benefit obliged to any of your factions, will not for 
 words leave off what I am about by arms to perform. 
 The commiflioners departing, the king caufed apply 
 his battery againlt the caftle, which couragioufly de- 
 fended itfelf, and holding good beyond expectation, 
 bred an opinion that famine would be the only engine 
 to make it render. 
 
 The king's army daily at this fiege increafed, and a- 
 monglt, all the companies none were more forward and 
 prompt to difcharge their duties in this fervice, than 
 thofe of the late league with the earl of Douglas. Above 
 others the earl of Rofs, to teftify his rememberance of 
 the king's clemency in his behalf, with a great company 
 of hislrifh, came to the camp, men only fit for tumul- 
 tuous fights and fpoil. Alexander earl of Huntley 
 coming, the king, with the earl of Angus, would take a 
 view of the trenches, and as to welcome a man, whole 
 prefence feemed to prefage good fortune, caufed dif- 
 charge a pale of ordnance together : but his coming to 
 this place was as fatal, as at Stirling profperous ; for at 
 this falvo, by the flices of an overcharged piece or 
 wedge, the king, his thigh-bone being broken, was ftrick- 
 en immediately dead, and the earl of Angus was fore 
 bruifed. This misfortune happened the third of Au- 
 guft, 1460, the 29th, or as others, the 30th year of 
 the king's life, and of his reign the 24th. 
 
 Who will take a fair view of this prince, fliall find 
 
 him to have been endowed with what conditions and 
 
 qualities are to be defired or wifhed in a monarch, both 
 
 for mind and body •, of an excellent feature and pleafant 
 
 G afpecl, 
 
ioo The History of THE Reign 
 
 afpect, a (hong vigorous complexion, given to all 
 knightly exercifcs : he is faid to have had a broad red 
 fpot upon one of his cheeks, from which by his country- 
 men he was named James with the fiery face, which 
 would make phyfiognomilts conceive, he was of an 
 hot aclive violent difpofition, and one who had more 
 need of reftraint than encouragement in all difficulties i 
 yet in his actions we find him temperate, flayed, and 
 of a well fettled humour, proceeding upon found grounds, 
 and after mature deliberation, being much given to fol- 
 low the advice and counfel of grave men about him. 
 He was upright, lincere, affable, courteous, loving to 
 his domeftics, humane towards his enemies, gracious 
 and benign to all men, a lover of juftice, liberal, but 
 without opprefTion of his loyal fubjccls ; wife, in ad- 
 verfity induftrious and diligent, politic in affairs of Hate; 
 having always raifed up one faction to relieve him from 
 the hazard and burden of another, and expofe the fa- 
 ction he moft feared to the neareft hazard : he was 
 wifely diffident, and put on a judicial diftruft, often to 
 be governed as occafions fhould vary, and could diffi- 
 mulate according to the fafhions and changes of the 
 time: he feemeth to have been indifferent in keeping 
 his favourites, and that he could ever as well transfer 
 his fancy, as he had fettled his affection ; for, like the 
 fun, he would make a round, and not always mine up- 
 on one horizon. 
 
 The death of the two earls of Douglas were fatal to 
 him; and though he was innocent of the firft, the Se- 
 cond, chanced defervedly in his hand. Couragious prin- 
 ces are not to be provoked by any fubjecT: how great fb- 
 ever : confederations and leagues are fearful attempts 
 againft fovereignty, and for the moft part, end with the 
 ruin of their authors. The extirpation of the earl? of 
 Douglas in the peribn of James, a church-man, pio- 
 ceeded rather from his own ftubbornnefs, than any hat- 
 red the king had againft him. In all nations it is ob- 
 lerved, that there are fome families fatal to the ruin of 
 their common wealths, and fome perfons fatal to the 
 ruin of the houfes and race of which they are defcend- 
 ed : fince in kingdoms fome have no companion of 
 their prince, nor the lofsof his honour, a prince ihoflld 
 
 not 
 
©f J AM ES II. iot 
 
 not much regret their lofs, nor the ruin of their per- 
 fons and eftates. His great clemency appeared in this, 
 that, the heads taken away of that long rebellion, he 
 followed no particular revenge upon their followers, 
 not only granting pardons, but forgetting the offences ; 
 knowing it was better to heal and cure the faulty and 
 fick members of a ftate, than to abolifh and cut them 
 away; and more valour for a prince to overcome his 
 own paflions and jufl: wrath, than to vanquish and fub- 
 due his proudeft enemies ; yet was not his clemency a 
 foft weaknefs, it being no lefs cruelty to forgive all than 
 to fpare none, but an order and difcretion in juftice, 
 tempered with fe verity towards fbme more than towards 
 others, according to their demerits. He was very fen- 
 iible of the affliiftions of fuch as were diftreffed, as wit- 
 nefs the counteifes of Douglas and Rofs. His life hav- 
 ing fet in the orient of his age and hopes, he deferveth, 
 in the records of memory and fame, a place amongft 
 the beft, but unfortunate, princes. 
 
 He had iffue of his queen, James, who fucceeded, 
 Alex and er duke of Albany, John earl of Mar, 
 Margaret countefs of Arran by the Boyd, and af- 
 ter lady Hamilton; and Cecil v. He was bu- 
 ried with all funeral pomp, within the monaftry of 
 Holy-rood-houfe at Edinburgh. 
 
 O 2 THI 
 
C *<>3 ] 
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 F T H E 
 
 Reign of J A M E S IIL 
 
 TH E queen having tidings of the difafler of her 
 husband, full of grief and cares, with her fon, 
 came to the army at Roxburgh ; and the public lofs be- 
 ing revealed, for till then it was but whifpered, with 
 more than a mafculine courage caufed give new and 
 defpevate afTaults to the ca(He ; many turrets being ftiak- 
 en, fome gates broken, parcels of walls beaten down, 
 the mines ready in diverfe quarters to fpring, the be- 
 fieged ignorant of the aflailers misfortune, and by the 
 diflenfion of their countrymen fallen from all hopes of 
 relief, treat upon a furrender.. Conditions being ob- 
 tained peaceably to depart with their lives and goods, 
 the fortrefs is given up : and Ihortly after, that it 
 ihouldnotbea refidence of oppreiTion in following times, 
 is demolifhed and equalled with the ground. 
 
 Many of the three eftates being here alTembled, the 
 times not fuiting with other folemnities, at Kelfo the 
 peers of the kingdom, in a military pomp, fet the 
 crown upon the head of the king, then fome (even 
 years old, and give him their oath of fidelity. At their 
 coming to Edinburgh the education and governance of 
 him, and the other children, is committed to the queen 
 their mother ; the credence of what could make for 
 G 3 peace 
 
104 The History of the Reig# 
 
 peace at home, or war abrdad, is trufted to Andrew 
 Stuart lord Evendale, the lord K E N N E D Y, eari 
 of Orkney, the lord Boyd chancellor, the lord Graha m, 
 the bifhops of St. Andrews, Glalgow, and Dunkeld, 
 The civil wars increaling in England, the governors oi 
 Scotland, under colour of preferving the bordering 
 countries, fent forth fome companies, which upon uc- 
 cafions made roads into Northumberland, and threw 
 down all the fortrelTes out of which incurfions were 
 wont to be made upon the Scotifh bounds, molt, cfpe- 
 cially the caftle of Wark : after which ravaging, the 
 winter recalled them home. 
 
 The milder parts of the kingdom reduced to order, 
 fome turbulent chiefs of the mountaineers taking the 
 occafion of the non-age of the king, and of rumours of 
 diiTenflons amongft the governors, eflay to trouble the 
 peace of their far and wild countries: Allan Mac- 
 do u g A L of Nether-Lorn throweth his eldeft brother 
 in clofs prifon, with intention to rob him of his life 
 and eftate ; but he after is furprized by the carl of Ar- 
 gyle: Donald of the ifles taketh the caftle of Inver- 
 nefs, and placing there a garriibn, proclaimeth himfclf 
 king of the ifles, compelling the neighbour towns and 
 iimpler fort of people to pay him taxes. At the ru- 
 mour of this infolence, all wicked out-laws refbrt unto 
 him; by whole power he invadeth the caftle of Blair in 
 Athole, out of which the earl, the king's uncle, with 
 his lady, once countefs of Douglas, fly and take fan- 
 ctuary in the church of St. Bride, where the church a- 
 bout them being let on fire, they were irreligioully tak- 
 en, and tranfported to the iiland of Iia. Whiift the go- 
 vernors were raifing an army, and advancing fuch for- 
 ces as were in readinefs againft the achors of thefe mif- 
 chiefs, they were afcertained, that, as thefe favages 
 were lanching forth of that ifland in their wherries and 
 fmall velTels, made of boards and wickers, by a violent 
 tempeft from heaven, the mod part of them were dafir- 
 ed againft the rocks and drowned ; and that thofe who 
 had efcaped, were ftruck with a panic fear, and de- 
 prived of their right judgment and underftanding: an 
 ordinary accident to men blinded with fuperftition, and 
 guilty of murder and facrilege : amidft which diftravJti- 
 
 ons, 
 
of JAMES III. io* 
 
 ons, the earl ofAtKle, with his lady, was fafely return- 
 ed to his own caftle. 
 
 Margaret queen ot England, after the fecond 
 overthrow, and taking of her husband at Northampton, 
 with the prince her Ion, and the new duke of Somerfet, 
 having fled to the bilhopric of Durham (whilft Rich- 
 ard duke of York was eltablifhing his title and right to 
 the crown at London) raifed in the north, of Scots and 
 Englifh, a ftrong army, which marched towards York. 
 The duke of York leaving the king in the cultody of the 
 duke of Norfolk and the earl of Warwick, though he 
 knew himfelf inferior in power and number to his ene- 
 mies, by the pride of his former victories and the over- 
 weening of his fbldiers valour, with Edmond earl of 
 Rutland his younger Ion, the earl of Salisbury and o- 
 thers, rencountreth her at Wakcfield-green, and here 
 bv his own valhnel's, with his lbn young Rutland, he is 
 killed. 
 
 The earl of Salisbury is taken, and with other prifbn- 
 ers beheaded at Promfret caftle-, their heads were fixed 
 upon poles about the walls of the city ol York ; thatofthe 
 d uke's was mocked with a paper crown, and expofed to the 
 barbarous mirth of the beholders. The queen encou- 
 raged by this victory, defiring to difannul all ads made 
 lately in prejudice of her husband, marcheth coura- 
 giou'ly towards London : In which time Edward 
 earl of March, ion to the late duke of York, overthrew 
 the earls of Pembroke and Ormond, both of the queen's 
 faction : at Mortimer-crofs in her way to London, the 
 queen meeting the earl of Warwick and the duke of 
 Norfolk at St. Albans, who carried king Henry her 
 husband along with them, overthrew them, and re- 
 covered the perfbn of her king. It is obferved that 
 viclory always fled from where this king was prefent. 
 The citizens of London, at the approach of the queen's 
 army fearing hoftility, fhut their gates againff. her, and 
 armed for refiftance. At this time Edward earl of 
 March having joined his victorious army with the re- 
 mainder of the earl of Warwick's, entered in triumph 
 the city of London, and with great applaufe and accla- 
 mations of the people, was proclaimed king. Queen 
 Margaret and her faction retiring to the North, wan 
 G4 io 
 
iof5 The History of the Reign 
 
 Co the hearts of that people, that they gathered an ar- 
 my able to fland for her defence, confuting of three- 
 score thoufand fighting men. Edward earl of March, 
 chufing rather to provoke than expeft his enemies, ad- 
 vanced towards them ; the place of their meeting was 
 between Caxton and Tewton. In this fight the earls 
 of Northumberland and Weftmorland, the lords Beau- 
 mont and Dacres, Grey and Wells, were flain, 
 and above thirty fix thoufand Englifh ltruck down : the 
 dukes of Someifet and Exeter fly to York to carry the 
 news to the unfortunate king, leaving the victory to 
 Edward, who is again faluted king. 
 
 King Henry after this overthrow, perceiving how 
 defperate his hopes were in his own country, with his 
 queen, his ion, and the remainder of his difperfed friends, 
 fecured himfelf by flight into Scotland. James Ken- 
 nedy bifhopofSt. Andrews, to whole perfon the au- 
 thority ofthe flate was then reduced, received him with 
 magnificence and honour, and put him in hopes, by the 
 afliltance of Scotland, to reflore his fortune. King 
 Henry, as well to referve fbme refuge and lanctuary 
 for himfelf, as to win the hearts, and infinuate himfelf 
 into the favour of the people of Scotland, caufed ren- 
 der the town of Berwick to them, which the Englifh had 
 violently poiTeiTed fince the days of Edward I. for 
 which favour the Scotifh nobility vowed at all times to 
 come to his fupply, and defend him to their uttermoft : 
 and that the friendlhip begun might continue without 
 all vacillation, the queens of Scotland and England, 
 both defcended ofthe French race, began to treat of in 
 alliance, promifing Edward prince of Wales Ihoald 
 be married with the lady Margaret, the king of 
 Scotland's filler, none of them then having attained the 
 years of marriage. 
 
 The miferies of King Henry increafing, fuffered 
 not thefe two queens to flay long together ; Marg a- 
 re t with her fon Edward, to implore the aid of her 
 friends, maketh a voyage towards France to her father 
 Ken y king of Sicily, Naples, and Jerufalem, duke of 
 .Anjou, a prince large of titles, fhort of power. Thefe 
 who had followed king Henry into Scotland, whillr. 
 Jic is left only intcntive to devotion inthecloiller ofthe 
 
 Gray 
 
 : 
 
of JAMES III. 107 
 
 Gray-friars at Edinburgh, return back, again to folicit 
 their friends in England for a fecond encounter. Up- 
 on the arrival of queen Margaret in France, fhe 
 obtaineth of her coufin Louis XI. that thofe, who fa- 
 voured and a/Tided the duke of York, were prohibited 
 traffic, .and commanded to remove out of the French 
 dominions, and that five hundred foldiers mould come 
 to her aid ; a number fofmall, and fo unworthy filename 
 of an army, that it was but a competent retinue for fo 
 great a piincefs. With thefe fhe came to the coaft of 
 Scotland, and from thence failed to Tinmouth, where be- 
 ing repulfed by the inhabitants, and forced again to put 
 to fea, ilie was by a furious tern pelt driven to Berwick. 
 
 Here leaving the prince her ion Edward, with the 
 increafe and fupply of fome Scots, taking the king her 
 husband with her, (he advanced into the bifhopric of 
 Durham. In her march through Northumberland, her 
 army increafed to a great number; the duke of Somer- 
 fet, Sir Ralph Percy, and divers of king Henry's 
 well-wifhers having reforted unto her. King Ed w ard, 
 finding king Henry by the frelh air of the north to 
 have acquired new fpirits, prepareth tooppofe him, and 
 having lent down the lord Montague, brother to 
 the earl of Warwick, he himfelf with greater forces 
 fhortly followed. Montague, having through the 
 fhires where he went, and the bifhopric of Durham, ga- 
 thered a convenient army, marched directly again!! king 
 Henry. In the mean time. Henry Beaufort 
 duke of Somerfet, the lords Hungerford, Ross, 
 Mou lines, Sir R a lph Percy, prefent themfelves 
 to hinder his further progrefs ; they are overthrown, 
 and king Henry with great difficulty efcapeth to Ber- 
 wick. At the news of this overthrow, kingEDWARD, 
 being in his march towards Durham, finding the pre- 
 fenceofhisperfbn, or army needlefs, turned towards York, 
 and gave the earl of Warwick command to take in all 
 the caftles and fortrefTes which as yet held good for king 
 Henry in the north. 
 
 Amongft the garrifons, placed in Northumberland 
 by the queen, there was a garrifon of the French in the 
 caftle of Anwick, under the command of Peter 
 Bruce, otherwife named le Seigneur de la Varoune fe- 
 
 nefthal 
 
108 The History of the Reign 
 
 nefchal of Normandy, which held Jong good againft the 
 Englifh. This P e ter Bruce was in great account 
 with Char le s VII. father to Louis XI. and for 
 this was not much liked of Louis, but fent over with 
 queen Margaret to make wrack upon apparent 
 dangers. Having efcaped tempetts at fca, he took the 
 catties of Bambrough and Dunftanbrough, which he 
 demolifhed. After he effayed to keep the cattle of An- 
 wick ; but the earl of Warwick, king Edward lying 
 near to Durham, there beleagured him. Whether this 
 man came from the race of the Bruces of Scotland, 
 or no, is uncertain; for the vulgar writers in this de- 
 tract him, naming him Bryce and a Breton ; or that 
 the Scots would give a proof of their friendfhip to the 
 queen of England, and of their valour to the French ; 
 whillt he is every-where befet, and near paft hope of re- 
 lief, the eail of Angus, then warden of the marches, 
 failed a power of twenty three thoufar.d men, and ap- 
 proached the borders, out of which number he made 
 choice of live thoufand horfemen, remarkable for their 
 valour. Thefe, about the midtt of the day, coming 
 near the cattle of Anwick, and by their colours and 
 arms being known afar to captain Bruce, he taketh 
 a refolution to fally out and meet them ; the ftrongeft 
 of the Scottifh horfemen receiving them, convoy them 
 fafely to their borders ; fome of the beliegers would have 
 fought in the purfuit, but the Englilh general gave 
 them fair paflage. 
 
 King Edward having taken all the catties and 
 forts which in the north held out againtt him, placing 
 garrifons in them, returned to London : as king He n- 
 r y, void both of counlel and courage, came back to 
 Edinburgh. Here he had not long ftayed, when tired 
 with the tedioufnefs of his exile, the prolonging of a 
 wretched life being more grievous to him than death it- 
 felf, and allured by falfe hopes of his friends, he rcfolv- 
 eth to hazard upon a return to his own kingdom ; his 
 crown loft, all his favourers and well-wifhers almoil 
 llaughtcred, he cometh into England ; then difguiied, 
 and by night-journeys lhifting from place to place, 
 at laft betrayed by fome of his fervants, he is found 
 out. It is recorded that a Con of Sir Edward Tal- 
 bot 
 
of JAMES III. 109 
 
 Bot apprehended him as he fat at dinner at Wad- 
 ding-town- hall ; and like a common malefactor, with 
 his legs under the horfe's beliy, guarded him up to- 
 wards London. By the way the earl of Warwick, 
 met him, who led him prifoner to the tower. Mar- 
 garet his defolate queen with her fon is driven once 
 again to rly to their father Reny into France. 
 
 King Edward, his competitors being all dead or 
 fupprelTed, finding a cefTation of arms expedient, tm J a 
 breathing time from war ; to fettle and make fure his new 
 government, as to other his neighbour princes for peace, 
 To fendeth ambaffadors to Scotland, to treat for a truce 
 for fome years. 
 
 The earl of Argyle, bifhop of Glalgow, abbot of Ho- 
 ly-rood-houfe, Sir Alexander Boyd, and Sir 
 William Cranston, being chofen to this ef- 
 fect commiffioners, come to York; and the Englifh com- 
 millioners there attending them, a truce for fifteen years 
 is agreed upon, and folemnJy by both kings after eon- 
 firmed. 
 
 Mary queen of Scotland, daughter to Arnold 
 duke of Guelders, and mother to king James, the 
 projected marriage of her daughter with Edward 
 prince of Wales, by the miferies of king Henry and 
 queen Margaret her kinfwoman proving defpe- 
 rate; her lbn Alexander, either as he went to 
 the Low-countries to fee his grandfather, or returned 
 from him, being by the Englifh taken upon the leas , 
 limited in credence of governing her children by the in- 
 folence of a proud nobility, and her reputation brand- 
 ed, after a long languifhing with inward dilcontent- 
 ments, turned, as it were, reclufe, and began to bid fare, 
 vel to this world. Her melancholy growing incurable, 
 amidft her laft trances, when her fon had come to vifit 
 her, (he is faid to have fpoken to him almoir. to this 
 fenfe. 
 
 " That providence which brought me upon the earth, 
 H and fet a crown on my head, doth now recal and re- 
 ' : move me to a better kingdom; and my happinefs is 
 <c hot in this little, that I leave this life without 
 
 •:har.ge of that eftate in which I peaceably lived. 
 ■■ Death now iheweth me as in a mirrour the frailty of 
 
 "all 
 
no The History of the Reign 
 
 " all worldly pomp and glory, which before' by the 
 
 " marble colours of falie greatnefs was overfhadowed 
 
 " and covered from me. My griefs have been many, 
 
 " few my contentments : the molt eminent of which was 
 
 *' the hopes I conceived of you and my other children : 
 
 " and now my greateft regret is, that I leave you be- 
 
 " fore I could fee my wilhes accomplifhed towards you. 
 
 *' My only care was to have you brought up in all vir- 
 
 " tue and goodnefs : but heaven (hall bellow that 
 
 " charge to more prudent governors : however take 
 
 " thefe motherly directions from me, who can leave 
 
 " you no better legacy. Be earned to obferve thefe 
 
 u commandments which are prefcribed unto you by re- 
 
 " ligion, for this fupporteth the fcepters of princes : 
 
 " and a religious king cannot but have obedient fub- 
 
 " jec~rs. What an unreafonable thing is it, that a king 
 
 " will have a people to acknowlege him for their fovereign 
 
 *' prince upon earth, and will not acknowlege God for his 
 
 '* fupreme Lord in heaven ? aking who rebelleth againlt 
 
 " God, all fubordinate creatures will rebel againfl. him, 
 
 " Love my children, and laying afide the port and 
 
 ' ftatelinefs of a king, receive them with the affeclion 
 
 *' of a brother. Endeavour to make your fubjecls o- 
 
 " bey you more out of love than fear : or make your- 
 
 *' felf beloved and feared both together, feeing love a- 
 
 " lone of itfelf is often the caufe of contempt, and fear 
 
 *' aione begets hatred. Remember ye govern not the 
 
 u foft effeminate people of the South, but a fierce war- 
 
 " like nation of the North, which oftner ufe to be in- 
 
 " treated than commanded by their princes. Be fpar- 
 
 " ing to lay fubfidies on them, which maketh many 
 
 ** malecontents -, and live upon your own, fuffering 
 
 " others to enjoy what is theirs. Beware of flatterers, 
 
 " and exalting undeferving perfons above your anci- 
 
 " ent nobility. Suffer not your prerogative to come in 
 
 " queltion ; but forefeeing the danger, rather give way 
 
 *' to all that with reafon is demanded of you. Mode- 
 
 *' rate your paflions ; he fliall never govern a kingdom, 
 
 " who cannot govern himfclf, and bring his affections 
 
 *' within the circle of reafon. It fears me, envy and 
 
 " malice arm themfelves againfl; you, which to ovcr- 
 
 ** come, endeavour to be martial in yourfelf; for a 
 
 " princ*; 
 
of JAMES III. in 
 
 " prince that is not martial in himfelf, fhall never be 
 H freed of rebellion amongft his fubjects : a ftrong arm 
 " fhould hold the bal lance of jultice. When diffenfion 
 " arifeth, be not a loiterer and fluggard, but with all 
 " celerity fupprefs it in the infancy. Rebellion is like 
 " fire in a city, which fhould be quenched, though 
 " with the pulling down of the neighbouring houfes. 
 4( Others will inftruct you in the art of governing, with 
 " greater curiofity and wifdom, but not with the like 
 " love and affection. I wifh this counfel be ingraven 
 " in your heart and confcience after my death, for z 
 " perpetual teftimony of my finceriiy in your educati- 
 " on. And if, by the unjuft counfels of others, ye 
 " be brought to pratfife ought contrary to thefe in- 
 " ftrudlions, remember ye cannot fhun inevitable dan- 
 *' gers both to your ftate and perfon. But now I am 
 " warned from above to deliver this grief-full body to 
 " the reft of a defired grave." 
 
 After fhe had thus counfellcd and blefTed her fon, 
 not leaving many days, fhe was buried with all folem- 
 nities and funeral rites at Edinburgh in the college of 
 the Trinity, which fhe herfelf had founded in the 
 year 1466. 
 
 The king as he encreafed in years, increadng in 
 ftrength and ability for exercifes either of recreation or 
 valour, by the regents is given to a brother of the lord 
 Boyd to be bred in knightly prowefs, a man lingular 
 for his education abroad and demeanor at home. The 
 Kennedies were now aged, and become tired to 
 give fuch ailiduous attendance at court as they were 
 WGnt, and the times required. The lord B o Y D by 
 the weaknefs of his co-partners governed the ftate 
 alone, as Sir Alexander his brother did the 
 young king ; to whole natural inclination he did fo com- 
 ply and conform himfelf, that he had the whole trulr. 
 of his affairs, and the king had no thoughts but his. So 
 foon as the king began to know himfelf, he turned im- 
 patient of being fubject to the laws of minority, that he 
 himfelf fhould be retrained by that authority which did 
 derive itfelf from him ; to lothe the fuperintendency 
 and government of others, and to affect an unfeafon- 
 able privilege to be at his own difpofal and the govern- 
 ing 
 
5 12 The History of the Reich 
 
 ing himfelf. Many things are done without the advice 
 of the governors, and occafion is fought to be disbur- 
 dened of their authority. The lord Boyd and his 
 brother in a little time increafing in greatnefs, and 
 having an intention to transfer the power of the ftate 
 and glory of the court to their family, fail not to find 
 opportunity to free the king from the feverity and ri- 
 gour of the governor's fchooling, and to frame him an 
 efcape. Whilft the king remained at Linlithgow, the 
 lord H a i L e s, lord S o m e r v i l l e, Sir Andrew 
 C a r of Cesford, and Sir Alexander Boyd, 
 agree upon a match of hunting, and will have the king 
 umpire of the game. Early the morning following, the 
 gentlemen who were upon the plot failed not in their 
 attendance. The king being a mile off the town, and 
 holding the way towards Edinburgh, the lord Ken- 
 nedy, whofe quarter then was to attend, and who 
 had leifurely followed, fufpeifling this hunting to be a 
 game of ftate, the king continuing his progrefs, laying 
 his hands upon the reins of his bridle, requeued him 
 to turn again to Linlithgow ; for that he perceived the 
 time was not convenient for him to go further, nei- 
 ther was he at a Convenient match in abfence of his 
 heft deferving followers. Sir Alexander Boyd 
 impatient that the king fhould have been thus flayed, 
 after injurious words, ftruck the reverend governor with 
 a hunting-ftaff upon the head, and took the king along 
 with him to Edinburgh. At a frequent meeting of the 
 flares, the Kennedies urged to have the king con- 
 tinue under minority, the B o y d s to take the govern- 
 ment in his own perfon. After long conteftations, wif- 
 dom being overcome by boldnefs, the authority of the 
 better party was forced to give place, and yield to the 
 will of the greater. Thus the faction of the Boyqs 
 prevailed. 
 
 After this the Kennedies full of indignation, 
 and breathing revenge, leave the court ; cares, grief 
 and age, abour this time, brought J a m E s K ev kid v, 
 bifhop of St. Andrews to his tomb, which in great ma- 
 gnificence he had raifed in a church built by himfelf in 
 the city of St. Andrews ; where alfo he founded a 
 college of philofophy, end endued it with many pi i- 
 
 vi leges, 
 
of J A ME S III. 113 
 
 vileges, an J fufficient rents to entertain profeffors. By 
 the death of this prelate, venerable for his wifdom, An- 
 gular for his juftice, and the tranquillity following his go- 
 vernment, and magnificent in all his actions, the glo- 
 ry of the court and country fuftered a great eclipfe. 
 
 For he being taken away, the Boyds, laying foun- 
 dation for their power and greatnefs, began to turn all 
 to their own advantage. The firft mark of their envy 
 was Patrick Graham, brother of bifhop James 
 Kennedy by the mother, who was filter to king 
 James I. After this man had been chofen bilhop of 
 St. Andrews, as the cuftom then was, by the chapter ap- 
 pointed for that election, he was barred from his place, 
 and violently repulfed by the faction at court. Tore- 
 pair which indignity, he made a journey to Rome; 
 where being a man noble by birth above others for his 
 learning and many virtues, in a little time, by pope 
 Sixtus the IV. he was re-eftabliihed and confirmed 
 in his place. 
 
 During his abode at Rome, the old queftion, con- 
 cerning the liberty of the church of Scotland, began to 
 be exagitated. 
 
 The archbifhop of York contended, that he was me- 
 tropolitan of Scotland, and that the twelve biihops of that 
 kingdom were fubject to his jurifdi&ion. Patrick 
 Graeam remonftrated, how the archbilhop of York, 
 considering the ufual wars between the two kingdoms, 
 was often inaccefTibie to the church-men of Scotland, e- 
 fpecially in caufes of appellation. The pope, after 
 the hearing of both parties, erected the fee of St. An- 
 drews to the dignity of an archbifhop's fee ; and P a- 
 trick Graham, not only was made primate and 
 metropolitan of Scotland, and ordained to have the o- 
 ther biinops under him, but for the fpace of three years 
 defigned legate for the pope, with full power to correct 
 and reltare the eccleliaftical difcipline, and examine 
 the manners and converfation of the clergy. Notwith- 
 Handing thefe favours of the bilhop of Rome, and the 
 worth and excellencies of the man himfelf, he dared 
 not return home to his own country before the declin- 
 ing of the fortunes of the Boyds. 
 This family feemednow in the zenith and vertical point 
 
 of 
 
ii4 The History of the Reign 
 
 of its greatnefs. No imputation could be laid to the 
 B o y d s in the time of their government, except that 
 they brought the young king by their private working, 
 ■without the confent and approbation of the other re- 
 gents to Edinburgh, for the aifuming the government 
 in his minority. In approbation of their innocency, 
 and to warrant them from this danger, the king in a 
 parliament declareth publicly, " That the Boyds 
 " were not the authors, nor projectors of that bufinefs, 
 " but only the aififters of him and his followers, being 
 " not formal but inftrumentary caufes of his coming to 
 " the helm of the Hate himfelf : that they were fo far 
 " from being obnoxious to any blame or reproach for 
 " this deed, that they deferved immortal thanks, and 
 " an honourable guerdon in all time to come, hav- 
 " ing obeyed him in that which was moil juft, honefl 
 " and expedient for the weal of the kingdom." Upon 
 this declaration of the king, the lord Boyd required 
 the prefent action might be regiftred amongfl the acls 
 of parliament; and he obtained what was deiired, but 
 not with that fuccels was hoped for. 
 
 In this parliament, the other regents are rid of their 
 charge, the lord Boyd being made only governor of 
 the kingdom, and the object of all mens reipects; hav- 
 ing the whole power and authority to minilter judice of 
 all kinds to the fubjecls during the king's non-age, and 
 till he had fully compleatcd one and twenty years : 
 the defence of the king's pcrfbn, and of his brothers, 
 and the keeping of the two ladies Ins filters, are truftcd 
 unto him : he hath all the towns, caftlcs, fortreffes, 
 fea-ports, and places of importance at his command. 
 Thefe proceedings of the parliament feemed to fome 
 very ftrange, in advancing men already great enough, 
 and beftowing upon them all offices ot (late, and adding 
 power to fuch who wanted only will to do mifchief, 
 except that they knew well how toabafeand pull them 
 down again, making their fall the more Hidden. Ko- 
 fi ert lord Boyd, having the reins ot government in 
 his hands, and the cultody of the king's filters, dazlcd 
 with the golden fun of honour, to lay more fure the 
 foundation of his greatnefs, joincth in marriage T no- 
 ma? his ddeft fon, a youth vf extraordinary endow- 
 ments. 
 
of J A ME S III. i if 
 
 t 
 
 ments, both of mind and body, with Margaret the 
 king's eldeft filter, not long before defigned by her mo- 
 ther to have been given in marriage to Edward prince 
 of Wales ; and he is created earl of Arran. The father, 
 knowing how eafy the converfation of young perfons 
 breedeth a liking, had brought them up together, which 
 turning in a love and delight of others company, con- 
 cluded at laft in marriage. This match, though royal, 
 great and rich, inftead of fupporting the fortunes of the 
 B o Y D s, much weakened them, turning them the objecls 
 of envy. The nobles repined at it, and the common peo- 
 ple (lighter than the wind, and more variable than the 
 rain-bow) made it the fubjecl of their foolifh difcourfes. 
 Now, faid they, the Boyds afpire to the crown; for 
 the king with his brothers being removed, it appertain- 
 eth to them, a kingdom being the dowry often of a wife 
 of the blood royal. The Kennedies, and fuch who 
 difliked the prefent government, take the occafion of the 
 difcontentment of the nobility, and the rumours of the 
 people, to lhake the king's mind towards the governor, 
 and change the brawl of Irate. To this end, they give 
 'way to great and univerfal oppreffions, moft of which 
 were hatched and occafioned by th'emfelves. By thefe 
 in a lhort time, the commons turn licentious and difTb- 
 lute, contemning all government, every man doing 
 what feemed belt in his own eyes, and the gentry di- 
 vide in factions. Such who wont to live upon rapine 
 and theft, return to their wonted trades : honelt men 
 are fpoiled of their goods ; the feditious and wicked are 
 ' maintained and defended againft all laws and juftice by 
 their parties. The ftate thus troubled, and all order 
 confounded by fly and crafty men, who at firft pretend- 
 ed great friendfhip and intereft towards the B o Y ds, the 
 king's affection towards them is affailed, and his refolu- 
 tions tried. Many times having been plaufibly Jiften- 
 ed unto, at laft pulling otFtheir mafks, they Jay impu- 
 tations againft them. They remonftrate to him, " What 
 " great difparagement was between the kings of Scot- 
 " land's eldeft lifter and the fon of the lord Bo YD; that 
 " by this match he was robbed of one of the faireft jew- 
 " els of his crown; the B o yds lhould not have appro- 
 " priated that to themfelves, of which they had only 
 H " the 
 
1 1 <5 The History of the Reign 
 
 " the keeping ; fhe fhould have been referved for fome 
 " neighbour prince, by which alliance the ftate of the 
 " kingdom, and the perfon of the king might have been 
 *' in greater fafety : for if the king fhould chance to be 
 *' infeited by fome infolent nobility, the name and power 
 " of a neighbour prince were fufficicnt to keep him 
 *' fafe on his throne, which by this match was endanger- 
 " ed. They fuggefted that the Bo yds built their eftima- 
 " tion in the air of popular applaufe, and endeavoured 
 *' to endear themfelves in the opinion of the multitude. 
 " A prince is not a lord of that people that loveth ano- 
 " ther better than him. Should the B o yds be accuf- 
 " ed of peculate and robbing the king and the common. 
 " treafure, the king might make a prey of their unlaw- 
 u ful conqueft, and by their attainders reward the fer- 
 " vices of many of his neccflitous friends, it being ac- 
 ** quired for the moft part by fpoils, and the taxing of 
 " the fubjedts unlawfully. The height to which their 
 " riches was increafed fhould be feared." The faults of 
 all the diforders of the common-wealth are laid up- 
 on the B o Y d s, as the authors of every breaking- 
 out and fedition, that they might the more fecurely 
 poffefs the places near the king. At this time com- 
 plaints from all parts of the kingdom, and by all forts 
 of pcrfons, inceffantly being given unto him, advance 
 the intentions of their enemies: and the king's mind 
 naturally inclined to fears and fuperdition, being long 
 toffed and perplexed, began to turn away from the 
 Bo Y ds, and with their power in fome degrees brought 
 lower and leffened, preambles of ruin : but he would go 
 lcifurely to produce this effecf, and make one change 
 bring forth another. 
 
 The king, increafing in years and youthful perturba- 
 tions, is counfelled for the continuing of his race and 
 fucceffion, and the keeping his perfon without the com- 
 mon diforders of the world, to think upon fome match 
 profitable for his country, and honourable for himfelf. 
 He is courted by many, and courtcth others •, the duke 
 of Burgundy had offered him his daughter, as he had 
 done to other princes his friends and neighbours; but 
 his mind was not to have her married at all during his 
 life-time. 
 
 An- 
 
of JAMES III. 117 
 
 Ax drew Stuart lord Evandale, then chan- 
 cellor of the kingdom, with the bifhops of Glafgow and 
 Orkney, being fent ambailadors toCHRiSTiERN king of 
 Denmark for an accommodation, and taking up fome bufi- 
 nefs concerning the Hies of Orkney and Shetland, 1469 ; 
 the quarrel was taken away by a marriage to be celebrated 
 between the king and lady Margaret, king C h r i- 
 s t 1 e rn's daughter ; a lady thought worthy of his bed, 
 in refpecT: of the excellency of her beauty, her royal de- 
 fcent, and greatnefs of her birth. All matters being a- 
 greed upon, thefe ides engaged for her dowry, there 
 wanted only an honourable retinue and convoy to bring 
 homethelady. To this negociation, by the craft of fome 
 about the king, and vanity of others who gloried to lee 
 their friend promoted to fuch great honour, Thomas 
 earl of Arran, as a man flourilhing in fame and riches, 
 and able to maintain and difcharge all magnificence, is 
 deputed as the fitteft perfon. Thus by the ambition 
 and unattentivenefs of his friends, his worth was made 
 the fcaffold of his ruin, the lamentable condition of men 
 of high defert. In the beginning of the harveft, ac- 
 companied with fome young noblemen and gallants, 
 molt of which were his felecl friends and well-wifhers, 
 he afcendeth his (hips. W hi 1ft, as the king of Scot- 
 land's brother-in-law, he is fome months riotoufly en- 
 tertained at the Danilh court, the rigour of that North- 
 ern climate, by the congealing of the ocean, moored up 
 his (hips, and barred all return till the following fpring. 
 In this abfence of a man fo near unto the king, his fa- 
 ther and uncle, by age, ficknefs, and their private af- 
 fairs, not fo frequently haunting the court as they were 
 accuftomed, the Kennedies, and they of the contrary 
 faclion, having fhaken the king's affection, and broken 
 thefe bands (his pleafures, idlenefs, and vacancy from 
 the public affairs of the ftate) by which the Bo yds 
 thought they had kept him fure, move him, now a little 
 delighting in action, to proceed to the confideration of 
 fuch matters as might be objected againft the government 
 of the Boyds. But that this might not appear to be 
 an acl of faction, but the univerfal confent of the king- 
 dom, a parliament was fummoned to be holden in No- 
 vember at Edinburgh. Here Robert lord Boyt* 
 H 2 with 
 
1 1$ The History of the Reign 
 
 with his brother Sir Al exa nder, are fummoned to 
 anfwer in judgment to fuch points as fhouid be exhibit- 
 ed againlr. them. At the appointed day the lord Boyd 
 appeared, but accompanied with fuch a multitude of 
 the common people, and numbers of his friends, vaf- 
 fals, and followers all in arms, with fuch oftentation 
 and boafting, that the king and courtiers were well 
 pleafed to fuffer them to dilTolve and fcatter of their 
 own free wills. At this infolence and malapertnefs 
 (yet to our own time an ufual cuftom in Scotland) 
 the king conceived fuch indignation, that he raifed a 
 ftrong guard to attend juftice-and his commandments, 
 and laid fecretly forces to affift thefe, if the Bo yds 
 mould oppofe his laws by convocation of the lieges. 
 The lord Boyd after private intelligence of the minds 
 of the court to blow him up, rather amazed than in 
 choler at the change of his mailer's mind, fled into 
 England; his brother Sir Alexander arretted by 
 ficknefs, and relying upon his own integrity more 
 than he ought to have done, confidering the malice of 
 his enemies, was brought before the parliament. His 
 brother and he were challenged, That upon the tenth of 
 July 1446. they laid hands upon the king' s perfon, and a- 
 gainfl hit purpofe brought him off the high-way to the 
 cajlle of Callendar ; and that by their private power and 
 confent, contrary to the eftablijhed order of the jiate, and 
 the other regents advice, they brought the king to Edin- 
 burgh. When Sir Alexander fought to produce 
 an a<ft of parliament for abolition or approbation of this 
 deed as good fervice, it was kept up, and he being con- 
 demned, had his head cut off. Their other acculati- 
 ons contained the topical faults of favourites, That 
 they had enriched themfelves out of the king's treafure, 
 vior.opolized things belonging to the crown, diminiffed the 
 revenues thereof, and removed worthy men from the coun- 
 cil, placing fuch in their room as had dependency upon them. 
 Thomas earl of Arran employed in a public charge 
 by the kingdom, ablent, and unheard, is declared re- 
 bel with his father, and his moveables efcheated to the 
 king. To his original faults was added, that he dared 
 marry the king's filter without confent of the ftates, 
 the king being of non-age. At the noifeof this thun- 
 der-clap, 
 
of JAMES III. ir 9 
 
 der-clap, Robert lord Boyd left this world at An- 
 wick. No fooner had the fpring rendered the Baltic 
 feas navigable, when the Danifh lady with her fleet an- 
 chored in the Forth : the earl of Arran who was the 
 paranymph and her convoy, in that general gladnefs, 
 by the perfuafions offomeof his friends, was preparing 
 to come alhore, and to fubmit himfelf to the king's 
 clemency. But his lady, who had afar difcerned his 
 danger, coming aboard difguifed, and giving him parti- 
 cular information of the calamity of his houfe, the 
 weaknefs of his friends at court, and the many fhares, 
 envy and malice had laid to furprize him, he hoifted 
 fails, and with her, who would be partaker of all his 
 misfortunes, returned to Denmark ; from Denmark 
 by Germany he came to king Louis in France, who 
 interpofed his requefts to king James for his regrefs 
 and reftoring. But the letters in his favours producing 
 no effects, Charles duke of Burgundy making war 
 againlt his rebel fubjects, he was gracioully received by 
 him, and entertained as his ally : his lady remained at 
 Antwerp, where ihe bore him two children, J a m e s 
 and Gracile. 
 
 Lady Margaret the ioth of July 1469, or af- 
 ter others 1470, maketh her entry into Edinburgh, and 
 fcarce having attained the fixteenth year of her age, is mar- 
 ried to king James in the abby church ofHoly-rood- 
 houfe ; and in the month of November following, by 
 a convention of the three eftates, was crowned queen. 
 
 The king inexorable in the behalf of the earl of Ar- 
 ran, and breathing his total ruin, fendeth letters to Ant- 
 werp, filled with promifes and threatenings, to move 
 his filter to return to Scotland. Thefe at iirft prevailed 
 nothing with this lady to make her forfake the husband 
 of her youth; many letters, and from feveral friends 
 and well-winters, in feveral falhions and (tiles, coming 
 to her, at lad fhe was brought to believe her prefence 
 would mollify the mind of her enemies, and work her 
 husband a re-eitablifhment of his former favours with 
 the king her brother, and reftore him to all his polTeffi- 
 ons and dignities. Upon which hopes me comes to Scot- 
 land. But thefe hopes proves all falfe; for initead of 
 having accefs to her brother, fhe is kept at Kilmarnock, 
 H 3 the 
 
120 The History of the Reign 
 
 the chief houfe of the B o Y d s, as in a free prifon ; and 
 her husband is fummoned within thrcefcore days to ad- 
 here to his wife under pain of divorce. The unfortu- 
 nate earl, for fear of his head, not appearing, his mar- 
 riage is declared null ; his wife is divorced from him, 
 and is conftrained by, her brother to marry J a me s lord 
 Hamilton, to whom alio the earldom of Arran was 
 given for a dowry. Not long after, her two children 
 to earl Thomas, James and Gracile, are brought 
 to Scotland, who in procefs of time proved little more 
 fortunate than their father; for James was (lain, by 
 Hugh Montgomery of Eglinton, and Gracile, 
 though firlt married to the earl of CafHls, and after to> 
 the lord Forbes, was barren. Some have recorded, that 
 the earl Thomas, after this violent bereaving him of 
 his wife, died of difpleafure at Antwerp, and had a tomb 
 raifed over him, with an honourable infeription, by 
 Charles duke of Burgundy : others, who hate the 
 Bo yds, tell, he died not at Antwerp but at Florence, 
 and that he was killed by a merchant out of jealoufy 
 of having abufed his wife. 
 
 Queen Margaret, the third year after her mar- 
 riage, in the month of March, brought forth a fon, who 
 was named James; and Christiern king of Den- 
 mark, to congratulate the happy delivery of his daugh- 
 ter, and of expectation of a continued fucceflion to the 
 crown of Scotland of his race, releafed all the right, 
 title, and claim, which he or his fuccelfors might have 
 to the iiles of Orkney and Shetland. The king cal- 
 kth afterwards a parliament at Edinburgh, wherein 
 though the reformation ofabufes, as wearing of lilk and 
 other foreign trifles, the building of fhips, and enacting 
 laws for the prefent time were pretended, a liberal fub- 
 fidy was the greateft aim. His exchequer being empty, 
 and many of his belt friends turning neceflitous and 
 needy, John lord of the illcs was attainted for his own 
 and his father's mifdemeanor ; the king raifeth forces 
 to pnrfue him-, the earl of Crawfurd being made admi- 
 ral, the carl of Alhole the king's uncle lieutenant of the 
 regiments by land. Such means in Ihort time was ufed 
 by the earl of Athole, that the lord of the illcs fubmit- 
 ted himfelf to the king's clemency, and in a conventi- 
 on 
 
of JAMES III. 121 
 
 on of the eftates at Edinburgh, he refigned aJJ the right 
 he had to the earldom of Rofs, and the lands of Knap- 
 dale and Kintyre, which the king annexed to the 
 crown. 
 
 Patrick Graham arch-bifhop of St. Andrews, 
 having at Rome underftood the fall of the Bo yds, re- 
 turned! to his own country • where flrft among his 
 friends, and the molt peaceable fort of the clergy, he 
 divulgeth the pope's bull for his fupremacy over the o- 
 ther churchmen of the kingdom, and his power of their 
 trial arid promoting to benefices ; and after caufed pro- 
 claim it at all public places. The laudable elections 
 anciently ufed about the places and offices of church- 
 men, by the corruption of the times, being taken a- 
 way, and that power altogether alTumed by the king ; 
 the courtiers, who were accuftomed to fell benefices, 
 and the churchmen who were wont to buy them, re- 
 ject the bull, and fet themfelves againft him ; by their 
 traffick he is difcharged to take the place or ornaments- 
 of an arch-bifhop, or carry any other crofs or cap than 
 what the former bilhops ufed to have. But here they 
 fet not up their reft ; William Schevez, a man in 
 thofe times admired for his fkill in aftrology, and pro- 
 moted to be arch-dean of St. Andrews, feconded by 
 John Lock the rector ofthatuniverfity, a better gram- 
 marian than chriftian, excommunicates this arch-bifhop 
 for his prefumption, and that he fought to bear rule o- 
 ver his brethren bilhops. "When this cenfure had paf- 
 fed upon him, he is degraded and fhut up in prifon. 
 William S h e v e z is after promoted to his place, 
 and confecrated upon the paffion Sunday in Lent at 
 Holy-rood-houfe, the king being prefent : he likewife 
 received the title and faculty of legate, and is confirm- 
 ed primate of the realm •, notwithftanding the impedi- 
 ments objected to Patrick Graham by the church- 
 men concerning that fame dignity and pre-eminence : 
 So various and deceitful are the ways of men! 
 
 The king being flow to action, and more inclined ta 
 afolitary form of life, than to travel and bufinefs; his 
 brothers being princes of unquiet and reftlefs fpirits, ta 
 whom public employments were recreations ; and withal 
 being ambitious* prodigal, defirousof rule, and to be go- 
 H 4 verixois 
 
122 The History of the Reign 
 
 vernors of the people themfelves, and kings in facf, 
 however their elder brother was in title ; they fet them- 
 felves altogether to ftudy novations, and bring the 
 king in contempt with his fubjecls, and divert their 
 minds and love towards him. To this effect, they 
 had drawn, by their towardnefs and familiarity, many 
 of the young nobles and gentlemen to follow them. 
 The king was obnoxious to fome public fcandals ; for 
 by his too great frugality, care to increafe his treafure, 
 and ftudy of purchafing, by taxations, fale of church 
 benefices, and too exact taking up of fines, and fuper- 
 valuation of wards; he had gotten the name of cove- 
 tous, and was in no fmall diftafte among the com- 
 mons. Edward king of England, that the Scots by 
 the inltigation of the French, mould not trouble his 
 new and fcarce fettled government, imploying all his 
 counfels and diligence to divide them amongft them- 
 felves, wrought not a little on the unquiet fpirits of 
 thefe young men. The duke of Albany, having been 
 taken upon the feas by the Englifh, was honourably en- 
 tertained by him, and with great hopes fent home; af- 
 ter which time king Edward and he kept always pri- 
 vate intelligence together. The duke being promoted 
 to the keeping of the caftle of Dunbar and town of Ber- 
 wick ; the king of England, to infinuate himfelf into 
 his affedhon, was wont to whifper unto fuch who loved 
 him, that if his brother kept not fair with England, he 
 would one day fet him in his place upon his royal 
 throne. 
 
 At this time the king was ferved by men, whom his 
 opinion of their worth and love towards him had advan- 
 ced to places, and whofe fortunes and eflates wholly 
 depended upon his fafcty, and who were lefs apt to do 
 him harm. His council was like wife of men approved 
 for their affection to him ; and thus fecluding great 
 men from his familiarity and affairs, he gave them 
 caule of offence. His brother?, long masking their am- 
 bition under difcontentment, ftir the malecontents to 
 complain againft the government, which ordinarily fal- 
 leth forth, not becaufe a people is not well governed, 
 but becaufe great ones would govern themfelves. Thefe 
 Upbraided the king with inglorious Jloth, and endea- 
 vour 
 
of JAMES III. 123 
 
 vour by his difhonour to incrcafe the credit of his bro- 
 thers. Thefe ipared not to fpeak evil of him every 
 where, and what they pleafed of his minifters and fa- 
 vorites : they faid, " He neither ufed rule nor mode- 
 " ration in his proceedings; that his council was bafe, 
 " and of men of no great account, whoconfulted only 
 * to humour him •, that a mafon fwayed a kingdom" 
 (this was Robert Cochran, a man couragious 
 and bold, firfl: known to the king by his valour in a 
 iingle combat, and after, from an architect or furveyor 
 of his buildings, preferred to be of his council ;) " a filly 
 " wretch fwayed the foul of a great king, and curbed 
 ** it, as it were, interdicted or charmed to his pleafure. 
 " His contributions were the rewards of parafites, to 
 " whom fortune, not merit, gave growth and augmen- 
 " tation ; that honours wept over fuch bafe men who 
 " had not deferved them, and the {lately frames of an- 
 * ; cient houfes upbraided with reproaches the (lender mo 
 " rits of thofe new up-ltarts who enjoyed them ; that 
 " he began to look downwards into every fordid way of* 
 " enriching himfelfj that his privadoes abufed him in 
 " every thing, but in nothing more than in making 
 * l him believe, what was ploting againft them, was a- 
 *' gainft his perfon and authority ; and that it was not 
 " them his brothers and the nobility fought to pull 
 " down, but hisfovereignty." 
 
 His counfellors, fervants, and fuch who loved him, 
 having long bulled their wits to fave their mailer's re- 
 putation, and that no fhadow of his weaknefs mould ap- 
 pear to the common people, underftanding by whom 
 thefe rumours were firfl: fpread abroad, and obferving 
 many of the nobility and gentry to favour the proceed- 
 ings of his brothers, not daring difclofe themfelves to 
 the king what their fufpicions made them fear would 
 come to pafs, knowing him naturally fuperltitious, and 
 an admirer and believer of divinations, lb born an aged 
 woman, one morning as he went a hunting, to ap- 
 proach him, and tell, fhe had by divination, That he 
 flout J beware of bis near eft kinfmen ; that from them his 
 ruin was likely to come. This was no fooner told, when 
 the woman was fhifted, and fome who were upon the 
 plot began to comment the prophefy of his brothers. 
 
 A 
 
124 The History of the Reign 
 
 A profeflbr of phyfic, for his {kill of divination brought 
 from Germany, and promoted to fome church-benefice, 
 about that fame time told the king, That in Scotland, 
 a lion Jhoitld be devoured by his whelps. William 
 Schevez, then archbifliop of St. Andrews, by way 
 of afirclogical predictions, put him in a fear of immi- 
 nent dangers from his kindred, though truly he had his 
 knowlege by geomancy and good informations upon 
 earth, by the intelligence between the nobility and 
 church-men. 
 
 Many fuch like afperfions being laid upon the king, 
 the people cried out, that he had only for his fellow- 
 companions aftrologers and footh-fayers, whom, as oc- 
 cafion fcrved, lie preferred to church benefices and bi- 
 fhoprics. Patrick Graham, then prifoner in Dun- 
 fermline, a man defolate and forgotten, as if there had not 
 been fuch a man in the world, taking the opportuni- 
 ty of the rumours of the time, fent a letter to the 
 king ; which contained, 
 
 " That the mifery of his imprifonment was not fb 
 " grievous unto him as the fad reports which he heard 
 " of his majefty's eftate5 he was hardly brought to be- 
 f' lieve them, but by his long detention and imprifon- 
 " ment, he was allured his great enemy was in great 
 " credit with him. That he had brought the king ve- 
 " ry low in making him jealous of his brothers, by giv- 
 " ing truft to his vain divinations ; and no wonder 
 '* thefe arts bring forth dilTenfions, which have their 
 " precepts from the father of lies and difcord. To 
 " foment difcord among brothers, was reproachful to 
 <( religion, and outragious to policy; to feek to know 
 " things to come by the flars, was great ignorance, 
 " and that oracles leave a man in a wildernefs of folly. 
 *' That there was no other difference betwixt necro- 
 " mancy and aftrology, faving that in the one, men run 
 " voluntarily to the devil, and in the other ignorantly. 
 <e Humanity attains not to the fecrets above ; and if 
 " it did, it is not wife enough to divert the wifdom of 
 " heaven, which is not to be refilled, but fubmitted un- 
 " to ; that never any had recourfe to thefe arts, but 
 " they had fatal ends; that almighty providence per- 
 " inittcd that to befal them out of his julticc, of neccf- 
 
 " fry, 
 
of JAMES III. 125 
 
 u fity, which before the oracle was fought, was fcarce 
 " contingent; that he mould reft upon the almighty's 
 " providence, and then all things would fucceed well 
 " with him, whofe favours would waft him out of the 
 " furges of uncertainties." 
 
 After this free opening of his mind, Patrick 
 Graham was removed out of Dunfermline to the 
 caltle of Loch-levin (a place renowned long after by the 
 imprifonment of Ma ry queen of Scotland;) where in a 
 fhort time he left the miferies of this world. 
 
 The people now throughly deceived and incenfed a- 
 gainft their king, the molt audacious of the nobility had 
 brought his brothers on the way of taking the govern- 
 ment to themfelves, their power being able to perform 
 what their ambition projected ; and the murmuring of 
 the people leeming to applaud any infurrections. The 
 earl of Mar, young and ralh, purblind in forefeeing the 
 events of things, is ftirred up to begin the tragedy. Some 
 of the nobility of his faclion being prefent, with more 
 liberty than wifdom, he broke out in menacing and un- 
 decent fpeeches, as, That his brother did wrong to ma- 
 jefiy in keeping near him, and being fo familiar with fitch 
 contemptible fellows, as thefe of his bed-chamber and of- 
 ficers ; withal railing againil the government of the ftate 
 and court. The king, pafllonately refenting his words, 
 caufed remove him from his prefence; and he, perfever- 
 ing in his railing, was committed to the caftle of Craig- 
 jnillar, where furmifing that he was in a prifon, his 
 anger turned into a rage, his rage kindled a fever, and 
 his fever advanced to a phrenfy. This ficknefs in- 
 creafing, that he might be more near to the court and 
 his friends, in the night he is tranfported to the Ca- 
 nongate in Edinburgh. The king, compafhonate of 
 his difeafe, fendeth his phyficians to attend him ; they, 
 toreftore his underftanding, which was molefted, open 
 fome veins of his head and arms, in which time, whe- 
 ther by his own diforder and mifgovernment in his fick- 
 nefs, the bands being loofed which tied the lancing ; 
 or, that they took too great a quantity of blood from 
 him, he fainted, and after fwooning, died unawares a- 
 mongft the hands of his belt friends and fervants. Thefe, 
 who hated the king, gave out that he was taken away 
 
 by 
 
126 The History of the Reign 
 
 by his command, and fome writers have recorded the 
 fame; but no fuch faith fhould be given unto them, 
 as to William Elphinston bilhop of Aberdeen, 
 who was living in that time, and whofe records we have 
 followed, who for his place could not but know, and 
 for his pofleffion would not but deliver, the very truth. - 
 Certain witches and forcerers being taken and examin- 
 ed, and convicted of fbrcery at this time, and being 
 fuborned, they confeffed that the earl of Mar had dealt 
 with them in prejudice oi" the king, and to have him 
 taken away by incantation. For the king's image be- 
 ing framed in wax, and with many fpclls and incantations 
 baptized, and fet unto a fire, they perfuaded themfelves 
 the king's perfon mould fall away as that image con- 
 fumed by the fire ; and by the death of the king, the 
 brothers Ihould reach the government of the ftate. With 
 fuch vanities was the common people amufed ! 
 
 Alexander duke of Albany, imputing the death 
 of his brother to the favorites of the king, and avouch- 
 ing them to have been the occafion of his diftra&ion, 
 ttirred the nobility and people to revenge fo foul a deed. 
 But whilft he keeps private meetings with them of his 
 faction in the night to facilitate their enterprize, betray- 
 ed by fome of his followers, he is furprized, and im- 
 prifoned in the cattle of Edinburgh. Out of which, 
 about the appointed time of his trial, by the killing of 
 his keeper he efcaped, and in a fliip, which to that ef- 
 fect was hired, failing to the cattle of Dunbar, of which 
 he had the keeping, he patted to France. After the e- 
 fcape of the duke of Albany, the lord Evandale 
 chancellor of the kingdom, railing the power of the 
 neareft Ihires, beleagured the cattle of Dunbar : the be- 
 fieged unprovided of victuals, as men expecting no fuch 
 alterations, betake themfelves in frnall boats to the fea, 
 and came fafe towards the coafts of England. The cattle, 
 having none to defend it, is taken ; fome gentlemen in, 
 purfuit of the flying foldiers, by their own rafhnefs pe- 
 rilhed. 
 
 The kings of Scotland and England totted along with 
 civil troubles, and affecting peace with all their neigh- 
 bours, by an equal aHd mutual confent of thoughts, 
 fend at one time ambaiTadors to one another, who firft. 
 
 conclude 
 
of JAMES III. 127 
 
 tonclude a peace between the two nations; and that 
 posterity might be partakers of this accord, contract 
 afterwards an alliance between the two kings. It was 
 agreed, that the princefs Cecilia, youngeft daughter 
 to king Edward, fliould marry with James duke 
 of Rothefay, when they came to years of difcretion. 
 A motion heard with great acceptance; but it was 
 thought by fome familiar with king Edward, and in 
 his moft inward councils, that really he never intended 
 this marriage, and that this negociation aimed only to 
 temporize with Scotland, in cafe that L o u 1 s of France 
 fhould ftir up an invafion of England by the king of 
 Scotland. King Louis at this time had fent one do- 
 ctor I r e l A n d a Sorbonift, to move king James to 
 trouble the kingdom of England, and to give over the 
 projected marriage ; which when king Edward under- 
 ftood, knowing what a diftance was between things pro- 
 mifed and performed, to oblige king James, and tie 
 him more ftrongly to the bargain, that this marriage 
 might have more fway, he caufed, for the prefent main- 
 tenance of the prince, and as it were a part of the dow- 
 ry of lady Cecilia, deliver certain fums of mony to 
 king James. Notwithstanding which benevolence, 
 the witty Lou 1 s wrought fo with the Scotilh nobility* 
 that King James fent ambafTadors to the king of Eng- 
 land, entreating him not to affift the duke of Burgundy 
 his brother-in-law againft king Louis, which ifhere- 
 fufed to do, the nobility of Scotland, who were now 
 turned infolent, would conftrain him, by reafon of the 
 ancient league between the French and the Scots, to af- 
 fift the French. 
 
 The duke of Albany, during his abode in France, 
 had married a daughter of the earl of Boulogne (me was 
 his fecond wife, his tirft having been a daughter of the 
 earl of Orkney, a lady of great parentage and many 
 friends ;) who inceffantly importuned king Louis to 
 aid the duke for the recovery of his inheritance and 
 places in the ftate of Scotland, out of which he was kept 
 by the evil counfellors of his brother. Louis mind- 
 ing to make good ufe of his brother, and under-hand 
 increafing difcords and jealoufies between him and the 
 king of England, flighting his fuits, told him, He could 
 
 not 
 
n8 The History of the Reign 
 
 notjujlify his taking of arms to fettle a fubjeft in his inhe- 
 ritance ; that princes ought to be wrought upon by perfta- 
 fion, not violence, and he JhouU not trouble a king otherways 
 than by prayers and petitions, which he would be earnejl to 
 perform. Upon this refufal the duke of Albany, hav- 
 ing buried his duchefs, troubled with new thoughts, 
 came to England. King Edward, with accuftomed 
 courtelles receiving him, giveth him hopes of aiTiftance, 
 entering often in communication with him how to di- 
 vert the kingdom of Scotland from the invafion of his 
 dominions at the defire of the French, the agents and 
 Traffickers of L o u i s lying Itill in Scotland, and daily 
 bribing and foliciting the Scots nobility to oblige the 
 Englifh to flay at home. The duke freely, and in the 
 worlt fenfe revealed the weaknefs of his kingdom, 
 * That his king was opinionative, and had nothing of 
 " a prince in him but the name : his ungoverned fpi- 
 *! rit difdained to liften to the temperate counfel of fo- 
 " ber men, obeying only his own judgment. Such 
 " who governed under him, were mean perfbns and 
 " of no account, great only by his favour, and endowed 
 " with little virtue; who ruling as they lilted, and ex- 
 " eluding all others, made ufe of his authority for their 
 " own profit and advantage. The nobility were male- 
 " contents, and affecled a change in the government; 
 " which might be eafily brought to pafs by the aflillance 
 " of king Edward. If he would help to raife fome 
 " civil broils and diilenfion in the nation itfelf, he need- 
 " ed not to be in fear that they could or would trouble 
 " his country by any invafion." The king hearing the 
 duke manifell: what he molt arTecled, approving his 
 judgment, promifed him all necelFaries, and what he 
 could defire to accomplilh the defign : and he under- 
 taketh by fbme fair way to traffick with the nobility of 
 Scotland for an alteration of the prefent form of govern- 
 ment. After a dangerous intelligence, the lords of 
 Scotland, who under the lhadow of the public good, but 
 really out of their difidain and particular interelts, con- 
 fpired againlt the king, fent the duke word, " The go/d- 
 " en age could not be framed, nor arms taken fdr the good oft he 
 " commonwealth, nor the /late altered, without the Jeque- 
 " firing ofthofefrum the king whi mijgQVfrned him. And 
 
 " thefe 
 
of JAMES III. 129 
 
 " thefe could not be removed by that power which was 
 u amongft themfelves, without great danger and trouble, 
 h confldering the king's faction and the malignant party. 
 " If king Edward would agree to the railing of an ar- 
 *' my in England, in favour of the duke of Albany, and 
 " forrefloring him to his places and inheritance, out of 
 " which he was molt unjuftly ejected ; and other pre- 
 
 * tences, of which they mould afford the occafions ; 
 
 * which no way mould do harm to the kingdom of 
 " Scotland, difordered already, and laid wade, more by 
 " the licence of a tyrant in peace, than it could have 
 " been by war ; and at this time bellow upon them fa- 
 " vours, as they might one dr.y hereafter challenge to 
 " receive the like ; the nobility of Scotland Ihould be 
 " ready with another army, not to fight, but to feize 
 " upon the king's favorites, and mifgovernors of the 
 " ftate : for which the Engl ifh mould have many thanks. 
 " That this enterprize could not but prove molt fuccefs- 
 " ful, the hatred of the commons confidered, againft 
 " fuch violent oppreffions. The king was fallen into 
 " fo low efteem, that aifaulted by the Englilh, he would 
 " be conflrained by the fubmiflion of his crown to ifi- 
 " treat for fafety." The king of England, underfiand- 
 ing this was to touch the finch 1 firing of hate and domi- 
 nion (for it is a matter of much confequence and main 
 importance to defend the fubjects of another prince ; for 
 under this mafic and pretence of protecling the liberties 
 of a people, of affiflance and aid, an ufurpation and op- 
 preffion of all liberty might be hidden : and many have 
 efiablilhed and fettled themfelves in thofe kingdoms, 
 which they came to relieve from tyranny, and the op- 
 preffion of their rulers, keeping by force what was grant- 
 ed to them at firft by way of truft, and under the colour 
 of helping, ufurped a fovereignty •,) agreeth ealily to 
 what was demanded and refolved upon. 
 
 The lords of the afTociation, to play more covertly 
 their game, and mafic their intentions (the commons e- 
 ver furfering and paying for the faults and errors of the 
 great ones,) give way for the breaking loofe of the border- 
 ers. Fierce incurfions by the Englilh are made upon 
 Scotland, and by the Scots upon England; fome villa- 
 ges on either fide are burnt. The fecrecy to this bu- 
 ll nefs. 
 
130 The History of the Reign 
 
 finefs, which was inviolably obferved, was of great im- 
 portance, which is the principal knot and tie of great af- 
 fairs. Rumours are fpred, that the dukes of Glocelter, 
 and Albany, with James late earl of Douglas, and 
 Alexander Jerdan, and PatrickHalybur- 
 ton, men profcribed, and upon whole heads a price was 
 fet, were at An wick with a powerful army, and in their 
 march towards Kelfo. The king, awaked out of his 
 trances by the alarms of his nobility, and clamours of 
 the people, maketh proclamations to all between fixty 
 years and fixteen to meet him at Edinburgh, and to be 
 in readinefs tooppofe their old enemies of England now 
 come upon the borders. 
 
 After many delays and much loitering, an army is 
 affembled by the nobility, which confifted of , 
 
 and a number of carts charged with fmall ordinance. 
 New incurfions being blazed to have been made by the 
 Englifh, the king amidft thefe troops marched to Law- 
 der. The army was encamped, and all things ordered, 
 the bell: way the occafion could fulfer them, little or no- 
 thing being left to fortune, if the Englifh Ihould invade, 
 whom the lords knew were not at all yet gathered, and 
 though gathered, and in a body, and upon the bord- 
 ers, or nearer, would never invade them. 
 
 Tbe king at this time is marvclloufly perplexed, and 
 become fufpicious of the intentions of his nobility in 
 this army : in thisconfulion of thoughts, he fell upon 
 two cxtrcams. In his demeanour and convcrfation too 
 familiar and inward with his old domeftic fervants and 
 favorites, which rendered them infolent (believing the 
 bare name of king to be fufficient, whillt weaknefs and 
 iimplicity had made him defpifed, and them hated;) 
 and too retired, referved, and ellranged from his no- 
 bility, which made them malicious. 
 
 This he did, as his penfivenefs conjectured, that his 
 nobles fhouhl not attempt any thing to the prejudice 
 of his royal authority, independent of any council. 
 But what he moll feared came to pafs-, he rcfolved 
 and difpatched all matters by his cabinet-council , where 
 the furveyor of his buildings was better acquainted, with 
 the affairs of the ftate than the graveft of his nobility. 
 This prepolterous couile of favour made the great men 
 
 of 
 
of JAMES III. 131 
 
 cf the kingdom to fall head-long upon their rafb, though 
 long projected, attempt. Alter many private confe- 
 rences in their pavilions, the chiefs of the infurrecli- 
 on, as the earls of Angus, Lenox, Huntley, the lords 
 Gray, Lile, and others, about midnight came toge- 
 ther in the church of Lawder, with many barons and 
 gentlemen. Here every one of them, urging the necef^ 
 iity of the times, and the dangers the commonwealth 
 was like to fall into, requireth ipeedy refolutions; and 
 having before premeditated, deliberated, and concluded 
 what to follow, they drew up a league and confederati- 
 on of mutual adherence in this order. 
 
 " Forafmuch as the king fuffereth himfelf to be go- 
 " verncd by mean perlbns, and men of no account, to 
 " the contempt of the nobility, and his belt fubjecTsj 
 " and to the great lofs of the commons; the coniede- 
 " rates, confidering the imminent dangers of the king- 
 " dom, mall endeavour to feparate the king's majelty 
 " from thefe naughty upftarts, whoabufe his name and 
 M authority, and defpife all good men ; and have a 
 " care that the commonwealth receive no damage. 
 '" And in this quarrel they fhall all (land mutually e- 
 « c very one to the defence of another." 
 
 The plot agreed upon, and the confederacy fworn, 
 the chiefs of them in arms enter the king's pavilion; 
 where, after they had challenged him of many difor- 
 ders in his government, contrary to his honour, the laws 
 and good of his kingdom, they took Sir W 1 l jl i am Ro- 
 g e R s, a man, from a mufician, promoted to be a knight, 
 JamesHommil, RobertCochran, who, of a I u r- 
 veyor of his works, was made earl of Mar, or, a? fome miti- 
 gate that title, intromittor with, and taker up of the 
 rents of that earldom, by whole device, fome authors 
 have alleged, copper-mony had been coined, by which 
 a dearth was brought amongft the commons; which, 
 as others have recorded, was an unjuft imputation, for 
 that copper-mony was coined in the minority of the 
 king, in the time of the government of the Boyds^ 
 with others. All thefe, being convicted by the cla- 
 mours of the army, were immediately hanged upon 
 the river Liddcr. John Ramsay, a youth of eigh- 
 teen years of age, by the intreaties, prayers and em~ 
 I braces 
 
J32 The History of the Reign 
 
 braces of the king, was prefcrved. Thus they, the 
 late objects of envy, were turned and become the ob- 
 jects of pity and compaffion. The body of the com- 
 mons and the gentry of the kingdom, by this notori- 
 ous act at Lawder, being engaged, and being partakers 
 of the quarrel of the difcontented noblemen, and for 
 their own fafety tied to fecond and to affift all their in- 
 tentions, and to advance their ends, the king is con- 
 veyed to Edinburgh, and fhortly after he cither inclof- 
 ed himfelf in the maiden caftle, as his lodging, or, which 
 js more probable, was there, by the contrary faction 
 committed as into his prifon, the earl of Atholc, and 
 iome other lords being appointed to attend him. 
 
 During this time, the general humour of the king- 
 dom being ripe for mifchicf, Alexander duke of 
 Albany, every thing falling right as it was plotted, 
 prevailed fo with king Edward, that the duke or 
 Gloccftcr, the king of England's brother, with the title 
 of lieutenant-general for him, fet forwards toward Scot- 
 land. The army confided of two and twenty thoufand 
 and five hundred. In his retinue there went o{ the 
 nobility, Henry earl of Northumberland, Thomas 
 lord Stanley, and with them was the duke of Al- 
 bany. The earl of Douglas came not, being referved 
 for an after-game. The duke of Albany having been 
 before commander of Berwick, and a man who was Hill 
 in his abfence beloved of that garifon, diverted the 
 duke ofGloceltcr from Anwick, where he had encamp- 
 ed in June, to aflail the town of Berwick. By his intelli- 
 gence they enter the town without great oppofition, 
 and it is given up to their difcretion. The caftle by 
 the lord HaIles, then captain, was made good againft 
 their aflaults. The duke of Gloceftcr forefceing that 
 this fiege would fpend much time, confidering the un- 
 certainty of events, and being invited to march forward 
 by the lords of the afTociation of Scotland, committing 
 the charge of afTailing the caftle to the lord Stanley, 
 Sir John Elrington, and Sir Willi a m Parr, 
 with the body of the army marched directly to Edinburgh. 
 
 The country lay open to their invafion, and no ar- 
 my taking the field to oppofe them, they came into 
 Scotland the twentieth day of Auguft ijSc. The ar- 
 my 
 
of JAMES III. 133 
 
 my encamped at Reftalrig, the duke himfelf entered the 
 town of Edinburgh, which, at the intieaty of the duke 
 of Albany, who was his harbinger, he fpared, receiving 
 Fuch prefents as the citizens ofTered unto him : his entry 
 ieeming rather a triumph than hoftile invafion. The 
 king being (hut up from him and immured in the caftle, 
 the duke by a public writing at the market places gave 
 out high demands; "That king James fhould per- 
 " form what he had covenanted with his brother king 
 " Edward-, that he fhould give fatisfaclion for the 
 " damage done the Englifh, during the laft inroads 
 " of the borderers; which if he refufed to accomplifh, 
 " he, as lieutenant to his brother, was to exacl: of him, 
 t( and to take fatisfaclion of his country, denouncing 
 " open war, and proclaiming all hoftility againft him." 
 King James, forfaken of his people, and wronged by 
 his lords, laying afide his paffions, and taking to him 
 more moderate and difcreet thoughts, as a man in pri- 
 fon, anfwered nothing to his demands* 
 
 The lords, who by their king's misfortune had rec- 
 koned their felicity, having obtained what they chief- 
 ly defired, to obviate the common and laft danger, the 
 thraldom of their kingdom by thefe Grangers whom 
 they had drawn into the country for the recovery of 
 their liberties, alFemblethcmfelves together at Hadington 
 with fome companies, not to fight but to fupplicate. They 
 font the lord D arnle v, and the elected biifiop ofiMur- 
 ray, to intreat a fufpeniion of arms, and require a firm 
 and lafting peace for the time to come. " The begin- 
 " ning of the war, and taking of arms, was for the fafety 
 ic of this the neighbour country of England, mifcrably 
 " thralled by a licentious prince: there was nothing 
 " more unworthy of a king or republic, than not to 
 " keep their piomifed faith. The Englifh could have 
 " no colour for executing their indignation further 
 " upon this country, which already by the rapine of 
 " their own men was impoverifhed and unmanured : 
 " only now to be recovered by entertaining peace with 
 " their neighbours, and amongfl themfclves." They 
 required " That the marriage contracted betiveen the 
 " prince of Rothefay and lady Cecilia, king Ed- 
 ; ' ward's daughter, might be accomplifhed, when it 
 I 2 "ihouJJ 
 
134 The History of the Reign 
 
 €t fhould plcafe the king of England, and the age of* 
 *' the two princes might fuffer it. For any fpoil taken 
 '• in thele latt incurfions, the intcrett cor.fidered upon 
 " both lides, fatisfaction fhould be given out of the pu- 
 " bJic contributions." The duke of Glocetter, as for- 
 getting and feeming not to know the grounds of their 
 coming into the country, and looking to nothing more 
 than his own fame and glory, anfwered, " His coming 
 " into Scotland was to right the honour of his country 
 " lb often violated -, and to reftore the duke of Albany 
 " unjultly commanded to exile, to his own native foil, 
 " and the dignity of his birth. As concerning the mar- 
 " riage of the prince of Scotland with the daughter of 
 " England, he knew not how his brother's reiolution 
 " ttood at theprefent; whereupon he required repay - 
 " ment of the monys lent to their king upon the firtt a- 
 *' greement ; and withal a delivery of the cattle of Ber- 
 *' wick up into his hands: or if they could not make 
 " the cattle to be rendered,- they fhould give their oaths 
 " upon the holy evangclitts, that they fhould neither 
 " affift the befieged, nor harm the befiegers, tiil the 
 ■• cattle were either by force taken, or upon fair condi- 
 " tions rendered. 
 
 The lords, having received this anfwer, yielded free- 
 ly to all the conditions, except that they found them- 
 felves perplexed in the rendering of Berwick ; it being 
 a town of old appertaining to the crown of Scotland : 
 though by force and violence the Englilh had a long 
 time kept it, that did not take away their" right and title. 
 After much coritetting, agreeing to the furrender of 
 Berwick, they deflred that the walls of the town fhould 
 be demolifhed, that it might not be a place of tyranny 
 and incurfion over their bordering countries. No ar- 
 guments could prevail againtt the duke of Gloccfter's 
 .refolutions, and being ttrongcr in power, he pcrlevcred 
 in his demands ; and in all likelihood this was agreed 
 upon between the duke of Albany and the confede- 
 rate lords, and the Englilh, before their entering Scot- 
 land. Thus the caftle and town of Berwick returned 
 to the Englifh the 24th of Auguft 14S:. after it had 
 been delivered by queen Margaret, to gain fan- 
 cfuary for her husband king Henry, when expelled 
 
of JAMES III. 135 
 
 England, and remained in the polfeffion of the Scots 
 twenty and one years. 
 
 They likewife appointed a day for restitution of all 
 the mony, lent by king Ed ward, and promifed upon 
 a full difcuffion to make fatisfaclion for all damages 
 done the Englifh by any in-road of the Scotifli border- 
 ers. For the duke of Albany's provifion, whofe fafety 
 was principally pretended in this expedition, a general 
 pardon was promifed for him and all his followers, to- 
 gether with an abolition of all difcon tents: whereby he 
 had given unto him the caftle of Dunbar, with the 
 earldoms of Mar and March ; helhould be re-invefted in 
 all his former dignities and places ; and by confent of 
 the nobility of Scotland, he was proclaimed lieutenant 
 of the kingdom. 
 
 The peace being proclaimed, the duke of Gloceftcr 
 in all folemnity of greatnefs returned towards London, 
 being welcomed by the king with many demonstrations 
 of great joy. He, to fhow how much he approved the 
 conditions of this peace, went folemnly in proce/Tion 
 from St. Stephen's chapel, now, the parliament-houie, 
 accompanied with the queen his filter, and a mighty 
 retinue of the greatest lords, into Westminster hall ; 
 where in prefence of the earl of Angus, the lord Gray, 
 an J Sir JamesLiddal e, ambalfadors extraordinary 
 from Scotland, the. peace was ratified. At the return 
 of the Scots ambalTadors to their country, king Edward 
 fent an herald with them, who in his mailer's name 
 gave over the marriage contracted between the lady 
 Cecilia and the prince of Rothefay, and required the 
 mony, which had been delivered upon hopes of con- 
 fummation, to his king. The citizens of Edinburgh 
 had given their bond for the redelivery, and a day be- 
 ing granted to them for the payment, they at the ap- 
 pointed day entirely delivered the fum. Some thought 
 king Ed w a rd recalled this marriage, of a fufpicion he 
 conceived, that the ambition of the duke of Albany, 
 and the hatred of the fubjecls againft their king, amid It 
 the manifold detractions of the realm, might. hazard 
 the fucceffion of the prince of Rothefay to the crown. 
 But king Edward having gained, what he had endea- 
 voured moft to acquire, a divihon amonglt the nobles 
 I 3 of 
 
136 The History of the Reign 
 
 of Scotland, and by this a fecurity from their affiuing 
 the French, rejected the matcli. Bcfides the duke of 
 Glocefter, who, after his coming into Scotland, was 
 laying the foundations of ufurping the crown of England, 
 his brother once dead, thought the alliance of his bro- 
 ther's daughter with a king of Scotland, too Ifrong a 
 fupport to that race, which he was to declare baftards, 
 and a rock upon which he was confident, he fhould 
 make a fearful fhipwrack. Neither, his brother's daughter 
 being married to a king of fuch martial and turbulent 
 fubjects as the people of Scotland, durft he ever attempt 
 the taking away of her brothers : and king Edward 
 in neglect of this match committed a greater error of 
 ftate than he did in his marrying the lady Elizabeth 
 Grey, and forfaking the lady Bona, daughter to the 
 duke ofSavoy. 
 
 According to the records of fomc authors, whilft the 
 king is kept nine months in the cattle of Edinburgh, 
 the duke of Albany, the lord E v a n p a l E chancellor, 
 the earl ofArgyle, the arch-bifhop of St. Andrews, the 
 carl of A thole his uncle (who for the prefcrvation of 
 his perfbn, and honour of his office, accepted the charge 
 to attend him in that fortrefs) governed the (late. 
 
 The king, fay the honelt records, had all honour 
 which appertained to a prince, fave that he could not 
 come abroad, and none was permitted to fpeak unto him, 
 except in the audience of fome one of his lords kcep- 
 pcrs; and that his chamber doors were fhut before the 
 letting of the fun, and long after the rifing opened. 
 Proclamations are publilhed in his name and authority, 
 and other public writings. Such who only heard of him 
 could not but take him to be a free andabfolulc prince; 
 when nearly viewed, he was but a king in phantafy, 
 and his throne but a picture; the legal authority be- 
 ing turned into a cloak to cover the paffions ol thofe 
 who did govern. 
 
 The duke of Albany daily importuned by the folici- 
 tations, prayers, and tears of the queen, a calm and tem- 
 perate lady, for her husband's liberty, finding hinifMt 
 hot lb refpected by the other governors as his birth and 
 merits did deferve; being a man who delighted in no- 
 thing more than in changes and novations of court and 
 
 ftate j 
 
 
 . 
 
of JAMES III. 137 
 
 ftatc ; after fo many fcorns and rebukes offered to his 
 brother and king, commiferating his Jong fufferings, 
 and believing that good turns would make paft offences 
 be forgotten, and that recent benefits were fufficient to 
 blot away old injuries, with all rememberance of for- 
 mer difcontents, whilit the other governors at Stirling, 
 fecurely palfed the time, pofted in the night to Edin- 
 burgh. Here a meeting being appointed of fome of his 
 friends and vafTals, who knew nothing of his intentions, 
 hy the afTiftance of the citizens of Edinburgh (men in- 
 tirely loving their king, and devoted to him all the 
 time of the infurrection of his nobles) who gave the 
 firft alfault, yet was it rather their intelligence than 
 force, the cattle is furprized, and the king and all his 
 fervants let at liberty. This unexpected and noble act 
 of the duke of Albany, having fo fortunate a fuccefs, 
 brought a mighty change on the court and ftate. The 
 king is now again re-inltaled, and hath hisrefidenee in 
 his own palace, to which many noblemen and gentle- 
 men have frequent concourfe ; rejoicing to fee fuch e- 
 vident tokens oflovepafs between the two brothers, if 
 their affection could have continued. The provolt 
 and bailies of Edinburgh, in recompenceof their fervice, 
 were made fheriffs within all the bounds of their own 
 territories, and rewarded with other privileges contain- 
 ed in that patent, which they call their golden charter 148 2. 
 The lords of the contrary faction, who remained at Stir- 
 ling, by this new accident, betook themfelves to new 
 thoughts and confiderations, every man full of fears 
 and repinings flying to his own dwelling-place, and con- 
 ceiving a great hatred againft the duke of Albany. They 
 laiJ, He was inconflant, rap, mad, in fitting at liberty 
 the man who would prove his executioner, and one who 
 would never forget any profered injury : that if he perifh- 
 cd before them, it was but his own jnfl deferving and pro- 
 curement. The duke contemning thofe reproaches, and 
 anfwering their calumnies and evil words with patience 
 and good deeds, by the mediation of the carl of Angus, 
 ItuJied a reconciliation between the king and his difcon- 
 tented lords. And his endeavours had fuch good fuc- 
 cefs, that in a fhort time after this atonement, fome of 
 them turned fo familiar and intimate with the king, 
 I 4 that, 
 
i%8 The History of the Reign 
 
 that, like the ivy, they began to fap the wall by which ■ •-*?' 
 they had been fupported : they made the wound of the 
 king's old jealouhes rankle again, and added poifon to 
 former diicontents ; remembering him of the unnatu- 
 ralnefs of his brother's firft rebellion, and alluring him, 
 " That his ancient ambition had yet more power over 
 " him than his new fears had of honcfty and refpect. 
 " That howfoever he fhewed outwardly the arguments 
 " of a reconciled brother, he loved yet to govern, and 
 " aimed at the crown. That he had wrought his liber- 
 " ty to bring a greater confufion in the itate than he 
 " had ever done before." The king who ever had a 
 watchful eye over his reconciled enemies, and who de- 
 fired to be freed and fairly quitted of them all, gave way 
 to their calumnies. And they after Jong deliberation re- 
 folved upon a plot, to bring the duke within the com- 
 pafs of law, and fummoncd him to anfwer upon treafon. 
 And this was the rendering of the town of Berw 
 to the Englifh -, which they undertook to prove was 
 only by his intelligence, procuration, and being in com- 
 pany with the duke of Glocefter, in that expedition. 
 Though the duke had an abfolute and general pardon, 
 and an abolition for all was palt, and the king's hand 
 at it, they doubted not to annul and make it void. All 
 being done by a king conftraincd by a powerful army, 
 and a clofe prilbner, which writing could not oblige a- 
 ny private man, far lefs a king ; what he then bargain- 
 ed was upon conftraint, and yielded unto upon hopes 
 of laving his life, and an act exacted by force. The 
 duke of Albany finding, by the malice and detraction 
 of a malignant faction, his brother's countenance altered- 
 towards him; and that danger was the requital of his 
 fate fctting him at liberty, the eftablilhed reconciliation 
 being fhaken by fufpicions and fancy of revenge, obey- 
 ing neccllity, lied to his caltle of Dunbar, out of which 
 he came to England, to prefent to king Edward and 
 the duke of Glocefter the conlideration of his grie- 
 vance 
 
 In hisabfence he is convicted of many points of trea- 
 fon, betide:, the being accedary to the taking of Berwick 
 by the Englilh. As, " His dangerous and long intel- 
 tf iigencc with the king of England.^ his lending of ma- 
 
 " ny 
 
■ 
 
 of J AM ES III. 139 
 
 * € ny melfengers at all occaflons unto him. That with* 
 •' out any fate conduct or pafs from his brother, and 
 " not fo much as acquainting him, he had left the 
 " country, and come into England to devife confpira- 
 " cies againfl his king and native kingdom." The lord 
 Creichton, as his friend, allbciate, and accomplice, 
 is forfeited with him, againft whom informations were 
 given, " That often and divers times, under the pre- 
 " tcnce of hunting, fecretly with the duke of Albany 
 " he rode into England, and there meeting with com- 
 " miflioners fent by king Edward, he deliberated of 
 " matters concerning novations and of the altering the 
 " ftate; that there he kept appointments with James 
 ** earl of Douglas, the often quenched fire-brand of his 
 <e country : that in fpite of the king's forces lent there 
 *' to lie in garrifon, he kept the caftle of Creighton." 
 The greateft difcontent the king conceived againft him 
 was love to one of his lifters, and fome feminine jealou- 
 fies. When the duke underftood the procedure againft 
 himfelf, and the lord Creighton, and that for their con- 
 tumacy, and not appearing to anfvver, and give in their 
 defences, they were convicted of treafon, and their 
 lands to be feized upon ; he caufed give up the caftle of 
 Dunbar, of which he was lieutenant, to king Edward, 
 who immediately placed by fea a garrifon in it. 
 
 About this time, Edward king of England left this 
 world 1483, and his brother Richard duke ofGlo- 
 cefter did firft take the name of protector and govern - 
 our of the kingdom of England, and after his brother's 
 fons being put in the tower, and their mother the queen 
 taking fanctuary, in the month of June, poflelTed him- 
 felf of the crown. 
 
 The duke of Albany, finding that Richard by his 
 change of fortune had not changed his affection towards 
 him, impiorethhis aid in reftoring him to his own, and 
 repairing not his wrongs alone, but a wrong done in his 
 luftcrings to the king of England, fince there was now 
 an open breach of the truce and peace fo folemnly by 
 him fet down, and confirmed by his brother. If he 
 .could be furnifhed but with a few number of choice men 
 of reputation and power to pafs into Scotland, and take 
 a trial of the minds and good will of his friends and con- 
 federates 
 
140 The History of the Reign 
 
 federates, he doubted not, at his entering the country, 
 to find numbers, who, by his pretence, would hazard 
 upon the mod defperate dangers. 
 
 Richard finding the man his fttpplicant, with whom 
 he endeavoured once an entire friendship, and whofe 
 advancement in authority he had mod ftudied, conde- 
 fcendcth that five hundred men and horfes fiiould be 
 chofen upon the borders, with others who were out- 
 laws, and ncccflitated fometime to make incurfions, 
 and with J a M e s the old earl of Douglas, a man well 
 known and renowned in the welt borders, fhould make 
 an in-road into Scotland. 
 
 The two and twenty day of July, the banifhed cham- 
 pions, having chofen a good number of their borderers, 
 put forwards towards Lochmabcn to furprize a fair, 
 ipoil a public mercat, feize upon all the buyers and fel- 
 lers, which here meet and traffick every St. Magdalen's 
 feftival. Under pretence of devotion and the liberty of 
 trading many Englilh had hither reforted : at the 
 twelfth hour of the day, when the merchants and coun- 
 try people were in greateft fecurity, the burfe is invad- 
 ed, and not blood but wares fought after. The laird 
 of Johnfton who was warJen, and the laird ol Cock- 
 pool, with many flout borderers, having furvcyed and 
 ridden through the places where the people were met, 
 to prevent and hinder all diforders and dangers, at the 
 noife of an incurfion of the Englifh, difpatch pofts to 
 the adjacent bounds for fupply ; and in the mean time, 
 rencounter the plunderers of the fair. Here it is 
 fought with greater courage than force, and in a long 
 continued fkirmifh, the danger of the lofs ftiring up and 
 inciting the parties, as much as fame and glory. 
 
 The day was near fpent, leaving the advantage to 
 cither fide difputable, when the fupply of frefn men, 
 come to defend their country and friends, turned the 
 fortune of the fight, and put the Englifh borderers all to 
 the rout. The duke of Albany, by the fwiftnefs of his 
 horfe, and the good attendance of his fcrvants, winneth 
 Englilh ground; but the earl of Douglas, loaden and 
 heavy with years and arms, is taken by Robert 
 Kirkp atrick, who for that fervicc got the lands 
 pf Kirk-michael, and brought as in triumph to Edin- 
 burgh. 
 
of J AMES III. 141 
 
 burgh. It it recorded, that when the earl was come 
 into the king's pretence, he turned his back, and refus- 
 ed to look him in the face, confidering the many out- 
 rages he had perpetrated againll his father, and this 
 late offence. The king taken with the goodly perfon- 
 age, gravity, and great age of the man, commiferating 
 his long patience and crols fortune, being in his young 
 days defigned to be a church-man, confined him as in a 
 free prifon in the abbacy of Lundores. 
 
 Belides, he conlidered, that when occafion ferved, he 
 might bring him out of this fblitarinefs, and in thele tur- 
 bulent times, by his counfel and prefence, play more 
 advantageoufly his game of Hate, being a man of long 
 experience in the affairs of the world, and the mod: learn- 
 ed of all his nobility. He was now become tired of the 
 earl of Angus, the rememberance of his firft: offence re- 
 maining deeply ingraven in his heart; to counterpoife 
 his greatnefs, this was the only weight. The duke of 
 Albany found little better entertainment in England, 
 the battle being loll, fome men taken and killed (this 
 being the firft road upon Scotland under the reign of 
 Richard, who had been formerly fo fortunate in his 
 own perfbn) his fijme injured, and reputation by this 
 diminifhed, the duke began to be difliked of him, and 
 was not received with that kindnefs he was wont ; 
 whereupon by the affiltance and convoy of J o h n Lid- 
 dale, he fecretly retired to France. 
 
 After the road of Lochmaben, fundry incurfions are 
 made by the Scots upon the Englilh borders, and by 
 the Englilh upon the Scotifh : the champain ground is 
 fcoured, houfes are burnt, booties taken, with great 
 lofs to both, and little advantage to any of the parties. 
 R 1 c h 4 r d having his reign in the infancy, and not yet 
 Jcttled nor come to any growth and maturity, being 
 obnoxious to the fcandal of the murder of his brother's 
 fons, and poffeffed with fears of Henry earl of Rich- 
 mond then remaining in France, who by all honeft and 
 good men was earneltly invited to come home, and ha- 
 zard one day of battle for a whole kingdom, knowing 
 it ncceffary for the advancement of his defigns to have 
 peace with all his neighbour princes, to render himfelf 
 more fecureand fafe at home, and terrible to his ene- 
 mies 
 
142 The History of the Reign 
 
 mies abroad, fendeth ambaffadors to Scotland to treat a 
 peace, or a fufpenfion of arms for fome years. King 
 James, no more foftly rocked in the cradle of Hate 
 than Richard, chearfully accepteth this embalfy ; for 
 by a peace he may a little calm the (rormy and wild 
 minds of his tumultuous fubjeds, reducing them to a 
 more quiet fafhion of living, and feclude his rebels and 
 banifhed fubjects from entertainment in England, and 
 all places of refuge and fanctuary. The two kings a- 
 grecing in fubllancc, commilfioners are appointed to 
 meet at Nottingham the feventeenth day of September. 
 For the king of Scotland appeared the earl of Argyle, 
 "William Elphinston bifhop of Aberdeen, the 
 lord Drummond of Stobhall, the lord Oliphant, 
 Archibald Whitelaw fecrctary, and Duncan 
 D u n t d a s s lion king of arms. For Richard of Eng- 
 land appeared the duke of Norfolk, the earl of Nor- 
 thumberland, the lord Stanley, the lord Grey, 
 the lord Fitz-hugh, John Gunthrope privy- 
 kal, Thomas Barrow mailer of the rolls, and Sir 
 Thomas Brian chief juftice. 
 
 In the latter end of September thefc conclude a peace 
 between both realms for the fpace of three years : the 
 fame to begin at the riling of the fun September 29th 
 in the year 1484. and to continue unto the letting of the 
 fun on the 29th of September in the year 1487. During 
 which time, it was agreed, that not only all hoftility 
 and war mould ceafe between the two realms, but that 
 alfo all aid and aiTiftance againlt enemies ihould be af- 
 forded. 
 
 It was agreed, The town and e a file of Berwick 
 remain in the hands of the Englijh for the fpace of the 
 fore fat d term, with the fame bounds the Englijh pojfejfed. 
 
 That all other cajlles, holds and fortrejfes, during the 
 term of three years, fhould remain in the hands of thofe 
 that held them at that prefent, the cafile of Dunbar only 
 excepted, which the duke of Albany delivered to the Eng- 
 lijh when he left his country. Which cafile, fit the fpace 
 of fix months, Jhould be exp-.fed to the invefhn of the Scots, 
 if they could obtain it, and during the ajjaultin^ of this 
 raffle, the truce jhnlii not be broken. Neither Jhould the 
 Englijh within the cajlle do any harm to the Scots dwelling 
 
 there- 
 
of J AMES III. 143 
 
 thereabouts, except to thofi who invade the cafile, and at 
 that time. And that it Jhould be lawful to any of the 
 parties to life all Jlratagems, and extend their power ei- 
 ther for winning or defending the fa id cajlle. 
 
 It was agree J, That no traitor of either realm fhould be 
 received by any of the princes of the other realm ; and if 
 any traitor or rebel chance to arrive in either realm, the 
 prince thereof Jhould deliver him upon demand made. 
 
 Scots abiding within the realm of England, and /worn 
 there to the king, may remain ft ill, fo their names be made 
 known to the king of Scot/and within forty days. 
 
 If any warden of either realm /hall invade the other's 
 fubje&s, he to whom fitch a warden is fibjecl /hall within 
 fix days proclaim him traitor, and certify the other prince 
 thereof within twelve days. 
 
 In every fafe conduct this claufe [hall be contained, pro- 
 viding always that the obtainer of the fafe conduct be no 
 traitor. 
 
 If any ofthefubjefis of either prince do pre fume to ail 
 and help, maintain and ferve- any other prince, again/1 any 
 of the contractors of this truce, then it /hall be lawful 
 for him to whom he /hewed himfelf enemy, to apprehend 
 and attack the -(aid ftbjecd coming or tarrying within any 
 of their dominions. 
 
 The collegues comprehended in the truce, if they would 
 affent thereunto, on the Engli/h part, were the king ofCa/lile t 
 the king of Arragon, the king of Portugal, the arch-duke 
 of Au fir ia and Burgundy, the duke of Bretaign. Upon. 
 the Scotilh part, Charles king of France, the king of 
 Denmark and Norway, and the duke ofGuelderlaml. This, 
 treaty was appointed to be publifhed the firft of 0>5to* 
 ber in all the great and notable towns of both realms. 
 
 It was agreed, That commi/jioners Jhould meet at Loch* 
 maben the i Sth of November, as well for redrefs of wrongs 
 done on the weft marches, as for declaring and publi/hing 
 the peace, where the greate/l difficulty was to have it 
 obferved. 
 
 Richard, after this truce, intreated a marriage be- 
 tween the prince of Rothefay, eldeft fon to King James, 
 and lady Amne de laPool, daughter to J o h n duke 
 of Suffolk by his filter. To this effect anibaffadors meet 
 at Nottingham, others fay at York, and it is conclud- 
 ed 
 
I44 The History of the Reign 
 
 ed. Writings thereupon being drawn up, iftgroffed 
 and fealed, and affiances made and taken up by procTors 
 and deputies of both parties, lady Anne thereafter was 
 ftiled the princefs of Rothefay. But by the death of her 
 uncle (he enjoyed not Jong that title. 
 
 After the league and intended marriage, king James 
 wrote friendly letters to R i c h a r d concerning the caftle 
 of Dunbar, whether he could be content that the fame 
 fhould remain only fix months in the power of the Eng- 
 liffi, or during the whole fpace of the truce? That he 
 Vvas not minded to feek it by arms during the term of 
 the whole truce. Notwithstanding he earneftly requir- 
 ed it out of the bond of love and fricndlhip between 
 them-, ftnee It was given unto the Englilh by treafon, 
 and neither furprized nor taken in lawful war, it might 
 be friendly rendered. Richard dallied with him, 
 and paffed away that purpofe with complementing let- 
 ters all the time of his government, which was not 
 Jong. For in the year i486, Henry earl of Rich- 
 mond came with fome companies out of France (of 
 which that famous warrior Bernard Stuart lord 
 Aubigny, brother to the lord Darn ley in Scot- 
 land, had the leading) which by the refort of his coun- 
 try-men turned into an army, and rencountered Ri c h- 
 a r d at Bofworth, where he was killed, and Henry 
 proclaimed king of England : to which victory it was 
 uncertain whether virtue or fortune did more contri- 
 bute. 
 
 Alexander duke of Albany, before thisdifafter of 
 Richard, at a tilting with Louis duke of Orleans, 
 by the fplintcr of a (pear in his head had received his 
 death-wound, 1483. He was a man of great courage, 
 an enemy to reft and peace, delighting in conftant chang- 
 es and novations. He left behind him two fons, John 
 duke of Albany, begotten of his fecond marriage upon 
 the carl of Boulogne's daughter, who was tutor to 
 king James V. and governor of Scotland, and Ale- 
 xander born of the earl of Orkney's daughter his full 
 wife, bifhop of Murray and abbot of Scoon : into which 
 places he was intruded, to make the government of his 
 other brother more peaceable. 
 
 Margaret the queea about thefc times, a good 
 
 and 
 
 '• 
 
of J A M E S III. 145 
 
 and virtuous lady, died i486, and was buried at Cann- 
 buskenneth, the 29th of February. 
 
 The overthrow and death of R 1 c h a r d being known 
 abroad, king J a m e s, taking the advantage of the time, 
 befieged the caitlc of Dunbar. The garrifoned foldiers 
 rinding no relief nor affiftance from their country, and 
 ascertained of the change of their mafter, rendered up 
 the fort into the hands of the Scots; it was of no great 
 importance to the Englifh, and only ferved to be a fair 
 bridge of treafon for Scotifh rebels, and a citadel of con- 
 fpiracies. 
 
 Henry king of England, after his victory and coro- 
 nation, fent Richard Fox bifhop of Exeter, and 
 Sir Richard Edgecomb ambaifadors to king 
 James, for the renewing the truce, and if it were pol- 
 lible, to agree upon a (table and lading peace between 
 the realms. King James taking a promife of the fe- 
 crecy of the ambaifadors, that what he imparted to them, 
 mould not be laid open to his nobility, told, " He ear- 
 " neftly affected a peace with all his neighbours, but 
 " above all others with their king, as much for his own 
 " valour, as for the honour and interefts of the two 
 " kingdoms : but he knew his people Co ftubborn and 
 " oppolite to all his deiigns, that if they underftood his 
 " mind and refblutions, they would endeavour to crofs 
 " his intentions-, wherefore publickly he could only 
 " condefcend to feven years truce, a long peace being 
 " hardly obtained from men brought up in the free li- 
 " cence of war, who disdained to be restrained within 
 " the narrow limits of laws. Notwithstanding they 
 " mould undertake for him to king Henry, in the 
 " word of a prince, that this truce, before the expiring 
 " of it, mould be renewed, and with all folemnities a- 
 " gain confirmed. 
 
 The ambaffadors, reflecting his good- will towards 
 their king, accepted the conditions. Thus was there a 
 truce or peace covenanted and confirmed for feven years 
 to come between the two realms. 
 
 After fo many back-blows of fortune, and fuch can- 
 vaffing, the king, enjoying a peace with all his neigh- 
 bours abroad, became exceeding religious ; the miferies 
 of life drawing the mind to the coatemplations of what 
 
 Avail 
 
146 The History of the Reign 
 
 fhall be after it. During his refidence at Edinburgh he 
 was wont to come in proceffion from the abby of Holy- 
 rood-houfe to the churches in the high-town every 
 Wednefday and Friday. By which devotion he became 
 beloved of his people : nothing more winning their 
 hearts than the opinion they have of the fanctity of a 
 perfon. And that he did not this for the faihion nor 
 hypocritically, the application of his wit and power to 
 the adminiftration of ftriift jultice did prove : for he be- 
 gan to fupprefs the infolencies of (hong opprcfTors, de- 
 fend and maintain the rights of the poor, againft tyrants 
 and ab.ufers of their neighbours. He fitteth himielf in 
 council daily, and difpofeth affairs of moff. weight in 
 his own peribn. 
 
 In the month of October, following the peace with 
 England, 1487, a parliament was called, in which ma- 
 ny acts were made againft oppreffors : juftlces were ap- 
 pointed .to pafs through the whole kingdom, and fee 
 malefactors defer vedly punifhed. Acls were made, that 
 no convention of friends Ihould be fufFcred for the ac- 
 companying and defence of criminal perfons: butthat 
 every one attainted fliould appear at the molt with fix 
 proctors; that if found guilty, they mould not be reft 
 from juftice by ftrong hand. Such of the nobility who 
 feared and confequently hated him, finding how he had 
 acquired the love of his people by his piety in the ob- 
 fervance of religion, and his fevcrity in executing juftice* 
 were driven unto new meditations. They began to fu- 
 fpect he would one day free himfelf from thefe turbu- 
 lent fpirits who could not fuffcr him to enjoy a peace, 
 nor reign. He had advanced at this time to offices of 
 fiate and places, men whofe fortunes did wholly depend 
 upon his fafety and welfare : at which fome noblemen, 
 whofe ambition was to be in public charge and of the 
 council, pretending to that out of right, which was only 
 due unto them by favour, did highly florin, and look 
 upon thole others with envious eyes. The king thus 
 failing again into his old ficknefs, they bethought them 
 how to renew their old remedy. They were alfo jea- 
 lous of the rememberance of the differ vice they had done 
 him, and that he would never forget old quarrels ; they 
 were prepared and ready to make 1 tori of the 
 
 ilaie, 
 
of JAMES III. ' 147 
 
 ftate, but had not yet found their center to begin mo- 
 tion, nor a ground for rebellion. All this while there 
 was not matter enough for an infurrection, nor to di- 
 fpofe the people's hearts to a mutiny. 
 
 The king, delighted with his buildings of the caftle of 
 Stirling, and the amenity of the place, for he had raif- 
 ed there a fair and fpacious hall, and founded a college 
 for divine lervice, which he named the chapel royal ; 
 and beginning to be poiTeifed and taken up with the reli- 
 gion of thefe times, endeavoured to endow this founda- 
 tion with conftant rents and ample revenues, and make 
 this rock the choice fanctuary of his devotions. The 
 priory of Coldingham, then vacant and fallen in his 
 hands, he annexed the fame to his chapel royal, and 
 procured an adt of parliament that none of the lieges 
 mould attempt to do contrary to this union and anne- 
 xation, or to make anyimpetration thereof at the court 
 of Rome under the pain of treafom The priors of this 
 convent having been many years of the name of Hume j 
 it was by the gentlemen of that name furmifed, that 
 they mould be interested, and wronged in their eftates, 
 by reafon of the tithes, and other cafualties appertain- 
 ing to this benefice, if a prior of any other firname were 
 promoted to this place. The king being often petiti- 
 oned and implored, that he mould not alter the accu- 
 ftomed form of the election of that prior, nor remove 
 it from their name, nor fufFer the revenues to be other- 
 ways bellowed than they were wont to be of old ; and 
 he continuing in his refolution of annexing them to the 
 chapel; after long paufing and deliberation amcngit 
 themfelves, as men ftirred up by the malecontents and 
 a proud faclion, fit for any the mod dangerous enter- 
 prize, they proceed upon itronger grounds to overturn 
 his intentions and divert his purpofe. The lord Hailes, 
 and others of the firname of H e p b u r n, had been their 
 conftant friends, allies, and neighbours ; with them they 
 enter into a combination, that they Ihould mutually 
 ftand to the defence of one another, and not fufFer any 
 prior to be received for Coldingham, if he were not one 
 of their two firnames. This covenant is firft privately 
 by fome mean gentlemen fworn, who after draw on 
 their chiefs to be o( the party. Of how fcxall beginning* 
 K dotb 
 
148 The History of the ReigK 
 
 doth a great mifchief arife! The male-contented lords, 
 knowing thefetwo lirnames to Be numerous, active, and 
 powerful in thofe parts of the country where they re- 
 mained, lay hold upon this overture, and beginning from 
 their particulars, they make the caufe to be general ; 
 they fpread rumours abroad, " That the king was be- 
 " come terrible and not to be trulted; notwithftanding 
 " all his proteftations and outward demeanor, that he 
 " yet meditated revenge, and had begun to invade and 
 " fhake the ancient privileges of the Humes, more 
 " out of fpite and difcontent againft them for having 
 '• affifted and followed the lords of the reformation of 
 " the ltate, than any intention of the increafing the 
 <c rents of his new erected chapel. That ere long he 
 *' would be avenged upon all whom he either knew 
 " were acceffary, or fufpected to have been upon the 
 " plot of Lawder bridge, or his commitment in the 
 " cattle of Edinburgh ; that it was fometime better to 
 " commit a fault unpardonable, than venture under 
 " the pardon ; that the king had taken a refolution to 
 11 live upon the people's contributions, and give his 
 u own revenues to particular men. The faults of his 
 " counfellors are highly exaggerated ; they were bafe 
 " perfbns, and he himfelf given to difTimulation, mil- 
 ** devotion, and revenge-, as occafion /erved he would 
 - remember old wrongs : it was good to obey a king, 
 *' but not to lay the head upon a block to him, if a 
 " man could fave himfelf." 
 
 After a long fmother of difcontent and hatred of the 
 nobility and people, rancour breaking daily forth into 
 feditions and alterations ; the lords H H E and Hailes 
 being the ring- leaders, many noblemen and gentlemen 
 under feigned pretences, elpecially the courfes of fwift 
 horfes, keep frequent meetings ; where they renew 
 their covenant agreed upon at Lawder church, the ne- 
 cefTity of the times and the danger of the commonwealth 
 requiring it, and gave their oaths, that at what timefo- 
 ever the king Ihould challenge them direclly or indire- 
 ctly, or wrong them in their rights, poifeffions, places, 
 or perfons, they fhould abide together as if they were 
 a!l one body, efpoufe each other's quarrels; and the 
 
 wrongs 
 
of JAMES III. 149 
 
 wrongs done to any one of them fhould be done to 
 them all. 
 
 When the king underftood the confederacy of the 
 lords, to anticipate the danger, he made choice of a 
 guard for the prefervation of his perfon and fervants, of 
 which he made John Ramsay ofBalmain, a man 
 whom he had preferved at Lawder, and advanced to be 
 mailer of his houihold at court, captain; giving him a 
 warrant not to fuffer any man in arms to approach the 
 court by fome miles. This, inltead of cooling, exafpe- 
 rated the choler of the malecontcnts, and ftirred them 
 to afTemble with numerous retinues all in arms. The 
 king fcarce believing the minds of fo many were corrupt- 
 ed, and perfuading himfelfthe authority of the public 
 name of a king would fupply the want of fome power, 
 iummoned certain of them upon forty days to anfwer 
 according to law. 
 
 Of thofe fome rent his fummonds, and beat (hame- 
 fully his heralds and melfengers for difcharging their 
 offices : others appeared, but with numbers of their ad- 
 herents, friends, allies and vaflals. And here he found, 
 that the faults of great delinquents are not without great 
 danger taken notice of, and reprehended : he ufed fome 
 ftratagems to furprize the heads and chiefs of their fa- 
 ction ; but unadvifedly giving trufi to the promifes of 
 thofe who lent their ears, but not their hearts to his 
 words, his defigns were difcovered before they produced 
 any effecl: : his fecrets all laid open to his great hatred 
 and difadvantage, the difcoverers taking themfelves 
 to the factious rebels, and cherilhing unkind thoughts 
 in all whom they faw diftalted with his government. 
 Perceiving himfelf betrayed, and his intentions divulg- 
 ed, he remained in great doubt to whom he fhouid give 
 credit. The nature and manner ol all things changed 
 by the league of the confederates, he thought it high 
 time to remove a little further from that torrent which 
 might have overwhelmed him, and made them mailers 
 ofhis perfon. To temporize and win time, he caufed 
 fninilh the caftles of Edinburgh and Stirling, with pro- 
 vilion of victual, ammunition, and garrifons to defend 
 them from the dangers of" war-, he refolved to make his 
 abode beyond the river of Forth, and to leave the South 
 K 2 parts 
 
xj*o The History of the Reign 
 
 parts of the kingdom. After which deliberation, he 
 entered a (hip of Sir An dr e w Wood (a famous na- 
 vigator and flout commander at fea) which pretended 
 to make fail for the low-countries, and was lying at 
 anchor in the Forth. Thefe who faw him aboard fpread 
 a rumour that he was flying to Flanders. The lords 
 of the infurreclion, making ufe of this faJfe report, feiz- 
 ed on his carriage in the pafTages towards the North/ 
 rifled his coffers, fpoiled his fervants of their fluff and 
 baggage. And then after certainty that he was but land- 
 ed in Fife, and from that was in progrefs to the North- 
 ern parts, preparing and directing his good fubjedls to 
 beinreadinefs to attend him at his return, they furprized 
 the caftle of Dunbar. The rnony found in his coffers. 
 hire foldiers againll him, and the harnefs and weapons 
 of his magazines arm them. Having gathered fome 
 companies together, tumultuoufly they over-run the 
 countries upon the South of the Forth, rifling and plun- 
 dering all men who went not with them, or whom they 
 fufpecled not to favour their defperate and feditious 
 ends. In his progrefs the king held juftice courts at 
 Aberdeen and Invernefs, where W i lliam lord 
 Creighton, not long before forfeited with the duke 
 of Albany, fubmitted himfelf to his clemency, and was 
 received into favour and pardoned : after which grace he 
 fhortly left this world. Whilft the king in the North, 
 the lords in the South are making their preparations ; 
 ■when they were aflembled at Linlithgow, they find them- 
 felves many in number and ftrong in power, the fuc- 
 cefs of their proceedings being above their hopes. There 
 only wanted a man eminently in efleem with the peo- 
 ple, and noble of birth, to give luftre to their aclion?, 
 fhadow their rebellion, and be the titular and painted 
 head of their arms. When they had long deliberated 
 upon this great man, they affented all that there was none 
 to be paralleled to the prince of Rothefay, the king's own 
 fon. So ftrongly providence befools all human wil- 
 dom and forefight ! His keepers being corrupted by 
 gifts, penfions, and promifes of divers rewards, he is 
 delivered into their hands ; and by threats, that they 
 would otherwife give up the kingdom to the king of 
 England, heisconltrained to go with them. To height- 
 en 
 
of JAMES III. 151 
 
 en the hatred againft the king, and the chofelier to de- 
 ceive the people (for the love of fubjecls is fuch towards 
 their natural kings, that except they be firft deceived 
 by fome pretence and notable fophifm, they will not 
 arife altogether in arms and rebel) they make proclama- 
 tions, and by their deputies, by (vay of remonftrances, 
 fpread abroad feditious papers, (in what a fea of blood 
 would thefe men launch into !) " That all true fubjecls 
 " fhould come in defence of the prince, and take arms; be- 
 " caufe his father's jealoufies and fuperftitious fears were 
 " rifen to that height, that nothing but his fon's death 
 " or imprifonment could temperate them. That he 
 " was raifing an army to take his fon out of their bai 
 " that he might do with him as he had done with his 
 " own brothers ; that force was the only means to work 
 *' his fafety, and keep the plotters of this mifchief with- 
 • in bounds. They alfo ihould take arms to reduce 
 *' the government to a better form, for that the king- 
 " dom was oppreffed with infupportable grievances j 
 ** the king being altogether given to follow the advice, 
 " projects andcounfeis of bale men; to amafs and ga- 
 '' ther great fums of mony from his people, upon which 
 «* he ftudieu to maintain his court and ilate, and give 
 " away his own." 
 
 When this engine was prepared for the people, and 
 fpread abroad, they fent to the earl of Douglas, then 
 ciofely as a monk lhut up in the abbey of Lindores, to 
 come out, be of the party, and aiTift them with his 
 counfel and friends, promiixng, if their attempt had 
 happy fuccefs, to reltore him again to his ancient pof- 
 feiiions and heritage, former dignities, and the places of 
 honour of his anceltors. The earl, whom time and long 
 experience had made wary and circumfpeel, having a 
 -fufpicion, that the earl of Angus, who polTefled the 
 greater! part of his eftate, had been the chief motioner 
 of this liberty, and that rather to try what he would 
 do, than that he minded really to fet him free, refufed 
 to come out of his cloifter ; and by his letters diiTuad- 
 ed them from their bold enterprizeagainft their prince; 
 wilhing they would fet his houfe and himfelf for a pat- 
 tern and prefident of rebellion. He fent to all fuch of 
 his friends, whom his difafters had left unruined, to 
 K 3 take 
 
152 The History of the Reigm 
 
 take arms for the king, as the Douglasses of Ca- 
 vers and others. 
 
 The king neither lofing courage nor council, for the 
 greatnefs of the danger of the rebellion, trufting much 
 to his good fortune, with fuch forces as came with him 
 from the North, in captain W ood's fliips, and other 
 boats and veffels prepared to that end, paffeth the Forth 
 near Blacknefs, an old fortrefs and fea-port in Weft Lo- 
 thian, not far from the caftle of Abercorn, and that 
 place where the forces of the earl of Douglas left him, 
 and the king his father obtained fo harmlefs a victory. 
 Before the arrival of the king at this place, the earl of 
 Glencairn, lords Graham, Maxwell and R u t 11- 
 ven, with others, advertifed by letters of the rende- 
 vous„ had come to the place, had encamped, and were 
 attending him. And he muttered a fufficient army to 
 rencounter the lords of the affociation, who from all 
 quarters were affembled, having with them the prince to 
 add authority to their quarrel. The two armies being in 
 readinefs to decide their differences by a battle, the earl 
 of Athole the king's uncle fo travelled between the lords 
 of either party and the king, that a fufpenfion of arms 
 and reconcilement was agreed upon : and the earl of 
 Athole rendered himfelf a pledge for the accomplifhing 
 of the king's part of the reconcilement, to the lord 
 Hailes, and was fent to be kept in the caftle of 
 Dunbar. 
 
 This was not a fmall fault of this prince : the con- 
 federate forces were not at this time equal to his, nei- 
 ther had they effayed to hinder the landing of his army, 
 being but in gathering ; the caftle of Blacknefs was for 
 his defence, and his lhips travcrfing up and down the 
 Forth, in cafe of neceffity, for fuccour. That if he had 
 hazarded a battle, he had been near to have recovered 
 all that reputation he had before loft. Now upon ei- 
 ther fide fome common foldiers are disbanded, fbme 
 gentlemen licenfed to return to their own dwelling- 
 places. The king in a peaceable manner retireth to 
 the caftle of Edinburgh. The earl of Athole was now 
 removed from him, and many of the other lords who 
 loved him returned to their houfes; the counfel of man 
 not being able to refill the determinations of God. The 
 
 lords 
 
of J AM ES III. 152 
 
 lords fufpetfing ftill the king to be implacable in their 
 
 behalf, and unacceffiblein his cartle, keeping the prince 
 
 always with them, entering upon new meditations, hold 
 
 fundry meetings how to have his perlbn in their power, 
 
 and make him a prey to their ambitious defigns. The 
 
 town of Edinburgh is peftered with troops ofarmed men, 
 
 and the villages about replenifhed with foldiers. The 
 
 king warned of his danger, fortifies of new the caftle of 
 
 Edinburgh for his defence, and is brought to fuch a 
 
 tamenefs, that relblving to do that with the love of e- 
 
 very man, which he feared in end he fhould be con- 
 
 ftrained unto, with the univerfal hatred of all, and his 
 
 own damage and danger, out of a paffive fortitude fent 
 
 commiiTioners, indifferent noblemen, to the lords and 
 
 his fon, to underftand their intentions, and what they 
 
 meant : " Why his fon was kept from him, and con- 
 
 " tinued the head of their faction ? Why his uncle was 
 
 ,c lb clofely imprifoned, and himfelf, as it were, block- 
 
 «• ed up by their tumultuous meetings in arms? He 
 
 " was content they mould have an abolition of all that 
 
 " was part, that their punifliments mould not be infi- 
 
 " nitely extended, and that they Ihould think upon a 
 
 " general agreement after the bell: and fitted: manner 
 
 ** they could devife and fet down." They, finding 
 
 their offence flew higher than hopes of pardon could a- 
 
 fcend unto, their fufpicions, and the confidence of their 
 
 crime committed, breeding fuch a diftruft out of an ap- 
 
 preheniion of fear, anfwered, " That they found no 
 
 * true meaning. Open war was to be preferred to a 
 
 " peace full of deceit, danger and fears; that being af- 
 
 '« lured he would weave out his begun projecls againft 
 
 " them, they could not think of any fafety, nor have 
 
 " affurance of their lives nor fortunes, unlefs he freely 
 
 " religned the title of his crown and realm in favours 
 
 '•' of his fon, and voluntarily depofed himfelf, leaving 
 
 «* the government of his people and kingdom to the 
 
 '' lords of his parliament, diverting himfelf wholly of 
 
 " his royal dignity. Neither would they come to any 
 
 " fubmifiion or capitulation, until he confented to this 
 
 " main point, and granted it fubmiffively." 
 
 King James, notwithftanding of this anfwer, after 
 
 a clear profpe<ft of the inconveniences and mifchiefs 
 
 K 4 which 
 
154 The History of the Reign 
 
 which were growing, and the many injuries, indigni- 
 ties, and affronts put upon him, yet really affecling a 
 peace, {ought unto Henry king of England, as alfo 
 to the pope, and king of France, to make an atonement 
 between him and his fubjecls. The kings accordingly 
 interpofed their mediation in a round and princely man- 
 ner, not only by way of requeft and perfuafion ; but 
 alfo by way of proteftation and menace, declaring, 
 " That they thought it to be the common caufe of all 
 " kings, if fubjecls fhould be fuffered to give laws unto 
 " their fovereign ; a legitimate king, though a tyrant, 
 " was not fubordinate to the authority of fubjecls. James 
 " was not a tyrant, his errors proceeding molt part 
 " from youth and evil counfel ; that, fuppofe the king 
 " had done them wrong, it was not wifely done, for a 
 <k deiire of revenge, to endanger their particular eftates, 
 " and the peace and (landing of the whole kingdom. 
 " What ftate was there ever fo pure, but fbme corrup- 
 " tion might creep into it? That they fhould be very 
 *.' cautious how they fliook the frame of monarchical go- 
 " vernment too far ; that they would accordingly re- 
 " fent and revenge it." Rage prevailing againft reafon 
 and fears, the lords made that fame anfwer to thefe am- 
 baffadors which they had fent to the king himfelf before. 
 As for the pope's embaffy, which, being fent by A dri- 
 an de Castello an Italian legate, was coming, 
 the lords fearing the danger of it (for in thofe times it 
 might have drawn the mod part of all the towns and 
 the commons, for fear of ecclcliaftical cenfures, to 
 have adhered to the king, or flood in an indifFerency) 
 made all poffible hafte, before it fhould have been deli- 
 vered, to make head againft their fovereign, and decide 
 their quarrel in a battle: Urban IV. armed Hen- 
 ry III. king of England againfl all thofc that would 
 not return to their due and old obedience to him, and 
 againft all his difloyal fubjecls. 
 
 The king was in a ftrong fort, and if he had remained 
 ftill there, matters in a little time had fallen forth more 
 to his wifhes, and his enemies might have been brought 
 to a fubmiffiorj : for his good fubjecls of the North, as 
 the Forbes ses, Ogh.bies, the Grants, Fra- 
 3, Meldru m s, many of the G o r d o n s, 
 
 Keiths, 
 
of JAMES III. i 55 - 
 
 Keiths, and others, who adhered to him out of af- 
 fection and duty, were advancing towards him. But 
 whether mifinformed or betrayed by fome of his own, 
 who made him believe that unlefs he could command 
 the country about Edinburgh, the caftie was of no fuch 
 importance as was the cattle of Stirling for him, in 
 confideration of the paflage over the river of Forth at 
 a bridge for thofe who were coming to his aid : the 
 lords of the aftbciation counterfeiting a retreat, and dif- 
 perfing themfelves in the country, that they might 
 draw him from that hold, he rafhly and unadvifedly if- 
 fued out of the caftie, and left his beloved town of 
 Edinburgh. The earl of Glencairn, lords Graham, 
 Maxwell, and Ruthven, accompanied him to 
 Blacknefs. His forces here encreafing, he marched to- 
 ward Stirling, the rendevous and deftinated place of 
 meeting for all his loyal fubjedts ; there he dilplayed 
 his royal ftandard : here the perfidious conftable, an un- 
 paralleled example of ingratitude, who had betrayed the 
 Ibn, in an hoftile manner, kept the father out of his own 
 caftie, cannons mounted, piftols cockt, and levelled 
 at him, and expofed him a prey to his rebels. In the 
 amazement and deliberation what next to go about, be- 
 ing thus ftiut out of his caftie, tidings came to him, that 
 the confederates were come near to Falkirk, a little 
 town fix miles Eaftward from Stirling. That his army 
 mould not be difcouraged by this unexpected accident, 
 trufting to his right and prefent power, being more flout 
 than prudent, he refolveth to fet all upon the hazard 
 of a battle. The confederates had palTed the Carron, 
 a river under Falkirk, and were encamped above the 
 bridge near the Torwood : The king fet forward with 
 his army upon the other fide of the Torwood, near a 
 i'mall brook named Sawchy-burn. This field is a plain 
 not far diftant from that of Bannock-burn, where king 
 Robert Bruce overthrew the great army of Ed- 
 ward of Caernarvan. Here both armies advance for- 
 ward in battle array. 
 
 The lords ranged their hoft in three fquadrons; the 
 van-guard was led by the lords Hume and Hailes, 
 and their friends, confifting of Eaft Lothian and Merfe- 
 men - } the middle ward was compofed of the Liddefdale, 
 
 Annan- 
 
156 The History of the Reign 
 
 Annandale, Ewfdale, Teviotdale, Tweddale, and Gal- 
 ]o\vay-men : the main battle was of Weft Lothian-men, 
 where moft of the lords were, and amongft whom the 
 prince was kept. In the king's army, the earl ofMon- 
 teith, lords Erskine, Graham, Ruthven, and 
 Maxwell, commanded the van-guard. The left wing 
 which confifted of Weftland and Highlandmen, was 
 committed to the earl of Glencairn. The lords Boyd 
 and Lindsay, and the earl of Crawfurd, command- 
 ed in the rear or great battle, amongft whom was the 
 king armed from head to foot upon a great courfer, eafy 
 to be known and difcerned from the reft. The firft 
 charge is valiantly given, and launce meeting with 
 launce, the vanguard of the lords began to yield 
 ground, and was ftrongly repulfed. But the next 
 charge being given by the Annandale-men and the rank 
 riders of the borders, the middle ward of the king's ar- 
 my is beaten back to the main battle. Notwithftand- 
 jng which it is fought a-while with marvellous obfti- 
 nacy and great hardinefs and aiTurance, until the ftand- 
 ard royal was beaten down, and thofe who had defended it 
 were flain, the violence of the bickering being moftly 
 where it was planted. The king's army now beginning 
 to bow, not being fufficient to refift the numbers of frefti 
 aflailers, the horfe-men, obeying no direction, turned 
 their backs. ■ In this rout and confufion of horfe and 
 foot, the king, feeking to retire towards the river of 
 Forth, where not far off fome boats and the fhips of 
 Sir Andrew Wood attended the fortune of battle, 
 by the fall of his horfe, in leaping a ditch, being fore 
 bruited, was carried by fuch who knew him not to a 
 mill at Bannock-burn. The day was now the confe- 
 derates, and wrong had prevailed againft right, when 
 the prince of Rothcfay, amazed at the noife and cla- 
 mours of the flying and following foldiers, and in fufpi- 
 cion oftheworft, gave out exprefs and (trait command- 
 ment, with threatenings to the difobevers, that none 
 fhould prefumc to purfuc his father, nor others in the 
 chafe. Notwithftanding which, he was followed and 
 killed in a mill in cold blood. Thefe who followed 
 him were the lord Grey, Robert Stirling of 
 Kcir, and Sir A n d r e w B o r t h w i c k a prieft, whom 
 
 fame 
 
of JAMES III. 157 
 
 fame reporteth, after fhriving, to have {tabbed him with 
 a dagger. 
 
 The enfigns taken, the army diffipated and put to 
 flight, and the baggage rifled, the death of the king 
 being rumored through the armies, the vidtors turn- 
 ed flow in the chafe, and gave field-room to ali that 
 would fly, no feverity being ufed againft any found 
 unarmed; for the lords of the afTociation purfued the 
 king, not the people. The difcomfired fled towards 
 Stirling; the victorious retired to their camp, and the 
 next morning to Linlithgow. On the king's fide, 
 Alexander Cuningham earl of Glencairn was 
 flain, and, as fome have recorded, the lords Erskine, 
 Semple, and Ruth v en, John Ramsay of Bal- 
 main, created earl of Bothwel, and his chief favorite, 
 with their friends and vafTals ; the laird of Innes, Ale- 
 xander Scot director of the chancery, with fbme 
 noblemens friends and vafTals. Many were hurt, who 
 recovered of their wounds : and this battle feemed ra- 
 ther a brave encounter and meeting of launces in fome 
 lifts, than a field of great deeds of arms ; and the vi- 
 ctory was obtained rather by diforder, and the rafhnefs 
 jo£ the vanquished, than by the valour of the victorious. 
 This battle was fought the year 1488. the eleventh day 
 of June, which is the feftival of St. Barnabas, the 29th 
 year of the reign, and 35th of the age of this king. He 
 had illue James IV. who fucceeded, Alexander 
 arch-bilhop of St. Andrews, and John earl of Mar. 
 The confpirators with all funeral rites and royal pomp, 
 as in expiation of the wrongs they had done him iiving, 
 near his queen in the abby church of Cambufkenneth, 
 buried his body. 
 
 This king, as to his perfonage, was of a ftature fbme- 
 what higher than ordinary, well proportioned ; his hair 
 was black, his vifage was rather long than round, ap- 
 proaching in colour more to thofe in the Southern than 
 Northern climates. As to his conditions, he was a 
 prince of an haughty and towering fpirit, loved to go- 
 vern alone, affecting an abfolute power and royal prero- 
 gative over his people. He knew that noblemen were 
 of his ptedecefTors making, as the coin, and why he 
 might not put his ftamp upon the fame metal, or when 
 
 thefe 
 
158 The History of the Reign 
 
 thefe old medals were defaced, that he might not re- 
 found them, and give them a new print, he thought no 
 fufficient reafon could be given. His reign feemeth a 
 theatre fpread over with mourning, and ftained with 
 blood, where in a revolution many tragedies were a- 
 cted. Neither were the neighbour kingdoms about in 
 a calmer eftate during his reign. France under Lou- 
 is XI; England under Henry VI. Edward IV. 
 and Richard the ufurper ; Flanders and Holland un- 
 der Charles the warlike; Arnold duke of Gueld- 
 ers was imprifoned by his own fon : As if the heavenly 
 influences were fometimes altogether fet to produce up- 
 on ihis ball of the earth nothing but confpiracies, trea- 
 fons and troubles, and for the wickednefs of the in- 
 habitants, to deprive them of all rell and contentment. 
 This king is by the moll condemned, as a raft), im- 
 prudent, dangerous prince : good people make good 
 kings. When a people run directly to oppofe the au- 
 thority of their fovereign, and aftume rebellion andar- 
 rogancy for obedience, refining his fairefl motions and 
 molt profitable commandments ; if a king be martial, 
 in a fhoit time they are beaten and brought under; if 
 he be politic, prudent and forefeeing, in a longer time, 
 as wild deer, they are furprized, and either brought 
 back to their firlt order and condition, or thralled to 
 greater miferies. If he be weak and fuffer in his repu- 
 tation or ftate or perfon by them, the prince who fuc- 
 ceedeth is ordinarily the revenger of his wrongs. And 
 all confpiracies of fubjecls, if they profper not in a high 
 degree, advance the fovereignty. This prince feemeth 
 not to have been naturally evil inclined, but to have 
 been conftrained to leave his natural inclination, and 
 neceflitated to run upon precipices and dangers ; his 
 turbulent fubjecls never fuffering him to have reft. 
 Many princes who in the beginning of their reigns have 
 been admired for their fair actions, by the ingratitude 
 of their fubjetfs have turned from one extremity to 
 another, and become their rebellious fubjccls exe- 
 cutioners. He was provoked to do many things by 
 the infolence of private men : and what fome call 
 tyranny and fierceneis in a prince, is but juft i'evc- 
 
 rity. 
 
of JAMES III. 159 
 
 rity. He fought to be feared, believing it to be 
 the only way to obedience. It is true, injuries took, 
 i'uch deep impremons in his mind, that no after-fervice 
 could blot them away. The taking away of his fa- 
 vorites, made him ftudy revenge, which if he had not 
 done, he had had too much of the ftoical virtues, little 
 of the heroical. 
 
 Thefe who blame princes, under a pure and abfolute 
 monarchy, for having favorites, would have them in- 
 humane, bafe and contemptible, and would deprive 
 them of power to confer favours, according to the di- 
 ftinguilhing power of their underftanding and concepti- 
 ons. The choice a prince maketh of men whom he ad* 
 vanceth to great employments, is not fubject to any 
 man's cenfure. And were it bad, yet ought it to be 
 pa(Ted over, if not approved ; left the difcretion and 
 judgment of the prince be queftioned, and his reputa* 
 tion wounded: favorites are fhrines to fhadow princes 
 from their people. Why mould a people not allow a 
 prince fome to whom he may unmafk himfelf, and dif- 
 cover the fecrets of his heart? If his fecrets Ihould be 
 imparted to many, they would be no longer fecrets. 
 Why mould it be impofed on a prince to love ail his 
 fubjetfs alike, lince he is not beloved of them all alike? 
 This is a deflre to tyrannize over the affections of prin- 
 ces, whom men mould reverence. 
 
 He feemeth too much to have delighted in retired- 
 nefs, and to have been a hater of bufinefs; and that 
 he troubled not himfelf with any but for formality's fake, 
 more defirous of quietnefs than honour. This was the 
 fault of the governors of his youth, who put him off 
 bulinefs of ftate, that they might the more eafily reach 
 their own ends, and by making him their fhadow, go- 
 vern after their pleafure, Of this delight in folitarineis s 
 his brothers took their advantage, and wan the people 
 to their obfervance. 
 
 He was much given to buildings and triming up of 
 chapels, halls and gardens, as ufually are the lovers of 
 idlenefs; and the rareft frames of churches and palaces 
 in Scotland were moftly railed about his time: an hu- 
 mour, which though it be allowable in men who have 
 
 nos 
 
160 The History of the Reigjt 
 
 not not much to do, yet it is harmful in princes ; as to 
 be taken with admiration of watches, clocks, dials, au- 
 tomates, pictures and ftatues. For the art of princes is 
 to give laws, and govern their people with wifdom in 
 peace, and glory in war; to fpare the humble, and pro- 
 itrate the proud. 
 
 He is blamed of avarice, yet there is no great mat- 
 ters recorded of it, fave the encroaching upon the deal- 
 ing, and taking the giving to whom he pleafed of church 
 benefices, which, if he had lived in our times, would 
 have been held a virtue. He was of a credulous dif- 
 pofition, and therefore eafy to be abufed, which hath 
 moved lome to record, he was given to divination, and 
 to inquire of future accidents; which, if it be credible, 
 was the fault of thole times. Edward IV. of Eng- 
 land is faid to have had that fame fault, and that by the 
 milinterpretation of a prophecy of a necromancer, which 
 foretold that one, the firft letter of whole name was G, 
 {hould ufurp the kingdom, and difpoffefs the children 
 of king Edward, he took away his brother George 
 duke of Clarence ; which being really praftifed in Eng- 
 land, fome Scotiih writers (that a king of Scotland (hould 
 not be inferior in wickednefs to any of his neighbour 
 princes) without grounds have recorded the fame to 
 have been done by this king. His love was great to 
 learned men, he ufed as counfellors in his important 
 affairs John Ireland a doitor of divinity, and one 
 of the Sorbon in Paris, made arch-deacon of St. An- 
 drews, Mr. Robert Blackader, whom he pro- 
 moted to be bifhop of Glafgow, Mr. William El- 
 phinston, whom of an official or commilfary of 
 Lothian, he furrogated in the place of Mr. Robert 
 Blackader, and made bifhop of Aberdeen; and his 
 faults either in religion or policy may be attributed to 
 thefe and his other counfellors. 
 
 Many have thought that the fatal chariot of his 
 precipice was, that he had equally offended kindred, 
 clergy, nobility, and people. But fuppofe this had 
 been true, why fhould fuch an horrible mifchief have 
 been devifed, as to arm his own fon againft him? And 
 that neither the fear of divine juftice, nor the refpecl 
 
 of 
 
of JAMES III. 161 
 
 of infamy with the prefent or after-times, nor the dan- 
 ger of the example, had power to divert the minds 
 of men from fuch a cruel defign! This was really to 
 feethe the kid in the mother's milk, and to make an 
 innocent youth obnoxious to the moil hainous crime 
 that could be committed. "Whatever curtains could 
 be fpread to overfhadow and cover this mifchief, the 
 horror of this fact poiTeired this prince to his laft hour, 
 and God out of his juftice executed the revenge of this 
 cruelty upon the nobles, commons, and the prince 
 himfelf, at the field ofFlowden; where fome of the 
 chief aftors of this parricide were in their own perfbns, 
 others in the perfons of their fucceflbrs, facriiiced to 
 the ghoft of this king. 
 
 T H K 
 
THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Life and Reign 
 
 O F 
 
 JAMES IV. 
 
 TH E lords who had chofen rather to be reputed 
 famous rebels than contemned fubjects, by their 
 boidnefs of enterprizing, (kill of managing the public 
 affairs, and continued purchafes, fwelling to that great- 
 nefs of power, that they found none to counterpoife, 
 few to oppofe their defigns -, to make their rebellion law- 
 ful, and lhow the world they intended not the fubver- 
 fion of their country, but of their opinionative king, 
 nor that they did diilike fovereignty, fo they might 
 have a prince who would be ruled by their directions, 
 take the name, and leave to them the majefty and au- 
 thority of his place; after the killing of the father, 
 call a parliamentfor the inftaliing of the fon in the roy- 
 al throne. Few of the three eftates here meeting* ex-> 
 cept themfelves, and the commiflioners of buroughs, 
 in the month of June, the year 1488, at Edinburgh 
 the prince is crowned, then having n>t attained the fix- 
 L teenth 
 
164 The History of the Reign 
 
 teenth year of his age. Though thef'e men had afTum- 
 ed the government, yet in divers parts of the country, 
 they had but doubtful obedience, nor was their autho- 
 rity univerfally acknowleged, the flames of difTenfion 
 feeming yet neither to be extinguiflied, nor altogether 
 {mothered with the life of the late king. On the fea, 
 Sir Andrew Wood, who had attended the event of 
 the laft battle, maintained refolutely the quarrel of his 
 dead matter. Five tall (hips fent by the king of Eng- 
 land to his confederate's aid, but which came too late, 
 pretending a revenge upon hisdifloyal fubjects, pillaged 
 the maritime towns, and forraged the adjacent parts of 
 the country, fhut up the mouth of the river of Forth, 
 and interrupted the commerce of merchants. To re- 
 pel which violence, the (hips gathered by the lords 
 Struggled in vain, being every way inferior and weak to 
 fupprefs their incurfions and algarads. On the land, 
 the forces of thofe who had flood out for the late king, 
 had rather been by the laft conflict fcattered, than 
 throughly broken and brought under. The ableft and 
 mod convenient companies which were gathered to his 
 afliftance, having never aflembled and joined in one bo- 
 dy, the fight being inconfiderably precipitated, and the 
 dye thrown before they could delcend from the far 
 mountains, and crols the fordlefs rivers : and of thofe 
 who were in the fray not many being taken prifoners, 
 and fewer killed, falling under the weight of friendly 
 arms. 
 
 The prime men of thofe who had chofen rather juftly 
 to follow the king, than profitably his rebels, finding 
 themfelves for their loyalty, and that good-will which 
 they had carried to their fovereign, perfecuted and pro- 
 fcribed in their fortunes and perfons, inflamed with in- 
 dignation and fhame, relblve to oppofe wifdom to for- 
 tune, courage to ftrength, and to hazard fome one day 
 more for the repairing the lofTes of former. T he pillage be- 
 gun upon the feas by the Englifli animating them; and 
 being defirous to make as many fellows of their danger 
 as they could, they lend letters through all the quarters 
 of the kingdom to their friends, familiars and confede- 
 rates, encouraging them to ply the bufinefs generoufly. 
 oppofing their valour and courage to the ltrcngth and 
 
 power 
 
of JAMES IV. 1 6s 
 
 power of the abufers of the prince. Ity public writings 
 they ca(t afperfions on the prefent government. After 
 that battle of Stirling, and fince the coronation of the 
 king, they had not fallen in the power and mercy of a 
 monarch, but under an oligarchy, the moft depraved 
 form of all governments ; the name and title of a king, 
 a young man fcarce fixteen years of age enjoyed, but he 
 governed not, but was by the killers of his father mif- 
 governed, who under falfe pretences intended the ruin 
 of the (late. " What reproach and fliame would it be, 
 *• not only with all men now living, but alfo with po- 
 " fterity, to fuffer thefe who had hazarded what they 
 " had deareft for the honour and prefervation of their 
 *' prince, to be branded with the name of traitors, be 
 *' baniihed and followed to death -, whilft the tranfgref- 
 «' fors and abufers of all laws, divine and human, fit 
 " judges over them, as revengers of general wrongs, 
 " ufurping the titles of deliverers of the country, and 
 " restorers of the commonwealth, amongft whole paws 
 " the prefent king could not be aiTured and fafe ; they 
 u being the men, who, tojuitify their injuftice, and 
 " make their faift meritorious, brought him in arms, 
 w not knowing whither, againft his king and father, 
 '* moft wofully taken away: befides the abufing of his 
 " name and authority in every civil matter. The late 
 " king had loll: the day and himfelf by his own errors, 
 " not by their power and defigns. Now they fhould op- 
 " pofe their proceedings : and though they might be 
 <c efteemed inferior in number to them ; yet, if they met 
 " together, they might be found equal to them in worth 
 " and courage, being puft up by the laft misfortune, 
 " and only putting their confidence in that they obtain- 
 " ed their defigns." 
 
 Much being projected and defigned for their meeting 
 in arms, in the North Alexander lord F o r b e s, a 
 man born neither to reft himfelf, nor fuffer others, in 
 Aberdeen and other towns, on the point of alaunce dis- 
 played the (fiirt of the flaughtered king purpled with his 
 blood, inviting the country, as by an herald, to the re- 
 venge of his murther. In the Weft the earl of Lenox, 
 a man eminent by his birth and fortune hath the fame 
 refolutionj the earl Marifhal, lords Gordon and 
 
 L 2 LVI.E 
 
166 The History of the Reign 
 
 Lyle, with their confederates in other parts of the 
 kingdom, where their power or eloquence could pre- 
 vail, move all their engines to advance the enterprise, 
 and put every thing in readinefs. 
 
 The lords of the infurrection having the young king 
 in their hands to countenance their proceedings, join- 
 ing difcretion to their good fuccefs, determine, except 
 upon neceffity, not to fpill more civil blood. And to 
 dilperfe the clouds of that appearing ftorm, they en- 
 courage Sir Andrew Wood, now received in fa vour s 
 and brought not only to be no enemy, but to be their 
 friend and fellow-helper (having obtained from them the 
 barony of Largow, dilpofed to him hereditarly, of which 
 before he had only a leafe of the late king for his firft 
 fervice) with his mips to clear the Forth, and fcour the 
 feas of the Englifh. And thev launch out to his aflift- 
 ance the veffcls and boats of the havens near adjacent. 
 At that fame time John lord Drummqnd fteward of 
 Strathern, a nobleman couragious and adventurous, 
 is directed to wait upon the earl of Lenox, flop his ra- 
 vaging and wafting the country, and keep him back 
 from joining with his confederates of the North, and in- 
 fefting the more civil parts ; being the greateft, ablefl 
 and nearefl man of that faclion. The earl had raifed 
 many High land and Weft-land men, recorded to be 
 two thoufand ; but when he could not pafs the river of 
 Forth at the bridge of Stirling, the lords having inveft- 
 ed the town, he effayeth to pafs among the fens and ma- 
 rifhes at a ford not far from the head of the river, where 
 ether his confederates had appointed to meet him. 
 Whilft he is encamped at Tilly-mofs, far from all ap- 
 pearance of fufpicion of danger, the lord Drummonp, 
 by the advertilement of Alexander Mackealp 
 (who had taken arms with the earl only to find out his 
 ways) in the night invadeth his camp, the centinels and 
 thefe of the foremoft guard feized upon, or killed, or 
 driven back. They in the nearcft cabines, amazed with 
 the fudden mifchief, rife to arm themfelves and think 
 of fight •, but finding the danger to be on all fides, and 
 through the whole camp, neither feeing before them, 
 nor hearing any directions given them, for tbe great 
 noife of the invaders, it being impollible to put them- 
 
 fclvea 
 
of JAMES IV. 167 
 
 felvesin array, confufedly each overthrowing another, 
 take themfelves to a hopelei's and difordered flight, 
 Sleep here to fome is continued in death, many dis- 
 burdening themfelves of their arms, feek fanctuary a- 
 mongft the winding paths of thcfe mariihes. Others 
 are taken, but by their acquaintance and friends fuffer- 
 ed after to efcape. Revenge is only followed againlt 
 fuch who in malice had enterprized any thing againft: 
 the prefent government, and perfevered in their at- 
 tempts. 
 
 This defeat of the earl of Lenox by the lord Drum- 
 mond, is feconded with the rumour of a fea-vidtory 
 obtained by Sir A n drew Wood againft Stephen 
 Bull, a man excelling in maritime affairs, who had 
 come upon the Scotifh leas to revenge the quarrel of 
 his matter's fhips not long before taken and fpoiled by 
 Sir Andrew. They had met near the ifland of the 
 May at the mouth of the river of Forth, and ranging 
 themfelves for fight, had been two days by the waves 
 and winds carried along the coaft of Fife, driven at laft 
 amongft the mounts of (and where the Tay tofeth his 
 name in the lea 5 the Englifh (hips taller, and of a great- 
 er burthen than the Scotiih, by ignorance or negligence 
 of their mariners embanked, and (tuck moored upon 
 the (helves; and being forced by neceility to render, 
 were brought as prizes to Dundee. The rumour of 
 thefe victories fpread abroad, fo amazed the companies 
 raifed in the North by the lord Forbes, and other his 
 confederates, that they changing their opinions with 
 the event of the actions, gave over further profecution or 
 delire of war, and every man retired to his own home. 
 After which, by indifferent friends, having fought a 
 reconciliation (it being more expedient to take them 
 in by policy than by force) they were eafily received 
 into favour : amongft which was the earl of Lenox and 
 the lord Forbes. 
 
 The governours, to ingratiate themfelves more with 
 the people, by calming the prefent troubles, and unit- 
 ing the divided members of the commonwealth, that e° 
 very man might have a public alTurance for the freedom 
 of his perfon and private eftate and fortune, call a parlia- 
 ment, and it is held at Edinburgh in February. Hav~ 
 4 i» 3 ing 
 
i68 The History of the Reign 
 
 ing the law in their own hands, that the infurredion 
 might be thought juft, here it was adjudged, that thoie 
 who were (lain in the field of Stirling had fallen by their 
 own defervings, and juftly fuffered the punifhment of 
 their rafhnefsj that the victors were innocently guilt- 
 lefs of the blood there fhed, and fairly acquitted of any 
 purfuit : the three eftates tertifying the fame by their 
 fubfcriptions and fignets. 
 
 It was ordained, " That they who came againft the 
 " prefent king in aid of his father, fhould take remif- 
 " fions or pardons, and fo many of them as were in 
 " hereditary offices, as wardens, justices, (heiirfs, ftew- 
 *• ards, baillies, lieutenants, or in other public charges, 
 " fhould be fulpended from them for the fpace of three 
 " years ; that fuch who had offices for term of liie, 
 " fhould be difportefTed and denuded of them altoge- 
 " ther." 
 
 All which, though done under a colour of punifhment, 
 was only to invert places, and to turn fome of them- 
 felves rich by their fpoils. The punifhment of mean 
 men challenged of thefe garboils, is either made little 
 or parted over. All donations howfoever made by pa- 
 tent from the king or by parliaments in prejudice of 
 the crown, beginning from the month of September be- 
 fore, till the day of his deceafe, are repelled and anni- 
 hilated. All honours, bellowed on fuch as the late king 
 fought to oblige unto him, were recalled. The earl of 
 Crawfurd was diverted of his title of being duke of Mont- 
 role, as the L. of Balmain was of his, of being earl of 
 Bothwel. AmbafTadors are directed to the emperor, 
 pope, kings of France and Denmark, and other princes, 
 to renew the leagues, ancient confederacies and allian- 
 ces, as in times part had been the cuftom of the kings 
 of Scotland to their neighbour princes, but efpecially 
 to take away the blame of their king's llaughter from 
 the governors, and manifeft to all the world the candor 
 of their minds, and jurtice of their proceedings. For 
 that fome few Englilh ihips had lhut up the narrow fcas 
 of Scotland, and interrupted the commerce of merch- 
 ants, pillaging the coalts, order was eflablilhed for 
 building many (hips, and that every fea-port Ihould be 
 ftorcd with them, as well to maintain traffic abroad 
 
 with 
 
of J A ME S IV. i6 9 
 
 with Grangers, as for fifhing, and to be walls to the 
 country at home. In a matter fo important, and near 
 concerning the well and ftanding of the (late, the ba- 
 rons were ordained to (hare and bear a part with the 
 merchants and buroughs. And in fo fair a projecl, to 
 encourage his people, the king himfeif was content fir ft 
 to begin and to build ihips for his own and the public 
 fervice of the kingdom. This being one of the greats ft 
 miferies of the late king, that he fuffered himfeif to be 
 mifgoverned by, as they termed them, worthlefs men ; 
 fome prelates and noblemen, eminent in learning and 
 virtue, are {elected, who fhould ftill be refident with 
 the king, and of his council, without the advice, con- 
 fent and decree of fix of which, if any matter of impor- 
 tance were proceeded on and concluded, they fhould be 
 void and null : governors are appointed to bring up his 
 brothers. 
 
 Now is every thing ordered to the beft, juftice is exe- 
 cuted on oppreffors and robbers, and in the remotelt 
 parts of the kingdom, the king himfeif in perlbn feeth 
 it adminiftered. He is of fo contrary a temper to the 
 humour of his predeceffors, that he granted freely to e- 
 very man, what could be demanded in reafbn. To 
 give a teftimony to the world of the agony of his mind, 
 for the death of his father, and what remorfe and an- 
 guifh he fuffered for the faults of thofe who brought him 
 to the field againft him, he girded himfeif with a chain 
 of iron, to which every third year of his life thereafter 
 he added fome rings and weight. Though this might 
 have proved terrible to the accomplices of the crime; 
 yet either out of confeience of his gentle difpofitionand 
 mild nature, and confidence in his generofity, or of the 
 truft they had in their own power and faction, they be- 
 wrayed no figns of fear, nor attempted ought againft the 
 common peace and tranquillity. Some records bear, 
 that they forewarned him by the example of his father 
 not to take any violent courfe againft them, or which 
 might irritate the people againft him ; and in every 
 thing to embrace their counfels : and that finding him 
 repining and ftubborn, beyond mediocrity, giving him- 
 feif over to forrow and penfivenci's, they threatened him 
 with a coronation of one of his brothers, telling him, 
 L 4 it 
 
170 The History of the Reign 
 
 it was in their power to make any of the race of his pre- 
 deceffors their king, if he were headftrong and refractory 
 to oppofe their wholfome directions and grave couftfels. 
 Amidil. this grief of the king and overweening of his 
 fupercilious governors, Andrew For man, fecretary 
 to Alexander VI. bifhop of Rome, arrived in Scot- 
 land, with initruclions for the clergy, and letters from 
 his mafter to the king and the nobles. 
 
 The king's were full of ordinary cohfolations to af- 
 fuage hispaffions, and reduce his mind to a more calm 
 temper for the accident of his father's death. 
 
 " The molt glorious victory a prince could acquire, 
 u was fometimes to overcome himfelf and triumph over 
 u his difordered paffions. In all perturbations, to 
 " which we are fubjecl, we {hould endeavour to practiie 
 " that precept, nothing too much ; but chiefly in our 
 " paffions of forrow and wrath: which, not being re- 
 " {trained, overwhelm the greatefl and mod generous 
 " minds ; that by paffion, the feweft actions, and by rea- 
 " fon the moft do profper. 
 
 <( Though a king, he mud not imagine himfelf ex- 
 " emptcd from things cafual to all mankind, efpeciaily 
 " in {'editions and civil tumults : from which no king- 
 " dom nor flate hath been free. There being no city 
 " which hath not fbmetimes wicked citizens, and al- 
 " ways and ever an headftrong and mad multitude; he 
 " fliouid take what had befalen him from the hand of 
 " his maker, who chaftifeth thofe he loveth. What 
 *' comes from heaven he fhould bear ncccifarily, what 
 " proceedeth from men couragioufly -, there was no man 
 u fo fafe, excellent and tranfcendent, who by an info- 
 " lent nobility and ravaging populace might not be 
 " compelled to perpetrate many things againlt his 
 " heart and intentions. 
 
 " The will being both the beginning and fubject of 
 " all fin, and the confenting to and allowing the action 
 " being the only and main point to be confidcred and 
 " looked into, of which he was free, the fin committed 
 ** was not his, nor could the punifhmenr which by the 
 " divine juftice might follow belong unto him. 
 
 u Since he had done nothing of himfelf, but as a 
 " bound man had been carried away by mutinous fub- 
 
 " jects -, 
 
of J AMES IV. 171 
 
 je&s; thefe that lead tranfgrefs, not always they 
 ** that follow. To thefe men remorfe and torture of 
 " confcience belonged; it was they fhould lament and 
 " mourn, who under falfe pretences had abufed the 
 " people, mafked their ambition and malice with a re- 
 " formation of errors in the ftate, whofe rage could not 
 " be quenched but by the blood of their fovereign. It 
 *' was thefe fhould bewail 'their injuftice and cruelty, 
 " the fin, (name and judgment, for fo hainous a fa^r, 
 " followed thefe men : lie fhould not impute the wrongs 
 " and wickednefs of others, by which he had been a 
 " fufferer with his difaftered father, to himfelf. Re- 
 " venge belonged to the almighty, to whofe tribunal he 
 " fhould fubmit his quarrel. He fhould not decree the 
 " worft againif. his mutinous fubjects, nor turn them 
 " defperate, as if there were no place to repent. Great 
 e ' offences, perpetrated by great perfons and a multi- 
 ** tude, ordinarily were feldom punifhed in a (fate. 
 "' That it was profitable for a prince fometime to put 
 " up voluntarily an injury. The way to be invin- 
 " cible, was never to contend ; and to ftand out of 
 *■ danger was the benefit of peace. That he fhould ap- 
 " ply foft medicine where it was dangerous to ufe vio- 
 " lent; that following his maker, he fhould endeavour 
 " to draw good out of evil. 
 
 " As he was for that difafter of his father pitied by 
 " men upon earth, fo alfuredly he would be pardoned 
 ** in heaven. If his fubjects returned to their crooked 
 *' bias, and did revolt again, he would make the danger 
 " his own, ufe his ecclefiaftical ccnfures and fpiritual 
 " power againft them, till they become obedient and 
 " fubmitted themfelves to the fway of his fcepter." 
 
 In the letters to the nobles, he exhorted them to 0- 
 bedience. 
 
 " Ambition was the caufe of fedition, which had no 
 " limits, and was the bane and wrack of ftates and king- 
 " doms, of which they fhould beware. Kingdoms fub- 
 " lifted upon the reputation of a prince, and that re- 
 4 < fpecl his fubje»ffs carried towards him. He was the 
 " eye and fun of juftice ; the prince weakened or tak- 
 *' en away, or his authority contemned, the common- 
 M wealth would not only fall into a decadence, but fuf- 
 
172 The History of the Reign 
 
 " fer an earthquake, and perifh ; either after by foreign- 
 " ners be invaded, or by inteftine diifenfions rent afun- 
 tl der. Confufions followed, where obedience ceafed 
 " and left. Contempt depofed kings as well as death, 
 " and kings are no longer kings when their fubjects re- 
 " fufe to obey them. 
 
 " That good people make good kings, which he re- 
 " quelled them to endeavour to be, as they would an- 
 *' fwer to God, whofe lieutenants princes were, and by 
 " whofe power they ruled." 
 
 After this time, the lord Evandale being dead, 
 the earl of Angus was made chancellor, and the lord 
 Hume obtained the place of great chamberlain of 
 Scotland ; the country enjoyed a great calm of peace, 
 the grounds of dilTenfion feeming to be taken away. 
 
 The king in the ftrength and vigour of his youth, re- 
 membering that to live in idlenefs was to live to be con- 
 temned by the world, by change of objects to expel 
 his prelent fadnefs, and to enable himlelf for wars 
 when they mould burfl forth, gave himfelf to recrea- 
 tions by games, and with a decent pomp entertained all 
 knightly exercifes, keeping an open and magnificent 
 court. When time and exercife had enabled him, 
 and he thought he had attained to fome perfection in 
 martial fports, tilting and barriers are proclaimed ; re- 
 wards propounded and promifed to the victors; chal- 
 lenges are fent abroad unto ftrangers, either to be um- 
 pires or aclors of feats of arms. 
 
 Charles VIII. the French king, having an ambi- 
 tion to re-annex the dutchy of French Bretaign to the 
 crown of France, either by arms, or the marriage of 
 Anne the apparent heir ; under the pretext and fhadow 
 of thofe painted juftings, fendeth to Scotland fome of 
 the braveft gentlemen of his court, defiling privily 
 the afliftance of king James againft the Englifh, if it 
 fhould fall forth that the king of England troubled his 
 defigns. 
 
 Not long after, well and honourably accompanied, 
 arriveth in Scotland a young man naming himfeli 
 Richard duke of York, fon to Edward IV, true 
 inheritor of the crown of England, divers neighbour 
 
 princes 
 
of JAMES IV. 173 
 
 princes teftifying the fame by their letters, which con. 
 tained, 
 
 " That Edward, the eldeft Ton of E d w a r d IV, 
 " who fucceeded his father in the crown, by the name 
 1 of Edward V. was murdered by Richard duke 
 " of Glocefter their unnatural uncle; but Richard 
 " the younger fon his brother, by the man who was 
 " employed to execute that tragedy (making report to 
 " the tyrant that he had performed his command for 
 " both brethren) was faved, and with fpeed and fecre- 
 " cy convoyed to Tournay, there concealed and 
 " brought up by his father's filler Margaret duch- 
 " efs of Burgundy •, that king James fhould acknow- 
 " lege this for truth, and friendly affift this young man, 
 " who was that very Richard duke of York, to re- 
 " cover his inheritance, now molt unjuftly ufurped 
 " and poffefTed by Henry Tudor earl of Richmond. 
 ♦' That the right of kings extended not only to the fafe 
 " prefervation of their own, but a!fo to the aid of all 
 " iuch allies, as change of time and Hate hath often 
 " hurled down from crowns to undergo an exercife of 
 " fuffering in both fortunes: and kings fhould repolTefs 
 " kings wrongfully put from their own ; as his predecef- 
 " fors, to whole royal virtues he was heir, had repolleffed 
 " Henry VI. king of England, fpoiled of his king- 
 «' dom and diftreffed; by which charity obliging all vir- 
 " tuous princes unto him, he fhould find ever as his 
 " own, Maximilian of Bohemia, Charles of 
 " France, and Margaret duchefs dowager of Bur- 
 " gundy." 
 
 King James gracioufly received this young man, 
 and told him, " That whatfoever he were, he fhould 
 " not repent him of putting himlelf into his hands : " and 
 from that time forth, though many gave informations 
 againft him as a counterfeit, he entertained him everyway 
 as a prince, embraced his quarrel, and fhutting both 
 his own eyes, and the eyes of the world, he gave con- 
 lent that this duke fhould take to wife lady Katha- 
 rine Gordon daughter to the earl of Huntley, which 
 lb me thought he did to increafe the faction of P e r k i n, 
 for that was the true name of this impyftor, in England, 
 
 Itir 
 
174 The History of the ReigA 
 
 flir up the difcontented fubjefts againft king Henry, 
 and to encourage his own fubjects to fide in his quarrel. 
 Not long after in perfon, with this duke of York iri 
 his company, who allured him of powerful affiitance, 
 he entered with an army into Northumberland, but not 
 one man coming to fide with them, the king turned 
 his enterprize into an inroad, and after he had fpoiled 
 the country returned into Scotland. It is faid, that 
 Per K in acting the part of a prince handfomely, when 
 he faw the Scots pillaging and wafting the country, 
 came to the king, and in a deploring manner requefted 
 him to fpare his afflicted people ; that no crown was fo 
 dear to his mind, as that he defired to purchafe it with 
 the blood and ruin of his people. Whereunto king 
 James anfwered, he was ridiculoufly careful of an 
 jntereft another man poiTefTed, and which perhaps was 
 none of his. The king of England, who delighted 
 more to draw treafure from his people than to hazard 
 the fpilling of their blood, to revenge the predatory war 
 of the Scots, and find out Perk In, requireth a fub- 
 fidyofhis fubjects ; and though few believed he would 
 follow fo far a flying hart, he was levying a puiflant 
 army. 
 
 No fooner this fubfidy began to be collected amongfl 
 the Cornifh men, when they began to grudge and mur- 
 mur, and afterwards rebelled-, which when it was un- 
 derftood by the king, he retained the forces raifed, for 
 his own fervice and ufe* In the mean time difpatch- 
 ing the earl of Surrey to the North to attend the Scots 
 incurfions, whilfr. the Cornifh men are in their march to- 
 wards London, king James again entered the fron- 
 tiers of England with an atmy, and befieged the cattle 
 of Norham in perfon; but understanding the earl of 
 Surrey was advancing with greater forces, loaden with 
 fpoil, he returned back again; the earl of Surrey find- 
 ing no enemy, fat down before the caftle of Ayton, 
 which he took, and loon after returned into England ; 
 the cold feafbn of the year, with the unfeafonablenefs 
 of the weather, driving away time, invited a treaty of 
 peace on both fides. 
 
 Amidft thefe turmoils and unprofitable incurfions of 
 the two kingdoms, Ferdikando and Isabella of 
 
 Spain 
 
of JAMES IV. r 75 - 
 
 Spain Pent one Peter Hialas to treat a marriage 
 between Katharine, one of their daughters, and 
 Arthur prince of Wales. This alliance being agreed 
 upon, and almoft brought to perfection, king Henry, 
 (defirous of quietnefs, and to have an end of all debates, 
 efpecially thefe with Scotland) communicateth his in- 
 tentions to Hialas, a man wife and learned, and 
 whom he thought able to be employed in fuch a fervice ; 
 for it (food not with his reputation to fue unto his ene- 
 my for peace. But Hialas, a ltranger unto both, as 
 having direction from his mafter for the peace of chri- 
 ftian and neighbour princes, might take upon him 
 this reconciliation. 
 
 Hialas accepteth the embafly, and coming to king 
 James, after he had brought him to hearken to more 
 fafe and quiet counfels, wrote unto king Henry, 
 " That he hoped, that peace might eafily be concluded, 
 " if he would fend fome wife and temperate counlellor 
 " of his own, that might treat of the conditions." 
 
 Whereupon the king direcleth the bilhop of Durham, 
 Richard Fox, who at that time was at his cattle of 
 Norham, to confer with Hialas, and they both to 
 treat with fome commiffioners deputed from king 
 James. The commiffioners of both fides meet at 
 Jedburgh, and difpute many articles and conditions of 
 peace. Reltitution of the 1'poils taken by the Scots, or 
 damages for the fame, is defired : but that was paffed as 
 a matter impoffible to be performed. An interview in 
 perfon at Newcaftle is defired of both kings : which be- 
 ing referred to king James his own arbitrement, he is 
 reported to haveanfwered, that he meant to treat a peace, 
 and not go a begging for it, 
 
 The breaking of the peace for P E R K I N Warbeck 
 is highly aggravated by the bilhop, and he is demanded 
 to be delivered to the king of England; " That a prince 
 " fhould not eafily believe with the common people. 
 *' That Perkin was a fiction, and fuch an one, that 
 " if a poet had projected the figure, it could not have 
 *' been done more to admiration, than the houfe of 
 i* York by the old duchefs of Burgundy, filter to Ed- 
 " ward IV, had contrived theirs, having firft raifed. 
 
 "Lam- 
 
176 The History of the Reign 
 
 "Lambert Simnel, and at Iaft this Perkin, to 
 " perfonate kings, and feduce the people. His birth, 
 " education, and not refiding in any one place, proved 
 " him a pageant king ; that he was a reproach to all 
 " kings, and a perfon not protected by the law of na- 
 " tions." 
 
 The bifhop of Glafgow anfwered for his mafter, " That 
 " the love and amity, grounded upon a common caufe 
 " and univerfal conclufion amongit kings to defend one 
 " another, was the main foundation upon which king 
 " James had adventured to afTift Richard duke of 
 " York. That he was no competent judge of his title ; 
 " he had received him as a fupplicant, protected him 
 " as a perfon fled for refuge, efpoufed him with his 
 " kinfvvoman, and aided him with arms upon the be- 
 " lief that he was a prince; that the people of Ireland, 
 " Wales, and many in England, acknowleged him no 
 •*' lefs than their king, whether he were fo or not-, fince 
 " for a prince he had hitherto defended him, he could 
 " not leave him upon the relation of his molt terrible 
 " enemy and the prefent poffdTbr of his crown. That 
 *' no prince was bound to render a fubject to another 
 " who had come to him for fandtuary, much lefs a 
 •' prince who had recourfe unto him for aid and fup- 
 " ply, and was now allyed with the ancient blood of 
 " the country. 
 
 Much being faid, at Iaft they conclude upon a truce 
 for Come months following. 
 
 After this treaty of peace the counterfeit duke of 
 York, with his lady and fuch followers as would not 
 leave him, failed over into Ireland. 
 
 This truce, happily concluded and continued, by a 
 trifling and untoward accident went near to have been 
 given up and broken. 
 
 There were certain Scotifh young men came into 
 Norham town, and having little to do went fometimes 
 forth, and would ftand looking upon the caftle. Some 
 of the garrifon of the caftle obferving them, and hav- 
 ing not their minds purged of the late ill humour of 
 hoftility, either fufpected them, or quarrelled with them 
 as ipies, whereupon they fell at ill words, and from words 
 to blows, fo that many were wounded on either fide, 
 
 and 
 
of JAMES IV. 177 
 
 and the Scots, being flrangers in the town, had the worft ; 
 infomuch that fome of them were (lain, and the reft 
 made hade home. The matter being complained on, 
 and often debated before the wardens of the march- 
 es of both fides, and no good order taken, king James 
 took it to himfelf, and lent March mont herald to 
 the king of England to make proteftation, " That if 
 ".reparation were not done according to the conditi- 
 " ons of the truce, his king did denounce war." The 
 king of England (who had often tried fortune, and 
 was inclined to peace) made anfwer, " That what had 
 " been done was utterly againft his will, and without 
 " his privity ; but if the garrifon foldiers had been in 
 " the fault, he would fee them punifhed, and the truce 
 " in all points preferved." This anfwer pleafed not 
 kingjAMEs. Bilhop Fox underltanding his difcon- 
 tem, being troubled that the occafion of breaking the 
 truce mould grow from his men, fent many humble 
 and deprecatory letters to the king of Scotland to ap- 
 peafe him. Whereupon king James, mollified by the 
 bifhop's fubmifs and difcreet letters, wrote back again 
 unto him, '' That though he were in part moved by 
 " his letters, yet he mould not be fully fatisfied ex- 
 *' ccpt he fpake with himfelf, as well about the com- 
 " pounding of the prefent differences, as about other 
 " matters, that might concern the good of both king- 
 *' doms." The bifhop advifing firft with his mafter, 
 took his journey to Scotland : the meeting was at the 
 abby of Melrofs, where the king then abode. The 
 king firft roundly uttered unto the biihop his offence 
 conceived for the breach of the truce by his men at 
 Norham caftle ; after fpeaking with him apart, he told 
 him, " That thefe temporary truces and peace were 
 " foon made and foon broken : but that he defired a 
 " ftraiter amity with the king of England," difcover- 
 ing his mind, " That if the king would give him in 
 *[ marriage the lady Margaret his eldeft daughter, 
 " that indeed might be a knot indifToluble ; that he 
 " knew well what place and power the bifhop deferved- 
 * ly had with his mailer ; therefore if he would take the 
 " bufinefs to heart, and deal in it effectually, he doubt- 
 ** ed not but it would well fucceed." 
 
 The 
 
178 The History of the Reign 
 
 The bifhop anfwered foberly, " That he thought him- 
 " felf rather happy than worthy, to be an inftrument 
 " in fuch a matter, but would do his bed; endeavour.'* 
 Wherefore the bifhop of Durham returning from Scot- 
 land to his king at London, and giving account what 
 had patted, and rinding his king more than well difpof- 
 ed in it, gave the king fir ft advice to proceed to a con- 
 dufion of peace, and then to go on with the treaty of 
 marriage by degrees. Hereupon a peace was conclude 
 qd, to continue for both the kings lives, and to the fur- 
 viver of them one year after. In this peace there was 
 an article contained, " That no Englifhman fttould 
 " enter into Scotland, nor no Scotfman into England, 
 " without letters commendatory from the king of either 
 u nation." 
 
 During this treaty of the marriage, it is reported that 
 the king of England referred this matter to his coun- 
 cil, and that fome of the table, in freedom ofcounfel- 
 lors, the king being prefent, had nut the cafe, " That 
 *' itlues males and females failing ot the race of his two 
 " fons, that then the kingdom of England will' fall to 
 " the king of Scotland, which might prejudice the mon- 
 " archy of England." YVhereunto the king himfelf 
 replyed, " That if any fuch event fhould be, Scotland 
 " would be but an acceffion to England, and not Eng- 
 " .land to Scotland ; for that the greater would draw 
 " the lefler, and that it was a fafer union for England 
 " than that of France." 
 
 Shortly after, the efpoufals of James king of Scot- 
 land with lady Margaret the king of England's eld- 
 eft daughter followed; which were done by proxy in 
 all folemn manner. The aflurance and contract was 
 publiflied at Paul's crofs the 25th of January at Lon- 
 don : in applaufe of which, hymns were publicly fung 
 in the churches, and bonfires, with great feafting and 
 banqueting, fet throughout all the city. 
 
 Julius II. in the beginning of this treaty did gra- 
 tify king James with a fword and diadem wrought with 
 flowers of gold (which the popes on Chriftmafs even 
 ufed to confecrate, a cuflom firft brought in by Six- 
 tus Quart us) which were prefented to him at Ho- 
 Jy-rood-houfe. The marriage was in Auguft following 
 
 confum- 
 
of JAMES IV. 179 
 
 confummated at Edinburgh, king Henry bringing 
 his daughter as far as Collivefton on the way; where 
 his mother the countefs of Richmond abode-, and then, 
 refigning her to the attendance of the eai 1 of Northum- 
 berland, who with a great train of lords and ladies of 
 honour, brought her into Scotland to the king her hus- 
 band. Solemn days were kept at court for banqueting, 
 malks and revelling, barriers and tilting proclaimed. 
 Challenges were given out in the name of the lavage 
 knight, who was the king himfelf, and rewards defign- 
 ed to the vi<ftors. Old king Arthur, with his knights 
 of the round-table were here brought upon the hits. 
 The fame of this marriage had drawn many foreign 
 gentlemen to the court. Amongft others came mon- 
 lieur Darcy, naming himfelf Le Sieur de la 
 Beaute, *ho tried barriers with the lord Hamil- 
 ton, after they had tilted with grinding fpears. Some of 
 the lavage knight's company, who were robuft high- 
 land men, he giving way unto them, fmarted really in 
 thefe feigned conflicts, with targets and two-handed 
 I'.vords to the mulic of their bag-pipes, fighting' as in a 
 true battle, to the admiration ol the Rnglilh and French, 
 who had never leen men lo ambitious of wounds and 
 prodigal of blood in fport. All were magnificently en- 
 tertained by the king, and with honourable largefles 
 and rewards of their valour, licenfed to return home. 
 
 During the treaty of this marriage with England,, a 
 moniter of a new and itrange fhape was born in Scot- 
 hind near the city of Glafgow ; the body of which un- 
 der the walte or middle varied nothing from the com- 
 mon (hape and proportion of the bodies of other men, 
 the members above both for ufe and comelincfs being 
 two, their faces looking one way-, fitting they feemed 
 two men to fuch who faw not the parts beneath, and 
 Handing it could not be difcerned to which of the two 
 bulks above, the thighs and legs did appertain. They 
 had differing pafiions, and diverfe wills, often chiding 
 others for diforder in their behaviour and actions -, after 
 much deliberation, embracing that unto which they 
 both confented. By the king's direction they were 
 carefully brought up and inltructed in mulic and fo- 
 reign languages. This monfrer lived twenty and eight 
 M years, 
 
180 The History of the Reign 
 
 years, and died when John duke of Albany governed. 
 Claud Gruget niaketh mention of the like mon- 
 ger born in Paris before the marriage of Henry IV. 
 the French king with Margaret of Valois, but the 
 birth and death of it were near together. 
 
 The king, by his great liberality unto {hangers a- 
 broad, and his laviih fpending at home (for religious 
 places were founded, caftles repaired, and ihips built, e- 
 fpecially three of an extraordinary greatnels) rinding 
 himfelf needy of treafure to fupport the daily expences 
 at court, engaged to many, and funk deep in debt ; and 
 that he could not levy fubfidies, except by the fuf- 
 frages of his parliament, by whofe power they were 
 impofed and rated, fettcth the moft learned counfeJlors 
 at law, and men experienced in foreign policy, to find 
 out new means and ways to acquire and gather him 
 mony by laws already made and oidained, which was 
 in effect to poll the people by executing the rigour of 
 jufrice, the fortunes of wife men arifmg olten on the 
 expences of fools, after the example of king Hen- 
 ry VII. of England, his father-in law, who taking the 
 advantage of the breach of his penal (latutes, gave 
 power to Sir Richard Empson and Edmond 
 Dudley, by informers and promoter?, to opprefs and 
 ruin the eflatts of many of his belt fubjecis, whom king 
 Henry VIII. to fatisfy his wronged people, after his 
 deceafe caufed execute. Old cufh'jns are by ihefe men 
 pried into, and forgotten obfolete ftatutes quickened. 
 
 Amonglt the titles of poffdlmg of lands in Scotland 
 there is one, which in piocefs of time, of an ungodly 
 cuftom, grew flrong, and is kept for a law, being fetch- 
 ed by imitation from the laws of the neighbouring flares ; 
 ** That if the poffeffor of lands die and leave a minor to 
 " fucceed to him, his tutelage belonged) to the king, 
 " and the profit of the lands until the minor be of the 
 *' age of one and twenty years." This is of thole lands 
 which are termed wards The king caufeth biing up his 
 wards, but bcfloweih no more of their tents upon them 
 than is ulcful to fuch of that age. Another law they 
 have, not any thing better than this, which they call 
 recognition. " That if the evidences of any poffeffor 
 ,{ cjf ward-lands be not in all points formal, and above 
 
 " excep- 
 
of JAMES IV. 181 
 
 " exceptions of law, the lands, the pofTeflbrs put from 
 *' them, (hall return to the lord fuperior:" and like to 
 this, " That if a polfelfor or ward-lands, without the 
 " confent of the fuperior, fell and put away the half or 
 " above the half of his land and farm, the whole land 
 " and farm returncth to the fuperior or lord Para- 
 " mount." They have lands held with claufes, which 
 they call irritant, " That if two terms of a few-duty run 
 " unpaid into the third, the land faileth unto the fupe- 
 *' rior." When thofe laws, and other like them by 
 reafon of the neighbour incurfions and troubles with 
 England, and the civil broils at home, had been long 
 out of ufe among!! the fubjecrs, and the execution of 
 them, as it were, in a manner forgot, thefe projectors 
 and new toll-mafters, the king giving way to enrich his 
 exchequer, awakened them. Many of ihe fubjects by 
 thefe inquiries were obnoxious to the king and Anarted, 
 but chiefly the molt honelt, who were conlhaincd ei- 
 ther to buy their own lands and inheritances from the ex- 
 chequer, or quit and freely give fome portion of them 
 to thofe caterpillars of the ftate. The king was lb dear- 
 ly beloved of his people, that in the height of thofe 
 grievances (which reached near the exoibitant avarice 
 of his father) none refilled or made difficulty to give 
 all that the laws ordained. The king feeing their wil- 
 Jingnefs to perform, and knowing their great difabiliiy 
 thereunto, out of his Angular grace and goodnefs re- 
 mitteth not only the rigour, but even the equity al- 
 mofl of his laws, infbmuch that thereafter none of his 
 fubjecrs were damnified in their perfons or eltares by 
 his proceedings; which gained him the hearts of all: 
 and to put away all fufpicions and jea] mCes from their 
 minds (an ordinary practice among ft princes, acts that 
 fill princes coffers ever being the ruin of i heir firll pro- 
 jectors) of any wror? upended, he fuffered the promot- 
 ers and projectors o \tiis polling, with others of the 
 molt active, to be thrown into prilbns, where iome mi- 
 ferably ended their davs. 
 
 The year if 07- J a mes prince of Scotland and Hies 
 
 was born at Holy rood-houfe, the 2 lit of January; 
 
 The queen in her throwes of birth, being brought near 
 
 the lait agony of death, the king, overcome with afFe<t ; - 
 
 M 2 oii 
 
p 
 
 182 The History of the Reign 
 
 on and religious vows, taketh a pilgrimage for her re- 
 covery on foot to St. Minian's in Galloway-, a place 
 in thole credulous times famous for the burial of St. Ni- 
 nian the apoftle of the Britains, and notorious by the 
 many procelTions and vilits of the neighbour countrys 
 of Ireland and England. At his return he Jindeth his 
 queen recovered. The child after died at Stirling with 
 the bifhop of Galloway, who was appointed to attend 
 him. The year following the queen brought forth an- 
 other fon, named Arthur, at Holy-rood-houfe; but 
 he died alfo in the cattle of Edinburgh: and Hen- 
 ry VII, his grandfather accompanied him to the other 
 world. King James, to the corronation of the young 
 king his brother-in-law, fendeth ambafladors. 
 
 After the death of his two fons, and his father-in-law, 
 as if he had been warned from above to think upon his own 
 mortality (whether be had a refolute intention fo to do, 
 or that for reafons known tohimfelf, he would have it 
 To appear) he giveth out, that out of remorfe for bearing 
 arms in the field where his father was fiain, he had a 
 refolution to leave his kingdom, and villt the holy fe- 
 pulchre. Then to prepare his way, Robert Black- 
 ader abbot of Dunfermline, is directed -, but the ab- 
 bot in his journey is arretted by death, and the king 
 findeth other hinderances to keep him at home. 
 
 Amidft thefe deliberations, his queen is delivered in 
 t,he palace of Linlithgow of her third fon, in the month 
 of April 15-12. who fucceeded to the crown, and was 
 named James. 
 
 About this fame time Bernard Stuart, that fa- 
 mous warrior under Charles VIII. of France, who 
 commanded the French in Bofworth-field, came to Scot- 
 land, followed by Andrew For man then arch-bi- 
 fhop of Bourges, and bi/hop, L of Murray, with Ale- 
 xander Stuart the king\? ^Hiral fon, after pro- 
 moted to be arch- bifhop of St. Andrews. The caufe 
 which was given out to the rumours of the people of 
 their coming, was, that the French king, having no 
 male childven, craved the advice and counfel of the 
 king of Scotland his confederate, concerning the mar- 
 riage of his eldeft daughter-, whether he fhould bellow 
 her upon Francis of Valois, the dauphine and duke 
 
 of 
 
of JAMES IV. 183 
 
 of Angolefm, or upon Charles king of Caftile, who 
 had prefented her with many tokens of affection, and 
 by his ambalTadors earneltly fought her from her bro- 
 ther. But their great errand was to divide the king 
 from his brother-in-law king Henry, and make him 
 afllit Louis; thefe two potentates intending a war a- 
 gainft other. 
 
 Anne daughter of Franci s duke of Bretaign, after 
 the death of her lifter Isabella, remained fole heir 
 ofthat duchy, her wardlhip falling to the French king 
 Charles VIII. He terrified fo her fubjecls, guided 
 her kindred, and the principal perfons about her, that 
 making void the pretended marriage of M aximilian 
 king of the Romans, which was by proxy, ftie was mar- 
 ried unto him ; notwithstanding he had the daughter of 
 Maximilian. at his court, with great expectation of 
 a marriage to be celebrated with her. After the death of 
 king Charles, Louis XII. having married Jean 
 the lifter of C harles and daughter to L o u 1 s XI, by his 
 many favours beftowed upon pope Alexander VI, 
 and his fon Cesar Borgia, obtaineth a brieve of 
 divorce againlt her, by the power of which (her weak- 
 nefs for the bearing of children, the neceflary uphold- 
 ers of a crown, by his phylicians being proved) he had 
 married Anne of Bretaign, for he would not lole fo fair: 
 a dowry for the bluftering rumour of malecoiitentSj 
 which in a little time would grow ftale and vaniih* 
 Pope Alexander being dead, Julius II, a turbu- 
 lent, unquiet, but magnificent prelate, and a (tout de- 
 fender ot the church patrimony, being fufpicious of thd 
 power of the French in Italy.and that they would not reft 
 content with the kingdom of Naples and duchy of Mi- 
 lan, but one day hazard for all ; fearirig alfo they would, 
 becaufe they might, put him out of his chair, md fub- 
 ititute in his room their cardinal of Amboife, 01 fome 
 other of their own, began to ftudy novations and means 
 to fend the French back to their own country, his or- 
 dinary difcourfe being that he "vould one day make 
 Italy free from Barbarians. He requireth king Lo UI3 
 to give over the protection of the duke of Ferrara, and 
 of An nib al Bentivoglio, whom he had thruft 
 out of Bullogne. The king refuting to forfake his con* 
 M 3 federates, 
 
184 The History of the Reign 
 
 federates, the pope betaketh himfelf to his fpirituai 
 arnif and threateneth with excommunication the duke 
 an all who came to hi; aid and fupport, efpeciaJIy the 
 French. They decline his ientence, and appeal to a 
 true and lawful general council, with which they threat- 
 en him. Henry VIII. then in the fervour of his 
 youth, amidlf a great treafure left by his father, and by 
 more than ordinary bands of love and iriendihip tied to 
 the pope, (as having difpenfed with the marrying his 
 brother's widow) interpofeth himfelf as an indifferent 
 mediator and interceffor for peace between the two par- 
 ties, but in effect was the chief maintainer of the quarrel, 
 effecting nothing, becaufe he would not. Conditions 
 being refufed by king Henry, he effayeth to draw the 
 French arms from the pope's territories by cutting 
 them work nearer home, and bringing a neceftitv upon 
 them to defend their own. Upon this determination, 
 he requireth king Louis to reltore and render to him 
 his duchies Guyenne and Normandy, with his an- 
 cient inheritance of Anjou and Main, and the other old 
 poflelliuns of the Englilh in France, which wrongfully 
 had been detained and kept from him and his anceftors. 
 The war ofltaly by thefe threatenings was not left off: 
 for the pope coming to Bullogne, with intention to in- 
 vade Ferrara, is bclieged with his cardinals, and he 
 fendeth declarations to the chriftian princes, protelting 
 the French not only thirlted after the patrimony and 
 inheritance of St. PetkR, but even after chrillian 
 blood. Mean while he abfolveth the fubjecls of king 
 Louis from their oath of allegiance, abandoneth his 
 kingdom to any can poffefs it; at a council at Later.m 
 he difpatcheth a bull, wherein the title of mojl chrifi-an 
 king is transferred upon king Henry of England, who 
 tu his, former titles of France, having now the approba- 
 tion of the pope, and the kingdom interdicted, prepar- 
 eth an expedition in perfon. After which, with five 
 thoufand barded horfes, forty thoufand foot, coming 
 into Picardy, he encampeth before Therovenne, a town 
 upon the marches of Picardy. Here the emperor M a x- 
 imilian, ref r'ing yet his old injury, entereth into 
 the king of England's pay, and wcareth the crofs of 
 
 St. 
 
of J AM ES IV. 185 
 
 St. George: but fo long as he flayed in the army, it 
 was governed according to his counfel and direction. 
 
 King James before his meeting with Bernard 
 Stuart and bifhop For man, was fully purpofed to 
 prove an indifferent beholder of this war : but Bern- 
 ard having corrupted the courtiers, and the bifhop the 
 chief churchmen of the kingdom, after their long and 
 earneft interceffion he was drawn altogether to affect and 
 adhere to the French. 
 
 To throw the apple of diflenfion, bifhop For man 
 is fent to king Henry to demand certain jewels by 
 their father's will, or her brother prince Arth ur's, ap- 
 pertaining to queen Margaret his lifter. 
 
 King Henry, miftrufting that embafly, ofFereth all 
 and more than they demand from him. Shortly after 
 the Englifh beginning to interrupt the traffic of the 
 French by fea, king J a mes will fend his fhips, lately 
 well manned and equipped for fight, which not long be- 
 fore had been prepared, as was given out, to transport 
 the king into Syria, to his coufin queen Anne, iup* 
 poling this gift would rather feem a pledge of friend* 
 fhip and alliance, to the Englifh, than any fupply of 
 'war. But James carl of Arran having got the com* 
 mand of them, inttead of failing towards France, ar- 
 riveth in Ireland, whether by tempeft of weather, or 
 that he would difturb the king's proceedings in alfilhng 
 the French, inltigated and corrupted by king Henry, 
 is uncertain : and after he had fpoiled Knock-Fergus a 
 maritime village, returneth with them to the town of 
 Air. 
 
 The king taking in an evil part the invaiion of Ire- 
 land, but more the lingering of the earl, for he had re» 
 ceived letters from queen Anne and bifhop Formak, 
 regreting the long and vain expectation of his fhips, giv-> 
 eth the earl of Angus, and Sir Andrew Wood, a 
 commifTion for both him and them. The earl of Arran 
 by his friends at court, underftanding his mailer's dif- 
 pleafure, ere they could find him, hoifeth up fails, and 
 commiteth himfelf rather to the uncertain fortune of 
 the feas than the jult wrath of a king. After great 
 tempeft arriving in French Bretaign, thefe fhips built 
 at fuch extraordinary charges, the fails and cordage be- 
 M 4 ing 
 
1 86 The History of the Reigs 
 
 being taken from them, rotted and confirmed by wea- 
 ther, in the haven of Breft. 
 
 Now matters grew more exafperate between the bro- 
 ther kings; Robert Car warden of the borders is 
 killed by three Englifh, Heron, Lilburn, Star- 
 he d. Andrew Barton, who, upon an old quar- 
 rel begun in the reign of king James III, had pur- 
 chafed letters of reprifal againft the Portuguefe, by 
 Thomas Howard the Englifh admiral is (lain, and 
 his (hips taken. To this laft grievance, when it was 
 expoftulated, king HenrV is faid to have anfwered, 
 That truce among/} princes was never broken for taking or 
 killing of pirates. 
 
 Alexander lord Hume warden oftheeaft mar- 
 ches, in revenge of accumulated injuries, with three 
 thoufand men invaded the Englifh borders, burnetii 
 fome villages, and forageth the fields about. But hav- 
 ing divided his forces, and lent a part of them loaden 
 with fpoils towards Scotland, he faiieth into an ambufh 
 of the Englifh: where Sir William Bulmure 
 with a thoufand archers put him to flight, and took his 
 brother George. During thefe border incurfions, 
 the lord D acres and doiftor West came as in an 
 embafly from England, not fo much for eftablifhing a 
 peace, and fettling thofe tumults, begun hy the meet- 
 ing of commiffioners, who alTembled and concluded 
 nothing, as to give their matter certain and true intelli- 
 gence of the proceedings of the Scots with the French, 
 and what they attempted. 
 
 Monfieur de la Motte was come with letters 
 from the French king to ft ir up king James to take 
 arms againft the Englifh, and had in his voyage drown- 
 ed three Englifh (hips, bringing feven with him as priz- 
 es to the harbour of Leith. Robert Barton in re- 
 venge of Andrew Barton's death, at that fame 
 time returned with thirteen vefTels all prizes. King 
 Louis had fent a great fhip loaden with artillery, pow- 
 der and wines; in which Mr. James Ogilby abbot 
 of Dry burgh arrived, with earneft requeft for the renew- 
 ing of the ancient league between France and Scotland, 
 and letters from queen Anne for the invafion of Eng- 
 land. In which lhe regreted he had not one fiiend nur 
 
 maai- 
 
of JAMES IV. 187 
 
 maintainer of his honour at the court of France (after 
 the late delay of the fending his fhips) except herfelf 
 and her ladies : that her requelt was, he would for her 
 fake, whom he had honoured with the name of his mi- 
 ftrefs in his martial fports in time of peace, march but 
 one mile upon the Englilh bounds, now in the time of 
 an appearing war againlt her lord and country. 
 
 The king thinking himfelf already engaged and in- 
 terelted in his fame, drawn away by the promifes, elo- 
 quence, and other perfuafions of the French, afTem- 
 bleth the three eftates of his kingdom to deliberate about 
 a war with England. Many oppofe it, but in vain ; for 
 at laft for fear of the king's difpleafure, it is concluded, 
 uncertain whether by a woife counfel or event. But 
 before any hoftility againll the Englilh, they determine 
 and decree, that king Henry mall by an herald be 
 fairly advertifed and defiled to defift from any further 
 invafion of the territories of the French king, or duke 
 of Guelders, who was general of the French army, the 
 king of Scotland's confederates and kinfmen : which not 
 being yielded unto, the war as lawful and juft mail be 
 denounced. 
 
 Henry VIII. then befieging Therovenne, anfwer- 
 ed the herald who delivered his commiffion : " That he 
 " heard nothing from him, but what he had expected 
 " from a king, a defpifer of God's and man's law; as 
 " for himfelf, he would not give over a war fo happily 
 " begun for any threats. Neither did he care much for 
 '• that man's friendfhip, of whofe inconftancy he had fo 
 *' often had experience, nor for the power of his king- 
 " dom and ambitious poverty." 
 
 After this anfwerofthe king of England, a declarati- 
 on by the king of Scotland was published almoft to this 
 fenfe. 
 
 " Though princes fhould direct their actions more to 
 " confcience than fame, and are not bound to give an 
 " account of them to any, but to God alone, and when 
 •' armies are prepared for battle, they look not fo much 
 " to what may be faid, as to what ought to be done ; 
 " the vi&ors being ever thought to have had reafon 
 " upon their fide, and the julteft caufe : yet to manifelt 
 * our fincerity, and the uprightnefs of qui proceedings, 
 
 * as 
 
 v 
 
i88 The History of the Reign 
 
 " as well tathefe prefent times, as to pofterity, who may 
 " hereafter enquire after our deportments, that alJ may 
 " take a full view of our intentions and courfes, we 
 " have been moved to lay down the juftnefs and equity 
 *• of our arms before the tribunal of the world. 
 
 " The laws of nations and of nature, which are 
 " grounded upon that reafon by which man is diftin- 
 " guifhed from other creatures, oblige every one to de- 
 " fend himfelf : and to feek means for one's own pre- 
 " fervation is a thing unblamable : but the laws of fo- 
 ** vereignty lay greater obligations upon us, and above 
 * all men monarchs, and they to whom God hath giv- 
 " en the government of ftates and kingdoms, are nof 
 " only bound to maintain and defend their own king- 
 " doms, eftates, and perfons, but to relieve from un- 
 " juft oppreffion, fo far as is in their power, being re- 
 '* quired, their friends, neighbours and confederates, 
 " and not to fuffer the weak to be overthrown by the 
 " ftronger. The many innovations and troubles raif- 
 " ed upon all fides about us, the wrongs our fubjec'ts 
 ** have fuifered, by the infolencies and arrogancy of 
 " the coun fell ors of Henry king of England our bro- 
 " ther-in-Jaw, are not only known to our neighbour, 
 " but blazed amongft remoteft countries. Roads and 
 " incurfions been have made upon our borders; fundry 
 " of our lieges have been taken, and, as in a juft war, 
 •' made prifoners ; the warden of our marches, under 
 M a durance, hath been milerably killed ; our merchants 
 " at fea invaded, fpoiled of their good.s, liberties, and 
 w lives: above others, the chief captains of our fhips 
 " put to death, and all by the king's own'commiflion : 
 *' upon which breaches between the two kingdoms, dil- 
 " orders and manifeft wrongs committed upon our fub- 
 " jetfts, when by ourambalfadors, we had divers times 
 " required fatisfaclion and reparation, we received no 
 " juilice or anfwer worthy of him or us; our com- 
 " plaints being rejected, and we difdainfully contemned : 
 " that longer to fufFer fuch infolences, and not by juft 
 " force to relilt unjuft violence, and by dangers to leek 
 ° a remedy againft greater or more imminent dangers: 
 " not to ftand to the defence of our lieges, and take 
 " upon us their protection, were to be deficient to our 
 
 *' honour 
 
of JAMES IV. 189 
 
 *• honour and reputation, and to invite others to of. 
 *' fcr the like aifonts and injuries to us hereafter. 
 
 " Befides thefe breaches of duty, outrages, and wrongs 
 *' done unto us, his brother Henr y king of England, 
 •• without any juft caufe, or violence offered to him or 
 " any of his by the king of France, hath levied a might 
 " ty army againft him, invaded his territories, uling 
 *' all hoftility ; continuing to aflault and force his towns, 
 " make his fubjects priloners, kill and ranfom them, 
 " impofe fubfidies, and raife mony from the quieter 
 " fort, which wrongs, damage and injuftice, we cannot 
 " but repute done to us, in refpedt ot our earnelt 
 " interceilions unto him, and many requelts rejected, 
 " and that ancient league between the two kingdoms of 
 " France and Scotland, in which thefe two nations are 
 " obliged refpectively, and mutually bound, to aflilt o- 
 " thers again (t ail invaders whatfoever; that the enemy 
 *' of the one mill be the enemy of the other, and the 
 N friends of the one the friends of the other. As all 
 " motions tend unto red, the end of a jult. war being 
 " peace, that our brother (who hath no fuch enemy as 
 " the too great riches and abundance in which he f wim- 
 " eth) may entertain peace with his brother princes, 
 " and moderate that boundlefs ambition, which maketh 
 " him ufurp dominion over his equals; we have been 
 " compelled to take us to defenfive arms ; for our bro- 
 ** ther hath now declared himfelf, and vaunteth that he 
 " is fole judge and umpire of the peace of Europe, and 
 " that from his will, the differences of fuccelhons and 
 " titles of principalities, wrongs and other interefts de- 
 •' pend, as that all ihould be obfequious to his authori- 
 " ty ; and what particular authority can be more in- 
 " tolerable, than that he Ihould hinder fo great and juft 
 ** a prince as the king of France to claim his own, and 
 " defend his fubjecfs ? 
 
 " If our brother the king of England by the fupply 
 " and affiftance of many neighbour countries, now by 
 ** the provocation of the bifhop of Rome, arifing upon 
 " all fides againft the French, fhould extend his power 
 " and vidory over France, under what colour and pre- 
 " tence ofjufticefoever, to what an extremity (hall the 
 " kingdom of Scotland be reduced, having fo powerful 
 
 " and 
 
190 The History of the Reign 
 
 " and ambitious a neighbour? Fear of any neighbour 
 ■' prince's greatnefs, when it extendeth itfelfover adja- 
 " cent territories, is a good caufe of defence and taking 
 " of arms, which cannot be but juft, fince molt ne- 
 " ceffary. 
 
 " We are not ignorant, that here will be objected a- 
 ,c gainft us, the breach of a league contracted between 
 " our brother and us : we have not broken that league ; 
 *' but for great caufes and reafons feparated ourfelves 
 " from it, our brother having taken away the means, 
 " occafions and reafons of obferving it. In all leagues, 
 " confederations, alliances and promifes amongft prin- 
 " ces, the laft confederation is ever underftood to be 
 ** contracted without prejudice to the rights of any for- 
 " mer alliances : and when our ambaffadors made that 
 •' league with our brother, it was to be underftood that 
 *' it fhould hold no longer, nor we longer be bound un- 
 " to it, than he fhould keep to our rirft allies and anci- 
 " ent confederates, not breaking their peace, nor trou- 
 u bhng the government and eftates of their countries. 
 " A national league is ever to be preferred to any per- 
 '* fonal, an ancient to a new ; the leagues between the 
 ** kingdoms of France and Scotland having continued 
 " many ages, fhould juftly be preferred to that which 
 " we, as a new ally of the houfeof England, did con- 
 *' tracl, which yet we are mod willing to keep : but the 
 " love of our country, pafling all private refpecTs, hath, 
 " moved us to feparate ourfelves for a time from it. 
 
 <4 All leagues, confederations, alliances, and promif- 
 *' es amongft princes, are refpeclively and mutually 
 " underftood with this condition and law, providing 
 * both keep upon either fide-, the one party breaking 
 " or departing from the league, alliance or prorsi^e, 
 " the other is no longer bound to keep nor adhere un- 
 " to it. So long as the king of England kept unto us, 
 8 ' we kept unto him : he having now many ways brok- 
 •• en unto us, we are no longer obliged to keep un- 
 " to him : that fame oath whidh obliged and tied us, 
 ** after his hreach, abfolving and making us free; and 
 " of this we divers times advertifed him, giving him 
 " afTurance, except we would betray thattruft and con- 
 ** fidence our fubjecls and confederates had in us, for 
 
 « the 
 
of JAMES IV. i 9 r 
 
 " the maintainance of their peace and fafety, we could 
 
 " not but allift them in their juft caufe (howfoever the 
 
 " julteit actions have not ever the molt profitable e- 
 
 " vents) and be conftrained to have a recourfe to arms 
 
 " for a remedy of their prefent miiery. 
 
 '* And now notwithstanding of our advanced expedi- 
 
 * tion, and preparations for war, that the world may 
 " judge rightly of our intentions, we declare and ma- 
 u nifeit, that if our brother fhall leave off the invafion 
 " of our confederates, ufe no more hoflility againft 
 " them, and give fatisfaclion for the wrongs done unto 
 " our fubjects, that we (hall disband our forces, and 
 " are content that all matters of difference, as well be- 
 ** tween the king of France and our brother, as our 
 " brother and us, be amicably judged, decided and 
 " taken away : as that not only a truce and ceffation 
 " of their mifery for a time, but a perfect and kiting 
 u peace be concluded and edablifhed, to the full con- 
 " tentment, and lading happinefs of the three kingdoms 
 ** and our pofterity." 
 
 Whilft the king ftayed at Linlithgow, attending the 
 gathering of his army, now ready to fet forward, and 
 full of cares and perplexity, in the church of St. Mi- 
 chael heard even-fong, as then it was called, while 
 he was at his devotion, an ancient man came in, his 
 amber-coloured locks hanging down upon his Ihoulders. 
 his fore-head high and inclining to baldnefs, his gar- 
 ment of azure colour, fomewhat long, girded about him 
 with a towel or table-napkin, of a comely and reverend 
 afpect. Having enquired for the king, he intruded 
 himfelf into the croud, pa/Iing throw till he came to 
 him, with a clownifh fimplicity, leaning over the can- 
 on's feat where the king fate, Sir, faid he, " I am fent 
 " hither to intreat you for this time to delay your ex- 
 " pedition, and to proceed no farther in your intended 
 " journey : for if you do, ye fhall not profper in your 
 " enterprize, nor any of your followers. I am farther 
 " charged to warn you, if you be fb refractory as to go 
 " forwards, not to ufe the acquaintance, company or 
 
 * counfel of women, as ye tender your honour, life 
 li and eftate." 
 
 After 
 
192 The History of the Reign 
 
 After this warning he withdrew himfelf back again 
 into the croud. When fervice was ended, the king 
 enquired earneltly for him, but he could no where be 
 found, neither could any of the by-itanders (of whom 
 diverfe did narrowly obferve him, meaning afterwards 
 to have difcourfed further with him) feel or perceive 
 how, when or where, he paffed from them, having, as 
 ii were, vanifhed among their hands. 
 
 After this army had m tillered in the Borrow-moor of 
 Edinburgh (a field then ipacious and delightful by the 
 (hades of many (lately and aged oaks) about the mid ft 
 of the night there is a proclamation heard at the mer- 
 cat crofs of the town, " Summoning a great many 
 " burgelTes, gentlemen, barons and noblemen, to ap- 
 " pear within forty days before the tribunal of one 
 " Plotcock :" the provoft of the town in his tim- 
 ber gallery having heard his own name cited, cried out, 
 " That he declined that judicatory, and appealed to 
 '* the mercy of God almighty." 
 
 Nothing was the king moved with thofe advertife- 
 ments, thinking them fcenic pieces, acled by thofe 
 who hated the French, and favoured the Englifh faction: 
 being fo boldly and to the life perfonated, that they ap- 
 paled and Itruck with fear ordinary and vulgar judg- 
 ments, as tragi-comedies of fpirits. The earl of An- 
 gus difluaded him from that expedition, and many of 
 the moil reverend church-men; but the angel which 
 moii conjured him, was Margaret his queen, who 
 at that time was with child; her tears and prayers (hook 
 the Itrongeft beams of his refolutions. She had ac- 
 quainted him with the vifions and affrightments of her 
 Ucep; that her chains and armlets appeared to be turn- 
 ed into pearls; Ihc had feen him fall from a great preci- 
 pice ; Ihe had loft oneofher eyes. When he hadaniwtred, 
 " Thefe were but dreams, arifing from the many 
 " thoughts and cares of the day. But it is no dream, 
 " faid (he, that ye have but one fon, and him a ueak- 
 " ling, if otherwife than well happen unto you, what 
 *' a lamentable day will that be, when ye (hall leave 
 " behind you, to lb tender and weak a fucctifor, un- 
 " der the government of a woman, for inheritarce, a 
 " milerablc and bloody war ? It is no dream that ) e are 
 
 " to 
 
of JAMES IV. 193 
 
 £ to fight a mighty people ; now turned infolent by 
 * their riches at home and power abroad : that your 
 «' nobiJity are indigent ye know, and may be bribed to 
 f* leave you in your greateft danger: what a folly, 
 «' what a blindnefs is it to make this war yours, and to 
 " quench the fire in your neighbour's houfe of France, 
 f % to kindle and burn up your own in Scotland . ? Ye have 
 ** no fuch reafon to alii ft the French, as ye have to keep 
 *' your promifes to England, and enjoy a peace at home. 
 " Though the Englilh Ihould make a conqueft of Fiance, 
 " will they take your crown, or difinherit their own 
 " race, this is even as the left hand would cut off the 
 " right ? Should the letters of the queen ol France, (a 
 " woman twice married, the firft half in adultery, the 
 «f laft almoft inceft, whom ye did never, nor fiiall ever 
 " fee) prove more powerful with you, than the cries of 
 *' your little fon, and mine; than the tears, complaints, 
 " and curies of the orphans and widows which ye are 
 " to make ? If ye will go, furfer me to accompany you ; 
 " it may be my country -men prove more kind towards 
 " me than they will to you ; and for my fake yield un- 
 " to a peace. I hear the queen my filter will be with the 
 " army in her husband's abfence ; if we Ihall meet, 
 " who knows what God by our means may bring to 
 " pafs?" 
 
 The king anfwered all her complaints with a fpeedy 
 march, which he made over the Tweed ; not ftaying 
 till the whole forces came to him, which were arihng 
 and prepared. 
 
 The twenty two of Auguft coming into England, he 
 encamped near the water of Twifel in Northumberland, 
 where at Twifel-haugh he made an aift, " That if any 
 " man were (lain or hurt to death by the Englilh, dur- 
 " ing the time of his abode in England, his heirs 
 " Ihould have his ward, relief, and marriage." Nor- 
 ham, Wark, Ford, Eatel, are taken and caft down. 
 Amidft this hoilility, the lady Ford, a noble captive, 
 was brought in a pity-pleading manner, with her 
 daughter, a maid of excellent beauty, to the camp. 
 Not without the earl of Surrey's direction, as many lup- 
 pofed, lor they have a vigorous prince, and his fon 
 (though nauial, by the gifts of nature and education 
 
 above 
 
194 ^ HE History of the Reign 
 
 above many lawful) to try the magic of their eloquence 
 and beauty upon. The king delighting in their com- 
 pany, not only hearkeneth to thedilcourfe of the mother, 
 but giveth way to her counfel : which was, if (he fhould 
 be difmifled, to fend him true and certain intelligence 
 of what the Englilh would attempt, by taking her away 
 to their camp : but in effect proved the winning of time 
 to the earl of Surrey, and the lofing ofoccalion to him. 
 Her few days day bred in him a kind of careleffnefs, 
 floth, procrallination and delay, a neglect, and as it were 
 a forgetfulnefs, of his army and bufmefs. Eighteen 
 days tarrying in England, in a territory not very fertile, 
 had confumed much provifion, the foldiers began to 
 want neceffaries, and a number in the night by blind 
 paths returned to their own country : in a fhort time, 
 only the noblemen, and their vaffals attending the king. 
 Thefe requefi him not to fpend more time on that bar- 
 ren foil, but to turn their forces againfl: Berwick, which 
 town was of more importance, than all the hamlets 
 and poor villages of Northumberland: neither was it 
 impregnable or difficult to be taken, the town and caflle 
 being no ways provided and furnilhed to endure a liege. 
 The courteous move the king to continue the beleagur- 
 ing of Berwick till their coming back ; which would be 
 an eafy conqueft, Northumberland once foraged, in ab- 
 fence of the bravelt of the Englilh then in France. 
 
 Whilft the army languifhed, and the king fpent time 
 at Ford, the earl of Surrey direcleth an herald to his 
 camp, requiring him either to leave off the invafion of 
 his mailer's country, and turn back, giving fatisfaclion 
 for wrongs cominited ; or that he would appoint a day 
 and place, wherein all differences might be ended 
 by the fword. This challenge being advifed in coun- 
 cil, moll voices were -, " That they (hould return home, 
 " and not with (b fmall a numbtr, as remained, en- 
 " danger the (late of the whole kingdom, enough be- 
 " [ng already atchieved for fame, and too much for 
 " theii friendfliip with France: v. hv fhould a few fol- 
 " diers, and thefe already tired out by forcing of 
 " fltengths and rowing down caftles, be hazarded a- 
 " gainft fuch multitudes of the Fnglilh fuppiied lately 
 *' and encreafed with frcfli auxiliaries ? Thomas 
 
 How. 
 
of J AMES IV. 195 
 
 •■ Howard admiral, a Ton of the earl of Surrey, hav- 
 " ing newly brought with him to Newcaftle out of the 
 " army lying in France, fivethoufandchofen men, and 
 " one thoufand tall feamen. If they Ihould return home 9 
 " the Englifh army could not but disband, and not 
 " conveniently this year be gathered again, confifting 
 " of men levied from far and diflant places. Again, if 
 " they mould be engaged to come to a battle ; their 
 " own country, being fields to them well known, would 
 " prove more commodious and fecure to fight upon, 
 *< than Englifh ground, befides the opportunity of fur- 
 " nifhing and providing the camp with all neceflaries at 
 " lefs charges." The French ambaffador and others 
 of his faclion remonflrate to the king, " What a fhame- 
 '* ful retreat he would make, if at the defire of the ene« 
 " my he returned, and without the hazard of a battle* 
 " being fo near unto him; that by fighting in England, 
 " he kept his own country unforraged ; and confumed 
 " the proviiion of his enemy, which at lair, would weak- 
 " en his forces : that for contentment to both armies, 
 " I slay a Scotifh herald fhould return with Rouge- 
 *' Cross the Englifh, and condefcend upon a day, 
 " promifing them in the mean time tarrying and abode, 
 * till the righteoufnefs of the caufe were decided in a 
 " battle." 
 
 The fet and appointed day by the heralds, in which 
 the two armies fhould have joined, being come, and the! 
 Englifh not appearing, nor any from them, the nobili- 
 ty again refort to the king, and (how, " How, by the 
 " flight of the enemy, matters were prolonged and de- 
 " layed from one day to another : the Engiifh forces 
 " daily encreafing, whilft the Scotilh wear away, and 
 Li waxed fewer; that flight fhould be oppofed to flight; 
 " the day defigned by the heralds not being kept, it 
 " would be no reproach to them to turn home without 
 " battle, or, if retiring, to fight upon their own ground, 
 " Ifthiscounfe! pleafedhimnot, but that he would there 
 " give them battle, the next was to ftudy all advan- 
 " tages for victory, either by fhatagem, or the odds 
 '' and furtherance of the place of fight; where the Che- 
 " viot hills decline towards the plainer fields arifmg 
 " behind them with high tops, with belt ordnance fhould 
 N s " bl 
 
iy6 The History of the Reign 
 
 " be fortified •, the water of Till running deep and ford* 
 " lcfs upon the right hand, and but paffable at the 
 '» bridge, the firlr. companies of the enemy being patted, 
 " before they could be relieved and iuccoured by their 
 ,; followers, the bridge by the artillery fhould be beaten. 
 " down, and the enemy charged when they began to 
 " pafs the water." 
 
 The king, impatient of counfel, anfwered, " Though 
 <l their number encreai'ed to as many more as they were, 
 " he with that remainder of his army would fight them. 
 " That advantages were to be embraced according (o 
 " the occafion of the fight, without tedious deliberation ; 
 " if any man was afraid he might, if he pleafed, return 
 " home." A (trange rcfblution in a prince, who ima-* 
 gined every man in his army to have the fame itrength, 
 courage, boldnels and refolution with himfelf! 
 
 This anlwer aitonifhed the nobility, and fince they 
 could not perfuade him to a fair retreat, but that he 
 will fight, and that without the advantage of the bridge, 
 being inferior in number to the Englifh (for they were 
 reckoned by the lcouts fix and twenty thoufand) they 
 fortify themfelves according to the commodity of the 
 hill, where they lay encamped, with a refolution not 
 to fuffer the king to hazard his perfbn in the battie. If 
 Victory fiiould incline to them, their gains were but 
 fmall, and glory lefs, extending but over fbme few of 
 the nobility, and a i'mall parcel of the body of the ftate 
 of England, and a number of yeomen, and preffed 
 hoffemen, the flower of the kingdom being in France. 
 But if they were ovenhrown, their Jofs' would prove 
 incomparable, yea unfpeak&ble, a martial young king 
 either killed, taken, or put to flight: wherefore they 
 think it fitting, not neceilary, the king be pleafed, with 
 lb many as either chance or election might leperate with 
 him, to be a fpeclator of the fortune of the day. To 
 this the king replyed; " He neither wanted ability to 
 " difcharge the part of a foldier, nor wifdom to com- 
 " mand as a general, and to outlive fb many valiant 
 " countrymen, would be more terrible to him than 
 " death itl'clf." When forced to give way for his per- 
 fonal prefence, in the field they appoint fome to be 
 arrayed in like furniture of arm?, and a iikt g 
 
 the 
 
of JAMES IV. 197 
 
 the king; fhadows to perfoliate him in fun dry quarters 
 of the Held, that the enemy mould not fet one man as 
 their chief maik to invade, from whofe death the vi- 
 ctory and concJulion of the war might depend : and if 
 the king mould fall, the army ihould not lofe courage, 
 nor be brought to believe he were loll, fo long as they 
 faw a general, with his cognizance and guard prefent 
 and near them to be a witnefs of their valour and at- 
 chievements, as not long before, at the battle of For- 
 nou in Italy, had been praclifed by the French to their 
 king Charles. 
 
 By this time the earl of Surrey, with the power of the 
 North of England, was come within three miles of the 
 place, where the Scotifh army was encamped, and per- 
 ceiving he could not but with great difadvantage fight 
 them •- he fendeth an herald requiring the king to come 
 forth of his ftrength to fome indifferent ground, where 
 he would be ready to encounter him. The king being 
 forward to condelcend to this requeft, the lords cried 
 out ; " It was madnefs to accept of opportunity of fight- 
 " ing from his enemies, and to fct all at a main chance 
 " according to their appointment, it being their advan- 
 " tage to prolong time, and trifle with him in whole 
 " camp there was already fcarcity of vicluals which ere 
 " long might put him to fuch a ftand, that he Ihould 
 "■ not know well what to do. Neither was it likely he 
 " could be furnilhed from the inner parts of the coun- 
 " try, by reafon of the cumberfome ways for carriages 
 " to pafs, after the falling of fo great and continued 
 " rains, and the foftening of the ground : that by fit- 
 " ting (till, and committing nothing to fortune, he 
 " might have his enemy at his plealure; ifthe}' dared 
 " airail him, at their perils be it. He lacked nothing 
 " but patience to be victorious." 
 
 The Scots keeping their trenches, the earl effayeth 
 to draw them out, and the ninth of September, remov- 
 ing his camp marcheth towards the fame hill of Flow- 
 den where they lay encamped; his van-guard, with the 
 cannon, paffeth the water of Till at Twifel bridge* 
 the reerward going over at Mylnford. King James* 
 feeing them pafs the water, imagineth they meant to 
 win a bill between his camp and them; to prevent 
 N 2 which 
 
198 The History of the Reig# 
 
 which (fetting fire to cabanes raifed of boughs of trees 
 and reeds) he removeth to another hill, before" the 
 Englifh could obferve his motion, the (moke darkening 
 the air between the two armies. Whilft the Scotifh 
 army was removing, the Englifh advance to the foot of 
 Flowden hill, by which they have double advantage, 
 the Scotifh ordnance could not much annoy them, they 
 marching upwards and under the level thereof; again, 
 by their (hot, they might eafily gall their enemies as 
 they came downwards upon them. 
 
 The fatal hour of the battle approaching, the Eng- 
 lifh draw up in good order fix and twenty thoufand men, 
 fome write thirty, in two battails, any of which was e- 
 qual in number to the whole Scotifh army. Thomas 
 lord Howard, admiral, had the van-guard, of which 
 Sir Edmond Howard his brother led one of the 
 wings, and SirMARMADUKECoNSTA BLEthe other; 
 the lords Dacre s andCLiFFORD, with Sir Edward 
 Stanley kept the rear: the earl of Surrey, with La- 
 timer, Scroop, and Sir Stephen Bull, kept 
 the main battail. The Scots by their fewnefs of num- 
 ber, not being able to order many batallions, marfhal 
 themfelves in four, three of which fhould enter in fight, 
 and the fourth attend for fupply. The king kept the 
 middle or main: Alexander Gordon carl of 
 Huntley had the right wing of the van ; the earls of 
 Crawford and Montrofe led the other, and, fome have 
 recorded, the lord Hume. The third army was guid- 
 ed by Matthew earl of Lenox, and the earl of Ar- 
 gyle, where was Mackenzie and Maclean, with 
 the fiercenefs of the Highlander?. Adam H f p b V r N 
 earl of Bothwel, with his friends and the flower of the 
 gentry of Lothian, kept off for fudden dilpatches and 
 chances of the battle. 
 
 The earl of Huntley making down the hill, where 
 they encamp near the foot of Branxtown, encountercth 
 that wing of the Englifh hod, which Was led by Sir 
 Edmond Howard, which after a furious and long 
 fight he put to flight, and fb eagerly purfued tlu 
 vantage, that Sir Edmond had cither been killed or 
 taken, if he had not been refcued by baflard Hero. -J 
 and the lord Da c r e s. The batallion which the cai !s 
 
 of 
 
of J AMES IV. i 99 
 
 of "Lenox and Argyle Jed, being Highland men, encou- 
 raged with this firft glance of victory, loofing their 
 ranks, abandoning all order (for ought that the French 
 ambalTador La Motte, by figns, threatenings and cla- 
 mours, could do to hold them) broke furiouily upon 
 the enemy, and invade him in the face, of whom they 
 are not only valiantly received, but, by Sir Edward 
 Stanley's traveriing the hill, enclofed, cut down at 
 their backs and proitrated. The middle ward, which 
 the king led, with which now the earl of Bothwel with 
 the power of Lothian was joined, fought it out coura- 
 gioully body againlt body, and fword to fword. Num- 
 bers upon either fide falling, till darknefs and the black 
 lhadows of the night, forced, as it were, by confent of 
 both, a retreat : neither of them understanding the for- 
 tune of the day, and unto whom victory appertained. 
 
 Many brave Scots did here fall, elleemed to be above 
 five thoufand, of the nobled and worthielt families of 
 the kingdom ; who choofed rather to die, than outlive 
 their friends and compatriots. 
 
 The king's natural fon Alexander arch-bifhop 
 of St. Andrews, thebifhop of the Ifles, the abbots ofln- 
 cheffray and Kilwinning, the earls of Crawfurd, Mor- 
 ton, Argyle, Lenox, Errol, Caithnefs, Bothwel, A- 
 thole, the lords Elph in ston, Erskine, Forbes, 
 Ross, Lovet, Sinclair, Maxwell, with his 
 three brothers, Semple, Borthwick; numbers of 
 gentlemen, Balgony, Blackader, Bonhard, 
 Sir Alexander Seton, Mackenzie, with Mac- 
 lean, George mailer of Angus, and Sir \V i l l i a m 
 Douglas of Glenbervy, with fome two hundred 
 gentlemen of their name and vaiTals, were here llain. 
 
 The Englifh left few lefs upon the place, but molt 
 part of them being of the common fort of foldiers, and 
 men of no great mark, compared with lb many nobles 
 killed, and a king loll, the number was not elleemed, 
 nor the lofs thought any thing of. 
 
 The companies of the lord Hume had referved 
 themfelves all the time of the fight, keeping their firll 
 urder ; and, when by the earl of Huntley, he was re- 
 quired to relieve the batallion where the king fought,, 
 he is laid to have anfwered, That that man did well thai 
 N 3 day 
 
200 The History of the Reign 
 
 day who /food and faved hhnfelf. After the retreat, his 
 followers gathered a great booty of the fpoils of the 
 Slaughtered. This fight began September 9th, about 
 lour of the clock afternoon, and continued three hours, 
 Anno 1 5^ 3. 
 
 About the dawning of the next morning, the lord 
 Dacr es with his troops taking a view of the field, and 
 feeing the brazen ordnance of the Scots not tranfported, 
 with moft part of the fallen bodies not rifled, fendeth 
 fpeedy advertifement to the Howards and the pen- 
 five army -, inviting all to the fetting up trophies, fpoil, 
 and tranfporting of the great ordnance to Berwick, a- 
 mongft which were fcven culverins, of like fize and 
 make, called the feven lifters. 
 
 Divers diverfly report of the fortune of the king: 
 we, without affirming any thing for certain, (hall only fet 
 down what fame hath publifhed ; a falfe witnefs often 
 of human accidents, and which many times, by malig- 
 nant brains is forged, and by more malignant ears re- 
 ceived and believed* The Enghfh hold that he was 
 killed in this battle; the Scots, that mnny in like .arms 
 with the like guards, were killed, every one of which 
 was held for the king : amongft others Alexander 
 lord Elphinston, his favorite, who had married 
 Elizabeth Barley, one of the dames of honour 
 of queen Margaret. He was a man not unlike to 
 the king in face and ftature, and reprefenting him in 
 arms in the field, with the valianteft and moft couragi- 
 ous of the army fought it out, and adting heroically his 
 part, as a king was killed, heaps of ilaughtered bodies 
 environing his. In the fearch where the fight was, the 
 number, tallnefs, and furniture of the dead bodies be- 
 ing obferved, their faces and wounds viewed, his body, 
 as if it yet breathed majefty, was amidft the others fe- 
 leJted, acknowleged for his mailer's, brought to Berwick 
 and embalmed. That it was not the body of the king, 
 the girdle of iron, which he ever wore, and then was 
 not found about him, gave fome, though not certain, 
 teftimony. 
 
 Some have recorded, that the fortune of the day in- 
 clining to the Englifh, four tall men mounted upon. 
 Jufty horfes, wearing upon the points of their lau. 
 
of J A M E S IV. 2 oi 
 
 for cognizances, ftrcamers of ft raw, mounting the king 
 y on a lbrrel hackney, convoyed him far from the place 
 of fight, and that he was feen beyond the Tweed, be- 
 tween Kelfo and Duns. After which, what became of 
 him is uncertain. Many hold, he was killed in the 
 caftle of Hume, either by the intelligence between the 
 Englifti and the lord Hume's kindred, or out of fear 
 (for they were at the [laughter of the king's father, and 
 the moll violent in that fight) or of hopes of great for- 
 tunes, which would follow innovations, and the con- 
 fufion of the ftate, being men who lived beft in a trou- 
 bled common weajth and upon the borders. 
 
 OneC4R.11, a follower of the lord Hume's, that 
 „ fame night the battle was fought, thruft the abbot of 
 Kelfo out of his abbacy : which he never durlt attempt, 
 the king being alive. Another, David Galbraith, 
 in^he time of John the governor, vaunted, that how- 
 ever John wronged the Humes, he was one of fix 
 who had abated the infolence of king James, and 
 brought him to know he was mortal. To thcfe is ad- 
 ded, that the governor John, not long hereafter, did 
 cut off the heads of the lord Hume, and his brother, 
 without any known great caufe. The common people, 
 ever more addicted to fu perdition than verity, believed 
 he was living, and had pallid over the feas, and, accord- 
 ing to his promife, vifited the holy fepulchre in Pale- 
 iline : and that there, for his other offences, and the 
 bearing of arms againft his father, in prayers and pe- 
 nance, he fpent the remainder of his tedious days. 
 That he would return again when he found opportuni- 
 ty, and the neceffity of Europe required him. This 
 report was of as great truth, as that which the Britains 
 have of the return of their king Arthur, and the Bur-. 
 gundians not long before conceived of their duke 
 Charles after the battle of Nancy, mod of them be- 
 lieving he efcaped from the conflict. He was loft the 
 twenty fifth year of his reign, the thirty ninth of his 
 age. 
 
 This king was of a vigorous body, his ftature being 
 
 neither too tall nor too low, of a pleafant countenance, 
 
 of a pregnant wit ; but by the faults of the times in 
 
 which he lived, not polilhed with letters. He excelled 
 
 N 4 in 
 
202 The History of the Reign 
 
 in horfe-manfhip, fencing and flooring. By much 
 watching, (lender diet, and ufe, he was enabled to en- 
 dure all extremities of weather, fcarcity, and want of 
 reft, with good health oi body. 
 
 He was juft in giving judgment, in punilhing male- 
 factors fevere, yet tradable and moderate. With the 
 peril of fome few he reflrained vices, and rather (hook, 
 the fword than (truck with it. He knew there were 
 fome things, though princes might, yet they ought not 
 to do. He was eafy of accefs, molt courteous in 
 fpeech, and meek in anfwering every man. He was fo 
 far from being overtaken with anger, or other violent 
 perturbations, that he was never obferved to have giv- 
 en an evil or difobliging word to any, or that the co- 
 lour of his face changed by any offence offered him, or 
 informations given him, relying without paffion upon 
 his own magnanimity. 
 
 He was of a free and liberal difpofition, far from any 
 oltenration. As he underftood well the art of giving, 
 fo to acquire and purchafe he was not fufficient of hini- 
 felf, but made ufe of men, who drew more hatred up- 
 on their own heads, than mony into their prince's cof- 
 fers. 
 
 Though he delighted more in Mars than the mufes, 
 he was a great admirer and advancer of learned men. 
 William Elphinston bilhop of Aberdeen build- 
 eel, by his liberality, the college of Aberdeen, and 
 named it the king's college, by reafon of thole privi- 
 leges and rents the king bellowed upon it. 
 
 His generofity did fhew itfelf in not delivering of 
 Per kin War beck: he trolled much, and had great 
 confidence in his nobility, and governed, by love not 
 by fear, his people. 
 
 It is no wonder, amidft fo much worth, that fome 
 human frailty, and fome according difcord be found. 
 There is no day ib bright and fair, which one moment 
 Or other looketh not pale, and remaineth not with fome 
 dampilh fhadow of difcolourcd clouds. He was fome- 
 what wedded to his own humour, opinionativc and rafh ; 
 actions ofrafhnefs and temerity, even although they 
 may have an happy event, being never praife-worthy 
 'm a prince. He was fo infected with that illuftrious 
 
 crime,, 
 
of JAMES IV. 203 
 
 crime, which the arribitious take for virtue, defire of 
 fame, that he preferred it to his own life, and the peace 
 of his fubjecls. 
 
 He fo affected popularity, and endeavoured to pur- 
 chafe the love of his people, by largelfes, banqueting, 
 and other magnificence, diving himfelf in debt ; that 
 by thofe fublidies and exactions, which of neceffity he 
 mould have been conflrained to have levied and fqueez- 
 ed from the people, longer life had made him lofe all 
 that favour and love he had fo painfully purchafed, that 
 death feemed to have come to him wiihedly, and in 
 good time. 
 
 The wedding of other's quarrels, efpecially of the 
 French, feemethin him inexcusable ; a wife prince mould 
 be llow and loath toengage himfelf in a waralthough he 
 hath fuffered fome wrong. He mould conlider that of 
 all human actions and hazards there is no one of which 
 the precipitation is fo dangerous, as that of beginning 
 and undertaking a war. Neither, in human affairs, 
 mould there more depths be founded, nor hidden paifag- 
 es fearched and pryed into, than in this. He Ihould 
 remember, that beiides the fad neceffity which is infe- 
 parable from the mo(t innocent war (the waiting and 
 deftroying of the goods and lives of much people) there 
 is nothing of which the revolutions and changes are 
 more inconfiant, and the conclusions and ends more un- 
 certain. 
 
 The fea is not more treacherous, filfe and deceiv- 
 ing, nor changeth more fwiftly her calms into Itorms, 
 ttyin wars and the fortune of arms do, the event and 
 fuccefs belying the beginning. It is not enough that 
 a prince know a war which he undertaketh to be ju(t, 
 but he Ihould conlider alio if it be neceffiry, and if it 
 be profitable, and conduce to the Hate, which he go- 
 verned!. 
 
 As men of ftrong and healthful bodies follow ordin- 
 arily delight in their youth, he was fometimes amor- 
 oufly carried away. He confined the earl of Angus in 
 the ifle of Arran, for taking Jane Kennedy, a daugh- 
 ter of the earl of Callils, out of Galloway, a fair and no- 
 ble lady, of whom he became enamoured as he went in 
 his pilgrimage to St. Ninian's. In his laft expedition 
 
 the 
 
2 o4 The History of JAMES IV. 
 
 the lady Ford was thought to have hindered the pro- 
 grefs of his arms, and haftened the fuccefs of the battle. 
 
 Though virtue be fometimes unfortunate, yet is it 
 ever in an high efteem in the memories of men : fuch 
 a defire remained of him in the hearts of his people, after 
 his lofs, that the like was not of any king before him : 
 princes who are out of this life being only the delights 
 and darlings of a people. Anne the French queen not 
 many days out-lived the rumour of his death. He 
 ferves for an example of the frailty of great men on the 
 theatre of this world, and of the inconltancy of all fub- 
 lunary things. 
 
 He had children, James and Arthur, who died 
 Infants ; James who fucceeded him •, Alexander, 
 born after his death, who died young ; Alexander 
 a natural fon, arch-bilhopof St. Andrews, fo much ad- 
 mired and regreted by Erasmus-, Margaret, of 
 a daughter of the lord Drum m on d's, married to the 
 earl of Huntley (whofe mother had been contracted 
 to the king, and taken away, to his great regret, by 
 thofe who governed the ftate, that he mould not follow 
 the example of king Robert his predecefTor, who 
 married a lady of that family) and James earl of Murray. 
 
 
 THE 
 
[ 205 3 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 F T H E 
 
 Life and Reign 
 
 O F 
 
 JAMES V, 
 
 TH E fatal accident and overthrow of the king, 
 and flower of the nobility of Scotland, at Flow- 
 den, filled the remnant of the ftate with great forrow, 
 but with greater amazement and perplexity : for by this 
 great change they expedled no lefs than the progrefi 
 and advancement of the victor's arms and fortune, and 
 feared the conqueft, fervitude and defolation of the 
 whole kingdom. The rigorous feafon of the year be- 
 ing fpent in mourning and performing the funeral rites 
 for their loft kinfmen and friends j and the gathering 
 together the floating ribs and difperfed planks of this 
 lhip-wrack ; the peers affembled at Stirling, where ap- 
 plying themfelves to fet their confufions in order, and 
 determine on the remedies of their prefent evils, the 
 lively portrait of their calamities did reprefent itfeif 
 to the full view. The head and faireft parts, which 
 majefty, authority, direction, and wifdom, had made 
 
 eminonv 
 
2o<5 The History of the Reign 
 
 eminent, were cut away, fome turbulent church-men, 
 orphaned noblemen, and timorous citizens, filled their 
 vacant places; and many who needed directions them- 
 felves, were placed to direct and guide the helm of ftate : 
 fuch mifcries being always incident to a people, where 
 the father of the country is taken away, and the fuccef- 
 for is of under-age. In this maze of perplexity, to dif- 
 oblige themfelves of their greateft duty, and give iatis- 
 faction to the mod and belt, the lawful fucceffor and 
 heir, James the prince, is fet on the throne and crown- 
 ed, being at that time one year five months and ten days 
 of age, and the hundred and fifth king of Scotland. 
 The laft will and teftament, which the late king had 
 left before his expedition, being publicly feen and ap- 
 proved, the queen challenges the protection of the re- 
 alm and tutelage of her (on, as difpofed unto her fo 
 long as fhe continued a widow, and followed the counfel 
 and advice of the chancellor of the realm, and fome o- 
 ther grave counfellors, and fhe obtaineth it ; as well 
 out of a religion they had to fulfil the will of their de- 
 ceafed fovereign, as to fhun and be freed of the immi- 
 nent arms and imminent danger of her brother the king 
 of England. Being eftablifhed in the government, and 
 having from all that refpect, reverence and obfervance, 
 which belong to fuch a princefs, fhe fent letters to the 
 king of England ; " That having compaffion upon the 
 " tears and prayers of a widow, of his filter, of an or- 
 " phan, of his nephew, he would not only ceafe from 
 " following the war upon Scotland, then at war with it- 
 " felf, and many ways divided, but ennobled by cou- 
 " rage and goodncfs, be a defence unto her and the in-' 
 " fant, her Ion, againft all injuries to be offered them 
 " by foreigners abroad, or any of the factious nobility, 
 " who would oppofe themfelves againft her at home." 
 To which king Henry anfwered," That with the peace- 
 " able he would entertain peace, and with the froward 
 " and turbulent, war-, if the Scots would live in peace, 
 " they Ihould have it for his part, but if they would ra- 
 " ther fight, he was not to refute them. That her hus- 
 " band had fallen by his own indifcreet raihnefs, and 
 " foolifh kindnefs to France : that he rcgretcd his death 
 44 as his ally, and Ihould be willing to prohibit all ho- 
 
 •• ftility 
 
ofJAMES V. toy 
 
 " ftility againft the country of Scotland, during the 
 " minority of her fon." For a remedy of prefent evils, 
 one year's truce and a day longer was yielded unto; in 
 which time he had lei lure to profecute his deligns a- 
 gainft France, without fear of being dilturbed or divert- 
 ed by the incurlions and inroads of the Scots upon his 
 borders. 
 
 The government of a woman and a child over a peo- 
 ple, ever in motion, mutinous and delighting in chang- 
 es, could not long fublilt firm, nor continue after one 
 falhion. The firft make and diforders of the kingdom 
 arofe, and were occalionedby the ambition and avarice of 
 the churchmen, the moth-worms of Itate, being fecond- 
 ed by the factious nobles and malecontents, concern- 
 ing the diftribution of the offices, places, and benefices, 
 vacant by the deaths of thofe llain in the late battle. 
 Andrew For man archbifhop of Bourges, bifiiop of 
 Murray, and legate to pope J u l i u s, Gavin Dou- 
 glas bifhop ofDunkeld, uncle to the earl of Angus, 
 and John Hepburn prior of St. Andrews, contend 
 all three for the archbifhopric of St. Andrews. Gavin 
 Douglas wasprefented to it by the queen, Andrew 
 F o r m a n by the pope, John Hepburn was chofen 
 by the chapter his canons; and fundry of the nobility 
 favoured his election ; they faid alio, that the place 
 whilft it was vacant belonged unto him : and his partv 
 was fo ftrong that none durft publilfi the pope's bull in 
 favour of Ardrew Forman for many days; till 
 Alexander lord Hume then chamberlain, and 
 warden of the call marches, won by many promifes, 
 and the abbacy of Coldingham engaged and prefently 
 given in hand to his younger brother David, in de- 
 fpite of the opposition of the lord Hailes and the fa- 
 ction of the Hepburn s, then feditious and powerful, 
 well backed by his friends, vafials and adherents all in 
 arms, caufed publifh and proclaim it at the mercat-crofs 
 of Edinburgh: which action fir ft incenfed the prior to 
 plot milch ief againft the family of the Humes. Wil- 
 liam Elphinston bifhop of Aberdeen, by many 
 of the clergy and fome of the nobility, had been defired. 
 to accept this dignity, but he refufed it, being now 
 
 weary 
 
208 The History of the Reigh 
 
 weary of earthly greatnefs, and making for another 
 world ; for at this time at Edinburgh he left this. 
 
 As ordinarily, when one faction is near extinguifh- 
 ed, the remnant fuhdivideth, after thefe jars of the 
 churchmen, which were cheriihed by the nobility, the 
 nobles began to jar among themfelves, and grudge at 
 others preferments. Alexander lord Gordon, 
 ruled and commanded the countries North-ward the ri- 
 ver of Forth ; as Alexander lord Hume ufurped al- 
 molt a royal authority, and commanded over the coun- 
 tries on the South-fide of the Forth; the earl of Angus 
 went about a fairer conqueft. 
 
 James earl of Arran lord Hamilton, being near- 
 eft in blood to the king, could not but with indignation 
 look upon the undeferved greatnefs of thefe ufurpers. 
 Under the fhadow of this oligarchy, turbulent, evil dif- 
 poled, and men abhorring quietnefs, ravaged the coun- 
 try, and did what they pleafed. 
 
 Amidft thefe confulions, the queen in April brought 
 forth a pofthumous child in the caftle of Stirling, whom 
 the bilhop ofCaithnefs, abbot of Dunfermline, and the 
 arch-dean of St. Andrews, baptized and named Ale- 
 xander. After fhe was recovered and had acquired 
 her wonted ftrength of body, fhe found the authority of 
 her place was turned weak, and that fhe enjoyed nothing 
 but the name of governing, the people delighting to 
 live rather without rule and in all diforders, than to be 
 fubjeel to the obedience of a woman, though a queen. 
 After great deliberation and many eflays in v"in to curb 
 their infblence, and vindicate her authority from their 
 contempt, as alfo to lave h>;r fon from the dangers of 
 an infulting nobility, and fettle her elbte, fhe refolvtd 
 to match with fome nobleman, eminent in power and 
 worth, who could and would protect her and hers in 
 the greateft extremities. Amongft the choice of the 
 young noblemen of Scotland, for a long fuccelfion of 
 renowned anceftors, comelinefs of perfon, noble conver- 
 sion, and prudence in affairs of ftate, being lovely, 
 courteous, liberal and wife, none was comparable to the 
 earl of Angus : him (he determines to make partner of 
 her royal bed and fortunes ; and as ordinarily in matters 
 cf love, it falleth out, by the impatience of delay, 
 
 without 
 
of J AMES V. 209 
 
 without acquainting her brother the king of England, 
 or the nobles of the kingdom with her defign, fhe after- 
 wards marrieth him, transferring, if fhe could, the whole 
 weight of the kingdom and the reins of the government 
 of the ftate into his hands, having no more freedom in 
 her own determinations. 
 
 No fooner was this revealed to the world, when the 
 nobility and gentry divided into two factions, one ad- 
 hering to the Douglas, in whom kindred, friend- 
 fhip and long oblervance had bred hopes of benefits and 
 preferment-, another of fuch whom envy of his great - 
 nefs and advancement had made hungry of change. 
 The firft would have the government continued in the 
 queen's perfbn and her husband's : becaufe hereby the 
 realm mould ftill have peace with England, which at 
 that time was the moil neceffary point to be reflected. 
 The adverfe party, of which the lord chamberlain was 
 the principal, who was a man both in power, paren- 
 tage/and riches, equal to, if not beyond, many of the 
 great men of the country, importuned the election of 
 a new governor and protector of the young king. The 
 queen loling by her marriage both the tutelage of her 
 fon and the government, fhould not take it to heart that 
 another were chofen and put in her place. Her marry- 
 ing the earl of Angus had made him too great already 
 to be a fubject, the continuing of her in authority would 
 promote him to the greatnefs of a prince. Who fhould 
 be governor, is upon both fides long and contentioufly 
 argued. Many gave their voices for the earl of Arra:;, 
 as being near in blood to the king, and a man affecting 
 peace more than others, and every way fufficient for 
 fuch a charge. The chamberlain had determined of 
 another, and told, it was a wrong to bar from (6 high 
 an honour a man of the mafculine line in blood to the 
 king, and prefer one of the feminine. John duke of 
 Albany, fon to Alexander duke of Albany, the 
 brother of king James III, before all others, by all 
 reafon fhould be preferred to the government. Being 
 demanded if he would be the firff, to give example to 
 others, who would let his hand to this election, he 
 without paufing performed it, with a proteftation, that 
 though the reit of the nobility oppofed it, as to his com- 
 ing 
 
2io The History of the Reign 
 
 ing into Scotland to accept the government, he alone 
 would go to France, charge him with it, be his convoy 
 hither, and maintain his title. 
 
 This he was thought to have done, for that, defpair- 
 ing to reach and obtain this dignity himfelf, out of e- 
 mulation, he laid a defign, that never any other of the 
 nobles of the kingdom fhould reach it; affecting rather 
 to give a ftranger the place, than a competitor, bring- 
 ing in the French to equal the ballance as principal, 
 himfelf only as acceiTory, nothing doubting of a chief 
 place in {rate, as well for his forwardnefs in this election, 
 as for the neceffity of his fervice which the French could 
 not well want, and fliould never be lacking. He feared 
 alio, if the faction of the Douglasses prevailed, 
 the greatnefs of the earl of Angus would be an umbrage 
 to his, and leflen and impair it ; their lands and for- 
 tunes lying near to other, as that the queen by her 
 power in England would crofs his faireft projects. 
 
 The king of England had fent a letter to the lords 
 of Scotland, as he had done to the French king for 
 that fame effect, remonftrating how dangerous it was 
 ibr the Rate of Scotland, and the young king, if they 
 ihould make choice of the duke of Albany. 
 
 Notwithstanding all which, through ambition, ma- 
 lice, envy of others, difcords among themfelves, they 
 made choice of this gentleman, a ftranger by his edu- 
 cation and birth, ignorant of the nature and manners of 
 the Scots; whofe father was banillied for treafon againft 
 his brother, and died un-reftored ; one altogether de- 
 voted to the French king, and an enemy to the Eng- 
 lifh ; not caring to keep the country of Scotland in wars 
 and troubles, (b he might defend the French nation, by 
 making the Scots fight their battles. 
 
 After many private letters from his friends in Scot- 
 land, efpecially from the chamberlain, inviting him to 
 come home, and accept his new dignity, the duke at 
 lalt is required by the ftates, and lyon king of arms is 
 directed to him, to acquaint him with their proceedings, 
 and make him forward on his way. He to endear his 
 coming, and make himfelf the more defired of the peo- 
 ple, excufing his flay for a while (which he laid upon 
 • he treaty of peace, which was then to be agreed upon 
 
 between 
 
of J AMES V. 2ii 
 
 between England and France, by the marriage of Lou- 
 is the French king with Mary, the youngeft filler 
 of Henry king of England, which required his pre- 
 fence) fendeth home the king of arms with letters from 
 the French king with Sir Anthony Darcey le 
 Sieur de la Beaute. This man propofed certain con- 
 ditions, which the duke required: " What fhould be 
 * the form of his government, his guards, what caftles 
 '* fhould be delivered to him for his garrifons •, the re- 
 *' ftoring his patrimony and father's dignities to him." 
 Which particularities being condefcended unto, the 
 caftle of Dunbar was inftantly delivered to la Beaute to 
 be kept for a French garrifon at the duke's coming ; and 
 Sir Patrick Hamilton, brother to the earl of 
 Arran, James Ogilby abbot of Aberbrothock, with 
 the king of arms, were fent back again to France. Af- 
 ter their arrival, the duke of Albany, being furnifhed 
 with all necclTaries by the French king, with eight well 
 rigged lhips took the feas, and in the month of May arriv- 
 ed on the Welt: coafts of Scotland, from whence with a 
 great retinue of the nobles and barons of the country, 
 by eafy journeys, the queen meeting him, he came to 
 the town of Edinburgh. In the parliament which had 
 been prorogued for his coming, the duke accepted the 
 government of the kingdom, and gave his oath of fide- 
 lity to the king and country, and the three eftates gave 
 their oath of obedience to him; and both fwore, That 
 in the adminittration of juftice, neither fhould be de- 
 ficient to others. Here is he reftored to all his father's 
 inheritance, titles and honours: being declared duke 
 of Albany, earl of March, and governor of the kingdom 
 till the king's full maturity. Many laws are made for 
 the well of the kingdom, and to gratify his lineage, 
 James the natural fon of James IV. is created earl 
 of Murray. 
 
 At the prefence of this new governor, the face of the 
 ftate turned more beautiful, and the court more royal ; 
 oppreifion is reftrained, juftice fincerely executed, the 
 court is frequented with good and virtuous men, and 
 malefactors and naughty perfons banilh themfelves, 
 He maketh a progrefs to all the notable towns of the 
 kingdom, feeing crimes punifhed and faults amended, 
 O Being 
 
512 The History of the Reign 
 
 Being a ftranger, and not throughly acquainted with the 
 municipal ftatutes and particular practices of the coun- 
 try, in great and important matters, he proceedeth by 
 the inftrutfuons and informations of fome choice men of 
 the nation itfelf ; efpecially, fince he was not infinite to 
 Jiltento the advice ofevery one, he gave himfelfto heark- 
 en and follow the opinion and counfel of John Hep- 
 burn prior of St. Andrews; whofe judgment, in his 
 grcateit difficulties, he receives as an oracle. This man 
 being of a fubtile wit, malicious, crafty, rich, and en- 
 dued with fome courtly eloquence, by a counterfeit 
 pretence of knovvlege of the affairs of the kingdom and 
 flate, neither in fome things did he err, at rirft being 
 familiar with the duke, and in a littie time after, by 
 bribing iecretly fome of his choice forvants, turned his 
 only privado, and almoft pofTefTed alone his judgment 
 and ear. " He informed him of the ftrength and riches 
 " of the country, of the nature of the people, and man- 
 *' ner of their laws; and revealed to him many fecrets 
 " of the government. He gave him a catalogue of the 
 " whole deadly feuds and divifions amongft the noble- 
 *' men and gentry, opening unto him which were in- 
 " veterate, and had long continued, and which were 
 " recent, and upon what accidents they had their begin- 
 " nings. How in profecuting revenge in them, they 
 " cared not how innocent any man was, if he were of 
 ' c the name and alliance, but rather thought the more 
 " innocent any was, the more it teflified their (bite, 
 * which they defired to manifeft by taking him away. 
 " He fhewed him what factions were in the kingdom, 
 «' who fwayed them, and were the heads. He told him 
 " the Scots were a violent fierce people, mutinoully 
 *' proud, and knew not whom to obey without the 
 " ivvord were drawn. That they were never abfblute- 
 " Jy governed by their own kings themfelves, far lefs 
 " would they be ruled by him who was but a governor, 
 " and half a ftranger. King James I. they had kil- 
 ** led; they had made a league againft king James II; 
 M in open battle they had overthrown king Jam es III ; 
 « and the laft king was by beft judgments, thought to 
 " have been fecretly taken away." Here(calling to mind 
 the proclaiming of the arch-bifhop Andrew For- 
 
 " man's 
 
of JAMES V. 213 
 
 man's bull) he omitted nothing could derogate from 
 the chamberlain's reputation and honour, and breed 
 an evil opinion of him in the governor. 
 
 " He inftrudted him, how the great houfes of Scot- 
 " land were fo joined and linked together, by kindred, 
 •' alliances, bonds of fervice, or man-rent, that no 
 " gentleman of any quality, although a malefactor and 
 '* a guilty perfon, could be prefented to juftice with- 
 " out fome ftir, commotion, or tumult of the grandees 
 " and their factious friends. Amidft lb many ftrong 
 " parti^f^nd confederate malecontents, the governor 
 " by the power of the Scots themfelves, and his own 
 *' kindred, friends and followers, was not powerful en- 
 41 ough fafely to adminifter juftice. For which caufe, 
 •' the king of France mould be implored to fend hither 
 competent forces to quell the infokncies, and fhake 
 *)/the pride of the factious nobles. The heads of the 
 " factions, which had a principal fway in the kingdom 
 " at that time, would either be cut off, or kept under, 
 M but with fuch cunning and dexterity, that it fhould 
 " not be perceived nor found out. That many were 
 «* aimed at and interefted when fome few did fuffer and 
 " fall. That for the prefent, there were three heads 
 " to be looked unto, as feared, and like to bring nova- 
 *' tions in the ftate, being men able to change the pre- 
 " fent government. 
 
 " The earl of Angus, a man in the prime of his youth, 
 ,c of high-flying thoughts by his alliance with the king 
 " of England, and that eftimation the people conceived 
 " of him by the merits of his anceftors, and the iingu- 
 " lar love the fubjefts bare him, carried a mind above the 
 " fortune of a private man, and feemed not born to 
 " live a fubjecVs life; each action of his bearing in it 
 " majefty and magnificence ; he had power to hurt, if 
 <c he would hurt. 
 
 «« The lord chamberlain, a man unpolifhed, ftub- 
 " bornly (tout, hazardous, mighty in riches and power, 
 «* and confequently proud; ofa working mind and vehe- 
 " ment fpirit, whom time and experience had hardened 
 " by great exploits and dangerous actions, who had had 
 " the malice to be a fpeclator of the difcomfiture of his 
 O 2 " prince 
 
514 The History of the Reign 
 
 " prince and country-men at Flowden, was likely to 
 " attend the opportunity of traverfes and changes. 
 
 " The third was the arch-bifhop Andrew For- 
 " man, once fecretary to the pope, who though he 
 • : was not of any noble Item nor defcent of blood, nor for 
 " his followers, friends and adherents much to be tak- 
 ** en notice of or feared, yet conlidering him, as his 
 " legate-fhip, plurality of benefices, many penfions 
 *' from princes, had guilded him over-, and ballancing 
 " him by his prefent treafure, he could make a weak 
 *' party ilrong, and add weight to what fide foever he 
 " inclined. He was therefore with piercing eyes to be 
 " looked into, and all his a&ions and ways to be ob- 
 ♦« ferved." 
 
 The governor gave no great attention to what the 
 prior had inltrucled againlt the arch-bifhop, having be- 
 fore had fome inkling of the rancour, grudge, and en- 
 mity between them. And he was confcious the arch- 
 bifhop's riches were above envy ; he having been ever 
 more folicitous magnificently to fpend what he had ac- 
 quired, than to hoord up. Neither did he beftow fo 
 much upon any of his country -men, as he did upon the 
 French, the friends and fervants of the governor. He 
 knew he was alio fo circumfpedT, as not to adhere to 
 any of the factions of the time, in a neutrality indif- 
 ferently and friendly entertaining all his compatriots. 
 
 Nor was lie much moved at his information concern- 
 ing the earl of Angus, rinding him a man peaceable, 
 courteous to all, and affable; and though of alpiring 
 thoughts, carried often away with his private delights 
 and courtly pleafures. 
 
 But what the prior informed againft the lord cham- 
 berlain he deeply ingraved in his memory, and ever 
 after his countenance bewrayed certain flaws of ill con- 
 cealed difcontent. Neither did he thereafter Ihew him 
 wonted favours ; which the chamberlain obferving, and 
 gueffing at the change of the governor's mind towards 
 him by more than ordinary evidences and figns, he hav-r 
 ing been the only man who wrought his advancement 
 and coming to Scotland, his deferts now being either 
 forgot or ungratefully remembered, full of grief and dif- 
 dain, he retired from the court to his own cafiles; 
 
 where, 
 
of JAMES V. iijr 
 
 Where, when he had retired a while, half aftonifhed to 
 fee his hopes fo fruftrated, he taketh new refoJutions 
 and determinations to play the governor double or quit* 
 Hereafter he leaveth no means untried to become en- 
 tire with the queen and her husband, and by obfer- 
 vance and frequent meeting with them, he wrought 
 himfelf not only to be embraced as their friend, but as 
 their counfellor, and one in whom they had greateft 
 confidence. He many times with them deplored the 
 public calamity, when his own particular only ftung 
 him, accufmg himfelf of his too much forwardnefs in 
 calling home a man born an exile, whofe father died 
 baniihed for his ambition, and had eflayed to take the 
 crown from his eldelt brother. " Since this man was 
 " the nearelt of blood to fuc'ceed, who could not per- 
 " ceive his laft work would be the making away the in- 
 *' nocent child, his pupil, to afcend the royal throne 
 •' himfelf; in the height of malice accomplifhing what 
 " his father, out of a defire to rule, did project? by his 
 " tender years the king could not underftand nor pre- 
 " vent his danger, his mother might and mould antici- 
 '* pate it, that new necelfities required new remedies} 
 " only one poftern gate remained yet open, which was, 
 * that the queen would tranfport her fbn to England, 
 " and truft herfelf and what fhe held deareft, to the 
 " faith and protection of her brother." 
 
 When this plot was whifpered to the governor, who 
 wanted not his own emirfaries among the queen's at- 
 tendants, it was no fooner revealed than believed, and 
 no fooner believed, when (being a forward and vehe- 
 ment man, and who ufed celerity in all his actions) 
 with as many men as hade could fuffer him to gather, 
 forthwith he marched at midnight from Edinburgh to 
 Stirling; there unawares he furprized the caftle, and in 
 it the queen with her two fbns. A council being alfem- 
 bled, the king with his brother Alexander arefe- 
 queftred from their mother, and trufted to the cuftody 
 of four lords, who by turns interchangeably mould- at- 
 tend the two princes, and have a care of their education* 
 That no violence Ihould be offered them, certain gentle- 
 men of the French and Scots are appointed (till to wait 
 on and guard them. From this fufpicion the feeds of 
 O 3 efttnity 
 
2i6 The History of the Reign 
 
 enmity began to be fown between the queen and the go- 
 vernor, which neither time nor wifdom thereafter could 
 take away and root out, 
 
 Amidfl this ftorm of court, the lord chamberlain be- 
 ing brought to a new traverfe of his thoughts, with his 
 brother Mr. William Hume fly towards England ; 
 the queen with her husband and Sir George Dou- 
 glas, his brother, with an unexpected fuddennefs 
 halte to Tantallon, and from thence to Berwick, from 
 which they had a convoy to the nunnery of Coldftream : 
 here they attended advertifement from the king of Eng- 
 land what courfe to follow, and know his pleafure. He 
 recommended them to the protection and care of the 
 lord D acres, and affigned the caftle of Harbottle in 
 Northumberland for his filler's refidence, during her 
 abode in thefe Northern parts, and the troubles of Scot- 
 land. 
 
 The governor, not a little perplexed at the flight and 
 efcape ofthofe confpirators, fendeth ambaffadors to the 
 court of England to clear himfelf to the king, of what 
 might be furmifed againft him concerning thefe new 
 (hangers come to his country. '' He had done nothing 
 " which fhouid have offended the queen, made her a- 
 " fraid, or to entertain or harbour a flniftrous thought 
 " of his proceedings. Neither did he intend any thing 
 " againlt thefe who had followed and accompanied her, 
 " which fhouid have moved them to leave their coun- 
 " try ; unto which if they pleafed to return, they fhouid 
 " be welcome, enjoy their wonted freedom, and keep 
 " peaceably what they had poffeffed. If they were 
 " confcious to themlelves of any mildemeanor, he 
 " would not be too precife in the fearch of it." He al- 
 fo trafficked by the friends of thofe who favoured the 
 Douglasses and HuMEsto perfuade them to a re- 
 turn, giving them fair promifes of obtaining what they 
 fhouid demand ; till at laft he moved them to bow and 
 yield to his defires. The fugitive gentlemen returned; 
 but the queen being with child, and near the time of 
 her delivery, was neceflltated to flay (till, till at Har- 
 bottle caftle Ihc brought foith her daughter M a rgar- 
 e t, afterward grand-mother to James king of Great- 
 Britain. So loon as (lie was able to endure travel, and 
 
 be 
 
of JAMES V. 217 
 
 be tfanfported, king Henry, with an honourable re- 
 tinue, brought her to his court, where (he was by him 
 and her filler M A R Y, late queen of France, welcomed^ 
 In May (he made her progrefs through London to Bay- 
 nard's cattle, and from thence to Greenwich: where, in 
 honour of his filter's coming, king Henry, with no lets 
 valour than magnificence, kept two folemn days of 
 tilting and barriers. 
 
 The contrivers of the exploit of tranfporting the 
 king to England being within the country, and, as it 
 were, fecure, the governor, whole head was filled with 
 fufpicions, not thinking himfelf bound by promifeSj 
 will have them give a reckoning of their enterprize and 
 flight into England. Againft fome he hath clear pioofs, 
 fair and manifeit evidences; againft others bare furmip 
 es and naked fufpicions, for they had not left the coun- 
 try, nor had been partakers of the queen's fortunes* 
 Here with an unexpected fuddennefs, Mr. Gavin 
 Douglas uncle to the earl of Angus, bifhopofDun- 
 keld, and Mr. Patrick Panther fecrttary to the 
 late king, were committed ; Mr. Gavin in the cattle 
 of St. Andrews, and Mr. Patrick in Garvet cattle* 
 The lord Drummond, grand-father to the earl of 
 Angus, having beaten a lyon herald, who too imperi- 
 oully and unmannerly had given him a charge to an- 
 fwer to fuch things as fliould be objected againlt him, 
 was impritoned in the caltle of Blacknels. Ale- 
 xander, lord Hume, being charged to anfwer for 
 his actions and proceedings, and not appearing, was 
 denounced rebel, his moveables feized on and brought 
 to the exchequer. Stirred upandirritated by thisout-rage, 
 he maketh roads upon the neighbouring bounds, plun- 
 dereth Dunbar, which was the governor's chief refort; 
 and to revenge his wrongs, fetteth on work the rank- 
 riders and robbers on the borders. To reprefs and 
 bridle this ravaging, the governor, in perfon, with a 
 thoufand hardy foldiers marcheth to the borders, and 
 directeth fome companies to find out the lord Hume i 
 but he, either difmaid at the worth and fortune of the 
 governor, or broken and bowing under the burden of 
 his own miferies, or overcome with the requefts of his 
 friends, eometh to the governor,, and fubmitted his 
 O4 Ilk 
 
218 The History of the Reign 
 
 life and eftate to his faith and clemency. Being 
 brought to Edinburgh, he is trufted to the cuftody of 
 James earl of Arran, the husband of his fifter, with 
 threatenings under pain of high treafon, that he ftiould 
 not part with him, nor fuffer him to efcape. The lord 
 Hume had not long ftayed in the caftle of Edinburgh, 
 when with gloffes of probabilities of changes cafual, and 
 fuch as might fall out, he moved the earl of Arran, to 
 be of his mind, and brought him to confpire againft the 
 governor, and hazard to put himfelf in his place of ftate. 
 " He himfelf was the only man who had brought in the 
 '« governor, and he knew well how to put him out, if the 
 " earl would be of the party, and by his negligence 
 *' not reject a fupreme honour thrown in his arms. He 
 " is begun already not to be loved, if he was not already 
 " hated by the fubjects for his imperious proceedings. 
 " If the king of England could find but fome few no- 
 " blemen to make head againft him, he would conftrain 
 " him to leave the country. The earl of Arran was 
 *' neareft heir to the king ; it was more reafon he ftiould 
 " be fecond in the kingdom than John, who though 
 " defcended of a brother, yet was but defcenJcd of 
 " a banifhed man, • and a ftranger to the Scots na- 
 " tion, with whom they had not fo much as inter- 
 " courfe and familiarity of language." After many 
 fuch like inducements, the prifoner took away his 
 keepers with him to the South parts of the counrry ■, 
 and both by letters to their familiars, kindred, and ac- 
 quaintance, and private meetings with other noblemen, 
 lirove to make (hong and incrcafe their faction. 
 
 In the beginning of the fpring, John Stuart earl 
 of Lenox, the lifter's fon of the earl of Arran, lifted 
 himfelf in the party of the confpiring lords, and with a 
 number of his friends and followers invefted the caftle 
 of Glafgow-, which if they could have kept, had been 
 a great advancement to their intentions. But the go- 
 vernor gathering an army of as many as hafte would 
 fuffer him to afTemble, the defenders not being ftrong 
 enough to refift him, recovered the caftle with final! 
 lofs of his men. After which, in indignation he march- 
 ed to throw down the caftle of Hamilton ; here victori- 
 ous anger was conquered by pity and comparison : for 
 
 the 
 
of J AMES V. 219 
 
 the old countefs of Arran being at thai time there refi- 
 dent (who was daughter to king James II. filter to 
 king James III. mother to the earl of Arran, grand- 
 mother to the earl of Lenox, aunt to the governor) a 
 lady venerable for years and virtues, with tears of af- 
 fection and forrow, falling down at the governor's feet, 
 and received by him with great commiferation, in a merci- 
 ful manner, not only preferved the caftle, but by the 
 means of the arch-bifhop, Andrew Forma n, en- 
 tered into a treaty for peace to her fon, and the earl of 
 Lenox. And, in November following, the two earls 
 coming to Edinburgh, by the means of this arch-bifhop, 
 were reconciled to the governor and all former offences 
 pardoned. About this time (his mother being far from 
 him to difcharge the laft duties of affection towards him) 
 Alexander duke of Rothefay, brother to the king, 
 a child to admiration beautiful and delightful, died at 
 Stirling, and was buried in the abby-churchof Cambus- 
 kenneth. 
 
 The term of peace between the two kingdoms being 
 almoft expired, and both having a dcfire to continue 
 it, the Engliih fent their commifTioners to Coldingham, 
 to whom the duke, then refiding at Dunbar, fent mon- 
 fieur du Plains ambafTador for the French king, Sir 
 William Scot of Balwery, and Gavin Dunbar 
 arch-dean of St. Andrews. Thefe, after fome alterca- 
 tion concerning the Scotifh fugitives, conclude a peace 
 between the nations from the midft of January till. the 
 feaft of Whitfuntide thereafter. The Engliih compre- 
 hended in the articles the earl of Angus, the lord 
 Hume, and the reft of the queen's ftrayed faction, with 
 all their kinfmen, clients and followers. The lord 
 Hume was received again into the governor's favour, 
 with condition, that if he after break his promifes and 
 oaths, his old faults (hould be remembered and joined 
 to his new. Mr- Gavin Douglas and Mr. Pa- 
 trick Panther were fet at liberty, the lord Drum- 
 mond, who had been forfeited, was again reftored, the 
 earl of Angus, with thefe who had followed him, with 
 many ceremonies, and great (hew of friendlhip, was 
 welcomed again to the court. 
 
 The 
 
220 The History of the Reign 
 
 The diforders of the kingdom called a parliament, 
 in which many acts were made to reftrain and keep un- 
 der bold and wicked men, and preferve the peace of the 
 kingdom. In this parliament it was ordained, the king's 
 brother A l e x a n d e r being deceafed, that the govern- 
 or fliould be reputed fecond perfon of the realm, and 
 next heir to the crown. Notwithstanding the claim made 
 by Alexander Stuart the elder brother of the 
 governor, who was begotten on a daughter of the earl 
 of Orkney, to whom the duke of Albany their father 
 had been lawfully joined in marriage before his coming 
 to France; and thus before the marrying of the earl of 
 Bullogne's daughter, the mother of John the gover- 
 nor: upon which ground, Alexander had great 
 reafon to make his claim and proteftation as heir to his 
 father. Notwithftanding his challenge and bravado, 
 Alexander, being more fit for a cowl than a crown, 
 in open parliament gave over all title he had to the 
 crown in his brother's favour. Whereupon to deprive 
 him ever hereafter of lawful fucceflion, they turned him 
 prieft, being made bifhop of Murray, and abbot of 
 Scoon. 
 
 A truce being fincerely kept with England, tumults 
 within the country appeafed, particular deadly feuds 
 and jars of private perfons either curbed or fmothered 
 up, the governor giveth himfelf fome weeks to. his 
 courtly recreations at Falkland. With what paftime 
 fbever he be delighted, or beguile the hours all the day 
 long, in the night he is often haunted by his old fami- 
 liar the prior of St. Andrews, whom ambition, fpite, 
 and malice never fufFered to take any reft. 
 
 This man put in the governor's head, and made him 
 believe, " That his endeavours and pains heretofore 
 " would prove but vain in fettling the government, 
 " and that the peace of the kingdom fliould never he 
 ,c lading, firm and permanent, if lo dangerous a fub- 
 4< ject as the lord chamberlain remained alive : whom 
 •' neither rewards could foften, nor honours and pre- 
 '* ferment oblige and make conftant. How many 
 " times had he been pardoned ? How often, and with- 
 11 out a caufe, had he returned again to his former con- 
 " fpiracies? Should the governor of his own freewill, 
 
 "or, 
 
of JAM ES V. 221 
 
 " or, ofneceffity, be moved to return to France, what 
 *' would not the boldnefs of this man attempt in his 
 " abfence, which his authority and prefence could ne- 
 " ver curb and keep within compafs? The life of this 
 " man would be the death and total ruin of the peace, 
 " of the concord and harmony of the ftate, bring forth 
 " nothing but dangerous and wicked effects; the vio- 
 " lence of ambition having pulled him from his own 
 " judgment. Should he be challenged, and put to atrial 
 " of his peers, he could not fhun the blow of juftice, the 
 " cry of his oppreflion and wrongs having reached 
 " heaven. A member fo often in vain cured and ftill 
 '' gangrened mould be cutoff." 
 
 The governor, whofe brains the prior had now em- 
 brued with jealoufies, thought it no great matter, upon 
 the informations he had received, to put the chamber- 
 lain to a trial; for if he proved not guilty, it would be but 
 to leave him in that (tate and cafe he was found in ; and 
 calumnies though they do not burn, yet blacken. Be- 
 ing come to Edinburgh, he appointed a convention of 
 the nobility, all which time he earneltly trafficked with 
 the friends of the lord chamberlain that he (hould not 
 be abfent, the matters to be determined in council con- 
 cerning him nearly, and he having need of his advice 
 and counfel. 
 
 The court and city being full of whifperings, and 
 expectation of fome fudden change, many diffuaded the 
 chamberlain from appearing; or if he appeared, that he 
 would leave his brother matter William, a man e- 
 qual in judgment and courage to himfelf, behind. He 
 trained into falfe hopes by the blandifhments of the go- 
 vernor towards his friends, and inveigled by prefumpti- 
 on, with his brother, and Sir Andrew, called by the 
 country lord D a n d C a r of Farnehaft, cometh to court, 
 where they were with many ceremonies welcomed by 
 the governor, with more than ordinary favours enter- 
 tained, and fhortly after all three imprifbned, produced 
 in judgment to anfvver to fuch things as ihould be ob- 
 jected againfl them according to the laws of the king- 
 dom, and fubmitted to the fentence of a jury. No new 
 crime was laid to their charge ; James earl of Murray, 
 the natural fon of the late king, accufed the chamber- 
 lain 
 
222 The History of the Reigi* 
 
 Iain of the death of his father : who by many witnefles 
 Was proved alive, and feen to have come from the bat- 
 tle of Flowden. This by pregnant evidences not being 
 proved, he was indicted of divers other points of trea- 
 son : and his private faults were found out and laid a- 
 gainft him : they renew the memory of the late llirs of 
 ftate, and thefe diforders, of which he was either the 
 author, or accellory to them. He had favoured and 
 maintained the factions, thefts and robberies of wicked 
 malefactors on the borders : he had not honourably nor 
 honeflly carried himfelf at the battle of Flowden, per- 
 forming neither the duty of a foldier nor commander. 
 He had furTered the Engliih to repair, and of new for- 
 tify the cattle of Norham, which without either trouble 
 to himfelf, or danger to his friends, he might have hind- 
 ered. Of every of which points and particularities he 
 not clearly justifying himfelf, the judges, prepared and 
 directed by the governor (whom they record to have 
 given information of a hainous crime committed by the 
 chamberlain and his brother, for the odioufnefs of it not 
 to be revealed to the people) pronounce him and his 
 brother guilty, and condemn them to have their heads 
 cut off. The day following, the fentence was put in 
 execution, and their heads fixed on the molt eminent 
 part of the town of Edinburgh. Dand Car of Fame- 
 haft, either by the jury, being declared not guilty, as 
 fome have recorded, or by the corrupting of his keep- 
 ers, as others, or by the pcrmidion of the governor, e- 
 fcaped this danger-, which brought the people to believe 
 the chamberlain was by his means entrapped, to fink 
 whom he put himfelf in hazard of drowning. 
 
 This calamity of the family of the Humes, being fo 
 ancient, potent and couragious, bred terror and aftonifh- 
 ment in many of the other noblemen of the kingdom, 
 and eftranged their hearts from the governor; his ears 
 began to be after attentive to every rumour, and his 
 eyes pried into each accident: at laft, as if he. were 
 wearied with wreftlirg with the many diforders, and 
 cumberfomc factions of the country, he fought how by 
 fome fair way he might for a while return to France. 
 Ambafladors being fent from king Francis to Scot- 
 land to renew the ancient league between the two na- 
 tions, 
 
of J A ME S V. 223 
 
 tions, when the nobles affembled to make choice of the 
 man, on whom they fhould transfer the honour of the 
 accomplifhment of fo folemn an aclion, and pafs to 
 France, the governor carried the matter fo, by means 
 of the French, that it was conferred on himfelf, but 
 with this condition, to entertain them with hopes of his 
 return, that he fhould not flay above fix months out 
 of the country. Having obtained this privileged ad- 
 fence of them, his next care was to preferve the Mate 
 from any alterations till his return, and to find the go- 
 vernment as he had left it. Hereupon, to preferve 
 the perfon of the king, he is conveyed from Stirling 
 to the caftle of Edinburgh, and trufted to the cuftody 
 of the earl IVIarifhal, the lords Ruthven and Borth- 
 wick, two of which fhould always refide with him, 
 and accompany and affift the lord Erskine, his con- 
 stant and unremoveable guardian. For the government 
 of the ftate he leaveth feven deputies in his place, the 
 earls of Arran, Angus, Huntley, Argyle, the arch-bi- 
 ffiopsofSt. Andrews and Glafgow; to thefe is joined 
 Sir Anthony Darge y leSieurde la Beaute, whom 
 he had made captain of Dunbar, and promoted to be, 
 in the lord Hume's place, warden of the Eaft marches, 
 keeping the days of truce and juftice-courts. This was 
 the man to whom the intire conduct of all the gover- 
 nor's affairs was intruded, and who fhould give him ad- 
 vertifement of what did pafs in Scotland, during his a- 
 bodc in France. That no difcord fhould arife amongft 
 men equal in places and authority, the ordinary occafion 
 of divifion, feveral fhires which they fhould govern to e- 
 very one of them are allotted. To Sir Anthony 
 Darcey was deftined the government of the Merfe 
 and Lothian; to the other their fhires were appointed, 
 as the convenience of their dwelling-places, friends and 
 kindred did afford them. Under pretexts and fair co- 
 lours of honour, and as to pafs the time, and be trained 
 in French civility, alfo for the greater magnificence, the 
 governor took in his company the earl of Lenox, the 
 Lord Gordon, matters of Glencairn and Arran, and o- 
 ther young lords; who in effect were fo many hoftages, 
 that no ftir, by their parents, kindred, or friends, fhould 
 be raifed during his abfence. He likewife under dark 
 
 fhadows 
 
224 The History of the Reign 
 
 fhadows and far-fought* pretences committed to fuch 
 caftles as were garrifoned with French foJdiers, as Dun- 
 barton, Dunbar, Garvet, certain barons of the South 
 and Wert countries, who wanted nothing but liberty, 
 nor for any thing they had done, but what they might 
 do, the governor being out of the kingdom. Matters 
 brought to fuch a pafs as his beft politicians could de- 
 vife, accompanied with Mr. Gavin Douglas bi- 
 fhop of Dunkeld, and Mr. Patrick Panther, fe- 
 cretary to the late king, men whom he feared to leave 
 behind him, and entertained, though he knew they 
 loved him not, as his bofom friends, in June at Dun- 
 barton he took (hipping. 
 
 Queen Margaret, after fhe had remained a year 
 in England, underftanding by letters that the governor 
 had taken the feas, and was on his way towards France, 
 honourably difmilTed by her brother, came to Scotland. 
 At Berwick fhe was received by her husband the earl 
 of Angus; but he was not accepted with the favours he 
 was wont; for that plague of too much love, jealoufy, 
 had infected her, having gotten fome inkling that he 
 delighted in the pleafures of a free bed, and, during the 
 time of her abode in England, had entertained a mi- 
 ftrefs in Douglas-dale, an injury beyond degree of re- 
 concilement, after which fhe began todifdain him, and 
 feek how fhe might be divorced from him. Though, 
 whilft the king was kept in tbecaftle of Edinburgh, all 
 accefs unto him was refufed her, when he was tranfport- 
 ed to the cafile of Craigmillar, out of a fufpicion and 
 rumour that the plague had infefted Edinburgh, by the 
 courtefy of the lord Erskine, fhe had liberty to vifit 
 him ; but her frequent haunting him out of too much 
 motherly kindnefs, breeding a fufpicion in his guardi- 
 ans, that, as had once before been pravMifed by a queen 
 in Scotland, fhe had an intention to have ftoln him a- 
 way, and fend him to his uncle, retrained her longer 
 accefs unto him, and procured his return back again to 
 the caftle of Edinburgh. 
 
 Sir Anthony D a rcey having, by his vigilance, 
 pains, and courage, given many proofs of his worth, in 
 defence of the borders, and adminiftration of juftice in 
 thofe fliires he governed ; the other governors, often 
 
 difagrecing 
 
of J AMES V. 225 
 
 difagreeing amongft themfelves, .either out of love of 
 relt, and to be vacant from bufinefs, or out of malice 
 to procure him greater hatred, declare him abfolute de- 
 puty: and they gave their promifes to fecond him in 
 way of juftice. And here he found the difference be- 
 tween extreams and mediocrities. Many difdained a 
 ftranger fhould be in that place, fo many brave men 
 of their nation being neglected. A quarrel at that time, 
 either true and real, or, as others have recorded, alto- 
 gether forged and contrived to draw the deputy into a 
 danger, arifing between the curators of the laird of 
 Langton, and one of his uncles, who by the power and 
 means of Sir David Hume of Wedderburn, whole 
 filter was his wife, had thruft out and ejected the young 
 heir and them of their own caftle of Langton, and kept 
 it by force : The deputy, accompanied with certain 
 lords of the borders, and fome French men his own do- 
 meftics, came to the town of Duns, toholdajuftice-court 
 concerning this riot. The Humes, who thought no- 
 thing jufter than revenge, nor nobler than the effects 
 of anger, having fworn a requital of their chief's wrong, 
 and to pay the governor home, when occafion fhould 
 be offered, by the council and forwardnefs of Sir Da- 
 vid Hume, lay an ambufh, and ly in wait for the de- 
 puty. The plot not failing, they invade him at fuch 
 a difadvantage, that fome of his fervants being killed, 
 he was conftrained to feek an efcape by the fwiftnefs 
 of his horfe; who, in the chafe either falling or finking 
 in a marilh, left his matter to the cruelty of his purfii- 
 ers, who ftruck off his head; and, to feed their eyes 
 with the fpe<!hcle of their rage, let it, to the difgrace of 
 the French, on the battlements of the cadle of Hume. 
 This end had Sir Anthony Darcey, who deferv- 
 ed fo well both of France and Scotland, having been 
 courteous, valiant and noble in all his actions, and a great 
 adminift rator of juflice, who fpared no travel, and freely 
 adventured upon any dangers to fupprefs malefactors, 
 and defend the weak and innocent. 
 
 The governors, that greater mifchief fhould not fol- 
 low the boldnefs of thefe men, made choice of the earl 
 of Arran to refill their outrage, and declare him ward- 
 en of the marches and fupieam, Which election dif- 
 
 pleafed 
 
226 The History of the Reign 
 
 pleafed the earl of Angus. The earl of Arran armed 
 with power, neglecting Angus his intereit, immediately 
 committed Sir George Douglas his brother to 
 the caitle of Edinburgh, and Mark Ker of Cesford 
 in Garvet caitle, out of a fufpicion, that they were ac- 
 cefTory to the flaughter of Sir Anthony Darcey. 
 In a parliament, Ihortly following, many of the Humes, 
 and Cockburns, fugitives for this flaughter, and 
 for that they had invited the Englilh to their aid, and 
 fpoil of the country, are declared rebels. The parlia- 
 ment being diffolved, the earl of Arran, with a fufficient 
 number of foldiers, and fome great ordnance, befieged 
 the caltles of Hume and Langton, and had them ren- 
 dered to his mercy. 
 
 When the accident of Sir Anthony Darcey was 
 noifed at the court of France, king Francis is record- 
 ed to have faid, " That he never looked for better at the 
 *' hands of the Scots, and that the duke of Albany (hould 
 " have deputed men of their own nation to have go- 
 " verned them, and not a ftranger, being a people de- 
 " lighting in mifgovernment, ever well pleafed at the 
 " falls and tragical ends of their rulers, and joying to 
 " fee any hard hap happen to them they deem happy." 
 
 The bilhop of Dunkeld, who had accompanied the 
 governor to France, ufed fuch diligence at that court, 
 that he was employed to be the firft meffenger to the 
 country of the great promifes and many ceremonies of 
 the French, at the confirmation of the league, with their 
 proteflations, for the preferving and maintaining the li- 
 berties of the kingdom of Scotland againft all who would 
 effay to impair them. Not long after arrived the earl 
 of Lenox and an herald, with letters from king Fran- 
 cis and the governor, amplifying and putting a larger 
 glofs on the fame. But when, by other letters, the 
 queen and nobles had received certain intelligence that 
 king Francis and the king of England had compofed 
 their quarrels, entered in a new band of amity, a de- 
 fenfive league being paffed between them, Tournay 
 rendered to the French, promifes upon either fide lb- 
 lemnly made for a match to be between the Dauphine 
 of France, eldefl fon to king Francis, and theeldelt 
 daughter of Henry king of England, when age mould 
 
 enable 
 
of J AM ES V. 227 
 
 erubie tliem for marriage ; and that in the large treaty 
 of peace, not one word was let down for the quietfl s 
 and help of thofe who for the quarrel of France had loft 
 their king, and endangered theli whole kingd< no 
 care being taken of their welfare and 
 ftormed not a little, and though* l pes and travels 
 
 ill employed. Then, with as great h ha matter 
 
 required, they difpatched letters back again to the go- 
 vernor, blotted with complaints and exr - . t'ions. The 
 year following, to excufe his overflght, the French king 
 fent a reafon, why lie had not made mention of the 
 Scotiih nation in his league with England, which 
 that '* He had ftudied to give fatisfaction and content- 
 " ment to fome of the Scotifn nobility, obliquely touch- 
 " ing the duke of Albany, whofe minds he knew to be 
 " altogether averfe from any peace or truce with the 
 " Englilh nation; whofe undaunted fpirits, and great 
 " courage were only bent to revenge the deaths of their 
 " king, kinfmen and co >atriots." This evafion not 
 giving fatisfaction to the belt advifed of the council, the 
 French king interpofed his endeavours with king He n- 
 ry to have a ceffation o( arms, for as Ihort a time as 
 he could devife. Wheteupon Clarencieux and 
 one la Fiot, coming to Scotland, the one from the 
 king of England, the other from the French king, a 
 truce was concluded between the two kingdoms for one 
 year and a whole day. The reafon of this truce was 
 thought moftly to be, for that the kings of England, 
 and France, the next fummer, all impediments being 
 removed, wete to have an interview, and with all 
 princely courtefic-s, receive and entertain each other. 
 
 The kingdom in fundry quarters began to be fenfible 
 of the abience of the governor, factions increafing, and 
 deadly feuds daily ariling, the commons fuffet ing con- 
 tinual outrages, and the nobility and gentry deciding 
 their rights and quarrels by their fwords. The earl of 
 Rothes and the lord Linds AY contending which fliould 
 be meritf of Fife, with tumultuary arms on the high 
 ftreet of Edinburgh invade each other, and hardly by 
 the deputies were retrained, till the one was commit- 
 ted to the cattle of Dunbar, and the other to the caftie 
 of Dunbarton. Robert Blackader prior of Cold- 
 P inghamj 
 
228 The History of the Reign 
 
 ingham, with fix of his domeflic fervants, is killed by 
 the laird of Wedderburn. The king, out of a fufpici- 
 on that the plague was in Edinburgh, being tranfport- 
 ed to the caftle of Dalkeith by convoy of the earl of Ar- 
 ran, who was then provoft of the town : it being the 
 fealbn when the townfmen make election of their ma- 
 giftrates for the year following ; when the earl was re- 
 turned, and fought to enter the town, he found the 
 gates (hut upon him by the citizens, who alleged he 
 came to invade their liberties in the free choice of their 
 magiflrates, having an intention to continue himfelf in 
 his place, and make choice of the other according to his 
 own pleafure. The tumult continucth the mod: part 
 of the night, and the next morning early the people di- 
 viding into factions, and fkirmifhing in the flreets, a 
 deacon of the crafts is killed by the faction of the Ha- 
 miltons, which alienated the minds of the townfmen 
 altogether from the earl of Arran, and made them in- 
 cline to the earl of Angus, fome of whole friends and 
 followers had refcued fome of the citizens, and taken 
 part with others -, which made many after conceive this 
 difcord was plotted by fome noblemen, enemies to the 
 earl of Arran, amongft which the carl of Angus was the 
 chief. 
 
 After this tumult, the earls of Angus and Arran 
 fought always to crofs each other in their proceedings-, 
 the one maintaining the enemies of the other : who had 
 a quarrel againft the earl of Arran, the earl of Angus 
 befriended him, as the carl of Arran fupported and fid- 
 ed with thofe who had any dilcontent againft the earl of 
 Angus. A fuit falling between the earl of Angus and 
 Dand Car, laird of Farnehalr, about the bally wick 
 of Jedburgh-foreft; the lands appertained to the earl, 
 the title and power to fit judge belonged to the lairds of 
 Farnehaft. Sir James Hamilton the natural fon 
 of the earl of Arran afTifted the laird of Famchafi ; and 
 bcfides thofe who out of good-will, friendfhip, kindred, 
 and vafialage, did follow him, he hired forty foldiers, 
 fuch as were found upon the borders, men living upon 
 fpoil and rapine, to be of his party. The laird of Ces- 
 ford, then warden of the marches, who with his coan- 
 111 and force fided with the earl of Angus, at the ru- 
 mour 
 
■ of J AMES V. 229 
 
 jnour of the approach of Sir James to Jedburgh, en- 
 countereth him; and his forty hirelings abandoning him. 
 in his greateft danger, Cesford killing fome of his 
 followers, brought him to make ufe of his fpurs towards 
 the caitle of Hume, where altera long chafe he got fan- 
 ctuary. The day following the laird of Farnehaft held 
 a court in the town of Jedburgh, as bailly to the earl of 
 Angus, and the earl himfeif kept his court three miles 
 diltant in Jedburgh forett. In the month of May after, 
 certain noblemen affembled at Edinburgh to accomodate 
 all quarrels, and make an atonement between the 
 Douglasses and Hamiltoss. Many lords of the 
 Weft: here meet, attending the earl of Arran, the earls 
 .of Lenox, Eglinton, Cailils, the lords Ross, Semple, 
 the bi'hop of Galloway, abbot of Palley, etc. The pro- 
 voft of the town of Edinburgh Archibald Doug- 
 las of Kilfpyndie, uncle or coulin-german to the earl 
 of Angus, yielded up his place to Robert Logau 
 laird ofReltalrig. The lords of the Welt, by the ad- 
 vice of James Beaton chancellor, in whofe houfe 
 they often alfembled, laid a plot to furprize the earl of 
 Angus, then attended but by fome few of his friends, 
 and as it were very foiitary. They thought him too 
 great and infolent a fubjeel, to whole power never one 
 of theirs alone was equal in all points, and they had na- 
 ny things to challenge him upon, when the governor 
 fhould return. The earl of Angus, forewarned of their 
 intention, employed the biihop of Dunkeld his uncle 
 to offer them what honourable fatisfaction they could 
 require. All that he propofed being rejected by im- 
 placable men, and finding the only way to be freed of 
 violence to be violent, and that danger could not be a- 
 voided but by a greater danger, with a hundred hardy, 
 refolute men, armed with long fpears and pikesj which 
 the citizens, as he traverfed the lbeets, out of windows 
 furnilhed him, he inverted a part of the town, and bar- 
 ricadoed fome lanes with carts and other impediments 
 which the time did afford. The adverfe party trulting to 
 their number, and the fupply of the citizens (who cal- 
 ling to mind the llaughter ot theii deacon, lliew them 
 fmall favour) difdaining the earl Ihould thus mutter on 
 the ftreetj, in great fury invade him. Whilft the tick- 
 P 2 ?ring 
 
2go The History of the Reign 
 
 ering continued, and the town is in a tumult, William 
 Douglas, brother to the earl of Angus, Sir Dav-id 
 Hume of Wedderburn, George Hume brother to 
 the late lord, with many others by blood and friendfhip 
 tied together, enter by violence the Eaft: gate of the 
 town, the citizens making fmall refinance, force their 
 pafTage through the throngs, leek the earl's enemies, 
 find them, and fcour the ftreets of them. The mafter 
 of Montgomery eldeft fon to the earl of Eglinton, 
 Sir Patrick Hamilton, brother to the earl of Ar- 
 ran, with almoft fouifcore more, are left dead upon the 
 place. The earl himfelf findeih an efcape and place of 
 retreat through a mari/h upon the North fide of the 
 town ; the chancellor and his retinue took iancruary in the 
 Dominican friars. The tumult by the (laughter of fome 
 and flight of others, being appeafed, the earl of Angu c , 
 now freed of danger, licenfed all who plealed, without 
 further purfuit, peaceably to leave the town of Edin- 
 burgh, and return to their own houfes. Some days af- 
 ter, the Humes well banded and backed with many 
 nobles and gentlemen of their lineage, by the earl of 
 Angus's content, took the lord Hume's and his bro- 
 ther's heads from the place where they had been fixed, 
 and with the funeral rites of thofe times interred them 
 in the Black-Friars. 
 
 The earl of Angus having gained the people's hearts 
 by his magnificence, wildom, courage and liberality, 
 his faction began to bear greateft fway in the kingdom. 
 For the continuance of which, the king of England 
 dealt mofl: earnetUy with the French king to keep the 
 duke of Albany ftill in Fiance with him. But the French 
 had contrary defigns. And when the duke understood 
 the great difcords of the nobility of Scotland, perfons 
 of faction being advanced to places, dangerous immu- 
 nities being granted to the commons, Fiance and Eng- 
 land beginning to be tired of their peace, and prepar- 
 ing for a new war; to curb the Scotifh factions, and 
 keep the nation in quictnefs within itfelf, by giving the 
 fubjecls other work abroad, whillt common danger fhould 
 break off particular difcords; notwithflanding the Eng- 
 lilh (hips, which lay in wait to take him, after lie had 
 been about five years in France, in November he ai liv- 
 ed, 
 
of JAMES V. 231 
 
 ed, on the Weft coafts of Scotland, at a place called 
 Garloch. The governor coming to Edinburgh, fet him* 
 felf to amend the enormities committed in his abfence ; 
 the magistrates of the town are depofed, becaufe in the 
 late uproar they had been evil feconds to the lords of 
 the Weft, when they went to furprize the earl of An- 
 gus. A parliament is called, to which many noblemen 
 and gentlemen are cited to make appearance in Febru- 
 ary to be tried, and to anfwer for offences committed by 
 them in the governor's abfence. The appointed time 
 being come, thefe who appeared not, were indicted, 
 and fled into England. Amongff which, and the chief, 
 were the Humes and Cockburns, men authors of 
 and acceffbry to the death of Sir AnthonyDarcey. 
 The tide now turning, and mens affections changed, 
 the earl of Angus, with his brother Sir George 
 Douglas, by the interceflion of the queen, are con- 
 ftrained to feek a pardon : which was obtained for them, 
 but with the condition that they ihould leave the coun- 
 try, and fray in France one whole year, which they obey- 
 ed. Others have recorded that they were furprized in 
 the night, and in French mips conveyed privately a- 
 way. Mr. Gavin Douglas biihop of Dunkeld, in 
 the ablence of his nephew, finding the governor vio- 
 lent in the chace of the faction of the Douglasses, 
 fled privately to the court of England, where he gave in- 
 formations to king Henry againft him. " He alone 
 " had taken to him the cuftody of the young king, the 
 u fequel whereof he much feared ; he was an irrecon- 
 " cileable enemy to the whole family of the Doug- 
 " lasses. The principal caufe of his coming to Scot- 
 " land, was to engage the nation in a war againft Eng- 
 l - land, that the Englifh Ihould not afliit the emperor a- 
 " gainit the French king, and make his nation flaves 
 " to France." 
 
 This biihop fhortly after died at London, and was 
 buried in the Savoy church : having been a man noble, 
 valiant, learned, and an excellent poet, as his works 
 yet extant teltify. 
 
 The king of England, upon fuch informations, fent 
 
 Clarencieux, king of arms, to Scotland, to require 
 
 the duke to avoid the country, according to the articles 
 
 P 3 agreed 
 
s^2 The History of the Reign 
 
 agreed upon between the French king and him in their 
 laft truce. 
 
 " It belonged, faid Clarencieux, to his mafter 
 f to tender the life, welfare, honour, and fortunes of 
 " his nephew, of none of which he could be allured, fo 
 *' long as the duke ruled and ftayed in Scotland. It 
 " was againfl all reafon, and unbefeeming, that the 
 " man fhould be lole guardian to a king, who was the 
 " next heir to the crown : how eafdy might he be 
 " tempted by opportunity to commit the like unnatur- 
 u al cruelty, which fome have done in the like cafe 
 " both in England and other parts of Europe ? If he 
 " loved his nn ion and prince, as he gave out, he re- 
 " quired him to leave the country, which if he yield 
 " not unto, but obftinately continued in a refolution 
 *' to May, he denounced from his mafter prefent war." 
 He farther complained, " That the earl of Angus, who 
 *' was king Henry's brother-in-law, was by him ba- 
 " nilhed and detained in France; that during the ba- 
 " nifhmcnt of the earl, which had been near a whole 
 " year, the duke had importuned his lifter the queen 
 " with difhoneft love." 
 
 The governor anfwered Clarencieux, " That 
 " what the kings of France and England agreed upon 
 " in their treaties of peace was to him uncertain; but 
 " of this he was molt certain, that neither the king of 
 " England nor France had power to banifh him (a fo- 
 ** reigner over whom their authotity did not reach) 
 " his native country ; like over like having no jurif- 
 " di&ion. 
 
 " As concerning the king of Scotland, who was yet 
 " young in years, he reverenced him as his fovereign 
 •' lord, and would keep and defend both him and his 
 " kingdom according to his confcicnce, honour and 
 " bound duty, that there were ever more men in 
 V the world who dt fired to be kings, than theie were 
 " kingdoms to be bellowed upon them, of which nura- 
 " ber he was none, having ever preferred a mean eftate 
 " jullly enjoyed, before a kingdom ill acquired. Far 
 **. the earl of Angus, he had ufed all courtefies towards 
 " him, notwithftanding his evil demerits, not for his 
 " own fake, he did canfefs, but for the queen's fake, 
 
 " whom 
 
of J AMES V. 233 
 
 " whom he honoured and refpecled as the mother of 
 " his prince, and towards whom he mould always con- 
 " tinue his obfervance. That the king of England 
 " needed not mifdoubt, he would attempt any thing 
 " fliould derogate from the honour of his lifter ; that 
 " compliments of meer courtefy in France, might be 
 " furmifed fometimes by Englilh ladies to be folhcita- 
 " tions and fuits of love. 
 
 " For the war, with which, in cafe of his ftay, he 
 ** threatened his nation, he would ufe his beft endea- 
 " vours to fet his compatriots in a poltuie of defence." 
 
 When this anfwer was reported to king Henr y, he 
 gathered a great army to invade Scotland, and eflay, 
 if, by their own dangers, the Scots people could be 
 moved to abandon and difclaim the duke's authority. 
 Seven great fh'tps came to Inch-Keith, and fpoiled all the 
 adjacent coafts : all the Scots and French, which did 
 then inhabit London, and other places of England, 
 were put to their fines, and commanded to go off the 
 country. 
 
 In compenfation and for equal amends, the French 
 king feized all Englifhmens goods in Bourdeaux, im- 
 prilbned their perfons, and retained the mony to be 
 paid for the reftitution of Tournay. The earl of 
 Shrewsbury making incurfions on the borders, burned 
 the one half of Kelfo, and plundered the other. 
 
 At this time the emperor Charles V. came to 
 England, and (Hired up king Henry to take arms a- 
 gainft the French king; and the French had fent am- 
 bafTadors to Scotland, intreating and conjuring the Scots 
 by their old and new league to arife in arms and invade 
 England. The governor alTembled the three eftates at 
 Edinburgh, which together condefcended to the railing 
 of an army to refill: the incurfions of the Englilh, and de- 
 fend the kingdom. To encourage every man for fight- 
 ing, the wards of thofe which (hould fall in this expedi- 
 tion, were freely remitted and discharged by act of par- 
 liament, and peniions defigned to the widows and daugh- 
 ters of thole who died in this fervice. This empirick 
 balm could the French apply to cure the wounds of the 
 Scotifh commonwealth. 
 
 P 4 The 
 
234 The History of the Reign: 
 
 The earl of Shrewsbury advancing, as was reported, 
 toward the welt borders, an army was far gathered, and 
 encamped on Rodin-Moor, which after, according to 
 the orders given, marched to Annandalc forwards, and 
 came to the Edi, a river running into the Irilh feas 
 near Carlide. The governor delighted with the feat and 
 (landing of the place, caufed dig trenches, and, by the 
 advice of certain French gunners, placed fome field- 
 pieces, and fmall ordnance for defence of them, and 
 fpread there his pavilions. The citizens of Carlide, 
 terrified at the fudden approach of lb powerful an army, 
 offer many prefents for the fafety of their town, which 
 he rejected. The Englilh army not minding to invade 
 the Scots fo long as they kept themfelves on their own 
 ground, and advanced not, the governor endeavoured 
 to make the Scots fpoil the country by incuifions, but 
 he findeth them dack and unwiljing to obey and follow 
 him, mod part refilling to go upon Englilh ground, a- 
 mongfl whom Alexander lord Gordon was the 
 chief and fird man. The governor finding his command 
 neglected, and fome noblemen dilTenting from what he 
 mod intended, cometh back to the place where they 
 made their dand, and defires a reafon of their day. 
 They told him, " They had determined to defend their 
 " own country, not to invade England. That it nei- 
 " ther confided with the weal of the commonwealth, 
 " nor as matters went at that time, had they lufdcient 
 " forces to make invafive war : that the governor did 
 " not indigate them to invade England for the love he 
 " carried to Scotland, but for a benefit to the French, 
 " by diverting the war prepared by the Englilh againlt 
 " them. That by invading they might make rhem- 
 " fclves a prey to their enemies ; they were men and 
 *' not angels; it wasenough for them, whilit their king 
 " was under age, to defend his kingdom from the vio- 
 " lencc of foreigners. Put the cafe they were in one 
 " battle victorious, confidering the daughter and lofs of 
 " their nobles and gentry in that purchafe, they might 
 " be overthrown in a fecond fight; and then to what 
 '* would the kin£ and country be reduced? their 
 " king might iei\/e them for a pattern, the revenge of 
 
 " whole- 
 
of JAMES V. 235 
 
 " whofe death fliould be delayed till the king himfelf 
 u were of years to undertake it." 
 
 The governor brought to an exigent, faid, " They 
 " fliould have propofed thefe difficulties before they 
 " took arms, and on the place of battle. Temerity 
 c< misbecame noblemen in any action, but efpecially in 
 " matters of war, in which a man cannot err twice. 
 " At the convention of the three eftates, when war was 
 " in deliberation, they mould have inquired for the 
 " caufes of it ; he was not to bring them upon the dan- 
 " ger of a war without their own confenr. The Eng- 
 M lifh had made many incurfions upon their country, 
 " burning and ravaging : they who Hand only upon de- 
 " fence, Hand upon no defence ; a better defence of 
 ** their own country could not be found than by invad- 
 " ing the country of their enemies. They mould not 
 " be dejected for that accident at Flowden, fince it was 
 " not the fault of the foldier, but the treafon of their 
 " chamberlain, who had fuffered for it. That the glo- 
 " ry of the nation fliould raife their courages, and in- 
 " flame their bofoms with a deiire of revenge : the king's 
 " honour, and their piety towards the gholts of their 
 " compatriots, craved no lefs from them. That, if 
 " they would not invade England, at leaft, for their 
 " reputation and fame with the world, they would 
 " pitch there a Ihort time their tents, and try if the 
 " Englilh would hazard to alfail them. That it would 
 "be an everlading branding their honour, if ti- 
 " moroufly in a fuddennefs they fhow their backs to 
 c< their enemies, and dared them not in the face by 
 " fome days flay." 
 
 The queen though abfent. had thus perfuaded the 
 noblemen; and having underflood the governor to be 
 turned now flexible, (he difpatched a poll to him, re- 
 quefling he would be pleafed with a truce for fome 
 months, and that he would commune with the warden 
 of the Englifh marches, whom (he fliould move to come 
 to his tent and treat with him. The governor rinding 
 that he flood not well 'allured of fome of his army, and 
 knowing what a cumberfome talk it was to withstand 
 the violence of their defircs, determined to follow their 
 o .vn current, andfeemed well pleafed to hearken to their 
 
 opinion. 
 
236 The History of the Reign 
 
 opinion. Hereupon the lord D acres, warden of the 
 Weft marches, came unto the governor's camp the 
 eleventh of September, and, as fome have recorded, 
 the queen alfo, where a ceffation of arms was agreed 
 unto for fome days, in which time the queen and the 
 governor fhould fend ambaffadors to treat for a peace 
 with king Henry : and fliortly after ambaffadors were 
 directed to the court of England, but returned with- 
 out any good done, king Henry demanding extra- 
 ordinary and harmful conditions to the realm of Scot- 
 land. 
 
 The year 15-22. Andrew For man, arch-bifhop 
 of St. Andrews, died, and J ame s Be at on arch-bi- 
 fhop of Glafgow and chancellor of the kingdom came 
 in his place of St. Andrews. The arch-bilhopric of 
 Glafgow was conferred upon Gavin Dunbar, whom 
 the king after advanced to be chancellor of the king- 
 dom. 
 
 The governor refenting highly the flighting of the 
 ambaffadors by the king of England, but more the con- 
 tempt and fcorn of the Scotilh nobility in refufing to 
 follow him, in October by the Weft feas paffed over to 
 France, promifing, that if a peace in this mean time 
 were not concluded with England, he would the next 
 fummer bring fuch warlike brigades of Frencli and Ger- 
 mans, that he fhould not ftand much in need of his 
 own country-men, who had continued fo refractory and 
 backward to his defnins. He demanded from king 
 Francis five thoufand German horfemen, and ten 
 thoufand foot to be tranlported to Scotland; which 
 with the Scots who would accompany him, he thought 
 fufficient to continue a war with England. The 
 French could not (pare fo many men, having wars 
 both with the emperor and the Englilh, but they gave 
 him three thoufand pikes, and one thoufand Jaunces. 
 The governor intending to return to Scotland, receiving 
 intelligence that the ports towards the coalts of France 
 were watched by the Engliih to intrap him in his paf- 
 fage, bellowed his fhips fo covertly here and there in 
 fmall companies to avoid all fufpicion of any purpof; 
 he had to itir that year, as that thereupon the Englifli 
 fleet under the conduct of Sir W it LI A M FlTZ-Wll,- 
 
 HAM S, 
 
of J AMES V. 237 
 
 li A MS, which had attended and waited his coming 
 forth, until the midft of Auguit, brake up, and bellow- 
 ed themfelves in convenient ports againfr. the next 
 fpring. The duke then watching the opportunity, and 
 readily gathering together his difperfed fhips, to the 
 number of lbme fifty fail, embarked his men at Brtit 
 in Bretaign, the one and twenty of September, and 
 landed at Kircudbright, or the ille of Arran, in the Weft 
 of Scotland. In his company was Richard de la 
 Pool who had been banifhed England, and to his 
 power faithfully affilted the governor. He arrived the 
 fame time that Jedburgh was burnt by the Englilh ; for 
 Thomas earl of Surrey, high admiral of England, the 
 marquefs of Dorfet and his brother, with a competent 
 power entering Scotland, had burnt many towns, and 
 overthrown caftles and piles. 
 
 At his coming, the duke aiTembied the lords at E- 
 dinburgh, where they agreed that an army (hould forth- 
 with be gathered, and the 28th of October was appoint- 
 ed for their meeting at Douglas-dale. At the day pre- 
 fixed, the army marched towards Coldftream upon the 
 Tweed. Out of this army the governor having fele- 
 cted a number of the hardieft foldiers of Scots and 
 French, and convoying forne artillery over the water, 
 under the command of Dand Car of Farnehaft, on 
 the laft of Oftober they belieged the cafile of Wark, 
 which was defended by Edward Lilly or Lile. 
 The affailants upon the utmoff. ward continuing their 
 battery, entered by main force the fecond ward; but 
 being there repulfed and beaten back, a great tempeff 
 arifmg, and fearing the fwelling of the river of Tweed 
 might cut them off from their army on the other fide, 
 they turned back and repalTed the water : the report of 
 the earl of Surrey's forces coming to refcue the caftle, 
 and lying at Anwick, had alio perplexed them not a 
 little. The earl of Surrey, at his approach, finding 
 the enemy retired to the other fide of the river, the 
 caltle fafe, and having no commiffion to pals the Englilh 
 marches, or to invade Scotland, made no further purluit. 
 In the meantime the queen, who had ever fought to make 
 firm friendihip with her brother, and break the amity 
 of Fiance, fent to him to yield to a cefTation of war, 
 
 hoping 
 
238 The History of the Reign 
 
 hoping in that time to work fome agreement between 
 the two nations. Whereunto the king contenting, the 
 governor finding the Scotifli lords averfe to his intenti- 
 ons, that he was this time ferved as he had been before, 
 they refuting ftill to enter upon England, and that driv- 
 ing would but the more chafe them, alio condefcended. 
 Thus a truce was promifed, and faithful peace obferv- 
 ed till the lad of November, being the feaft of St. An- 
 drew : the winter palled without any invalion of the 
 Englifh on Scotland, or the Scots on England. 
 
 During the time of this truce, many ierious confu- 
 tations were amongft the lords of Scotland, whether it 
 were more fit to continue this war, or give it over. 
 Many of them held it unreafonablc that for, the only 
 pleafure of the French king, the realm of Scotland 
 mould fufFer any more damage by the continuing of fo 
 needlefs a war : and finding that the duke of Albany 
 was always fet to perform what the French defired, not 
 what was expedient for the Scotifh nation, nor what was 
 in their power to accomplilh ; they therefore wifhed that 
 their young king, now having attained fome years of 
 difcretion, and pafling the age of a child, might bear 
 fome fway in the government of the realm. Some ai- 
 gued, " That a king fooner than the (bns of noblemen 
 " went out of the bondage of tutelage, and enjoyed 
 *'• greater immunities, his age often being reckoned from 
 l: the time of his conception. That the adminiftration 
 *• and charge of the kingdom mould early be given him, 
 " that he might with his years grow in the art of g< - 
 " verning; Gnce we find the fame to be ufual in the 
 '* perfection of other arts and fciences." Others enter- 
 tained other thoughts, " That to a child, who could 
 " not by the weaknefs of his judgment difcern right 
 *'• from wrong, the helm of ftate ihould not be trufted, 
 " and that the peers of the kingdom might be challeng- 
 u ed of dotage by their neighbour countries, forgiving 
 " to a child the fword of juifice, which he might thruit 
 " in their own entrails one day, or wound therewith the 
 '' bofom of the commonwealth." 
 
 The governor finding the lords divided amongft them- 
 felves, and their reafbns averfe to his intentions, and 
 that not only the people, but the foldiery were weary 
 
 of 
 
of J AME S V. 239 
 
 *• 
 
 of him, and had bent their affections upon their young 
 king, foolifhly preferring the ignorance and Simplicity 
 of a child to his prudence, experience, and long pra- 
 ctice of ftate, requefted them to give him leave to re- 
 turn to France, and to forgive him any error he had 
 committed, which he proiefted was of ignorance, not 
 of malice. Having from men diftalled with him, with- 
 out any oppofition, obtained what he required, far 
 from any outward Shew of inward difcontentment, or 
 difquieting himfelf at the ingratitude oflome whom he 
 had advanced to honours, he came to Stirling, where, 
 after fome days (by with the king, when he had given 
 him fuch instructions of ftate, as he was able to under- 
 stand, for he was but then in the thirteenth year of his 
 age, with many tokens of love, and demonstrations of 
 Sincere affection, he took his leave of him : and his 
 Ships attending his paffage on the weft, with a great re- 
 tinue of Scots and French, he held his way towards 
 them, and recommended himfelf to the Sea in thefpring 
 time, now the third time for France; after which he re- 
 turned not at all into Scotland. 
 
 He was a prince adorned with many virtues, active, 
 couragious, refolute, and knew how to ufe men as 
 they are. 
 
 If he had not been oppofed by the queen and no- 
 bility, he was likely either to have loft himfelf and 
 the whole kingdom, or revenged the death of his 
 coufin. 
 
 His courteous nature went above his ambition •, he 
 could as well lay down his honours, as he had modeft- 
 ly, when they were laid upon him, received them. 
 
 Before the rumour of the duke of Albany's taking 
 the feas was fpread abroad, the king of England by fe- 
 cret letters had required the earl of Angus, who then 
 an exile Staid in France, to come to him : after the 
 receipt of which, with a fhort leave-taking he left France, 
 where he had Stayed almoSt three years, and cometh to 
 England. King Henry had brought him to believe, 
 that the duke had determined to extirpate his whole 
 lineage: To prevent which he made him offer of men 
 and ammunition to preferve his own, and by his faction 
 at home, and his afliftance, to lend the duke over feas-, 
 
 which, 
 
240 The History of the Reign 
 
 which, if he had longer flayed, the earl was efteemed 
 powerful enough to have accomplifhed. 
 
 The duke of Albany being in Fiance, the queen 
 with the government of the flate, affumeth the cuftody 
 of the perfon of her fon, whom (he moved to leave Stir- 
 ling and come to Edinburgh. The third day after he 
 had made his entry into the town, fhe lodged with him 
 in the Maiden Caftle, and it being feized on, armed 
 with authority, (he doubted not to make the country 
 yield her all obedience. That the fupreme magiflrate 
 of the town (hould not oppofe her defigns, he is put (rom 
 his office, and the lord Maxwell, a man to her ob- 
 iequious, is fubftituted in his place. 
 
 To give the fairer luflre to her actions, a parliament 
 is called at Edinburgh, that what (lie did, might con- 
 fid with law. 
 
 When king Henry underflood the duke had left 
 Scotland, to exclude and bar him all regrefs, he fent 
 one Magnus, a great orator, but greater by the re- 
 nown of his (kill in the laws, with Roger R.itcliff, 
 his ambafladors, to try how the Scots, amidfl fuch un- 
 neceflary turmoils, would reliih a truce and ceflation 
 of arms: and thefe lay the blame of all the diibrders 
 and difcords between the two nations, upon the duke. 
 The nobles tired with their tedious wars, beginning to 
 efpy a haven of reft, chearfully accept of this embaffy, 
 and agree upon a truce for one whole year. To con- 
 firm which they condefcend that commiflioners (hall be 
 difpatched inftantly, who ihall treat not only for a truce, 
 but for a firm and lading peace between the two nati- 
 ons, and unite the two crowns in bands of amity, as 
 well as they were united in degrees of blood. 
 
 The earl of Angus, his enemy abandoning the king- 
 dom, after honourable entertainment of the king of 
 England, many promifes to befriend him, and blan- 
 dilhments at his depaiting, cometh to Scotland •, and his 
 return began to change the game o( (late. The queen's 
 and earl of Arran's faftion carried all matters of im- 
 portance; the earls of Lenox, Argyle, and theH umes 
 had been fequeflered from public employments : the 
 iirlt faction by his prefence find ihcir power diminilhed •, 
 tin other by his counterpoifc and affiitancc have new 
 
 hopes 
 
of JAMES V. 241 
 
 hopes ofarifing; both factions difliked that Angus fhould 
 arife to the firlf. place, and fufpedted he would not be 
 content with the fecond ; they loved to have him an 
 equal, not fupreme. 
 
 Private jars fmothered and interests delayed, matters 
 concerning England requiring a hatty and prelent dif- 
 patch, Gilbert earl of Caffils, Robert Cock- 
 burn bifhop of Dunkeld, Alexander Mill ab- 
 bot of Cambufkennetb, are fent commiffioners to the 
 court of England. At Greenwich they are honourably 
 and kindly received by king Henry, whofe counten- 
 ance promifed them a refufal of no reafonable thing 
 they would require. The bifhop had a fpeech, the 
 fum of which was, 
 
 " That, difTention and hatred taken away between 
 " the two nations, a faithful peace might be agreed un- 
 " to and confirmed, their difcords turned into union, 
 " their rancour into love ; which to bring to pafs and 
 " make durable, the only apparent and probable means, 
 *' were to bellow the lady Mary, the king's daughter, 
 " upon James the young king of Scotland." 
 
 The Englifh with great joy applauded what was 
 faid : and king Henry appointed certain commiffion- 
 ers to treat about that purpofe in private. Thefe when 
 they had met to advance the union of the kingdoms, 
 defired thefe conditions. 
 
 Firft, " That the Scotifh nation giving over, and fair- 
 " ly forfaking the league they had with France, fhould 
 " enter info a new league with them, upon the fame 
 " conditions and terms which were contained in their 
 " league with France. 
 
 Next, " That the young king of Scotland, till by age 
 " he was able for marriage, lhould be brought up at the 
 " court of England." 
 
 When the ambafladors of Scotland had anfwered, 
 " That thefe conditions were above their commiffion, to 
 " which they could not well anfwer," and defired a time 
 to acquaint the council of Scotland with them; it was 
 condefcended unto. Thus two of them remaining at 
 London, the earl of Caffils returned to Scotland to 
 bring back an anfwer. 
 
 WheJ) 
 
242 The History of the Reign 
 
 When the day, in which the parliament fhould have 
 been held, was come, the queen and they who were of 
 her faction, as the earls of Arran, Murray, and Eglin- 
 ton, fearing the earl of Angus might turn the wavering 
 people's affeclion, and move them to fome revolt, which 
 might hinder their determinations, or terrify the com- 
 miffioners by the frequent convention of his friends and 
 followers, containing their voices, and retraining their 
 freedom of fpeech; or that they had a plot to furprize 
 fome of the contrary fadtion, and by authority of parlia- 
 ment commit them in that place, caufed a proclamati- 
 on to be made, " That none of the three eftates fhould 
 " fit or alTemble themfelves in the town of Edinburgh, 
 " but that they fhould keep their meeting in the caftle, 
 *' and there give their prefence." The earls of Angus, Len- 
 ox, Argyle, arch-bifhop of St. Andrews, bifhops of Aber- 
 deen and Dunblain, with their adherents, and others, who 
 joined with them rather out of fear than good-will, rc- 
 fufe to enter the cahle, and require, " That the parlia- 
 " ment be kept in the accuftomed place, and that the 
 " king may in triumph be (hewn to his own people, and 
 " convoyed along the high-ftreet." All which being 
 denied them; giving out, " That juftice was violated, 
 " the king kept again!! his will as a prifoner, and the 
 " government and cuftody of his perfon feized on with- 
 *' out confent of the three eftates •," they furround the 
 caftle with two thoufand men in arms, and ftop all fur- 
 niture of food and visuals, which fhould have been af- 
 forded by the town. In this diftrefs they in the caftle 
 turn the great ordinance againft the town, and threaten 
 the innocent citizens with the overthrow of their build- 
 ings. Some powder and time being fpent in terrifying 
 the people, at laft, churchmen interpofing themfelves, 
 and interceding with and perfuading the parties, an ac- 
 commodation and atonement is wrought, their fury 
 quenched, all rancour fuppreifed, and injuries forgotten, 
 the king in magnificence and pomp is convoyed from 
 the caftle to his palace at Holy-rood-houfe, and the e- 
 ftates affemble in the wonted place of the town of E- 
 dinburgh. 
 
 In this parliament the authority of the governor is 
 abrogated, by which means they faved him a labour 
 
 from 
 
of J AMES V. 243 
 
 from returning into Scotland again : " Eight lords were 
 " chofen to have the cultody of the king's perfon, e- 
 " very one his months fuccefllvely, and the whole to 
 " /land for the government of tl« ftate ; yet with this 
 " limitation, that the king by their counfel fhould not 
 " determine, nor ordain any thing in great afFairs, to 
 * which the queen, as princefs and dowager, gave not 
 " her free confent and approbation." 
 
 The lords were, the arch-bifhopsof St. Andrews and 
 Glalgow, the bilhops of Aberdeen and Dunkeld, the 
 earls of Angus, Arran, Lenox, and Argyle. 
 
 Time urging refolution, the lords of parliament diredi 
 the earl of Cafliis again to. the court of England to de- 
 clare their refolution concerning the marriage of the 
 king, and the eitablifhing a peace between the king- 
 doms. 
 
 The news of the overthrow of the French army, and 
 the taking of their king at Pavia, by the Imperialiits, be- 
 ing come to the court of England, before the arrival of 
 the earl of Caffils, king Henry told the Scotilh arn- 
 bafTadors in plain terms, " He could not determine any 
 " thing concerning the marriage of his daughter, with- 
 " out acquainting the emperor her neareft kinfman, 
 " and his confederate, with his proceedings, which 
 " could not be done in hafte, and fo foon as they re- 
 " quired, confidering the troubles of Italy." 
 
 Hereupon the ambaffadors, their hopes of this si- 
 liance delayed, having obtained a truce between the two 
 nations for the fpace of three years and three months, 
 faithfully to be kept, returned to their own country. 
 
 The Uate began of new to be tolled by the trouble- 
 fome factions of the queen and the earl of Angus, the 
 original of which fprang from matters of the church ; 
 the abbacy of Hoiy-rood-houfe falling vacant by the 
 promotion of George Creighton abbot to the 
 biihopric of Dunkeld; the earl of Angus, to whom the 
 cultody of the king was trufted, either by lot or confenf, 
 moved him to confer this abbacy upon his brother Mr. 
 William, prior of Coldingham, without acquainting 
 the queen with the gift, or feeking the confent of the 
 other rulers : at this the queen turned fo difpleafed, 
 that abandoning the king to the pleafure of the eail of 
 Q, Angus, 
 
244 The History of the ReigitJ 
 
 Angus, fhe with her followers retired to Stirling. By 
 this inconfiderate retreat the earl adminifired all alone, 
 leaning to the grcatnefs of his own power, that fome 
 might have thought the queen fet her game to make 
 tip his. All favours and punilhments pais by him, all 
 offices and places of importance are diftributed to his fa- 
 vourites; he made Archibald Douglas, his 
 uncle, treafurcr, Sir G eor g e, his brother, great cham- 
 berlain ; the abbacies of Coldingham and Holy-rood- 
 houfe were in his brother's hands ; neither temporal nor 
 ecclefialtical dignity efcaped him ; his grcatnefs inilant- 
 ly procureth him envy. 
 
 The arcb-bifhop of St. Andrews, the earls of Arran, 
 Argyle, and Murray, who were of the queen's faction, 
 Jay a plot to accufe Angus of high treafon. They chal- 
 lenge him, " That he kept the king againft his will, 
 V infolently reltrained his liberty, and that contrary to 
 " the order edabiifhed by the eltates, which was, that 
 *' the cultody of his peribn mould every four months, 
 " by turns, be allotted to the governors of the country 
 " in a circle ; that he could not difpofe of any thing of 
 " moment alone ; the contrary of all which he had u- 
 " furped : whereupon they charge him to difmifs the 
 " king, and reltore him to them, and the other coun- 
 *f lellors, equal in government with him, under the 
 f pain, he lhould be reputed a traitor and no loyal fub- 
 " jeft, for this inva(Ta!ling his prince to his attend- 
 *' ance." 
 
 The earl of Angus himfelf to this anfwered not, but 
 Sir George his brother moved the king to give the 
 anfwer himfelf: " His mother and thofe other rulers 
 " mould not be thus folicitous for him; for with none 
 " more chearfully, willingly and contentedly, could he 
 " Jive and fpend his time than with the eail of Angus, 
 *' neither could he leave the company of one fo highly 
 *' favoured of his uncle, and fo well meriting of him- 
 l« fclf." 
 
 For all this anfwer, he had fecretly fent letters to his 
 mother, and thofe of the adverfe party, intreating, 
 " They would remove him from the earl, and not fijf- 
 " fer him any longer to remain under his imperious 
 *' government, and if it could not be otherwife done, 
 
 « to 
 
of JAMES V. 245 
 
 " to accomplish it by main force of arms, if they had 
 " any pity, or if any fiparksof duty remained unquench- 
 {t ed in them towards him, if they dared entcrprize 
 " ought for a royal, though now thralled, fupliant, 
 <•' or obey the command of a king in prifon ; that the 
 " anfwer, which he fent before unto them and his mo- 
 '' ther, was by conitraint and compullion drawn from 
 *•' him, and far from his mind." 
 
 Upon this advertiiement, the queen, and they of her 
 faction, afTemble what power they could raife in fuch a 
 fuddennefs at Stirling, and with great expedition march- 
 ed towards Edinburgh to feparate the king from the earl 
 his guardian; who, refolved to repel force by force, 
 with the townfmen of Edinburgh, many friends and ad- 
 herents, and the king, though againft his will, march- 
 ed out of Edinburgh, to encounter and fight thefe re- 
 bels. When the leaders of the queen's forces under- 
 ftood the king in perfon was in the adverfe army, ei- 
 ther dazled with the fplendor of the prefence of a king, 
 or fearing, if they joined in battle, the perfon of their 
 prince might be endangered, or that they found them- 
 selves not ftrong enough in number and arms for a con- 
 flict, they retired back again to Stirling, where they dis- 
 banded, and returned every man to his own dwelling- 
 place : the queen, with the earl of Murray, went to Mur- 
 ray-land, the earls of Arran and Argyle to the Welt, 
 the arch- hi/hop ofSt. Andrews to Dunfermline. 
 
 This faction being diflipated, the earl of Angus re- 
 mained more (table, and allured of his guardianfhip, and 
 now he findeth no competitor. 
 
 The want of the great feal being a hinderance to ma- 
 ny oi his projects, and he difdaining to be a fuiter to 
 his enemy; for difpatch of public affairs, caufied the 
 king fend a letter for it, and the arch-bifhop with all 
 relpect fent it immediately to the earl : with whom to 
 be equal, he took himfelf to new meditations. 
 
 The queen many ways provoked by her husband the 
 earl of Angus, and laltly by detaining her fon againft 
 his will, and contrary to the public courfe agreed upon, 
 the arch-bifhop perfuaded her, " To intend a procefs of 
 " divorcement againlt him, and diffolve her marriage; 
 w this might produce fome great effect, at leaft it could 
 Q, 2 " not 
 
246 The History of the Reign 
 
 "' not but diminifh the earl's reputation among the peo- 
 " pie." The queen and the earl had many times in pri- 
 vate between themfclves agreed upon a feparation.diflik- 
 ing each others conditions •, for it was fatal to her, as to her 
 brother king Henry, to delight in change of wedlock, 
 and be jealous of her matches. The earl is therefore 
 cited before the arch-biihop of St. Andrews to hear the 
 fentence pronounced according to the laws of the church 
 in thofe times. At the day appointed he appeareth. 
 The queen alleged, " He had been betrothed, given 
 " his faith and promife of marriage to a noble woman 
 " of the kingdom, a daughter of Traquair, before the 
 " marrying of her, and lb by reafbn of that pre-con- 
 " tract he could not be her lawful husband." The earl 
 confelTeth : the arch-biihop pronounceth the fentence 
 of divorcement, but with this refervation and reltraint, 
 *' That the child come of the queen and the earl the 
 " time of their marriage, by the ignorance of the mo- 
 " ther, the queen, fliould not fuffer any lofs, damage or 
 " difadvantage." 
 
 The king of England refented highly this divorce- 
 ment, and endeavoured by his letters to hinder it ; for 
 he thought fome things tolerable in men, which were 
 incompetent and fhameful in women, and after never 
 carried fuch refpect to his filler as he had done before. 
 Ofthefe (he made little reckoning ; for, after the fen- 
 tence given, fhe married Henry Stuart, fon to 
 the lord Evjncalk, whom king James after, to 
 60 honour to his mother, promoted to be lord METH- 
 wen, and general of his artillery. 
 
 Whilft the king remained a fhadow to the carl's go- 
 vernment, amidfr. ib many diftraclions, difcords and 
 jars of the grandees, the court turned folitary and unfre- 
 quented by any noblemen, lave thefe of the Dou- 
 glasses own faction, amongil which, the earl ofLen* 
 ox (hewed himfelf moll indifferent. For he, for 
 his own ends, attending the court, in a fliort time lb 
 framed himfelf to the king's humour, that he delighted 
 alone in his converfation, and often bid none of his in- 
 ward thoughts and lecret intentions from him. Among 
 others he many times importuned him, " To give him 
 H a fuqnd advice, how 1: delivered from the 
 
of J AM ES V. 247 
 
 ,c earl of Angus, of whofe bondage he had been long 
 " weary, whofe rule over him wss turned now into ty- 
 ,{ ranny, his ambition having mounted to that height, 
 " that he was not contented to command the kingdom, 
 " but to thrall and keep under his fovereign lord theking 
 «' himfelf, that the effevfls of his governing were the dif- 
 li perfing of his nobles, and banilhing of his mother from 
 " him. 1 ' 
 
 The earl of Lenox, who by his familiarity with the 
 king was become fufpecled by Angus, and had an in- 
 tention to tumble out a man hated of his prince, eflab- 
 lilh himfelf in his place, and rule the young king alone, 
 aggravating his and the country's miferies, told him, 
 after much intreaty, " The laird ofBuccleugh was the 
 " only perfon to be employed in fuch a fervice ; a man 
 " of unlimited defires, difpleafed, ftrong in power, 
 *' mightily hated, and who had inveterate hatred a- 
 '• gainfr. the eari of Angus, and wanted nothing but op- 
 *' portunity to execute his rancour : if this conceived 
 *' exploit had not a defired fuccefs, then he himfelf 
 " would by main force either win his prince, or lofe 
 *' his life in the enterprize." The laird ofBuccleugh, fe- 
 cretly ad ver tiled of the king's intention, giveth way to 
 much oppreffion and many inlblencies on the borders, 
 the redrefs o{ which required the prefence of the prince. 
 Complaints are given againft them, and the king, to 
 do juftice, accompanied with the earls of Angus, Len- 
 ox, lords Hume, Fleming and Erskine, with 
 Cestokd, Farnehast, and others, cometh to Jed- 
 burgh. But when they had flayed there fome days, 
 finall redrefs was of wrongs, no jullice executed, the 
 chief men of the borders not producing the delinquents 
 of their names, to anfwer according to law, as was the 
 ancient cufiom. Thus as they came they were return- 
 ing, when at Melrofs, as they hovered at the paffage of 
 a bridge over the Tweed, certain companies of men in 
 arms appeared on the defcents of Haiidon hill : which 
 being come within diftance of difecrning, were known 
 to -be commanded by the laird ofBuccleugh, and num- 
 bered a thoufand, all borderers and broken men. The 
 ear! of Angus, not a little moved at fo fudden an appari- 
 tion, by an herald cravsth to underftand their intentions* 
 3 WW 
 
248 The History of the Reig5 
 
 and how in fuch a hoftile manner they dared come lb 
 near the king's perfon, withal charging them under 
 pain of high treafon to retire. The laird of Buccleugh's 
 anfwer was, he came to do the king fervice, invite 
 him to his houfe, and fhow him what forces he was able 
 to raife upon the borders, when necefiity mould require 
 his fervice and affiftance. That he would not obey a 
 charge contrary to the king's mind, of which he was 
 confcious, and herewith he marched forwards. Prefent- 
 ly the earl alighting on foot, leaving the earl of Lenox, 
 lords Erskine, and Maxwell, Sir George 
 Douglas, and NinianCreichton with the king, 
 as fpeclators of the game, with the lord Fleming, and 
 others his friends, marlhalled his men for the charge, 
 which was given with a great Ihout and clamour of thefe 
 borderers. The lord H u M E, lairds of F arnehast and 
 Ce s for d, had taken their leave of the king, who glad- 
 ly difmilTed them ; but upon advertifementof thefudden 
 fray, being not far off, they return in hafle with an hun- 
 dred launces, in good time for the earl of Angus, and 
 falling upon one of the wings of Buccleugh' s troops, 
 force them to yield ground, and fome to turn their 
 backs, upon which fuddenly followeth thechace, Ces- 
 ford and Farnehast eagerly purfuing. Here, at 
 the defcent of a little hill, by the blow of a launce, 
 which a domeftic of Buccleugh's threw from his arm, the 
 laird of Cesford is flain, and by his death the chace left 
 off to be followed, and a long deadly feud between the 
 Scots and Cars was begun-, fourfcore borderers were 
 killed, in this bickering, aflliting Buccleugh •, him- 
 ielf was wounded with many of his friends ; the earl of 
 Angus loft not a few, befides the laird of Cesford. 
 
 The earl of Angus, after this road of Melrofs, perceiv- 
 ing his enemies to increafe, and the affeclions of fome 
 of the nobility turned from him, compofing the old dif- 
 ference between him and the earl of Arran, entered in* 
 to conditions of a ftricl friendihip with him, and was 
 content he fhould be his partner and fellow-governor in 
 diftribution of cafualitics and ruling the country. When 
 the king had coniidcrcd how twice his intentions had 
 been broken, and unhappily without fuccefs, he began to 
 clfay the third by the earl of Lenox, whom challenging 
 
 of 
 
ov J A M E S V. 249 
 
 'of his promife he defined to gather an artny, and join- 
 ing his forces with the queen's to reitore him to his li- 
 berty. The earl of Lenox, before fufpedted, after the 
 league and friendfhip of the carl of Angus with the earl 
 of Arran, became a declared enemy to Angus, withdrew 
 himfelffrom court; and fome few months being pall, 
 at Stirling he maketh a declaration to all the lieges, of 
 his intentions, inviting them to aiTiir. and fide with his 
 caufe. One thoufiind men came from the Highlands to 
 him, the earl of Caffils and maRer of Kilmaurs come 
 from the Weft with two thoufand^ the queen and arch- 
 biifiop James Beaton direct many of their vaifals 
 from Fife to him : thus with three ftrong brigades he 
 marcheth towards Linlithgow. 
 
 The earl of Angus, underltanding thefe preparations 
 to be agaiiift him, imploreth the afii dance of his belt 
 friends to withftand them, efpecially the Cars and 
 H u M E s, to whofe valour he had lately been lb far ob- 
 liged. He fendeth letters to the earl of Arran, and the 
 gentlemen of the name of Hamilton; " Regreting 
 " the eftate of the commonwealth, and requiring their 
 " fpeedy aid. That, in lb perilous a time, fetting a- 
 <c fide all particular refpe&s and quarrels, they would 
 " have a care of the common good of the country. If 
 " the earl of Lenox mould carry the king from him, 
 " and remain victor of the field, he would not itay there, 
 " his next mark would be the Hamiltons, whom 
 " he was in the way to put from all title to the crown, 
 " the report going already that the king would entail it 
 " to him out of his own favour, and had defigned him 
 " heir to the earl of Arran, he having no children of 
 " his own. That the king had a magnetical afrection 
 *' towards him, which, if fortune favoured Kim with a 
 * victory, would increafe, now meriting, which before 
 " was but meer favour: the cuftody of a young king 
 «' was not for a man of fo fiiort experience." The Ha- 
 milton s finding that man their fupliant, who late- 
 ly was their competitor, delighting to live in a troubled 
 ftate, and be co-partners of the government and manag- 
 ing the affairs of the kingdom, which was promifed them. 
 in their new bond of friendfhip, laying afide all former 
 difcontent and grudge, accept the quarrel, and alfemble 
 Q 4 their 
 
250 The History of the Reign 
 
 their forces at Linlithgow. To this town the earl of 
 Lenox was advancing; and, lie being the filter's fenot 
 the earl of Arran, by gentlemen well affected towards 
 him and of his kindred, they infreat him; " To turn 
 " back, and to try the hazard of a battle for a conqueft : 
 " he could not long enjoy the government of a young 
 " prince, whom a little more time would make govem- 
 " or of himfelf, and who, perhaps, would reward his 
 " fervice with difgrace; it being ordinarily feen that 
 <c great obligations to princes procure rather their hat- 
 tl red than love, whilft it is more eafy to pay men by 
 <{ contempt than benefits : that if he came forwards, no 
 " intereft of blood would fave him from their juft and 
 u lawful flopping his paifage and enterprize." The earl 
 of Lenox anfwered, " It was no time then in the eye 
 " of the world to abandon fo juft a quarrel; that fhame 
 " wounded deeper than death, which he would rather 
 " embrace than not fee his prince at Edinburgh." And 
 finding the bridge over the Avon pofTell by the enemy, 
 palled his companies over the river near the ancient 
 monaffry Manuel ; the mailer of KiJmaurs guideth the 
 vanguard, confiding of WeftJand men ; the earl of Caf- 
 fiis and himfelf the main battle, many of which were 
 Highland men, being of all, as fome write, ten thou- 
 fand. The earl of Angus having elTayed in vain to 
 bring the king to the field with the power of Edinburgh, 
 .leaving that charge to his brother Sir George and 
 Archibald DouGLAsprovoft of the town, accom- 
 panied with the Humes and Cars, being of all two 
 thoufand, maketh a fpeedy march towards Linlithgow. 
 But the earl of Arran, fpurred by the ambition and 
 vouthful heat of his fon Sir James Hamilton, had 
 begun the fight before he could appear. For a long time 
 it is valiantly fought, victory inclining to neither fide, 
 till a great clamour arofe, feconded by the appearance 
 of frelh troops of enemies, the Douglasses and their 
 friends : at which alarm many of the Highland and 
 Weftland men turned their back? ; the reit by the ad- 
 vantage of the place fuftain the light. 
 
 The king, after much loitering and many delays, 
 having heard the armies were near joining, and much 
 foJicitation of Sir George Douglas, iilucth out of 
 
 Edinburgh 
 
of JAMES V. 25* 
 
 SJi'nburgh at a flow march. But when at Corftorphine 
 hills he was awakened with the noife of the great ord- 
 nance, he urged his followers to make all halte to come 
 to the fight. It was reported Sir G f. orge Douglas 
 drove his horfe in a great rage, and gave him injurious 
 words, which he never after forgot. Being halfway 
 he is advertifed that the earl of Lenox's Highland mejj 
 were fled, and by all appearance the earl of Arran was 
 matter of the field. Thele news perplexed him not a 
 little, but making the belt of that word, he difpatched 
 all his domeftic lervants, with Andrew Wood of 
 Largo, to fave fo many as they could in the chace, e- 
 fpecially the earl of Lenox, whole life he now tendereth 
 as his crown. But this earl, after he had been taken 
 by the laird of Pardowy, in cold blood was unnaturally 
 flain by Sir James Hamilton, who either killed or 
 wounded on the face all that came under the dint of his 
 fword in the rout. 
 
 They found the earl of Arran mourning over his 
 corps, over which he had fpread his cloak ; the laird of 
 Houitoun lay dead by him; the mafter of Kilmaurs, 
 fore wounded at their coming, maintained the fight, and 
 was by them with difficulty faved, with fo many others 
 as either the king's authority or their power could re- 
 fcue. This conflict happened in September. 
 
 After the victorious earls had panfed their wounded 
 foldiers, and refrefhed themfelves in Linlithgow, they 
 accompany the king to Stirling, and immediately march 
 through Fife in queft of thofe who had been the caufe 
 of taking arms againit them, of which number the queen 
 was; but the arch-bilhop of St. Andrews was the molt 
 eminent; who, as before he had feconded Arran to fur- 
 prize Angus, fo now he had flirred up Lenox to the o- 
 verthrow of them both. Becaufe the arch-bifhop was 
 not to be found (for he, as fome record, was turned 
 a true paftor, and in fhepherd's weeds kept fheep on 
 fome hill) they fpoiled the abbacy of Dunfermline, 
 and caftle of St. Andrews, defacing all the ornaments, 
 and carrying away the moveables and (luff in them : the 
 queen with her husband HenryStuart, and James 
 his brother, betook them to the caftle of Edinburgh, 
 which the lords at their return befieged. The mother 
 
*5* The History of the Reign 
 
 hearing her fon was amongfl: the befiegcrs in perfon, ob- 
 taining favour for her husband and his brother, caufed 
 the gates to be caft open. But for their greater fafety, 
 fuch who loved them, advifed the king to commit them 
 to that place during his pleafure. 
 
 Now the earls of Angus and Arran fummoned all 
 who had born arms againft the king to appear in judg- 
 ment, and anfwer according to the law as traitors. 
 Some compounded for fums of many, others became 
 dependers of the houfes of Angus and Arran : Gilbert 
 earl of Caifils being fummoned and compearing, Hugh 
 K e n n e d y his kinfman anlwered the indictment, that 
 he came not againft the king, but to afTift the king, for 
 proof of which he offered to produce the king's own 
 letter. Though the eail of CafTils efcaped the danger 
 of the law, he did not the fury of the revenge, which 
 was taken about fome difparaging words ; for as he was 
 returning home, he was furprized in the way and kil- 
 led: fome write, by the fheriff of Air, but by the di- 
 rection of Sir James Hamilton. 
 
 About this time thearch-bifhop of St. Andrews, ando- 
 ther churchmen, in revenge of the fpoiling of his houfes, 
 and purfuing himfelf, for queltions of religion, burn the 
 carl of Arran's brother's fon Mr. Patrick Hamil- 
 ton, and banifli Mr. Patrick's brother James 
 fherifT of Linlithgow. 
 
 Not long after, men's wrath by time diminifhing, and 
 their blood growing colder, the arch-bifhop having be- 
 llowed on the earl of Angus, Sir George his bro- 
 ther, and other their friends, fome church benefices and 
 many leafes of tithes, was reconciled unto them, and 
 with appearance of great friendfhip they mutually en- 
 tertained and feafted each others at Chriftmas in the 
 city of St. Andrews. But fmall confidence could be 
 long among reconciled enemies. 
 
 Now went every thing as the earl of Angus could 
 have wifhed, he was not only entire and familiar with 
 the king's perfon, but with his office; fome of his ene- 
 mies were dead, others overthrown in open field, with 
 the reft he was reconciled. No faction for power or 
 riches was equal to his ■, nor remained there any caftle 
 or fortrefs not feized on by him, and garrilbncd with 
 
 his 
 
of JAMES V. 253 
 
 his friends and followers, except the caftle of Stirling, 
 a part of the queen's dowry, which being defolate 
 by her miferies, and only haunted by fome of her 
 pooreft and meanelr. fervants, was neglected by the 
 earl, which in him was a great error, the fitnefs of the 
 place for a revolution and change of court confidered, 
 Many days the earl had not feen his own dwelling pla- 
 ces, nor thought upon his private affairs, being carried 
 away by the Itorms of court : now he thinketh he may 
 fecurely pals- to Lothian, whillr. at Falkland the king 
 •fhall be fafely entertained by his brother Sir Georg e, 
 Archibald his uncle, and James of the Parkhead, 
 captain of the guards. Having earneitly intreated their 
 attendance on the king, he crolTeth the Forth, with a 
 refolution foon to return. His departing was not fb 
 concealed, but the arch-biihop of St. Andrews had know- 
 Jegeof it, and he inviteth Sir George, " to fee him 
 " in the city of St. Andrews, to receive the leafes of 
 ' c the tithes promifed, all now perfected, valid, and ac- 
 " cording to law fufficient." Whilft Sir GeorgeIs 
 here detained, Archibald the treafurer, by other 
 letters, for matters of Jove, is inticed to Dundee; but 
 nothing could make the captain of the guards leave his 
 charge. The king, amidlt his Iblitary walks in his 
 park of Falkland, conhdering of what a tedious train he 
 was relieved, and how fuddenly occafion might turn 
 her bald fcalp, if prefently he took not hold of her, re- 
 folveth to accomplilh by ftratagem, what the factions 
 of his nobles could not perform by force. It is delight- 
 ful to underftand every particular circumftance in the 
 progrefs of the actions of princes. Upon this refoluti- 
 on he directeth the forefter of the park " To give ad- 
 " vertifement to fuch gentlemen about, who kept 
 " hounds, the next morning to attend him, for he would 
 " early have his game." He fuppeth fooner than his 
 cuftom was, entertaining the captain of the guards with 
 more than ufual ceremonies and reprefentations of the 
 next morning's fport, withal inviting him to go to his 
 relt, the night being (hort about the fummer folltice. 
 The waiters all lhifted, and the court hulhed, Hunting 
 his chamber door, in the apparel of one of his grooms, 
 wnperceived he pafled the guard to the ftable j where, 
 
 with. 
 
§54 The History of the Reign 
 
 with two who attended him with fpare horfes, he port- 
 ed to Sailing, where, by the queen's intelligence, he 
 was expected in the cartle. 
 
 When the certainty of this efcape was noifed abroad, 
 many noblemen repair to Stirling, fome by letters fent 
 unto them, others at the rumour of his evafion, that in 
 a little time he found himfelf fafe and far from any dan- 
 ger again to be furprifed, the earls of Argyle, Athole, 
 Glencairn, Monteith, and Huntley j the lords Graham, 
 Drummond, Livingston, Sinclair, Lind- 
 say, EVANDALE, RUTHVEN, M AX WELL, SEM- 
 
 ple, the earls of Eglinton, and Rothes, and James 
 BEATONarch-bifhopofSt. Andrews, thedevifer of his 
 efcape. The earl of Angus full of mif-giving thoughts, 
 with many of his friends, was alfo on his way to Stir- 
 ling; but proclamations being made againft him, " Dif- 
 " charging him from all his offices and public functions, 
 *' and being by an herald forbidden with his friends 
 " and followers to come near the court by fome miles, 
 " under pain of treafon •" cither moved by inward ter- 
 rors, or love of the peace of his country, turned back 
 to Linlithgow, where two days he attended news of the 
 king's pleafure, which at laft was declared, " That nci- 
 " ther he, nor none of his, fhould prefume by fome 
 " miles to approach his refidence." The more particu- 
 lar favours were, " That the earl fhould confine him- 
 " (elf beyond the river of Spey in the North, whilft his 
 " brother Sir George Douglas fhould render 
 * c himfelf prifoner in the cartle of Edinburgh, and there 
 *' remain during the king's pleafure." "When the 
 Douglasses had refufed thele offers, they are cited 
 to anfwer according to law, in a parliament to be holden 
 in September at Edinburgh. 
 
 Before the day of appearing, the eail of Angus, ac- 
 companied with an able train of his friends and follow- 
 ers, effayeth to enter the town of Edinburgh, and there 
 attend the coming of the king ; but by the lord M A x- 
 well, and the lord of Lochinvar, who in the king's 
 name had inverted the town, he is kept out ; and the 
 king, with an unexpected fuddennefs, with two thou- 
 fand men coming from Stirling, he removed. The carl 
 not appearing at the appointed day, is, by decree of 
 
 parliament, 
 
of J A M E S V. 2S$ 
 
 parliament, attainted and forfeited, with his brother Sir 
 
 GEORGEDOUGLAS, ARCHIBALDDOUGLAshis- 
 
 uncle, Alexander Drummond of Camock, and 
 others. 
 
 The points of which they were to be accufed, were, 
 " The afTembling of the king's lieges, with intention to 
 " have affailed his perfon; the detaining of the king a- 
 u gainfl his will and pleafure, and contrary to the ar- 
 " tides agreed upon, the fpace of two years and more; 
 " all which time the king was in fear and danger of his 
 " life." At this parliament, fome write, the king made 
 a folemn oath, never to give a remiilion to any of the 
 Douglasses there forfeited, as the lords did, never 
 to intercede nor requeft for any of them : and in dif^ 
 grace of the earl of Angus, Henry Stuart who had 
 married the queen his wife, was created lord M e t h- 
 wen. 
 
 The Do u glasses having all favours denied them, 
 being openly declared enemies to the king and country, 
 commit, all hoitility, the laft refuge of defperate men, 
 on their enemies bounds : Caudland and Cranftoun are 
 burnt ; they ravage even to the gates of Edinburgh, the 
 harmlefs people fufferingfor the faults of the great ; un- 
 der the fhadow of their followers, all robberies and op- 
 pressions broke forth, and by whomfoever committed, 
 are laid to their charge. The king will not hear of" 
 them in any other terms than as oppreffbrs and com- 
 mon robbers. In their defence they fortify their caltle 
 of Tantallon with the readied: provifion taken from the 
 neareft adjacent bounds. In October the king raifeth 
 a great company of foldiers-, with great ordnance, and 
 other engines of war brought from the caltle of Dun- 
 bar, Tantallon is befieged, but proveth impregnable; 
 and David Falconer the general of the ordnance 
 at their removing is flain. A commilfion is fent-to the 
 earl ofBothwel, as the king's lieutenant, to invade with 
 lire and fword in all places the Douglasses, which 
 he, either out of humane compaihon, or that he knew 
 wife itatefmen lhould extenuate the faults of others ra- 
 ther than aggravate them, refufed to accept. But the 
 earl of Argyle and lord Hume, accepting that charge, 
 profe(|Ute them where they might be apprehended, till 
 
 after 
 
2$6 The History of the Reign 
 
 after much mifery and night-wandering at home, they 
 were conftrained with A l e x a n d e r D r u m m o n d of 
 Carnock, who had been partaker of their misfortunes, 
 by his confanguinity with the earl's mother, who was 
 daughter to the lord Drummond, to fly into England, 
 where they were charitably received, and honourably 
 entertained by king Henry VIII. 
 
 Now are the offices and lands of the Douglasses 
 difpofed upon; the arch-bifhop of Glafgow, Gavin 
 Dunbar, is made chancellor; Robert Barton, 
 who was in fpecial favour with the king, treafurer, great 
 cultomer-general of the artillery and mines, and other 
 their charges are given unto others. 
 
 The king of England intending a war againlt the em- 
 peror Charles V. fendeth ambaiTadors to Scotland 
 for a certain time to treat a peace, and, if it were pof- 
 hble, to reconcile the Douglasses with the king, 
 Five years truce was refolved upon ; but for the Dou- 
 glasses, the king would hearken to no offers ; on- 
 ly Alexander Drummond, by the intercef- 
 lion of Robert Barton, and the ambaiTadors, 
 had liberty to return home. When the earl of North- 
 umberland and the earl of Murray, who had full power 
 to conclude a truce, had met the other commiflioners 
 upon the borders, the faclious great men and rank rid- 
 ers there, 'put all in fuch a confufion by urging difficul- 
 ties, that they parted without agreeing unto any articles 
 or certain conclufions : which the king took in fb ill a 
 part, that divining from what head this interruption 
 Iprung, he committed fundry noblemen to the cattle of 
 Edinburgh, till they gave hoftages, and fecurcd the 
 borders from invalion or being invaded. In the month 
 of June following, with great power, he vifited thefe 
 bounds, executing juftice upon all oppreflbrs, thieves 
 and out-laws. In Ewfdale eight and forty notorious rid- 
 ers are hung on growing trees, the molt famous of 
 which was John Armstrong; others he brought 
 with him to Edinburgh for more public execution and 
 example, as William Cockb urn of Hendetland, 
 and Adam Scot ofTufhelaw, named king of thieves. 
 
 The year 1530. the king inltituted the college of ju- 
 ftice ; before it was ambulatory, removing from place 
 
 to 
 
of J AMES V. 257 
 
 to place by circuits ; fuits of law were peremptorily de- 
 cided by baillies, fherifFs, and other judges-, when any 
 great and notable caufe offered itfelf, it was judged fo- 
 vereignly by the king's counfel, which gave free audi- 
 ence to all the fubjecls. The power and privileges of 
 this college were immediately confirmed by pope Cle- 
 ment VII. 
 
 In this court are fifteen judges ordinary, eight of 
 them being fpiritual perfons, of the which the moft an- 
 cient is prefident, and feven temporal men : the chan- 
 cellor of the realm, when he is prefent, is above the pre- 
 fident. There are alio four counfellors extraordinary, 
 removeable at the prince's pleafure. 
 
 This inflitution is after that order ofjuftice which is 
 adminiftred in Paris, firft inftituted by Philip IV. the 
 French king, in the year 1286. 
 
 The king about this time ftoreth his arfenals with all 
 forts of arms; the caftles of Edinburgh, Stilling, Dun- 
 barton, and Blacknefs, are repaired and furnilhed with 
 ordnance and ammunition. 
 
 Whilft no certain truce is concluded between the re- 
 alms of England and Scotland, the earl of Angus work- 
 eth in this interim i'o with the king of England, that 
 Sir Edward Darcey is fent to the borders; who, 
 when his folicitation, for reftoring the earl, at the Scot- 
 ch court had taken no effecT:, yea had been fcorned, af- 
 ter he had ftayed at Berwick with the garrifened foldiers, 
 and fome felected companies out of Northumberland 
 and Wertmorland, maketh a road into Scotland ; Coid- 
 ingham, Dunglas, and adjacent villages, they burn, and 
 ravage the the country towards Duns. Some Scotifh 
 fhips and velTels were alfo at this time taken by fea. 
 When a reafon was fought of this invafion in a ceffati- 
 on of arms and calm of truce ; " They require the Do u- 
 " glasses may be reftored to their ancient inheritan- 
 " ces, and whatfoever had been withheld from them, 
 " and that Cannabie, a poor abbacy, be rendered to the 
 " Englifh, as appertaining of old to the crown ofEng- 
 '* land." The earl of Murray, being declared lieu- 
 tenant, maketh head again ft them: but the Engliih 
 daily increaflng in number, and his companies not be- 
 ing fufficient to make good againit fo many and large 
 
 in- 
 
258 The History of the Reign 
 
 incurfions, the power of Scotland is divided into four 
 quarters, every one of which for the fpace of forty 
 days by turns taketh the defence of the country. The 
 Englifh, finding by this intercourfe of new foldiers the 
 war to be prolonged, would have gladly accepted of 
 peace, but they difdained to fue for it to the Scots : it 
 was thought expedient, that the French, a friend then, 
 to both, fhould be a mediator to reconcile them : where- 
 upon, after an ambaffador had come from France, com- 
 millioners firft meet at Newcaftle, and after at London, 
 Jam*es Col vil of Eafter Weems, Adam Otter- 
 burn ofRedhall, William Stuart bifhop of A- 
 berdeen, and the abbot of Kinlofs. Thefe conclude a 
 peace " To continue between the two realms, during 
 " the two princes lives, and one year after the deceafe 
 " of him who Ihould firft depart this life.'* 
 
 About this time, the fecrets of the ecclefiaftical do- 
 ctrine and authority beginning to be laid open to the 
 view of the world, the politic government of kingdoms 
 began to fuffer in the alteration and difcovery. The 
 lady Katharine, daughter to Ferdinando and 
 Isabella, king and queen of Spain, and filter to the 
 mother of Charles V. emperor, had been married 
 to Arthur prince of Wales, eldeft fon to Hent 
 rv VII. king of England; he dying, by the difpenfa- 
 tion of pope Julius II, her father-in-law gave her a- 
 gain in marriage to Henry his other fon, the brother 
 of Arthur. This queen though fruitful of children, 
 and often a mother, brought none forth that long en- 
 joyed life, and came to any perfection of growth, ex- 
 cept one only daughter Mar y. Her husband either 
 out of fplcen againft the emperor Charles, or delire 
 of male-children, or other caufes known to himfelf, 
 ••' pretended great fcruplcs in his confeience, would 
 " make himfelf and the world believe, that his marriage 
 " was not lawful." After deliberation with his church- 
 men, whom he conftrained to be of his mind, he kept 
 not lo.iger company with his queen. His churchmen 
 ufedall their eloquence to make the queen accept of a 
 divorce, which fhe altogether rcfufed, and had her re- 
 courfe to the pope, who rccals the caufe to himfelf. At 
 Rome whillt in the confiltory the cafe is made difficult 
 
 and 
 
of J AMES V. 259 
 
 -id the matter prolonged, king Henry impatient of 
 delays, and amourous, divorceth from his own queen, 
 and marrieth AnneRullen, anno 1 533. 
 
 Then the pope, with his whole cardinals, gave out their 
 fentence, that it was not lawful for him, by his own 
 authority, to feparate himfeif from his wife; that his 
 marriage with Katharine was mod lawful, not 
 to be queftioned; and that under pain of excommuni- 
 cation he mould adhere unto her. 
 
 King Henry, well experienced in the great affairs 
 of the world, confidering how the threatenings and thun- 
 ders of the bilhops of Rome, even in thefe ancient and 
 innocent times, when they were believed and reveren- 
 ced, in his kingdom produced never great effects, 
 thought them to no purpofe in a time when a doctrine 
 was pubJifhed to the world, embraced and believed of 
 numbers, by which they were contemned and fcorned s 
 upon this and other grounds he refufeth to obey, and 
 the pope continueth his menacing. 
 
 This diforder and boldnefs of the king of England 
 moved the emperor and the pope to try if they could 
 win the king of Scotland to arife in arms again ft his 
 uncle king Henry. The emperor effayed it under 
 pretence of other bufmefs of great importance: for 
 having given way to new opinions in religion amongft 
 his countrymen of Germany, and finding them mount- 
 ed to that height as to have produced the effects he de- 
 lired, (by this divifion laying a foundation to turn the 
 imperial crown hereditary to his own houfe, which, Ger- 
 many being ail of one mind and undiftracted, he could 
 never have brought to pafs) he compelleth the bilhop 
 of Rome to condefcendto a general council or affembly 
 of the clergy of Europe, the only and fovereign reme- 
 dy to cure difeafed minds, and accord different opini- 
 ons : but he knew well, that by the church of Rome, 
 men would be delegated to this meeting, turbulent, and 
 (o far from pacifying tumults begun, that inftead of 
 water they would apply oil and wood to thefe flames, 
 turn opinions, before difputable, irreconcilable, and 
 leave matters worfe than they found them. Having im- 
 plored the aid and affiftance of the potentates about him 
 to the fetting forward of fo pious and holy a work, he 
 R fendetli 
 
$6o The History of the Reign 
 
 fendeth Godescallo Erico, a Sicilian, for great- 
 er fecrecy, by Ireland to the king of Scotland. 
 
 This ambaflador, for a token of that affection the 
 emperor his matter carried to the perfon and virtues of 
 king James, prefenteth him with the order of the 
 golden-fleece, anno 1534- with fokmn protections for 
 the obferving of thefe ancient leagues and confederacies 
 contracted between the princes, his matter's predecei- 
 fors, and the kings of Scotland, to continue ever a- 
 mongtt: themfelves. 
 
 His other inltruclions were " Plaints of the wrongs 
 u done to his aunt Katharine, moft unjuftly repu- 
 *' diated and forfaken by a king forfaken of God and 
 " abhorred of men. The marriage of Anne Bul- 
 " len lliould wound deeply king J AMES, it being 
 *' likely by her fucceflion he fhould be barred from his 
 "■ right to the crown of England. The emperor, by 
 " his ambaffador expoftuiating the wrongs of his aunt, 
 " had gained nothing, but that for his fake ihe was the 
 " worfc entertained. To make more firong and lading 
 " the emperor's friendfhip with king James, he, if he 
 " pleafed, would make him an offer, and give him the 
 " choice of three ladies, three Maries, all of the im- 
 " perial ftem ; Mary of Auftria, the emperor's filler, 
 " widow of Louis king of Hungary ; Mar y of Por- 
 " tugal, the daughter of his filler Elenora of Au- 
 " ftria ; Mary of England, the daughter of K ath- 
 " arine and king Henry; and would undertake. the 
 " performance of this lalt, either by confent of her fa« 
 " ther, or by main force. The gieatelt but lad of his 
 ■' infractions was, that to fupprefs the hercfies of the 
 Si time, he would concur with the emperor for the con-. 
 " vocating a general council, and obviate the calami- 
 " tics then threatening the chriftian religion." 
 
 The king with gieat chearfulnefs and many thanks, 
 that the emperor entertained him with filch refpccl, 
 and held him worthy fo fair and royal alliance, and the 
 participation of affairs of fuch importance and moment, 
 received this embafTy. 
 
 " For the council, providing it were a general coun- 
 " cil lawfully con vocated by the emperor and chriflian 
 w kings, as the firit councils were wont, free and holy, 
 
 " a: 
 
of J AMES V. 261 
 
 * as nothing is more holy than a general convocation 
 *« of chriftians, the moft charitable and quiet of the 
 " clergy, and fuch who would pacify matters, not 
 <f the greateft zealots and fiery fpirits, or men cor- 
 " rupted by rewards, being delegated unto it, being 
 " premoniffied of the time and place, he would apply 
 " his will unto his, aflifi: him, thither fend his bell 
 " orators and moft convenient churchmen. That, if 
 " a true council could not be obtained, every prince 
 " fliould reform the errors of doctrine, and faults of the 
 " clergy, within his own dominions. 
 
 " The proceedings of his uncle were grievous unto 
 " him, being a man altogether thralled to his own o^ 
 " pinions. For the good of the chriftian religion and 
 " peace of Europe, it were expedient that all her prin- 
 " ces were united together in amity and love, and their 
 " arms directed againft the common enemy, the Turk. 
 " For himfelf he would be mediator to reconcile the 
 " emperor and his uncle, endeavour to recall him to the 
 " love of his wife, nor by any perfuafions be induced 
 " to condeicend to ought prejudicial to queen Katii- 
 • c ARINE. 
 
 " The three ladies were every one in the fuperlative 
 M worthy, efpecially Mary of England, for that great 
 •' realbn of uniting the ifle of Great-Britain ; but fine 
 " was not in her own power, nor in the power of the 
 " emperor, that he could bellow her upon whom he 
 " pleafed. That to ravilh her out of the hands of her 
 •* father would be, befide the danger of the enterprize, 
 l - a breach of divine and human laws. 
 
 u It was not fafe for Paris, that he preferred one of the 
 ** three goddefTes to the other two. For prizing thofe 
 '* three (that the emperor might know how dearly he 
 M refpected and earneltly afFecfed his affinity) there re- 
 " mained a fourth lady near in blood to the emperor, 
 " Dorot he a, daughter of Christi an king of Den- 
 <{ mark, and of I s a bell a the emperor's own filler, 
 " whom, befides her matchlefs virtues, for the vicini- 
 " ty of the nation to his, and the conformity of their 
 M harmlefs humours, he made choice to be queen of 
 " his affections and dominions." 
 
 Gob^ 
 R 2 
 
2fj2 The History of the Reign 
 
 Godescallo anfvvered this laft, " That a match 
 " with lady Dorothea of Denmark, could not with 
 f the emperor's credit be brought to pais, becaufe fhe 
 " was promifed already to another, Frederi ck elector 
 M Palatine, and the marriage might be accomplillied be- 
 " fore news came to the emperor of the kind's election." 
 
 This choice of the king's was but an evahun ; for 
 Sir Thomas Erskine of Brechin fecretary, and Da- 
 vid B e a t o n abbot of Abcrbruthoc, under pretence of 
 renewing the league between France and Scotland, Jor.5 
 before had been direclcd to France about a marriage 
 with the elded daughter of king Francis, which 
 John duke of Albany projected when the league be- 
 tween the two kingdoms was renewed at Rochel. 
 
 Henry king of England had now renounced all a 
 bedience to the bifhopoi Rome, and through his whole 
 dominions abrogated his authority; and Paul III. af- 
 ter his affuniing the papacy, fct forwatds by the emper- 
 or and his cardinals, who thought either to recover 
 England, or burn it up by a foreign or civil war, ne- 
 ver left thundering againfr. him. But After John 
 Fisher, bilhop of Rochcfler, was beheaded, (a man 
 impriibned for adhering to the pope, then for his perfe- 
 ction, and that the king might carry him the greater 
 refpecl, made cardinal) the whole conclave ftir the pope 
 againft king Henrv ; and full of grief and rage re.n 
 ilrate what ignominy and danger would follow their or- 
 der, if this example unpunifhed lhould have way. They 
 maintained the papal power againU all princes, which 
 now for fear of their lives they would be forced to for- 
 fake, or to proceed with great timorou fuel's and oeglecr, 
 if by any fccular power they might be called in judg- 
 ment, and cmbrue icarfolds with their blood. The pope, 
 though highly provoked, parted not from his resolution, 
 yet ufed a fort of moderation , he threatcneth Hill to let 
 fall the blo\ , in the mean time holding his hand. 
 
 Thus to give fatisfaction to his court, he formed a 
 procefs againft king Henr v, and a mod fevere fen- 
 tence, but abftaiiud from the publication of it during 
 his plcafure; fecruiy fending many copies of it, to thofe 
 princes he thought couid be ufeful to his dcligns, when 
 cccafion fhould fcrve, and he proceed, with a con i tan t 
 
 rumour 
 
of JAMES V. 2 $3 
 
 rumour of the bull Ihortly to be put in execution and 
 published. 
 
 Amongft many interefted in wrongs by the king of 
 England, conlidering there was none comparable to the 
 nation and king of Scotland, he directeth hither J o h n 
 Antonio Campeggio. This legate findeth king 
 J ames at Falkland, the 2 2d of February 1535 ; and here 
 with many ceremonies and apoftolical benedictions, deli- 
 vereth him a " Cap and a fword, conlecrated the night 
 " of the nativity of our Saviour, which the fame of his 
 " valour and many chridian virtues had moved his 
 " mafter to remunerate him with. Alfo, faith the ori- 
 " ginal, that it might breed a terror in the heart of a 
 " wicked neighbouring prince, again!!: whom the fword 
 " was (harpened." 
 
 The pope's letter, in mod fubmiffivc ftile, contained, 
 * A complaint for the death of John bifliop and 
 " cardinal of Rochefter, miferably taken away by the 
 <c hand of an hangman-, the calamities of England oc- 
 " cafioned by the king's divorce from Katharine 
 " of Spain, and his marriage with Anne Bullen; 
 " that fince the Roman church had received great dlf- 
 " grace and a deadly wound, and by patience procured 
 " daily more and more wrongs from the king of Eng- 
 " land, (he was conftrained to ufe a fearing iron : for 
 " the application of which, fhe had recourfe to his rna- 
 " jelly, a prince for his anceltors piety and his own re- 
 " nowned. His aid, maintenance, and protection flie 
 " implored ; fince king Henry was a defpifer, a (corn- 
 ft er, one who fet at nought the cenfures of the church, 
 " an heretic, fchifmatic, a lhameful and fhamelefs a- 
 " dulterer, a public and profelt homicide, murtherer, 
 " a facrilegious perfon, a church-robber, a rebel guilty 
 " of lefe-majefty divine, outragious, many and innu- 
 " merable ways a felon, and a criminal; by all laws 
 " heretofore juftly to be turned out of his throne : the 
 " king of Scotland for the defence of the church would 
 " undertake fomething worthy a chriltian king and hm« 
 " felf: he would endeavour to fupprefs herefy, de- 
 " fend the catholic faith againft thole whom thejulfice 
 '" of almighty God, and judgments, were now prepared 
 " and ready to be denounced." 
 
 R 3 "The 
 
2^4 The History of the Reign 
 
 The king kindly entertaining the legate, anfwered 
 the pope with much regret for the eftate and ftubborn- 
 nefs of the king of England. " Who would not be ftruck 
 " with pity, that a king, who of late amongft chriftian 
 " princes was honoured with the title of defender of the 
 •* faith, fhould be obnoxious to fo many crimes, that 
 " now amongft princes he could fcarce be reputed a chri- 
 " flian? This compaffion was common to him with o- 
 " thers, but he by a neceffity of nature, and nearnefs 
 " of blood, felt a more piercing forrow •, he ihould leave 
 " no means untried to recal his uncle to the obedience 
 " of the church: and though by his ambafTadors, he 
 " had once or twice gone about the fame, but in vain, 
 " he would ftudy a way how face to face he might give 
 rt him his belt counfel, and remonltrate how much 
 " good he would do the chriftian world and himfelf by 
 *' returning again to the bofom of the church." Mean 
 while he requefted him not to be heady, forward nor 
 rafh, in executing the fentence againft his uncle the king 
 of England,, which would but harden him in his fepar- 
 ation. 
 
 King James, not having loft all hopes of his uncle, 
 direcreth the lord ERSKiNEto England, to acquaint 
 him with the emperor's and pope's embaflies ; and to 
 take his counlel about a marriage with the duke of Vcn- 
 dome's daughter, whom the French king had offered to 
 him, his own daughter being weak and fickJy. In this 
 embaffy there was a complaint againft the Londoners, 
 *who in their paflage to the ifland filhing, fpoiled the 
 coafts of Orkney and the adjacent iflands : with a re- 
 queft that king Henry would notfuccour the Lubuc- 
 kers againft the duke of Holftein. 
 
 The king of England, not to prove inferior to the 
 emperor and pope in conferring honours upon his ne- 
 phew, admitteth him to the fraternity of the Garter, 
 which he delivered to the lord Erskine his ambafTa- 
 dor. And thereafter difpached William lord H o w- 
 ard, brother to the earl of Norfolk (as if that name 
 were a fufflcient fear-crow to the pope's fword and the 
 emperor's golden-fleece) to Scotland, who made fuch 
 hafty journeys that he prevented the news of his com- 
 ing, and at unawares found the king at Stirling. The 
 
 fubftance 
 
of JAMES V. z6$ 
 
 fubftance of his embaffy was, " That the kings ofEng- 
 " Jandand Scotland might have an interview at York, 
 " at which meeting the king of Scotland fhould be de- 
 " clared duke of York, and general lieutenant of the 
 " kingdom of England. That his matter, having in- 
 '■ Itructions of the alliances offered him by neighbour 
 " princes, did offer to his own and his council's judg- 
 *' ments, if they could find a more fit, than to contract 
 " a marriage with his daughter, which might be eahly 
 " perfected, if his mafter and king James could agree 
 " upon fome few points." 
 
 When the king had taken thefe propofitions into de- 
 liberation, the churchmen fufpecting if this meeting and 
 match had way, the king would embrace the opinions 
 of the new reformers, let all their wits to overthrow it. 
 The nearefl fucceffors to the crown, covering their 
 claims and intereft, argued, " That to marry the lady 
 " Mary of England, who for many yeats would not 
 " be marriageable, was not a right way to continue his 
 M race by procreation of children, and that his impati- 
 " ence of living alone, would not be much abated by 
 " marrying a child. That king Henry projected 
 " this marriage to no other end than to hinder him from 
 " better alliances* or to facilitate an entry to the king- 
 " dom. That when a prince would take advantage of 
 *' any neighbour prince, it was more fafely done by al- 
 " liance than open force. That it was more likely king 
 " Henry, being a wary prince, never meant to mar- 
 " ry his daughter at alias long as himfelf lived, but tp 
 " keep her at home with him, bearing many princes ia 
 " hand, to fave him from dangers both at home and 
 rt abroad : which counfel was practifed lately by the 
 " duke of Burgundy." 
 
 Moft oppofe neither to the meeting of the two kings, 
 nor to the alliance, but to the place of their meeting, 
 which feemed unto them of no final! importance, being 
 in the heart of England, and amidli the molt martial 
 people of that nation. 
 
 " They require the two kings might have their in- 
 
 " terview at Newcaltle, this place when they fhould 
 
 " meet, being moft commodious for furnilhing all ne- 
 
 lt cefTaiies by ftiips; that the number of their train 
 
 R 4 " Oiouli 
 
266 The History of the Reign 
 
 '" fhould be agreed upon, as one tboufand, which none 
 " of the two kings fhould exceed. That the time fhould 
 '' be at the feaft of faint Michael the arch-angel, be- 
 " twcen the harveft and the winter, which would hafte 
 " the confummation of the ceremonies, and not fuf- 
 " fer the kings to prolong time, but invite their return 
 " to their own chief and principal cities." When it 
 was declared to the lord Howard, that the confent 
 of the nobles of the kingdom being obtained, the inter- 
 view at the feaft of Michaelmas, at Newcaftle, might 
 be condefcended unto ; he would neither accept of the 
 place nor time. " His matter having already, as a 
 " matter ne had never put in queftion, made great pre- 
 " parations for this interview at York, that he would 
 " think his offers flighted, and an affront put upon him, 
 " if any excufes were alleged to the contrary :" thus 
 with fome bravados to the council he departed. 
 
 The king to give fatisfaclion to his uncle of his coun- 
 cil's proceedings with the lord Howard, fendeth af- 
 ter him Sir A d a M O T T E r b u r N of Red-hall, who lay- 
 eth the fault of his not meeting, upon the lord How- 
 ard, complaining, *' That he menaced the counfel- 
 •' lors, and would have forced their votes ; that he was 
 " a great friend to Sir George Douglas and o- 
 ** ther rebels, who convoyed him to Scotland, and ac- 
 " companied him back again. It was againft the credit 
 *' and honour of free-born princes to be threatened; 
 " what was friendly begun fhould friendly continue and 
 " end : princes fhould not be conftrained, efpecially in 
 " matters which were not of debt but benevolence." 
 
 Amidft thefe importunities and felicitations king 
 James with five well manned fhips taketh the feas, 
 giving out a voyage for France; and the French re- 
 cord, it was his firft adventure to come to them: but 
 it is more likely this proceeded from policy of ftate, to 
 try the affections and demeanour of the great ones of 
 his kingdom in his abfence, rather than any intended 
 voyage towards foreigners. For with this fleet he ar- 
 rivcth at Orkney, there in fome forts placeth garrifbns, 
 fails about the illands of Sky and Lewis, furprifcth the 
 chief of the Clans of thofe Highland illanders, whom 
 he fent for holtages to the cafUcs of Dunbarton and E- 
 
 dinburgh. 
 
of JAMES V. 267 
 
 dinburgh. And when by the fkill of one Alexan- 
 der Lindsay his pilot, he had founded the remot- 
 eft rocks of his kingdom, he was driven by florms to 
 take Jand at St. Ninian's near Whitehorn in Galloway. 
 This voyage bred great fear in thofe iflanders and lava- 
 ges, and brought long peace and quietnefs to thofe coun- 
 tries thereafter. At his return to Edinburgh, for dis- 
 orders committed or furmifed in his abfence, molt part 
 of the great men near the borders are charged to enter 
 their perfons in ward during the king's pleafure. W a l- 
 ter Scot of Buccleugh is committed to the caftle of 
 Edinburgh, the lord Hume to thecaftleofDown, Farne- 
 haft to Falkland, the laird of Johnfton and Mark Car 
 to Dundee : and others elfewhere. He knew the com- 
 mon riders never made incurfions without either the 
 command or tolerance of thefe fuperiors. 
 
 The remote Highlands and borders being made peace- 
 able by the incarcerations of the chiefs of the Clans and 
 families there commanding, he may, when occafion is 
 offered, in perfon vifit any neighbour prince or ftate. 
 To fecond his former ambaffadors in their fuit in France, 
 he had fent the earl of Murray, William Stuart 
 bifhop of Aberdeen, with others : and king Francis, 
 in regard of the indiipofition of his daughter Magda- 
 len, had made an offer to them of his neareft kinf-wo- 
 man, Mary of Bourbon, daughter to Charles duke 
 of Vendome. 
 
 The king's mind having been long troubled with 
 youthful thoughts by the many matches offered him; 
 and thinking marriages contracted and trufted to the 
 eyes of others, one way or other deficient, refolveth to 
 go in perfon and woo for himfelf. Upon this refolution 
 he imbarked at Leith, concealing the intention of his 
 Voyage; many fuppofe he maketh for England to pa- 
 cify his uncle, for many wiffted the fame. Whilft he is 
 on the ocean, the winds contrarying his courfe, a vio- 
 lent tempeft feparating his fhips, the pilot afketh him, 
 " To what coalt he would direct his courfe ; to any thou 
 " bed likeft, anfwered the king, except towards Eng- 
 " land." The ftorm encreafing, and fleep fhutting up 
 the king's eyes, thefe who accompanied him, command 
 the pilot to turn fails again for Scotland, and not Strug- 
 gle 
 
268 The History of the Reigm 
 
 gle with that pitilefs element, for matters which might 
 be delayed, and a little time could not turn worfe. So 
 when the king awoke, he found himfdf near his own 
 harbours upon the Forth, and was fo highly difpleafed 
 with the authors of his return, that he never pardoned 
 them. The fault was laid on Sir J a m e s Hamilton; 
 and to 11 ir him up more againft this man, there wanted 
 not who faid, " His obedience to his prince was diffem- 
 " bled, that he accompanied his mailer to no other end 
 41 in his voyage, than to crofs his intentions fo far as 
 " was in his power." 
 
 The feafon thereafter being more fit for navigation, 
 he afcendeth his fhips again at Kirkaldie, and with a 
 profperous wind the tenth day after arrived at Diep in 
 Normandy: the earls of Arran, Argyle, Rothes, Erro!, 
 lords Fleming and Boyd, attended him, with many 
 barons and knights : the earls of Murray, young Lenox, 
 and Cafiils, the lord Erskine, and abbot of Aberbro- 
 thoc, expected him at Paris; but he preventing the fame 
 of his coming, with a fmall train holdeth his way to 
 Vendome, to fee the lady Mary of Bourbon ; all which 
 way, one John Tennant perfonating the lord of 
 the company, he palfed undefined. But being come 
 to Vendome, whether the lady had a letter for the fame 
 from David Beaton, or that by matching the fa- 
 ces of one of thofe llrangers with a portrait me had of 
 king J a mes in likenefs, as Hie faid, he was found out, 
 and challenged by the lady of that fault, which was ea- 
 llJy confefTed and pardoned. He found her very beau- 
 tiful, and eminent in all princely excellencies, but be- 
 thinking how he having choice of three princelTes, all 
 daughters of kings, if he ihould fix his affection on this 
 Jady at the firft interview, he fhould be obnoxious to 
 the indignation of the other, he returned as he came to- 
 wards Rouen, where his nobles attended him, and hav- 
 ing underftood that king Francis was to give the em- 
 peror battle in Provence, quitting his retinue he polled 
 towards him. The Dauphin meeteth him at the chap- 
 el between Tarray and St. Sophorin in the country of 
 Lions. King Francis receiveth him with as much 
 honour as could be defired, and convoycth him to Paris : 
 The peers of the kingdom haftc from all quarters thi- 
 ther 
 
of J AMES V. 269 
 
 ther to entertain this ftranger prince, and the court is 
 changed into an academy of knightly exercife, where 
 king James proveth inferior to none in feats of arms, 
 Magdalen the king's eldeft daughter is his miftrefs, 
 a Jady fair, young, of a lovely countenance and come- 
 ly behaviour above all others of the kingdom. The 
 lady Margaret her younger lifter, who after was 
 married to the duke of Savoy, is offered to him, by rea- 
 fon of the tender and weak difpofition of her fifter : but 
 Magdalen by the glances of her princely woer re- 
 obtaining her health (her body as it were following the 
 temperature of her fpirit, or that it appeared to herfelf 
 and her father fo) king James continuing in his firft 
 refolution, the marriage is contracted between them, 
 an hundred thoufand crowns of the fum being promifed 
 in dowry, befides thirty thoufand franks of yearly pen- 
 iion during the life of king J a M e s ; the jointure allured 
 to her by the king of Scotland, was all the lands polTef- 
 fed by any former queen, the earldoms of Strathern and 
 Fife, with the palace of Falkland, and other lands of the 
 belt and mod certain revenue. 
 
 Thus anno 1 J37- in the church of Noftre-Dame in 
 Paris, the king of Scotland married the lady Magda- 
 len in prefence of her father, feven cardinals, the king 
 of Navarre, and many great dukes and barons. 
 
 King Francis, after the folemnities of this marriage, 
 Picardy and Piedmont being then over-run by the 
 Imperialilts •, and king James, fearing he might fuffer 
 wrong in his abfence, by the king of England, with afc 
 furance of mutual amity, part from other in the end of 
 April, and from New-haven the queen with her hus- 
 band the 29th of May arrives at the port of Leith. It 
 is reported, that after fhe put her foot on the fhore, up- 
 on her knees fhe killed the ground, praying for all hap- 
 pinefs, to the country and people. Never queen in lb 
 ihort time was more beloved of her husband, norfoon- 
 er made conqueft; of the hearts of her fubjects : nor was 
 there greater hopes conceived of any alliance than of 
 this, nor greater joy did ever arife from thofe hopes : but 
 as in the life of man there is ever remaining more of 
 bitter than fweet ; fo were thefe contentments but fha- 
 dows, matched with the real (orrow that the death of 
 
 that 
 
270 The History of the Reign 
 
 that young lady brought forth. For fhe lived not ma- 
 ny weeks after her arrival in Scotland, when of a fever, 
 which (he contracted in June, fhe departed this life in 
 July : file was buried with the greatelt mourning Scot- 
 land ever till t^attime was participant of, in the church 
 of Holy-rood-houfe nearfcing James II. 
 
 Thefe laft honours to* the dead queen and funeral 
 pomp finifhed, the king, defirous of fucceffion, hath 
 yet his thoughts wandering in France : Mary of Bour- 
 bon, daughter to Charles duke of Vendome, being 
 fruitrate of her royal hopes, had not only turned reli- 
 gious, but was dead of difpleafure. Whilfl: he difport- 
 ed himfelf at the court of France, he had been acquaint- 
 ed with a lady rich in all excellencies, who next Mac- 
 dal en had the power of his affections, MARYofLor- 
 rain, filter to Francis, daughter to Rene duke of 
 Guife, and widow of the duke of Longueville : her he 
 thinketh, for her Item, healthful complexion, fertility, 
 for fhe had been a mother, and other fortunes, worthy 
 of his love. But to try her affection towards him, he 
 direc"teth David Beaton his late paranymph, and 
 the lord Maxwell, to France. Whilfl they traffic 
 this marriage, many falfe accufations, as plots laid a- 
 gainft his perfbn, are intended one after another at the 
 court, amongft which two are remarkable for their not- 
 able calumny. 
 
 John, eldefl fon to the lord Forbes, a young 
 gentleman, chief of his name, hardy and valorous, but 
 ill brought up, and therefore eafily fufpected to be cap- 
 able of any fin, had for a fervant,or companion and or- 
 dinary fharer of his pleafures, one named Strachan, 
 a man come of the dreg of the people, and perfectly 
 wicked. This man, after much familiarity, and fome 
 fecret fervice and attendance, to fatiate his infatiable 
 defire, defired earneftly foincthing from the mailer of 
 Forbes, which he paffionately refufed to give him; up- 
 on which, carried away with rage and malice, he not 
 only renounced his friendfhip and fervice, but betook 
 himfelf to the fervice of his enemy the earl of Huntley : 
 by whofc advice he forgeth a malicious plot tooverthrow 
 him. To compafs their defign they accufe the mailer of 
 Forbes to have had once an intention and mind to kill 
 
 the 
 
of JAMES V. 271 
 
 the king, that the Douglasses might be reftored 
 to their wonted honours and ancient polfe/Hons. J5y 
 price and prayers witnelTes are procured to prove this 
 againfl him, and convict him, or at the leaft to leave 
 him fufpecled and tafhed with this treafoit Though 
 this crime was not fufficiently and clearfy proved, yet 
 was the mailer of Forbes indiaed and convicted by an 
 aflize, for having confpired the king's death, for which 
 he was beheaded and quartered, and his quarters fet a- 
 loft upon the gates of Edinburgh. 
 
 This gentleman's death proveth, how dangerous the 
 fociety and company of the wicked is to any ; for afcend- 
 ing the fatal fcarFold, he juftified his innocence of what 
 was [aid to his charge, but confelTed, the guilt of the 
 laird of Drum's blood by the juftice of God brought him 
 to that end. His father the lord Forbes was, upon 
 fufpicion, kept long after in the caftle of Edinburgh. 
 The king, when he could not amend what was palt, te- 
 Itified he was grieved at the death of this nobleman; 
 for he banifhed Strach an, becaufe he had fo long 
 concealed the treafon of Forbes, ulence, in a matter 
 importing no lefs than the life of a prince, being reck- 
 oned equal to tlie treafon : he made his fecond brother 
 one of his domeftics, reftoring him to the eftate which 
 was forfeited. 
 
 This thunder-clap was immediately-followed by an- 
 other, for the quality of the perfon, and ftrangenefs of 
 the crime deplorable, but more for the horror and terror 
 of the puniihment. 
 
 Jane Douglas, filter to Archibald earl of 
 Angus, the widow of John Lyon lord Glamis, 
 with her husband Archibald Campbell of Keep- 
 neath, her young fon the lord Glamis, and an old 
 pried, were brought to Edinburgh, committed, and ac- 
 cufed that they defigned to have poifoned the king. 
 Their accufer was William Lyon, a kinfman of 
 the late lord Glamis. This treafon had no probabi- 
 lity of truth among fuch who knew the accufed, being 
 perfons who lived far from the court in their folitary 
 manfions, feldom or never atmoit feeing the king. Ne- 
 verthelefs their accufations were believed, and ftricT: 
 command given to the judges to difpatch their procefs. 
 
 WlL- 
 
272 The History of the Reign 
 
 William Lyon aggravating the cafe, reprefented to 
 the king " The ancient faults ofthe family of the Do u- 
 " glasses, committed againit his predecefTbrs, the par^ 
 " ticular wrongs of earl Archibald now ftirring up- 
 * the Englilh againlt him, and ravaging his borders; that 
 " he Ihould believe, he not being able to be reftored 
 ,4 to his firfr eftate, by prayers and folicitations ofneigh- 
 " bour princes, nor by open force, did now fet on work 
 ** his lair engines to come to his end, though it were 
 '• with the life of his fovereign ; that in fo fecret and 
 " dangerous a plot he could not ufe but his neareft 
 " kindred; a woman, and his own filler, might attempt 
 " fuch a mifchief, her fex and other qualities making 
 " her lefs ful peeled to have accefs to his perfon. 
 
 " Suppofe clear proofs could not be found againlt her, 
 *' the whole race ofthe Douglasses Ihould be ex- 
 " tirpated, being a linage only fertile in bringing forth 
 " monfters of rebellion. That by fparing her life, and 
 " fuffering her to efcape, he (hould afford her time, li- 
 " cence, and power, to execute what flie but now, per- 
 " haps, had intended." 
 
 The king not knowing the man's particular hatred 
 againlt this lady (for fome write, ' : He did inform a- 
 " gainft her in revenge that Ihe refufed to marry him, 
 " giving herlelf to another") fuffered the procefs to be 
 concluded. 
 
 Some of the judges would have referred her to the 
 king's clemency, till a farther trial of the witneffes 
 might be had, upon whofe teftimony the procefs did 
 depend, it being a lafer way in judgment to ablblve the 
 guilty, than condemn the innocent. But the molt part 
 gave her over to the alfizers ; the better part of which 
 being in voices fewer, the greater, who neither refpecl- 
 ing conlcience within them, nor fhame with the prefent 
 age and poflerity, nor the fupreme juflice of heaven, 
 find this poor lady guilty, and fhe is condemned to be 
 burnt alive. Her fentence was executed the fifth day 
 after the beheading ofthe mailer of Forbes on the caftle- 
 hill of Edinburgh, in fight of her husband; who ei- 
 ther out of revenge or fear, after this tragical end of his 
 lady, Peeking to fave himfclfby efcape out ofthe pri- 
 fon, whillt he came over the wall, by the fhortnefs of 
 
 the 
 
of J AMES V. 273 
 
 the cable was daftied againft the rock, and found dead. 
 Though the tender years of the lord Glamis, her fbn, 
 proved his innocence; yet he remained prifoner in the 
 caftle till after the king's death. The old prieft, when, 
 after torture, nothing could be proved againft him, was 
 fet at liberty. William Lyon the author of this 
 calumny was banifhed the country, which juftified the 
 lady's integrity, and verified, that however princes love 
 to find out treafon, they hate the informers, except up- 
 on clear grounds. 
 
 Upon the like fufpicions Drumlanrig and 
 Hemps fi eld, ancient barons, having challenged o- 
 thers, had leave to try the verity by combat : the lifts 
 were defigned by the king, who was a fpectator and 
 umpire of their valour, at the court of the palace of 
 Holy-rood-houfe. They appeared upon the day, arm- 
 ed from head to foot, like ancient Paladines, and after 
 many enterchanged blows to the diiadvantage of their 
 calks, corllets and vantbraces, when the one was be- 
 come breathlefs, by the weight of his arms and thunder 
 of the blows, and the other, who was fhort-fighted, had 
 broken his ponderous fword, the king, by heralds, cauf- 
 ed feparate them with diiadvantage to neither of thefe 
 champions ; and the verity which was found, was, that 
 they dared both fight in clofe arms. 
 
 The abbot of Aberbrothoc, and the lord Maxwell, 
 by many enterchanged letters lull of princely love, had 
 alfured the king and the lady Mary of Lorrain j and 
 articles being agreed upon, to the great content of the 
 French, they were efpoufed by proxy, as is the cuftom. 
 among princes, with great triumph in the city of Paris, 
 in the prefence of the French king and many peers ; af- 
 ter which folemnity, monfteur d' Annabault, ad- 
 miral of France, accompanied her to New-haven in the 
 beginning of the month of June 15-38, where (he em- 
 barked, and with many French fhips, when ftie had 
 been tofted on the feas, came to Fife-nefs; where, at 
 Carail fhe was attended by the noblemen, and the king, 
 who confummated the marriage in the cathedral church 
 of St. Andrews in July. 
 
 Nothing more linketh the affections of the married 
 than children : the firft year the queen anfwereth her 
 
 husband's 
 
274 The History of the Reign 
 
 husband's hopes, and in St. Andrews was delivered of a 
 ion, who was named James; the arch-bi(hop of St. 
 Andrews and earl of Arran being his god-fatheis, and 
 the old queen, the king's mother, his god-mother, 1539. 
 In February thereafter ihe was crowned queen of Scotland, 
 in the abby church of Holy-rood-houfe, by the abbot of A- 
 berbiothoc; at which time Marg a ret the old queen 
 falling fick at Methven in few days departed, and was 
 buried in the Charter-houfe of St. Johnfton near the 
 tomb of king James I; the king her (on, with all 
 the nobility and gentry, being prefcnt at her funerals, 
 which were celebrated in moll folemn and pompous 
 manner. Not long after James Beaton arch-bi- 
 fnop, a man of great age, followed this lady to the o- 
 ther world : he had provided fucceffors to his heneficcs, 
 and his arch-bifhop's fee to David Beaton, after- 
 wards cardinal, whom the king accepted and admitted 
 without conteltation. 
 
 The kingdom now began to be divided in opinions of 
 religion, they which held the helm of ftate, labouring 
 in vain to reconcile them. The king was fore perplexed 
 and uncertain what courfe to follow; fupprels them he 
 could not ; to give way to them, without making the 
 itrongell beams of the policy of his kingdom, feemed 
 unto him impoflible. His privy counfellors being more 
 of his ancient fervants, than nobles or church-men (of 
 which many were groping through thefe flecked clouds 
 of ignorance) as they favoured gave their opinions, iome 
 one way, fome another ; and a freedom of fpeech being 
 given, one of them, as they were in his chamber toge- 
 ther, fpake to him to this purpofe. 
 
 '' Sir, amongd. the many blelfings your fubjects en- 
 " joy under this your government, this is not the 
 " lead, that for the weal of your majefty, and the pu- 
 " blic good of the kingdom, the meaneft of your fub- 
 " jects may freely open his mind and declare his opini- 
 " on unto you his fovereign. 
 
 " And if ever there was a time in which grave, good 
 " and found counfel fhould be delivered to your majelty, 
 " it is this, and the difficulties of the commonwealth 
 " <.\o now require it. Not ever, in matters of advice 
 " and confultation, can we embrace and follow what is 
 
 * molt 
 
of JAMES V. ' 275- 
 
 " moft reafonable, and what according to laws, juftice, 
 " and equity, fliould be, but what neceffity driveth us 
 " unto, and what is moft convenient for the prefent 
 " time to be, and what we may well and fairly accom- 
 " plifh and bring to pafs. 
 
 " The eftate of your kingdom is troubled with di- 
 " verfity of opinions concerning religion ; it is to be 
 " wi/hed that the one only true religion were in the 
 M hearts of all your fubjeifls, (hnce diveriity of opini- 
 " ons of religion and herelies are the very puniftunent 
 " of God almighty upon men for their horrible vices 
 " and roring fins. And when men forfake his fear 
 " and true obedience, God abandoneth them to their 
 " own opinions and fantahcs in religion ; out of which 
 " arife partialities, faclions, divifions, ftrife and inte- 
 " ftine difcords, which burft forth into civil wars, and 
 " in fliort time bring kingdoms and commonwealths to 
 * their laft periods.) But matters ariimg to fuch a height 
 " and diforder, as by all appearance, they are like to 
 " advance in this kingdom, the number of the feAaries 
 *' daily increaiing, without dilTembling my thoughts 
 " to your majefty, the prefervation of the people be- 
 " ing the fupream and principal law which God almigh- 
 " ty hath enjoined to all princes ; 
 
 " I hold it lT^ore expedient to give place to the exer- 
 "• cile of both religions, than under pretence and fha- 
 " dow of them to fufFer the common peace of your fub- 
 " jeds to be torn in pieces. What can wifdom, Sir, 
 " advife you to do with thefe feparatifts ? Either they 
 " muft be tolerated for a time, or they muft altogether 
 " be removed, and that by death or banifhment. 
 
 " So foon as a prince beginneth to fpoil, banilh, kill, 
 " and burn his people, for matters abftradl from fenfe, 
 " and altogether fpiritual, he becometh as it were a 
 " plague unto them. It is an error of ftate in a prince, 
 " for an opinion of piety to condemn to death the ad- 
 " herers to new doclrine. For, the conftancy and pa- 
 " tience ofthofewho voluntarily fufFer all temporal 
 " miferies, and death itfelf, for matters of faith, ftir up 
 " and invite numbers, whoatfirft, and before they had 
 " fufFered, were ignorant of their faith and doclrine, 
 " not only to favour their caufe, but to embrace their 
 S opinions, 
 
276 The History of the Reign 
 
 *• opinions, pity and commiferation opening the gates 
 " Thus their belief fpreadeth itfclf abroad, and their 
 " number daily encreafeth. 
 
 " It is no lefs an error of ftate to banifh them : ba- 
 ** nifhed men are fo many enemies abroad, ready upon 
 " all occafions to invade their native country, to trou- 
 " ble the peace and tranquillity of your kingdom. 
 
 " To take arms againft lectaries and feparatifts will 
 " be a great enterprize, a matter hard and of many dan- 
 •* gers : religion cannot be preached by arms; the firft 
 " chriftians detefted that form of proceeding; force and. 
 " compullion may bring forth hypocrites, not true clui- 
 " ltians. If there be any herefy amongft your people, 
 '• this wound is in the foul; our fouls being fpiritual 
 " fubftances, upon which fire and iron cannot work, 
 " they mult be overcome by fpiritual arms: love the 
 " men, and pity their errors. 
 
 " Who can lay upon a man a necefTity to believe that 
 " which he will not believe, or what he will believe, 
 " or doth believe, not to believe. No prince hath 
 '• fuch pov/er over the fouls and thoughts of men as 
 " he bath over their bodies. Now to ruin and extir- 
 " pate all thole- fechries, what will it prove elfe than 
 *' to cut off one of your arms, to the great prejudice of 
 * : your kingdom and weakening of the Hate.' 1 They dai- 
 " Jy increaling in number, and no man being fo mifer- 
 " able and mean, but he is a member of the ltate. 
 ' The more eafy manner and nobler way were to to- 
 ' lerate boili religions, and grant a place to two church- 
 <: es in the kingdom, till it lhall plcafe aimighty God 
 *' to return the minds of your fubjects, and turn them 
 " al! of one will and opinion; be content to keep that 
 " which ye may, Sir, fince ye cannot that which ye 
 
 " WOuld. 
 
 " It is a falfe and erroneous opinion, that a kingdom 
 " cannot fubfift which tolaateth two religions : di- 
 " vcrliiy of religion fhutteth not % up fociety, nor bar- 
 c rcth civil convcrfation among men ; a little time will 
 '' rr :.ke peribns of different religions contract fuch ac- 
 4 ' quaintance, cultom, and familiarity together, that 
 ft (hey will be intermixt in one city, family, yea mar- 
 
 " riagc-bed; 
 
of J AM ES V. 277 
 
 **' riage-bed; ftate and religion having nothing corn- 
 M mon. 
 
 " Why, I pray, may not two religions be fuffered 
 " in a ftate (till by Tome 1'weet and eafy means they 
 may be reduced to a right government) fince in the 
 " church, which (hould be union itfelf, and of which the 
 " Roman church much vaunteth, almoft infinite feels 
 ° and kinds of monks are fuffered; differing in their 
 " laws, rules of government, falhions of living, diet, 
 " apparel, maintenance, and opinions of perfection, and 
 " who fequefter themlelves from our public union ? The 
 H Roman empire had its extenfion, not by fimilitude 
 " and likenefs of religion. Different religions, provid- 
 " ing they enterprize or practife nothing againft the po- 
 " litic laws of the kingdom, may be tolerated in a 
 «' Itate. 
 
 e The murders, maflfacres, and battles, which a- 
 * rife and are like daily to encreafe amongfl chriftian?, 
 " all which are undertaken for religion, are a thoufand 
 " times more execrable, and more open, plain, and fiat 
 44 impiety, than this liberty of diverfity of religion?, 
 *' with a quiet peace, can be unjufl. 
 
 " Forafmuch as the greatett part of thofe who flefh 
 " themlelves in blood and Slaughter, and overturn by 
 " aims the peace of their neighbours, whom they fhould 
 " love as themfelves, fpoiling and ravaging like fa- 
 41 milhed lions, facrifice their fouls to the infernal 
 " powers, without further hopes or means of their ever 
 44 recovering and coming back, when thofe others are 
 " in fome way of repentance. 
 
 " In feeking liberty of religion, thefe men feek not 
 *' to believe any thing that may come in their brains ; 
 " but to ufe religion according to the firfl chriflian in- 
 •' ftitutions, ferving God and obeying the laws under 
 " which they were born. 
 
 *' That maxim fo often repeated amongfl the church- 
 " men of Rome, that the chace and following of here- 
 " tics is more neceffary than that of infidels, is well ap- 
 " plied for the enlarging and increafing the dominions, 
 " fovereignty and power of the pope, but not for the 
 41 amplifying and extending of the chriilian religion, and 
 44 the weal and benefit of the chriftian commonwealth. 
 S 2 " Kingdoms. 
 
278 The History of the Reign 
 
 " Kingdoms and fovereignties fhould not be govern? 
 *' ed by the Jaws and interefts of priefts and church- 
 " men, but according to the exigency, need, and as 
 " the cafe requireth, of the public weal, which often 
 " is necellitated to pafs and tolerate fome defects and 
 " faults. It is the duty of all chriftian princes to en- 
 ** deavour and take pains that their fubjects embrace the 
 " true faith, as that femblably, and in even parts, they 
 *' obferve all God's commandments, and not more one 
 " commandment than another. 
 
 " Notwithstanding, when a vice cannot be extirpated 
 «' and taken away, without the ruin of the ftate, it 
 " would appear to human judgments that it mould 
 <' be fuffered. Neither is there a greater obligation, 
 «* bond, or neceflity of law, to punifh heretics more 
 «' than fornicators, which yet for the peace and tran- 
 " quillity of the ftate are tolerated and paft over. Nei- 
 " ther can a greater inconvenience and harm follow, if 
 «' we fhall fuffer men to live in our commonwealth who 
 « c believe not, nor embrace all our opinions. In a ftate 
 « c many things are for the time tolerated, becaufe they 
 «' cannot, without the total ruin of the ftate, be fud- 
 *' denly amended and reformed, 
 
 " Thefe men are of that fame nature and condition 
 ♦* of which we are; they worfhip, as we do, one God, 
 u they believe thofe very fame holy records ; we both 
 " aim at falvation; we both fear to offend God; we 
 " both let before us one happinefs. The difference be- 
 u tween them and us hangeth upon this one point, that 
 " they having found abufes in our church, require a 
 " reformation. Now fhall it be laid for that we run di- 
 " verfe ways to one end, and underftand not rightly o- 
 M thcrs language, we fhall purfue others with fire and 
 " fword, and extirpate others from the face of the 
 " earth ? God is not in the bitter divifion and aliena- 
 «' tion of affections, nor the raging flames offeditions, 
 " nor in the tempefts of the turbulent whirlwinds of 
 c ' contradictions and difputations, but in the calm 
 *' and gentle breathings of peace and concord: if any 
 *' wander out of the high-way, we bring him to it a- 
 <' gain; if any be in darknefs, we fliew him light and 
 i' kill him not. In mufical inftruments, if a itring jar 
 
 tl and 
 
of J A MES V. 279 
 
 ** and be out of tune, we do not frettingly break it, but 
 " leifureJy veer it about to a concord : and (hall we be 
 " fb churlifh, cruel, and uncharitable, and fo wedded 
 " to our own fuperltitious opinions, that we will bar- 
 * baroufly baniih, kill, and burn thofe whom by love 
 rt and fvveetnefs we might readily win and recal again ? 
 
 " Let us win and bring over thefe men by reaibn ; 
 " let them be cited to a free council ; it may be they 
 " fhall not be proved heretics, neither that they main- 
 " tain opinions condemned by the ancient councils* 
 t( Let their religion be compared and paralleled with the 
 *' religion of the firft age of the church. 
 
 " Shall we hold this people worfe than the Jews, 
 " which yet have their fynagogues at Rome itfelf? let 
 *' them receive inflruclions from a free and lawful coun- 
 " cil, and forfake their errors, when they fhall be clear- 
 " ly and fairly demonftrated unto them. Herefy is an 
 " error in the fundamental grounds of religion 5 fchimi 
 " intendeth a refolution in feparation : let a good coun- 
 " cil be convocated, and fee if they be ready, or not, 
 " to re-unite themfelves to us. 
 
 " That which they believe is not evil, but to fome 
 *' it will appear they believe not enough, and that there 
 " is in them rather a defect of good than any habit of 
 " evil. Other points, when they fhall be confidered, 
 e ' fhall be found to confift in external ceremonies of the 
 " church, rather than in fubftance of doclrine, or what 
 " is effential to chriftianity. Thefe men fhould be' 
 '* judged before condemned, and they mould be heard 
 " before they be judged; which being holily and up- 
 " rightly done we fhall find it is not our religions, but 
 " our private interefts and paffions which troubleth us 
 " and the ftate." 
 
 The king followed not this opinion, but gave him- 
 felf over to the counfeland government of the prelates. 
 They remonftrate to him, " That he fhould not rafhly 
 " alter approved and long received cuftoms; that there 
 " was nothing more dangerous in government, than to 
 " abafe the authority of ancient laws. Let him well 
 " confider and fet before his eyes the malice of man, 
 " who ever when he is drawn off one courfeofevil pre- 
 " cipitateth himfelf in a worfe. It was leis evil in the 
 S3 " iUts 
 
'280 The History of the ReiG*j 
 
 " ftate to tolerate diforders known, unto which ufual 
 
 " and accullomed remedies might be applied, than by 
 
 *' altering and changing foundations to give way to new ; 
 
 u to find out remedies to which, would take up and 
 
 ** confume a whole age. That this would be a way, not 
 
 " only to takeaway the abufes, but even the good ui- 
 
 " es of every thing, and put in hazard all matters and 
 
 " main points concerning religion. They defired him 
 
 *' to confider how there were two forts of perfons affe- 
 
 *' cling thefe new opinions, and ftudying novations. 
 
 " The multitude or common people, and fbme of the 
 
 " nobility and gentry. It was likely the common peo- 
 
 " pie might be deceived ; and to give them fatisfa6rion, 
 
 " and appeafe them, by granting them a reformation 
 
 " or change in religion, would not be a means to illu- 
 
 " minate and inftruc't them, but to bring in a popular 
 
 " licence. If he (hould fuffer them to misbelieve, di- 
 
 " llruft, and call in queltion points of religion, or fearch 
 
 " or find out more light, they would immediately there- 
 
 " after prefume to make laws, and limit the govern- 
 
 " ment, by degrees reftraining the fovereign authority, 
 
 * c and after they had examined, fifted narrowly, and 
 
 *' difcufTed ecclefialHcal authority, they would ellay to 
 
 " correct and find out the difficulties of the temporal. 
 
 " That it was more eafy to oppofe and refift the firlt de- 
 
 *' mands of the multitude, than pleafing them in a part, 
 
 *' after to bound and limit their defires and petitions. 
 
 " As to the great men of his nobility and gentry, he 
 
 " might be allured they had no religion and piety for 
 
 " their ends, but to impatronize and lay hold on the 
 
 " church rents, and ecclefiaftical goods-, to turn abio- 
 
 " lute and free men, acknowleging neither church nor 
 
 " king. To this end, many reicrved themfelves, and 
 
 " kept clofe theiropinions, attending the change ; which 
 
 " once appearing, their faces would turn all one way. 
 
 " Which imminent evils, if the king would prevent, 
 
 " there was no other means than to ufe his authority 
 
 " and power, whilft the molt and greatelt part of his 
 
 " kingdom yet obeyed him. That celerity in this was 
 
 *' molt necefTary, before their number increafed, and 
 
 *• ere they difcovercd that univerfal commodity, which 
 
 ** would follow the embracing of thele new opinions. 
 
 » It 
 
of J AMES V. 28/ 
 
 " It was fafer to compofe thefe tumults by his abfolute 
 *• command and authority ; and, if this produced not 
 " the vvilhcd erFccl-, to perform it by arms, than to give 
 " reins to a popular licence, and the ambition of great 
 u men." 
 
 After this counfel had prevailed, moft rigorous in- 
 quifitions are eitahliihed, and pun ifhments denounced a- 
 gainft all whoproftfTed opinions differing from the church 
 of Rome. 
 
 Whereupon fome out of a muffled zeal of religion, 
 Others to revenge their particular quarrels, mofttopof- 
 fefs moveables and land?, purfue many to judgment. Of 
 which fome are executed by tire, others banifhed, many 
 imprifoned -, amonglr. which was that famous poet and 
 hiltorian Georg e Buchanan, who whilit his keep- 
 ers llept, efcaped by a window of the priion, the 
 mules holding the cable. The more frequent the public 
 executions were and banilhments, the greater number 
 embraced the opinions of them which fuffcied. 
 
 The king of England having underftood that the 
 pope, giving out the confirming of a peace between the 
 emperor and the French king, had a meeting with them. 
 at Nice, a maritime town Upon the confines of Pro- 
 vence, and afTltring himfelf that matters there would be 
 both confulted upon, and determined to his prejudice, 
 fendeth again to his nephew the king of Scotland, that 
 he would come and fee him at York ; for now he had 
 more vehemently irritated the pope, having condemn- 
 ed as rebels, and confiscated the goods of all who main- 
 tained papal authority, and raifed from their tomb the 
 bones of T homAs Becket (commonly named Saint 
 Thomas of Canterbury, canonized by pope Ale- 
 xander III. for being killed for the maintenance of 
 the liberties of the church 1171. to whom there was 
 yearly a feltival day kept by the Roman church) and 
 by the hands of a common executioner caufed burn to 
 alfies, and throw them into the river. The revealing 
 of which to the world was a fecret more derogatory to 
 the pontificial ftate, than any (tumbled upon heretofore, 
 or opened up. Upon this the fentence of excommuni- 
 cation, fome years deferred, was pronounced againfl 
 him. By which he was deprived of his kingdom, and 
 S 4 Ihofe 
 
282 The History of the Reign 
 
 thofe who adhered to him, declared uncapable of what 
 they poiTelTed. His fubjects were abiblved from their 
 oath of allegiance, and difcharged to obey him. Stran- 
 gers were inhibited traffic with his kingdom. All chri- 
 ftians charged to arife in arms againlt him. The eltates, 
 goods and perfbns of fuch fubjects as followed him, gi- 
 ven over to be a prey and fpoil to any would invade 
 them. 
 
 It was time for him to look to himfelf. Such of the 
 nobility as loved peace, and the weal of the two king- 
 doms, ftirred up king Jame s to this interview, efpe- 
 cially they who favoured the reformed religion ; allur- 
 ing him " King Henry was difpofed with all demon- 
 " ftrations of good-will ; that his perfon would be far 
 " from any danger. And if by this conference they 
 " mould join in bands of amity, a great benefit to them- 
 <c felves, country and pofterity, would redound. Why 
 " would king Hen ry, in the face of the world and 
 " neighbour princes, brand lb his reputation, as to 
 " break the laws of hofpitality, wrong a prince whom 
 " he had invited to come and fee him ? Why would he 
 *' violate thole of confanguinity, attempting again!! his 
 " own nephew ? The emperor Charles V. had been 
 " his guelt, and after royal entertainment, was friend- 
 " ly dilmilTed. He met with Francis the French 
 " king at Bollogne ; which meeting feemed rather of 
 " brothers come to countenance fbme maniage^pomp, 
 *' than contending neighbours. If king Henry had 
 " born any difcontent againft his nephew, he might 
 " long ere now have fatisfied his ambition, and at a 
 " more eafy rate, when the king his father with molt 
 " of the nobility and gentry of Scotland received that 
 '* fatal overthrow by the hills of Flowden and banks of 
 " Till: the refufing of an interview might divide the 
 " king and his uncle, upon which might follow fome 
 '* unnatural war." 
 
 Upon the other part, the churchmen let all their power 
 to hinder this interview, perfuading themfelvcs it would 
 give a terrible blow to their eltates or religion. " The 
 " principal caufe, fay they, why the king of England 
 " is fo paflionately carnclt to have this meeting, is to 
 " perfuade his nephew to conform church- matters in 
 
 " Scotland 
 
of J AMES V. 283 
 
 " f Scotland to thofe already begun in England ; to a- 
 *' bolifh the pope's authority, to drive religious perfons 
 " from their lands, rents, and houfes; and to inveft 
 " the jewels and ornaments of the churches. Which 
 " counfel and example if James fhould follow, he 
 " would hazard or lofe the friendfhip he had with the 
 " pope, emperor and French king, his belt confede- 
 " rates, abandoned of which he and his kingdom would 
 " be left a prey to the tyranny of his uncle. If Hen- 
 " ry kept no faith to God, men had no reafon to truft 
 " him. That this interview was to intrap his perfbn ; 
 " he being the man whom the pope and emperor had 
 " defigned to fet upon his throne, and revenge their 
 *' quarrels; that it was grofly to err, to be carried a- 
 " way with a fhadow and appearance, and leave a fub- 
 " ftance, to truft at once his crown, perfon and liberty 
 " to an enemy. And iince examples move more than 
 *' precepts, let him think upon the hazard of king 
 " James I. eighteen years prifoner, and after fold to 
 " his fubjects ; Malcolm and William kings of 
 " Scotland. He fhould remember, if yet he were there- 
 ** in inftructed, that princes ferve themfelves with oc- 
 " cafions over their neighbours; that they have great - 
 u er care to fatisfy their ambition, than fear of fliame 
 " for doing of wrongs with the prefent times and po- 
 " fterity. That their oaths were no longer kept than 
 " they obferved their advantages. That after he fal- 
 " leth into his hands, he mull: follow his manners, and 
 " religion, forfaking and giving over his own natural 
 *' difpofition, manners and freedom, and have no other 
 " affections nor motions than his. For who cometh 
 •' under the roof of a tyrant turneth flave, though he 
 " was a free man ere he did enter. That this meet- 
 " ing with the body would endanger the foul, and in- 
 •' feci it with his errors, corrupting it with falfe opini- 
 " ons grounded upon a liberty to live to fenfuality and 
 " Epicurean pleafure. If upon the flighting of this in- 
 ** terview, king Henry fhould denounce war againft 
 " ^ m g James, and invade his country, they in his juft 
 " defence fhould furnifh mony to entertain an army 
 " and overturn his proceedings. For the prefent ne- 
 " ceflity they offer to pay him fifty thoufand crowns 
 
 " yearly; 
 
284 The History of the Reign 
 
 " yearly ; and in any hazard of the eftate voluntarily 
 " to contribute all their rents, and revenues, provid- 
 " ing it would pleafe his majefty to fuffer juflice to pro- 
 " ceed again It thofe who lcandalouily had fequeitred 
 " themfeives from the holy church, and to the con- 
 " tempt of his laws publicly made pfofeflion of the o- 
 •' pinions of Luther. That the goods of all who fhould 
 ''• be convicted of herefy (which they efteemed to no 
 " lefs than an hundred thoufand crowns of yearly rent) 
 " fhould be brought to the exchequer, and their lands 
 " annexed to the crown. To this effecl they intreat his 
 " majeity, to give them fufficient judges, truly catho- 
 "■ lie, and full of zeal and feverity." 
 
 After long reafoning upon both fides, it was agreed, 
 that the king fhould not altogether refufe to meet his 
 uncle, but adhere to the firft offers propounded to his 
 ambatfador concerning this interview. The meeting to 
 be at Newcaftle, one thoufand at the molt in train with 
 either king, the time to be the feaft of St. Michael 
 the arch-angel. 
 
 Thefe conditions not being embraced by king Hen- 
 ry, would, if not abolifh totally, at the leaft prolong 
 the time of this meeting. The king of England think- 
 eth his nephew too imperious, to affume the injuncti- 
 on of the whole circumltances of their meeting, but, 
 rather than h;S fuit fhould rake no effect, acceptcth both 
 of the place and number of the train : and that he might 
 have fbme point yielded unto him, requireth the time 
 may be the firlt of Auguft. Thefe conditions being al- 
 moft agreed upon, three or four hundred Riddefdale and 
 Tinedale men, with other borderers, break in upon 
 Liddefdale, and there with large incut fions kill and for- 
 rage. This during the treaty falling miferably forth, 
 fb much irritated king James, that, accepting the of- 
 fers of his clergy, he gave over inwardly all intentions 
 of any interview ; by prolonging time labouring to wind 
 himfelf out of the maze. Hereupon he fendeth letters 
 full of excufes for his ftay ; reprefenting his many griev- 
 ances and wrongs fuffered ; and the feeds of difcord be- 
 gan now to be fown amongft them. To lighten and 
 recreate his cloudy thoughts, the queen is delivered at 
 Stirling of another fon, who with great folemnity is 
 
 baptized 
 
of JAMES V. 285- 
 
 baptized in the chapel of the caftle, and named A R- 
 
 THUR. 
 
 The prelates, after mature deliberation, prefent Su 
 James Hamilton, natural fon to the earl of Arran, 
 to be fupream judge of the inquifition, againft all fufpe- 
 cled of herefy and new opinions differing from the faith 
 of the Roman church. The king approving their judg- 
 ments, in their choice, admitteth him- Sir James 
 chearfally accepteth this new honour : for now his am- 
 bition will find many guilty and miferable fupplicants : 
 yet was this charge his ruin. For whilft he perfecuteth 
 all who were informed againft to be fufpecled of the re- 
 formed religion, having many in goals, and numbers 
 in his fcrolls to bring within the labyrinth of a procefs, 
 the fupream providence arrefteth himfelf. 
 
 James Hamilton fheriff of Linlithgow, brother 
 to Mr. Patrick Hamilton abbot of Ferme, (who 
 had fuffered for religion, and was coufin to Sir James 
 Hamilton of Fennard, lord inquifitor) for embrac- 
 ing his brother's opinions, had been purfued fo by the 
 churchmen, that he was conftrained to forfake his own 
 country, and fome years wander as a banifhed man a- 
 broad : but, by his friends at court, having purchafej 
 a licence or protection for fome months to fee his defo- 
 iate family, and put his private affairs in order, cometh 
 home. Where finding the cenforian power to be in his 
 coufin's hands, (tor where mould he have fanctuary, if 
 he were challenged by fo near a kinfman for matters of 
 religion?) imagining to himfelf an over-fight and pre- 
 tention, outdateth, by his flay, his protection. Sir 
 J A M E s, to curvy the favour of the churchmen, and te- 
 ltify how dearly the caufe of the catholic faith touched 
 him, refolveth to begin with his coufin. For if he were 
 fo burnt up with zeal, that he fpared not his own blood 
 in the quarrel of the Roman faith, what heretic could 
 pafs unpunifhed? befides the inverting himfelf in the 
 fheriff 's office and lands, which he never minded to re- 
 ftore, he had a pique againft him, for that, whilft he 
 fat judge in Linlithgow, he had pronounced a ientence 
 by which he was interefted in fome petty gain. 
 
 The fheriff falling fo far Ihort of his expectation, that 
 he findeth himfelf the firft fubject of his coufin's juftice, 
 
 and 
 
i%6 The History of the Reign 
 
 and highly refenting his kinfman's cruelty, whom he 
 knew under pretext of piety ready to execute his own 
 revenge, refolveth to prevent his mifchief. He had 
 been fometime familiar with Sir James, had known 
 his by-paths ; his fecret plots and airy brags had not e- 
 fcaped his obfervation. Some alike in kindred to them 
 both, were emifTaries fuborned, to mark not only his 
 actions, but words and behaviour, by which one way 
 or other he might be intraped : he knew Sir J'ame s 
 flood in fome umbrage with the king, and that fome 
 fufpicions by no innocence could be taken away. When 
 at lafl: he had found his hot-fpur coufin, who threaten- 
 ed him with death and fire, within the circle of his con- 
 jurations, he direclcth his fon to the king, who at that 
 time was ready to pafs the Forth in his barge. This 
 balhful mefTenger giveth advertifement from his father, 
 that the king mould make his perlbn fure from his foes 
 at home; for Sir James Hamilton had fecret in- 
 telligence and plots with the earl of Angus and the 
 Douglasses, and that he attended only the occalion 
 when he might furprize him, either alone, or with a 
 mean retinue, and then, or openly he would invade 
 him, or, breaking up his chamber-doors, afTaffinate 
 him. The king giving attentive ear to a bufmefs which 
 concerned him no lei's than the fafcty of his pcrfon, 
 the acculation being given by a coulin of the perfon fuf- 
 peeted, againft a family, which a little diforder in the 
 ftate might turn fuccefTors to the crown, direcleth the 
 young man to Edinburgh, and beyond his private in- 
 itruclions, giveth him a ring, well known by the chief 
 officers to be a token of power and fecrecy, to aiTemble 
 fo many of the council as were refidcnt. Sir T h o M a ^ 
 Erskine fecretary, Sir James Learmont ma- 
 tter of the houlhold, William Kirkaldie trea- 
 furer, and others, meet, confult upon the treafon, la- 
 bour how to prevent it, come to Sir James's lodging, 
 make fure his perfon in the caftle ol' Edinburgh; and 
 at that lame time proceed, according to the king's di- 
 rection to inirrucr his procjfs. Sir James paflionately 
 refenting his imprilbnmcnr, by his friends implorcth 
 the aid of the churchmen upon his innocence. They 
 apprehending his accufation to be a ltiatagem of flate 
 
 forged 
 
of J AMES V. 287 
 
 forged by thefe of the reformed religion, for the ftopr 
 ping any further progrefs of the inquifition, already fa 
 furioufly begun, interpofe their credit with the king 
 for his liberty to the difchaiging of his commiffion a- 
 gainft heretics. «' If the king fhould hearken to every 
 *'. informer againft a man in Hate and office, he fhould 
 " never have an end; for thus no man is fo innocent, 
 " who may not be detracted and calumniated. Sir James 
 " was known to be a man rafh and infolent in words, 
 u his brains having been a little giddy, like one looking 
 " from a great height, by his advancement to honours 
 t( and place in court; but fincere in the fervice of his. 
 " prince, and loyal. If he was arrogant in boldnefs of 
 " terms, that was to acquire fome more credit with the 
 " commons, that he might do better fervice to his 
 " prince." 
 
 They who committed Sir James Hamilton, 
 knowing the king facile and eafy to be wrought upon 
 by the clergy, fome of them too, profefTing or giving 
 way to the reformed religion, refblve, if he fhould e- 
 fcape free of this accufation, that an imminent ruin 
 hung over their perfons and eflatcs. NetefTity and 
 fear combining the diffracted powers of their minds, 
 they come proftrate before the king, befeech him, 
 " Not fo much to look to the quality and circumftan- 
 " ces of the crime, as to the evil inclination of the 
 *' man, who, powerful, factious, and naturally vindi- 
 " c~jtive, would never forgive nor forget the danger he 
 " was driven unto; that his majefty would confider 
 *' his part life, terrible and cruel againft all whom he 
 " could reach. That to give him liberty, and relieve 
 «' him of his imprifonment, before the crimes of which 
 " he was accufed were clearly proved, or not, would 
 *' be their, and the accufers, overthrow - 3 whom they 
 " efteemed loyal fubjecte, and except upon evident pro- 
 " babilities, had never given informations againft him. 
 " That he was a man perfectly hated of the people, 
 " and a more acceptable facrifice could not be offered 
 " unto their fury, if he proved guilty." At their fup- 
 plications the king gave the judges full power to proceed 
 --igainft him, and adminifter juftice according to their 
 conferences and the laws of the kingdom. The pan- 
 ne! 
 
288 The History of the Reign 
 
 nel being found guilty of fuch points of the inditement 
 as was laid againfl. him, was condemned to die, and 
 thereafter accordingly beheaded, his quarters being fet 
 aloft on the town gates, and his lands annexed to the 
 crown. 
 
 The crimes of which he was found guilty (as from 
 thofe who lived near that time they have by tradition 
 been received) were ; he had intelligence with the earl 
 of Angus and the Douglasses, whom he laboured 
 to have reftored, though with the king's death : he had 
 a plot to have broken up the king's chamber-doors, and 
 killed him, devolving the title of the crown, or at lead 
 the government of the kingdom to his kindred. Being 
 directed to have repaired a cattle in Bute, and to this 
 effect receiving three thouiand crowns in April, he 
 vent not thither, attending fome change in the flate, 
 which was to be accomplifhed by treal'on againfl: the 
 king's pei fon. He kept (till with him men of defperate 
 minds and fortunes, who at his direction durft enterprize 
 any mifchief. 
 
 Where he had repaired fome of the king's houfes, he 
 had placed a flatue refembling himfelf, or which to 
 fome he had named his flatue (what mole-hills are 
 turned into mountains when a prince will pry into the 
 actions of a difgraced fubject?) above the king's arms. 
 He had detracted from his matter, naming him the king 
 of clowns and priefts, and fcourge of the ancient nobili- 
 ty-, he had laboured to hinder the king's marriage at his 
 bJng in France. 
 
 To thefe points the people, who rejoiced in his ruin, 
 added, he had llain cruelly the earl of Lenox at the 
 battle of Linlithgow, after he was prifonerto Pardowy; 
 and he had way-laid Gilbert ear! of Caflils, who 
 was killed by his direction and counfel. 
 
 This back-blow of fortune proveth, that it is dan- 
 gerous once highly to offend a prince, and after remain 
 in his fervice; for princes put old offences up as ne- 
 glected, and when the occafion ferveth them, furprize 
 Jon;; after the delinquents for fome faults of which they 
 are icarce guilty. 
 
 Sundry of the nobility, appalled at this fudden fall 
 of Sir James Hamilton (for though they loved not 
 
 the. 
 
of J AM ES V. 289 
 
 the man, they hated the example of fuch ftrict juftice) 
 left the court, retiring to their own dwelling-houfes ; 
 which made the king lufpicious of them, and believe 
 they favoured the reformed religion, and preferred the 
 Jriendfhip of king Henry his uncle to his. Neither 
 was he herein far millaken : for fome feared not to fend 
 him word, that they had learned, that the churchmen had 
 fet him on work to extirpate his ancient nobility, as if 
 it were an eafy matter to create as many new out of the 
 gentry, in whom, being his own creatures, he might 
 Jiave greater confidence than any made by his prede- 
 cefibrs. 
 
 After this he turned fo retired, fullen and melan- 
 choly, that every thing difpleafed him, and he became 
 even infupportable to himfelf, not fuffering his dome- 
 flic fervants to ufe their ordinary defport and recreations 
 near him. And as all day he projected and figured to 
 himfelf new cares to perplex himfelf, fome of which 
 might fall forth, others could never come to pafs ; fo in 
 the night time the objects of his daily projects working 
 upon his fancy, limned their dark fhadows of difplea- 
 fures, which gave him terrible affrightments in his fleep. 
 Amongft many of which, two are recorded as notable ; 
 one in the hiltory of the church, the other common ; 
 both feem to have been forged by the men of thofe times, 
 who thought fictions as powerful to breed an opinion in 
 difcontented minds, as verities, and they may challenge 
 a place in the poetical part of hiltory. As he lay in 
 the palace of Linlithgow about the midft of the night, 
 he leaped out of his bed, calleth for lights, commandeth 
 his fervants to fearch Thomas Scot, his juftice 
 clerk, who, he faid, ftood by his bed-fide accompanied 
 with hideous wights, curling the time that ever he had 
 ferved him ; for by too great obedience to him, he was, 
 by the juftice of God, condemned to everlalting tor- 
 ments. 
 
 Whilft they about him laboured to cure his wounded 
 imagination, news came that Thomas Scot about 
 that fame hour of the night was departed to the other 
 world at Edinburgh, and with no better devotion than 
 he was reprefented to the king. 
 
 After 
 
290 The History of the Reign 
 
 After Sir James Hamilton had ended his part 
 of this tragi-comedy of life, he feemed to the king to 
 have returned on the ftage, and in a ghaftJy manner, 
 with a naked fword in his hands, he thought he parted 
 both his arms from him, advertiiing him he would come 
 again fhortly, and be more fully revenged, till which occa- 
 fionhc fhouldfufferthefe wounds. The next day after this 
 vifion, which is recorded to have been the 7th of Auguft, 
 word came that both hisfons were deceafed, and that al- 
 moft in one hour ; J a m e s the prince, then one year old, at 
 St. Andrews, Arthur, one month old, at Stirling. 
 
 The king of England, rinding himfelf difappointed 
 by his nephew of their meeting, and underflanding it 
 to have been occafloned by the rhetoric and liberality 
 of the church-men; having many of the nobility of 
 Scotland of his faction (whofe innocence interpreted his 
 religion to be the reformed, though indeed it was of his 
 own ftamp, for he abolifhed the pope but not popery) 
 by making prizes of Scotifh (hips upon the feas with his 
 fleet, and incurfions of his garrifoned foldiers upon 
 land, beginneth the prologue of an unnecefTary war. 
 
 King James, to flop the Englilh incurfions, placeth 
 GeorgeGordon earl of Huntley with his full power 
 and authority at the borders, and directeth James 
 Le ar mont of Darcy towards his uncle, to give fuf- 
 ficient rcafons of his not meeting him at Kewcaflle ; 
 withal to feek reflitution of his (hips, fince taken before 
 any lawful war was proclaimed, and to expoftulate the 
 hollility of the borderers. 
 
 King Henry not only refufeth to render the Hups, 
 or give a rcafon for the breaking forth of the garrifons 
 on the borders, but delaying the anfwer of the Scotilh 
 ambaffador upon advantage of time, fendeth Sir Ro- 
 bert Bowes, feconded with the earl of Angus and 
 Sir GeorgeDouglas, in hollile manner to invade 
 Scotland. Thele, to the number of three thoufand, 
 burn and fpoil fmall villages, and ravage the country 
 near the debatable bounds. The earl of Huntley o- 
 mitteth no occafion to refill them, places garrifons in 
 Kelfo and Jedburgh, aflembling all the hardy border- 
 ers, and invadeth the Englilh and Scotifh forces at a 
 place named Haldenrig; here it is foundly fkirmifh- 
 
 0*» 
 
of JAMES V. i9t 
 
 ed, till the lord Hum e by the advancing of four hun- 
 dred frclh launces turned the fortune of the day, for 
 the Englifli were put to flight, the warden Sir Robert 
 Bowes captain of Norham, Sir William Mow- 
 bray, James Douglas of Park head, with a natu- 
 ral fon of the eatl of Angus, were taken prifoners, the 
 earl by the advantage of his horfe efcaping, with others 
 to the number of fix hundred. The warden flayed in 
 Scotland till the king's death. 
 
 This road happened piofperoufly to the Scots, the 
 24th of Auguft 1 5-4 1 . being a difmal St. Bartholomew 
 to the Englifh. 
 
 The war continuing till midfummer, king Henry 
 lent the earl of Norfolk, whom he named the rod of the 
 Scots, with great power towards Scotland; with him 
 tlie earls of Shrewsbury, Derby, Cumberland Sur- 
 rey, Hereford, Angus, Rutland, and the lords of 
 the North parts of England, with an army of forty 
 thoufand men, as they were efieemed. With them 
 he dire<fteth James L e a r m o n t of Darcy, the Scot- 
 ifh ambaffador, to keep an equal march till they 
 came to Berwick, and there to ftay, that he fnould not 
 give advertifement to his matter of any of his proceed- 
 ings; the earl of Huntley upon advantages of places re- 
 fitting the adventuring routs who efTayed to crofs the* 
 Tweed. But king J a m E s, hearing the old duke of Nor- 
 folk was their leader, raifeth from all the parts of his king- 
 dom companies, andafTembling them uponSawtry-edge, 
 muttered thirty thoufand men. They encamped on 
 Falla-Moor, the king having advertifement that the 
 duke would march towards Edinburgh. Ten thoufand 
 ftrong, with the lords Hume, Seaton, and Ers- 
 KINE, to make up the earl of Huntley's forces, are 
 lent towards the borders : the king himfelf, expecting 
 the artillery and other furniture of war, ftayeth with 
 the body of the army in the camp. During this time 
 it is reported the lords plot a reformation of the court, 
 according to the example praclifed at Lawder-bridge : 
 efpecially againtt fuch who were named penfionei s of 
 the priefts; but becaufe they could not agree among 
 themfelves about thofe who fhould ttretch the ropes, e- 
 very one ftriving to fave his kinfman, or friend, they 
 T efcape4 
 
292 The History of the Reign 
 
 efcapcd all the danger. This attempt being reveal- 
 ed to the king, he difmiit fome of his favourites in great 
 fear to Edinburgh. So malicious is faction armed with 
 power. 
 
 Thomas duke of Norfolk, by fuch in the Scotifh 
 camp who favoured king Henry, having underftood 
 the preparation and mind of king James to meet him. 
 in an open field, well knowing that fortune had that 
 much of a woman to favour young men more than old, 
 and that honourable retreats are no ways inferior to 
 brave charges, retireth off the Scotilh ground, and keeps 
 his forces on their own marches. For the valour and 
 refolution of this young prince might, perhaps, fpoil 
 and divert him of his former purcbaled lawrels and 
 palms, to the applaufe of king Henry, who, fome 
 thought, being weary of his fervice, to this effect lent 
 him to Scotland. A great number of the Lancaftrians 
 and Northumbrians, who, upon hopes of fpoil, had fol- 
 lowed him, pretending want of visuals, and the rigo- 
 rous feafon of the year, with arms and baggage leave 
 this army. Having dene little harm to the Scots, and 
 fuffcied much hunger and cold at Berwick, he prcpar- 
 eth a retreat towards London. 
 
 When king James underftood the duke had repaf- 
 fed the Tweed, he encouraged his army to follow him. 
 The common foldier was indifferent ; the noblemen re- 
 fufe to fight except upon Scotilh ground. The king 
 urgeth them " with the commodity and advantage of 
 " a revenge of the old wrong of the duke, commanding 
 •' an army neither of the gentry, nor many nobles of 
 *' England, but of hirelings and prefled artizans ; whole 
 " number would prove hurtful to themfclves, and turn 
 " them into a disordered confuiion. They had many 
 " days fuffered famine, and all necefTuies of war ; their 
 *' vigour and courage was fpent ; that the Englifh fought 
 " far off, and they at home." There wanted not mat- 
 ter to anfwer, but a man to deliver the king an an- 
 fwer-, generally they refufe to fight. " To defend the 
 " perfon of their prince, the flate and country, they 
 " would hazard their lives, and if they had any thing 
 " more dear. If the enemy would flay on Scotilh 
 " ground, they Would do their uttcrmofl to make him, 
 
 " retire. 
 
of JAMES V. 293 
 
 " retire, or by main force expel him : but to invade 
 " England and tempt an auny, who not only was re- 
 " tired, but returned to their own bounds, they neither 
 " had fo jull a quarrel as they wifhed, nor were they 
 " fuffkient at that time to purfuethem. Their provi- 
 " flons for war were fpent, the winter approached, and 
 •' victuals were confumed : that defpair often turned it- 
 " felf into true fortitude, and men in good order retir- 
 " ing would not be too near followed, that even flying 
 " enemies fliould have bridges of gold. Now if they 
 *' were to charge the enemy they would not have the 
 *' king's prefence, a man young, ralfi, and valorous, up- 
 " on whole life, not only the glory of the battle, but 
 " the life of the commonwealth depended, histwofons 
 " being lately departed. For if the fortuneof war brought 
 " a period to his life, the crown would remain at the 
 " mercy of the viiftor; that the king's glory was not 
 " little, that he had in fo fhort a time with lb final 1 for- 
 " ces, and thefe fuddenly gathered, ltopt the progrefs 
 " of fo mighty an army, which was fo long in gathering, 
 " and boalted of fuch great matters, yet which durlt 
 " not advance one mile in Scotilh ground. Whether 
 " the Englil'h fly or retire, they had fulTered as much 
 *' wrong as they had done, and now to fight them, and 
 " that perhaps, with difadvantage, was to put in haz- 
 H ard what was already acquired." 
 
 The duke of Norfolk returning to London, the king 
 with his army comes to Edinburgh, which immediately 
 he disbanded; but he forgot not the fecret plot againlt 
 his favorites, nor the open refufal of his nobles to fight 
 on Englifh ground : as if the earth were not all one piece 
 and matter, and men the deitined inhabitants of it e- 
 very where ; the cardinal David Beaton, Oliver 
 Sinclair, Craig y-Ross, and others, add fewel to 
 thefe flames, Fala-Moor plot mightily inltigating them. 
 
 The king avouched publicly, that the nobility nei- 
 ther loved his honour, nor delired his continuance among 
 them. 
 
 To cool thefe fmoaking humours, and breed in the 
 
 king fairer hopes of his nobles, the lord Maxwell of- 
 
 fereth, giving him ten thoufand men to command, if 
 
 the flate thought it expedient, to invade England at 
 
 N 2 Sulway, 
 
294 The History of the Reigj? 
 
 Sulway, affirming the ftate and fortune of thofe who 
 aifail, to be better than theirs who are flill put to their 
 defence. The Englifh forces being divided, he doubted 
 not to (lay longer on Englifh ground, than the duke 
 had done on the Scotifh, and to effectuate lomething to 
 the king's content. The king thanking him for his 
 offer, appointeth a rendezvous to be at the Weft march- 
 es. No proclamations are divulged for the levies of men, 
 but clofe letters fent. 
 
 The cardinal and the earl of Arran (the one a church- 
 man of a mind above many nobles, the other a noble- 
 man of an humility under any churchman) to give a 
 falfe perfpeclive to thofe proceedings, by found of trum- 
 pet, and beating of drum?, raife men openly, and march 
 towards Haddington, and the Ealt borders; whilft the 
 earls of Caffils, Glen cairn, lords Fleming, Somer- 
 vile, Erskine, barons Ay ton, Langton, Or- 
 meston, W a ugh ton, and many others, accom- 
 panied with the king's domeftic fervants, ride to the 
 Weft borders. 
 
 The night before the road, the king himfelf came to 
 Lochmaban, attending the event of the incurfion. 
 Companies coming from all quarters of the countries 
 about, none knowing of another, with the power of the 
 Scotifh borderers, pafs the water of Elk, and burn certain 
 hamlets of the Grahams on the very limits. 
 
 Sir Thomas Wharton, warden of thefe march- 
 es, not a little troubled at fuch a frequent affembly of 
 the Scotifh riders, raifing the power of the country, 
 placeth them by a little hill, where he might take a 
 view of their forces, in good order -, with him were ba- 
 ftard D a c R E s, and JackMusgrave, two valiant 
 captains. 
 
 The Scotifh lords beholding the Englifh range them- 
 felves in a battalion, defire to know the king's lieuten- 
 ant general, for now it was time to marfhal their com- 
 panies, and every man to take him to his charge. Pre- 
 sently Oliver Sinclair, upon croffed pikes, is 
 mounted, the king's banner difplayed, and the com- 
 miflion read, in which he is defigned lieutenant, and all 
 are commanded, in the king's name to obey and fol- 
 io w him. 
 
 It 
 
of J AMES V. 295- 
 
 It hath been reported by thofe who were acquainted 
 with Oliver, that the commiffion was not read, but 
 that at his very light, fuch a tumult, confufed clamour, 
 and enter-ihouldering of malecontents arofe, their ranks 
 were broken, and the military order turned into a con- 
 fufion, none fo repining as the lord Maxwell and 
 the borderers : who if he had had patience to have 
 heard the commilhon, as Oliver proteftcd, was lieu- 
 tenant, and not he, whofe charge was only to pre- 
 fent it. 
 
 The Englifh, who nowwere ready for the fight, obferv- 
 ing this dilbrder, take the advantage upon the occafion, 
 and break forwards with a military fhout, whiJft the o- 
 thers are in doubt whether to fly or ftand, and the gui- 
 diats and fcullions are pell mell thronging with thefoot- 
 foldiers, and they with the horfemen. Here is a gene- 
 ral furprize, raoft part willingly rendering themfelves 
 to the Englifh without any fhew of defence, or the (laugh- 
 ter of any perfon of any fide. This overthrow proveth, 
 that neither arms, nor the multitude and numbers of 
 foldiers, without their love and hearts, availeth any thing 
 in a field, yea rather they are hurtful the more in num- 
 ber they be, if their affection be alienated from their 
 commanders. 
 
 It is recorded, that at this road, which was named 
 Sulway-Mofs, every Englilh man had three or four Scots 
 for prilbneis -, and when they wanted men to take them, 
 the women of the neighbouring hamlets and boys had 
 pritoners ; the earls of Caifils and Glencaiin, the lords 
 Maxwell, F l e m i n g, S o m e r v i l e, Oliphant, 
 Gray, Robert Erskine fon to the lord Ers- 
 kine, OliverSinclair; the lairds of C r a i g y, 
 Atton, Langton, Ormeston, Waughton, 
 many of the king's domeflic fervants, were taken prifon- 
 ers, brought to London, and remained there till after 
 the king's death. 
 
 The certainty of this voluntary defeat coming to the 
 king at Lochmaben, or Carlaverock, as others fay, fo 
 aftonilhcd all the powers of his mind, that he had nei- 
 ther counlci nor refoiution what to follow, neither re- 
 membering his own valour, nor the number of his fub- 
 je<5l;; yet fiouafhing; he remained as one diftraifted, and 
 T 3 abandoned 
 
296 The History of the Reign 
 
 abandoned of all hopes. The plot of the nobles at Fa- 
 la-Moor againft his lervants, the refufing to give battle 
 on Englifh ground, made him apprehend that the 
 whole body of his nobility had confpired his overthrow. 
 The cardinal and earl of Arran coming to Edinburgh, 
 he alfo returned ; all fo call down, that they were alham- 
 cd to come wHIiin fight of each other fome days. 
 
 After which, in a retired manner, he parted to Fife, 
 and from Hall-yards to Falkland, where he gave him- 
 felf over to forrow. No man had accefs unto him, no, 
 not his own domeltics. Now are his thoughts bulled 
 with revenge, now with rage againft his fcornful nobi- 
 lity: long watchings, continual cares and paflions, ab- 
 flinence from food and recreation, had lb extenuated 
 his body, that pierced with grief, anguilh, impatience 
 and defpair, he remained fixed to his bed. 
 
 In thefe trances letters come from Linlithgow to him, 
 that the queen was delivered of a daughter the eighth of 
 December. When he heard it was a daughter was 
 born, he is faid to have turned his face from them that 
 read the letters, and fighing a farewel to the world, " It 
 ** will end as it began ; fays he, the crown came by a 
 " woman, and it will with one go: many miferies ap- 
 " proach this poor kingdom ; king Henry will eithes 
 " make it his by arms or marriage." 
 
 The cardinal put in hi» hands Come blank paper?, of 
 which they compofed a latter- will, which whether he 
 fubferibed or not, is uncertain. After which he faid 
 not many words which could be underftood, but mul- 
 ed on the difcomfiture of his fervants at the Sulway- 
 Mofs. In which fits he left this world the thirteenth 
 of December 1542, the three and thirtieth year of his 
 age, and two and thirty of his reign. 
 
 Some record, he was troubled by an unkindly me- 
 dicine, and that the cardinal was confeious to it, but 
 upon far conjetftutes : for the event proved that his 
 death was not only the ruin of the cardinal, but of the 
 whole churchmen of the kingdom, and frame of the Ro- 
 man religion. His body was conveyed from Falkland 
 to Edinburgh; the cardinal, earls of Arran, Argyle, 
 Rothes, and MarlTial, accompanying it ; and in Ja- 
 nuary buried in the abbey church of Holy-roou-houfe, 
 
 nea* 
 
of JAMES V. 297 
 
 near the body of M agdalen his firft queen. He left 
 behind him many natural children; of his marriages 
 only one daughter, five days old at his death, the heir 
 of his kingdom and misfortunes. 
 
 This king was of a well made body and excellent 
 mind, if it had been carefully polilhed ; he was of a 
 middle llature; nature had given him flrength and abi- 
 lity equal to any; but by exercife he had' fo confirmed 
 it, that he was able to endure any travel, and praifrife 
 all feats of arms, as bis purfuing malefactors proved ; 
 for he wa> ordinarily thought the firft of his troops who 
 purfued them, and the lall that left the chafe, being 
 daring and forward. In his private affairs he was at- 
 tentive and liberal, yet fpared his treafure that he fliould 
 not want, and when occafion required, caring for no 
 charges. Never man did entertain fovereignty more 
 familiarly, being of as eafy accefs to the meaner fort as 
 to the great. He was ft udious of all good arts, naturally 
 given to poefy, as many of his verfes yet extant tefti- 
 fy. He was of as great fobriety as of little continency : 
 he was a great favourer of learned men. The poor 
 man loved him, the great feared him: he made the 
 rufn-buih.es keep the herds of cattle : he was thankful 
 towards his friends, and dangerous towards his enemies. 
 He infinitely obliged his people by eftablifhinga juftice- 
 court among them, and bringing all forts of manufa- 
 ctures from neighbour nations home. By the Germans 
 he found the gold mines of Crawford-Moor, being un- 
 known to this part of the world before him, out of 
 which he extracted treafure. Pie left his arfenals fur- 
 nilhed with all forts of arms and furniture for war. Now, 
 as in pictures not only the light but the fhadow is ob- 
 fervable, let us look upon him in all his umbrages. 
 This prince in his long purfuit of the Douglasses 
 feems to have had a fhange humour, that he could ne- 
 ver forgive: and molt of his miferies may be traced to 
 this fource : thefe he would have extirpate, and the king 
 of England could not forfake a man who was his bro- 
 ther-in-law, and had been ever obfequious to him ; feek- 
 ing only that he might be reltored to his own, out of 
 which he was call, not by any treafon or afpiring to the 
 crown, bat of an ambition he had to be near the king, 
 N 4 and 
 
298 The History of the Reign 
 
 equal to any fubjecl ; his own worth, kindred and fol- 
 lowers animating him thereunto, having married the 
 king's mother, and one of the greatell king's lifter of 
 thole times. 
 
 The burning alive of the lady G la mis, beheading 
 of the matter of Forbes, and after him Sir James Ha- 
 milto N, turned many of the hearts of his nobles from 
 him, and made the commons detract him : for though 
 they delight ibmetimes to have great men made equal 
 to them, when they find not evident proofs and found 
 grounds of their luiTerings and executions, they abhor 
 the aciors. Princes ihould remember, that as the peo- 
 ple are their fubjccls, fo arc they the fubjecls of time 
 and providence. 
 
 This humour of revenge made many believe, if he 
 had not been prevented by death, many fcarToids had 
 been embrued for Fala-Moor plot and Sulway-Moh 
 The lord M A x w ell, who had fludied the character of 
 the king, at that road vowed, when he might have e- 
 Icaped among his known borderers, he would rather be 
 the king of England's prifoner, and fee him at London, 
 than return home, and be fliamefully hanged at the crofs 
 of Edinburgh. 
 
 He ftudied very much the overthrow of his ancient 
 nobility, not confidcring that the ti'.lei of crown? in he- 
 reditary kingdoms belong only to kings, for that they 
 are the molt ancient noblemen, and alio firft of the pri- 
 mitive blood. 
 
 In his la(t years he was altogether governed by Ro- 
 milh prelates, dangerous pilots in the ocean of a trou- 
 bled Irate ; that body, in which one humour fignoriz- 
 eth, cannot lad long ; and a prince perilheth when he is 
 governed by only one foit of men. Neither was he 
 ruled fo much by them out of great ::<•:! to religion, 
 being a prince altogether given to his our, pleafures, as 
 that lie found them countcrpoile the nobility v.hilli. he 
 fwayed the balance. 
 
 } [is death pioveth his mind to have been raifed to the 
 hlgherl 11 rain, and above mediocrity ; lor lie could die, 
 but could not digc-it a difafier. He fecmcth to haw 
 had too much confidence in himfclf, and that he forgot 
 the condition? of mortality, whjlft he fi ' Oilclf 
 
 • 
 
of JAMES V. 299 
 
 to be carried away by the current of grief, and fwallow- 
 td up in the gulf of defpair. 
 
 All his faults are but as fome few warts in a molt plea- 
 fing and beautiful face. He was very much beholding 
 to the excellent poets of his time, whofe commendation 
 ihall ferve him for an epitaph. Ariosto, who knew 
 him only by fame, in the perfon of Zerbino, whom 
 he nameth prince of Scotland, glaunceih at his worth. 
 Zerbln di Bellezza e di valor e 
 Supra tutti i Signori eminent e, 
 Di virtu ejjempio e di Ballezza raro. 
 But Ronzard, who with his queen came to Scot- 
 land, and was his domeftic fervant, defcribcth him 
 more to the life. 
 
 Ce Roy d' Efcojfe eftoit en lafleur de fes ans : 
 Ses Cheveux ncn tondus commefin or luifans 
 Qordonnez et crefpes fist ans defusja face, 
 Et fur Jon col de laitt luy donnoit bonne grace. 
 Sou Port ejloit royal, Jon regard vigour e ax. 
 De vertus, et d'honneur, & de guerre amoureux. 
 L,a douceur, et la force, illuflroient fan vifage, 
 Si que Venus et Mars en avoient fait part age. 
 So happy is a prince when he cherimeth and is en- 
 tertained by the rare fpirits of his time, that even when 
 his trcafures, pomp, lt^te, followers, diadems, and all 
 external glory leave him, the fweet incenfe of his fame, in 
 the temple of honour, perfumeth his altars. A prince's 
 name is furer preferved, and more deeply ingraven 
 in paper, than in all the rufting medals, blafted arches, 
 entombed tombs, which may ferve to any as well as to 
 him, railed with fuch lofsof time, vain labours of arti- 
 zans, and vail expence, to be the fport of the winds, 
 rains, tempefts, thunder, earthquakes, or, if they lTiun 
 all thefe, of fuperftition, faction and civil broils. 
 
 After this prince had fome years refted in a tomb, 
 not only it, but the mod part of the church was made 
 equal to the ground, by the armies of his uncle king 
 Henry VIII. whofe malice left him not even when 
 he was dead, proving as horrible an uncle, as Nero was 
 a ! >n A while alter he was tianfported to another 
 
 vault, 
 
300 The History, etc. 
 
 vault, by the piety of his matchlefs grand-child James 
 king of Great-Britain ; where he was embalmed again, 
 cnfhrined, and his coffin adorned with the arms of the 
 kingdom, cognizances and a crown. With which ho- 
 nours I leave him, till fome famous pen, encouraged 
 by the favours of his royal fucceiTors, raife his fame 
 from the duft of oblcure papers to eternity. 
 
 The End. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 N D E X. 
 
 A. 
 
 A BE R CORN, baron of, fucceeds to the earldom 
 
 -"*■ of Douglas after the death of his nephews, WiJliam 
 earl of Douglas, and his brother David, both beheaded 
 in the caftle of Edinburgh ; and, by reafon of his Ma- 
 ture and corpulency, named James the Grofs, Pag. 65-. 
 
 Achinleck, James, a follower of the earl of Douglas, 
 llain, 74. 
 
 Acho, king of Norway, 35". 
 
 Action, at the borders in Anandale, 92. Edinburgh, 229, 
 230. Innerlochy, 27. Lochmaben, 140. Melrofs, 248. 
 the Merle, 94. Strathnavern, 28. See Battle. 
 
 Albany, Alexander, duke of, brother to James III. 10 1, 
 127, 129, 130, 133, 134, 135:, 139, 140, 142. made 
 governor of Dunbar and Berwick, 122. endeavours 
 to ftir up the nobility and people to revenge the death 
 of his brother the earl of Mar, for which he is impri- 
 foned, 126. makes his efcape, and fails for France, 
 ibid, leaves that kingdom, and goes for England, 
 where he is nobly entertained by Edward IV. 128. 
 comes to Scotland, along with the duke of Glocefter, 
 at the head of a powerful army, 132. governs the 
 Itate during the imprifonment of the king his bro- 
 ther, 136. fets him at liberty, 137. being accufed 
 of rendering the town of Berwick to the Englifh, is 
 obliged to fly to England, 138. thence to France, 
 141. his death and character, 144. 
 
 Albany, John, duke of, governor, 144, 209, 212, 214, 
 216, 218, 221, 222, 225, 230, 232, 235". chofen re- 
 gent, 2 10. arrives in Scotland, 211. reforms the Itate, 
 ibid, furprizes the queen, 21 5. words the difcon- 
 tented lords, 217. concludes a peace with England, 
 2 19. declared by parliament next heir to the crown, 
 after the deceafe of the king, 220. goes for France, 
 and leaves ("even deputies to govern the Hate, 223, 
 
 224. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 224. renews the league with France, 226. concludes 
 a truce with England, 227. comes over to Scotland, 
 231. raifes an army againlt England, 233. the Scots 
 refute to invade England, 234. agrees to a cefTation 
 of arms, 236. goes over a fccond time to France, to 
 demand alliltance againlt the Englilh, ibid, returns, 
 and belieges the calUe of Werk, 237. concludes a 
 truce with the Englilh, 238. being difgufted at the 
 proceedings of the nobles, he refigns his charge, and 
 returns to France, 239. his character, ibid. 
 Alexander III. king of Scotland, 30, 35. 
 Alexander VI. pope, 170, 183. his confolatory letter 
 
 to James IV. 170, 171. 
 Alphonfus V. king of Spain, 1 6. 
 Amurathll. great Turk, 16. 
 Andronicus, emperor of the Eaft, i6\ 
 Angus, William Douglas, earl of, nephew to James I. 
 19, 26, 33. commands the Scots army at Popperden, 
 where he defeats the Englifh, under Percy of Nor- 
 thumberland, 42. 
 Angus, George, earl of, 65, 83, 99. defeats the earls 
 of Noithumberland and Douglas in the Merfe, 94. 
 relieves -a French garrilbn in the cafHe of Anwick, 
 108. 
 Angus, Archibald, earl of, fon of the former, 131, 135-, 
 137, 141, 151, 185-, 192, is created chancellor in 
 room oi lord Evandale, 172. 
 Angus, Archibald, carl of, grandfon of the former, 208, 
 213, 214, 219, 223, 224, 226, 229, 232, 241, 242, 
 243, 245, 247, 249, 25-1, 2^7, 286, 288, 291. mar- 
 lies the queen. 209, falls out with the earl of Arran, 
 228. defeats him at Edinburgh, 230. is obliged to 
 leave the country, 231. comes to England, 239. 
 then to Scotland, 240. takes upon him the cuflody 
 of the king's perfon againft his will, 244- divorced 
 from the queen, 246. defeats the laird of Bucclcngh, 
 at Melrofs, 248. and the carl of Lenox, near Lin- 
 lithgow, 25-0. rules the ftate at his pleafure, 252. 
 the king efcapes out of his hands, 253, 25-4, is for- 
 feited, 255, and forced to fly into England, 256. in- 
 vades his country, with the Englilh forces, under 
 Sir Robert Bowes, and is defeated, 190. 
 
 Angus, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Angus, George, mailer of, killed at the battle of Flou- 
 den, 199. 
 
 Argyle, earl of, 104, 109, 142, 198. one of the lord^ 
 who governed the Rate during the imprifonment of 
 James III- 136. killed at the battle of Flouden, 199. 
 
 Argyle, earl of, 223, 240, 243, 244, 245:, 25-4, 255-, 
 296. attends the king to France, 268. 
 
 Ariofto, a famous Italian poet, his character of James V. 
 299. 
 
 Armltrong, John, a notorious robber, executed, 2co. 
 
 Arran, James, earl of, (fee Hamilton) 208, 240, 242, 
 243, 244, 245-, 25-1, 25-2, 268, 274, 294, 296. gets 
 the command of a fleet from the king to aflilt the 
 French, which he lands in Ireland, contrary to the 
 king's will, 185. arrives with it at Bred, where it 
 rotted, 186. is induced by the lord Hume, his pri- 
 foner, to confpire againlt the governor, 218. but. is 
 reconciled to him, by means of his mother the old 
 countefs of Arran, 219. is one of the feven deputy 
 governors of the kingdom during the abfence of the 
 duke of Albany, 223. chofen fupreme by the reft, 
 225". befieges and takes the caftles of Hume and 
 Langton, 226. quarrels with the earl of Angus, and 
 is worried at Edinburgh, 228 — 230. afterwards is 
 reconciled to him, 249. and affiils him againlt the 
 earl of Lenox, 25-0. 
 
 Arran, countefs of, reconciles the governor and her 
 fon the earl of Arran, 2 19. 
 
 Arran, mailer of, 223. 
 
 Athole, John, earl of, 71, 94, 104, 105-, 120, 132, 
 136. reconciles the king and the nobles, if*. 
 
 Athole, Walter, earl of, 20, 21. the chief confpirator 
 againd James I. 45. his puniihment, 5-2. 
 
 Athole, earl of, 254. 
 
 Aubigny, Bernard Stuart, lord, commands the French 
 forces at the battle of Bofworth, againlt Richard III. 
 144. 
 
 Ayton, laird of, 294. taken prifoner at the battle of 
 Sulway Mofs, 295-. 
 
 B. Ba!- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Balgony, laird of, killed at the battle of Flouden, 199. 
 
 Balloch, Donald, plunders the Highlands, 27. feized 
 in Ireland, and difpatched, 28. 
 
 Bah'eny, John Douglas, lord of, 71, 78, 86, 92. in- 
 vades the borders, and burns the town of An wick, 73. 
 is attainted, 89. 
 
 Barclay, Alexander, ofGartley, killed in the battle of 
 Aberbrothock, 69. 
 
 Barrow, Thomas, mailer of the rolls, one of the com- 
 miffioners from Richard III. to conclude a peace with 
 Scotland, 142. 
 
 Barton, Andrew, killed by the Englifli, 186. his death 
 revenged by his brother, ibid. 
 
 Barton, Robert, takes 13 veifels, all prizes, from the 
 Englifli, 186. is made treafurer, 250. 
 
 Battle, of Aberbrothock, 69. Bofworth, 144. Brechin, 86. 
 Flouden, 198, 199. Haldenrig, 290, 291. Linlith- 
 gow, 250. Popperden, 42. Sark, 73, 74. Stirling, 
 156. Sulway-Mofs, 295. Tilly-Mols, 166. Wake- 
 field-green, ioj. 
 
 Beaton, James, chancellor, and aichbifliop of St. An- 
 drews, 236, 242, 243, 244, 24J, 246, 249, 251, 
 252, 254. condemns Mr. Patrick Hamilton, nephew 
 to the earl of Arran, to be burnt for his religion, 252. 
 his death, 274. 
 
 Beaton, David, abbot of Aberbrothock, 262, 268, 270, 
 273, 293, 294. fucceeds James Beaton in the arch- 
 bilhopric of St. Andrews, and created a cardinal, 274. 
 fufpecled by fome to have poifoned the king, 196. 
 
 Beaufort, Henry, cardinal, biihop of Wincefter, and 
 chancellor of England, 14, 15. 
 
 Beaumont, lord, ilain at the battle of Caxton, 106. 
 
 Bedford, John, duke of, regent of France, 14. 
 
 Bentivoglio, Annibal, 183. 
 
 Berwick, town of, delivered up to the Scots by Henry 
 VI. 106. rendered up to the Englifh again, 134. 
 
 Blackader, Mr. Robert, bifhop of Glafgow, 160. 
 
 Blackader, Mr. Robert, abbot of Dunfermline, 182. his 
 death, ibid. 
 
 Black- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Blackader, Mr. Robert, prior of Coldingham, killed by 
 the laird of Wedderburn, 227, 228. 
 
 Borgia, Casfar, 183. 
 
 Borthvvick, lord, (lain in the battle of Flouden, 199. 
 
 Borthwick, lord, 223. 
 
 Borthvvick, Sir Andrew, a prielt, is faid to have {tabbed 
 James III. 156, 157. 
 
 Botliwell, Adam Hepburn, earl of, 198. killed in the 
 battle of Flouden, 199. 
 
 Boulogne, earl of, 127. 
 
 Bowes, Sir Robert, defeated, and taken prifoner in the 
 battle of Haldenrig, 290, 291. 
 
 Boyd, lord, chancellor, 104, 112, 117. governs the 
 kingdom, 1 1 1 114, being accufed by the parliament 
 of mif-management, flies into England, 118. and 
 dies at Anwick, 1 19. 
 
 Boyd, Sir Alexander, brother to the chancellor, 109. 
 governs the king, during his minority, in. and li- 
 berates him from his tutors, the Kennedies, 112. 
 condemned by parliament, and beheaded, 118. 
 
 Boyd, Thomas, fon of the chancellor, 112, 119. mar- 
 ried to Margaret, eldeft lifter to James III. 1 1 5". cre- 
 ated earl of Arran, ibid, fent to Denmark to bring 
 home the queen, 217. and in his abfence is declared 
 rebel, and forfeited, 118. his death, 120. 
 
 Boyd, James, fon of the former, llain by Montgomery 
 ofEglinton, 120. 
 
 Boyd, lord, 156, 2 68. 
 
 Boyd, Sir Thomas, of Kilmarnock, imprifoned, 17, 
 kills Sir Allan Stuart, lord Darnley, 60. in revenge 
 of which he himfelf is flain by Sir Alexander Stuart, 
 ibid. 
 
 Boyd, Robert, of Duchal, flays James Stuart of Auchin- 
 mintee, 69. 
 
 Bretaigne, Elizabeth, duchefsof, daughter of James I. ji. 
 
 Bretaigne, Francis, duke of, 183. 
 
 Bruce, king Robert, 155. 
 
 Bruce, Peter, named le Seigneur de la Varour.e, gover- 
 nor of a French garrifon in the caflle of Anwick, 107. 
 a fhort Account of him, 108. 
 
 Bruce, Robert of Clackmanan, imprifoned, and for- 
 feited, 72. 
 
 Bryan, 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 Bryan, Sir Thomas, chief-juflice, one of the commif- 
 
 fioners from Richard III, to conclude a peace with 
 
 Scotland, 142. 
 EiKcleugh, Walter Scot, laird of, worited in the a<ftion 
 
 at Melrofs, 248. imprifoned, 267. 
 Buchan, James, earl of, 71. 
 Buchanan, George, imprifoned by the clergy, but 
 
 makes his cfcape, 281. 
 Bull, Sir Stephen, defeated at fea by Sir Andrew 
 
 Wood, 167. one of the Englifh commanders in the 
 
 battle of Flouden, 198. 
 Bullcn, Anne, 260, 263. married to Henry VIII. ijo. 
 Bnlmure, Sir William, 186. 
 Burgundy, Philip, duke of, 34, 43. 
 Burgundy, Charles, duke of, 110, 119, 120. 
 Burgundy, old duchefs of, fifter of Edward IV. drefles 
 
 out the two impoftors, Simnel and Perkin Warbeck, 
 
 to perfonate Edward V. r;j. 
 
 C. 
 
 Cade, Jack, heads the Kentifh men, 96. 
 
 Caithnefs, Allan, earl of, killed in the battle of Inrter- 
 lochy, 27. 
 
 Caithnefs, earl of, killed in the battle of Flouden, 199. 
 
 Cambridge, Richard, earl of, one of the confpirators 
 againft Henry V. 44. 
 
 Campbell, Archibald, of Keepneath, imprifoned in E- 
 dinburgh caflle, 271. where, endeavouring to make 
 his efcape, he is killed by the fall, 272, 273. 
 
 Campbell, James, beheaded for the murder of John of 
 the Ifles, 25-. 
 
 Campeggio, John Antonio, legate to Scotland, from 
 Paul III. 263. 
 
 Campvere, earl of, married to Mary, daughter of 
 James I. 70. 
 
 Car, Sir Andrew, ofCesford, 112. See Ker. 
 
 Car, Robert, warden of the borders, killed by the 
 Englifli, 186. 
 
 Calfils, earl of, 1 20. 
 
 Caflils, Gilbert, earl of, 229, 241, 243, 249, 25-0. kil- 
 led, 252. 
 
 CafTil?, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Caffils, earl of, 268, 294. made prifbner at the battle 
 of Sulvvay-Mofs, 295. 
 
 Caltello, Adrian de, an Italian legate, 154. 
 
 Charles IV. emperor, 16. 
 
 Charles V. emperor, 25-6, 25-8, 282. comes to England 
 to engage Henry VIII. to take up arms againft the 
 French king, 233. endeavours to ftir up James V. 
 againlt his uncle Henry VIII. 259. 
 
 Charles VII. king of France, 16, 23, 35", 43, 70, 71, 
 108. 
 
 Charles VIII. of France, 172, 182, 183. 
 
 Charters, Renauld ol, archbifhop of Rheims, and chan- 
 cellor of France, fent over to renew the league be- 
 twixt France and Scotland, 23. 
 
 Chriltiern, king of Denmark, marries his daughter Mar- 
 garet to James III. 117. in confideration of which 
 he renounces all right to the illes of Orkney and 
 Shetland, 120. 
 
 Clarencieux, king of arms, 227, 231, 232. 
 
 Clement VII. pope, 257. 
 
 Clifford, lord, 198. 
 
 Clydefdale, Sir Henry, killed in the battle of Popper- 
 den, 42, 43. 
 
 Cochran, Robert, 123. hanged, 131. 
 
 Cockburn, Robert, bifhop of Dunkeld, 241. 
 
 Cockburn, William, of Henderland, a notorious rob- 
 ber, 256. 
 
 Cockpool, laird of, 140. 
 
 Colhoun, Chriltopher, concerned in the murder of 
 James I. for which he is hanged, J2. 
 
 Colquhoun, John, of Lufs, malfacred by the High- 
 landers, 60. 
 
 College of juftice, when inftituted, 256. 
 
 Colofs, John, of Bonny moon, deferts the earl of Craw- 
 furd i;i the battle of Brechin, 86. 
 
 Colvil, James, of Eafter Wymefs, 258. 
 
 Colvil, Sir William, llain by the earl of Douglas, 74. 
 
 Conitable, Sir Marmaduke, 198. 
 
 Cornwall, Alexander, arch-dean of Lothian, op? of 
 the commiffioners fent to England lor the freedom 
 of lames I. 12. 
 
 U Craigy- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Craigy-Rofs, laird of, 293. taken prifoner at the bat- 
 tle of Sulway-Mofs, 295. 
 
 Craigy- Wallace, laird of, mortally wounded in the bat-* 
 tie of Sark, 74. 
 
 Cranfton, Sir William, 109. 
 
 Crawfurd, Alexander, earl of, 15, 68. killed in the 
 . battle of Aberbrothock, 69. 
 
 Crawfurd, Alexander, earl of, his fori, 68, 78, 8j, 87. 
 gains the battle of Aberbrothock. 69. lofes that of 
 Brechin, 86. makes his fubmifllon to the king, and 
 is pardoned, 89. his death, ibid. 
 
 Crawfurd, earl of, 120, 156, 168, 198. killed in the 
 battle of Flouden, 199. 
 
 Creighton, Sir William, chancellor, 33, 56, 59, 62, 72, 
 7 7, 78, 89. fent ambaffador to Denmark, 3 5. has the cu- 
 ftody of James II. during his minority, $5. lofes it, 57. 
 has recourfe to the earl of Douglasfor afhftance againfl 
 the governor, but in vain, j8. is reconciled to the go- 
 vernor, ibid, recovers the king out of his hands, 60. 
 decoys the earl of Douglas into Edinburgh caltle.where 
 he is beheaded, 63, 64. is degraded from his office, and 
 declared rebel, 67. keeps out the caltle of Edinburgh, 
 69. but renders it up to the king, on condition of 
 being reftored to his lands and honours, 70. is fent 
 ambaflTador to France, 71. his death, 95-. 
 
 Creighton, William, lord, forfeited with the duke of 
 Albany, 139. fubmits himfelf to the king, and is 
 pardoned, ijo. his death, ibid. 
 
 Creighton, George, created earl of Caithnefs, 90. his 
 death, 95. 
 
 Creighton, George, made bilhop of Dunkeld, 243. 
 
 Creighton, James, gets the earldom of Murray, 89. 
 
 Creighton, Ninian, 248. 
 
 Cumberland, earl of, 291. 
 
 D. 
 
 Dacres, lord, flain in the battle of Caxton, 106. 
 Dacres, lord, warden of the Welt marches, 186, 190, 
 
 200, 216, 236. 
 Dacres, baftard, a valiant captain, 294. 
 Darcy, Sir Anthony, 179, 211, 224. is made one of 
 
 the deputy-governors of Scotland by the duke of Al- 
 bany, 
 
INDEX, 
 
 bany, during his abfence, 223. chofen abfolute de- 
 puty by the reft, 225. is killed, ibid, his character, 
 ibid. 
 
 Darcy, Sir Edward, 25-7. 
 
 Darnley, lord, 90, 133, 144. 
 
 David, king of Scotland, weakened the crown, by be- 
 llowing extraordinary donations on the church, 31. 
 
 Derby, earl of, 291. 
 
 Devon, earl of, 96. 
 
 Donald, of the illes, rebels, and plunders the "Nortn 3 
 104. See Rofs. 
 
 Dorfet, marquis of, 237. 
 
 Douglas, Archibald, earl of, and duke of Touraine, 1 r. 
 marfhal of France, 34. flain in the battle of Ver- 
 neuil, 58. 
 
 Douglas, Archibald, earl of, fon to Archibald duke of 
 Touraine, 22, 55. one of the commitrioncrs fent to 
 England for the liberty of James I. 11. imprifoned, 
 19. let at liberty, 29. refufes to acknowledge the 
 government, during the minority of James II. 5"6. 
 connives at the enormities committed by his vaflals, 
 ibid, his death, 5-8. 
 
 Douglas, William, earl of, Ion of the former; knighted, 
 29. fucceeds to the earldom on the death of his fa- 
 ther, 58. encourages the lavvlefs oppreffions of his 
 followers, do. is enticed by the governor and chan- 
 cellor into the caftle of Edinburgh^ where he is be- 
 headed, 61 — 65. 
 
 Douglas, James, earl of, uncle to earl William, fuc- 
 ceeds to the earldom, 65. marries his eldeft fon to 
 the fair maid of Galloway, ibid. See Abercorn. 
 
 Douglas, W-lIiam, earl of, fon of earl James, 65, 68, 
 70, 71, 73. makes his fubmiffion to the king, is par- 
 doned, and becomes his favourite, 66, 6j. has (o 
 much influence in the parliament met at Stirling, as 
 to get both the governor and chancellor attainted, 6j„ 
 and, by his means the governor's eldeft fon is be- 
 headed, 72. kills Sir William Colvil, 74, by which 
 arbitrary proceedings, he becomes terrible to all, ibid. 
 leaves his country, and goes to Rome to the jubilee, 
 75". returns, 76. is received into favour, and created 
 lieutenant-general of the kingdom, 77. of which he 
 U 2 is, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 is, in a little time after, diverted, having given fome 
 umbrage to the king, ibid, enters into a league with 
 many of the nobility, to ftand by, and defend, one 
 another, 78. upon which he commits many riots, 
 79. hangs the lord Herries, in contempt of the king's 
 letters to the contrary, ibid, comes to the king at 
 Stirling, having obtained a fafe conduct, 80. and 
 refufing to break from the league, is (tabbed by the 
 king, 82. 
 
 Douglas, James, earl of, brother to the former earl, 
 75:, 79, 85, 86, 90, 91, 93, 99, 100, 130, 132, 139, 
 151. proclaimed earl on the death of his brother, 83. 
 takes his brother's widow, Beatrix, for wife, 87. is 
 attainted with his brothers, 89. defeated on the 
 Welt borders, 92. routed again in the Merfe, by the 
 earl of Angus, 94. taken prifoner in the action of 
 Lochmaben, 140. is confined in the abbacy of Lin- 
 dores, 141. 
 
 Douglas, Archibald, of Kilfpyndie, provoft of Edin- 
 burgh, 229, 250, 252. made treafurer, 244. at- 
 tainted with the earl of Angus, 255. 
 
 Douglas, Beatrix, the fair maid of Galloway, married 
 to her coufin-german, William earl of Douglas, 65". 
 and, after his death, to his brother earl James, 87. 
 is attainted, along with her husband, 89. fubmits 
 herfelf to the king, who giveth her in marriage to 
 his brother John earl of Athole, 94. 
 
 Douglas, David, 63. beheaded, with his brother the 
 earl of Douglas, in the cattle of Edinburgh, 64. 
 
 Douglas, Gavin, bifhop of Dunkeld, prefented to the 
 archbifhopric of St. Andrews, by the queen, 207. 
 imprifoned, 217. fet at liberty, 219. accompanies 
 the governor to France, 224. returns, 226.. endea- 
 vours to reconcile the earl of Angus and Arran, but 
 in vain, 229. flies to England, where he dies, 231. 
 
 Douglas, Sir George, brother to the earl of Angus, 216, 
 23 1, 248, 250, 251, 25-2, 25-3, 254, 290. imprifoned 
 by the earl of Arran, 226. created great chamber- 
 lain, 224. attainted with his brother the eail of An- 
 gus, 2 5S . 
 
 Douglas, James, of Parkhead, 2J3. made prifoner at 
 the battle of Haldenrig, 291. 
 
 Dougbs, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Douglas, Jane, lady Glamis, and filter to Archibald 
 
 earl of Angus, for pretended treafon, is burnt alive, 
 
 271, 272. 
 Douglas, Sir John, of Dalkeith, 65, 83. 
 Douglas, Sir William, of Glenbervy, killed in the battle 
 
 ofFlouden, 199. 
 Douglas, William, brother to the earl of Angus, 230. 
 
 gets the abbacy of Holyroodhoufe conferred on him, 
 
 243- 
 Drumlanrig, laird of, 273. 
 
 Drummond, lord, fteward of Strathern, defeats the earl 
 of Lenox in the battle of Tilly-mofs, 166, 167. im- 
 prifoned and forfeited, 207. reftored, 219. 
 
 Drummond, Alexander, of Carnock, forfeited with the 
 earl of Angus, 25;. flies to England, 256. has liber- 
 ty to return home, ibid, 
 
 Dudley, Edmond, one of the minifters of Henry VII. 
 executed by his fon Henry VIII. 180. 
 
 Duff, Angus, of Strathnavern, a notorious robber and 
 plunderer, 28. 
 
 Dunbar, Archibald, 69, 
 
 Dunbar, Gavin, Arch-dean of St. Andrews, 219. 
 
 Dunbar, Patrick, (lain in defending James I. 49. 
 
 Dundas, Duncan, Lyon king of arms, 142. 
 
 Dundas, James, imprifoned, 72. 
 
 E. 
 
 Edgecomb, Sir Richard, one of the ambaiTadors to king 
 
 James III. from Henry VII. after his coronation, 145-. 
 
 Edinburgh, city of, its golden charter, to what owing, 
 
 137- 
 
 Edward I. of England, 106. 
 
 Edward IV. of England, 107, 108, 122, 127,132, 134, 
 
 13^, 136, 138. concludes a truce with Scotland, 109. 
 
 ftirs up, and affifts, the duke of Albany againlt the 
 
 king, 128, 129. his death, 139. 
 Edward, prince of Wales, fon of Henry VI. 106, 115-. 
 Eglinton, earl of, 229, 242, 254. 
 Elenora, daughter to James I. married to Sigifmond, 
 
 Arch-duke of Auitria, 51. 
 Elizabeth, daughter to James I. married to the duke of 
 
 Bretaigne, 70. 
 
 U 3 Elphin- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Elphinfton, lord, killed in the battle of Flouden, 199. 
 
 Elphinfton, Alexander, of Elphinfton, one of the com- 
 manders in the battle of Popperden, where he is kil- 
 led, 42, 43. 
 
 Elphinfton, William, bifhop of Aberdeen, 126, 160. 
 one of the commifTioners from Scotland to conclude 
 a peace with England, 142. builds the college of A- 
 berdeen, 202. is defired to accept of the archbi- 
 Jhopric of St. Andrews, which he refufes on account 
 of his great age, 207. his death, 208. 
 
 Elrington, Sir John, 132. 
 
 Emfbn, Sir Richard, one of Henry VII's rapacious mi- 
 nifters, and executed by Henry VIII. 180. 
 
 Erico, Godefcallo, prefenteth James V. with the order 
 of the golden fleece, from the emperor, 160, 162. 
 
 Ericas, king of Denmark, demands tribute from James I. 
 for the Weftern iflands, as king of Norway, 135. 
 that affair amicably adjufled, ibid. 
 
 Errol, William Hay, earl of, his death, of. 
 
 Errol, earl of, killed at the battle of Flouden, 199. 
 
 Errol, earl of, attends king James V. to France, 268. 
 
 Erfkine, lord, t^6. killed at the battle of Flouden, 199. 
 
 Erfkine, lord, 224, 247, 248, 268, 291, 294. appointed 
 guardian to James V. 223. fent ambaifador to Hen- 
 ry VIII. 264. 
 
 Erfkine, Robert, fon to the lord Erfkine, taken pri- 
 foner in the battle of Sulway-Mofs, 295". 
 
 Erfkine, Sir Thomas, of Brechin, fecretary, 262,286. 
 
 Evandale, Andrew Stuart, lord, chancellor, one of 
 the governors of the (tate during the minority of 
 James III. 104. fent ambaffador to Chtiftiern king 
 of Denmark, 117. befieges and takes tbe caflle of 
 Dumbar, 126. one of the governors during the im- 
 prifonment of the king, 136. his death 172. 
 
 Eugenius IV. pope, 53. 
 
 Exeter, Thomas, duke of, one of the governors of 
 Henry VI. during his minoritj', 14. 
 
 F. 
 
 falconer, David, general of the ordnance, killed at the 
 fiege of Tantallon, 255. 
 
 Farnc'.iuft, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Farnehaft, Sir Andrew Car of, commonly called lord 
 Dand Car, 228, 229, 237. 247, 248. imprifbned, a- 
 Jong with the earl of Hume and his brother, 221. 
 fet at liberty, 222. imprifoned again in Falkland, 
 267. 
 
 Ferdinand, king of Spain, 174. 
 
 Ferrara, duke of, 183. 
 
 Fior, Monf. la, ambaifador from the French king, 227. 
 
 Fifher, John, bifhop of Rochefter, beheaded by Henry 
 VIII. for adhering to the pope, 262. 
 
 Fitz-Hugh, lord, one of the commiflioners from Eng- 
 land, to conclude a peace with Scotland, 142. 
 
 Fitz- William, Sir William, commands the Englifh fleet, 
 fitted out to take the duke of Albany, 236. 
 
 Fleming, lord, 247, 248, 294. attends the king to 
 France, 268. taken prifoner at Sulway-Mofs, 29 j. 
 
 Fleming, Malcolm, of Cumbernauld, imprifoned, 17. 
 fet at liberty, ibid, beheaded, with the earl of Dou- 
 glas, in the caftle of Edinburgh, 64. 
 
 Forbes, Alexander, lord, carries the king's bloody ihirt 
 through Aberdeen, to animate the populace to re- 
 venge, 1 65. fubmits, and is received into favour, 
 167. killed in the battle of Flouden, 199. 
 
 Forbes, lord, imprifoned in the caftle of Edinburgh, on 
 fufpicion of treafon, 271. 
 
 Forbes, John, mailer of, falfely accufed of a plot againfl 
 the king's perfon, is beheaded and quartered at E- 
 dinburgh, 270, 271. 
 
 Forbes, John, of Pitiligo, killed in the battle of Aber- 
 brothock, 69. 
 
 Ford, lady, a fpy from the Englifh, introduced to the 
 king, and is the occafion of the lofs of the battle of 
 Flouden, 193, 194. 
 
 Forman, Andrew, fecretary to pope Alexander VI. 
 archbifhop of Bourges, bifhop of Murray, and after- 
 wards legate to pope Julius II. 182, 185-, 2 12, 214, 
 219. lent over to Scotland by pope Alexander VI. 
 170. his inflruitions, 170, 171. contends with John 
 Hepburn for the fee of St. Andrews, 207. his death, 
 236. 
 
 Forrefter, Sir John, of Corftorphin, 6j. 
 
 fax, Richard, bifhop of Exeter, afterwards, of Durham, 
 U* 4 fent 
 
INDEX. 
 
 fent ambafTador to Scotland to James IV. by Henry 
 VII. after his coronation, 145-. one of the commif- 
 fioners from England, appointed to meet with the 
 Scots commiflioners, to make up matters betwixt the 
 two crowns, 179. upon the king's invitation, he 
 comes to Scotland, and meets with him at Melrofs, 
 177. was a main indrument in the king's marriage, 
 with Margaret eldeft daughter of Henry VII. 177, 
 178. 
 
 Francis of Valois, dauphin, afterwards king of France, 
 182, 222, 226, 236, 262, 267, 268, 269, 282. 
 
 Frederic, elecl6r Palatine, 262. 
 
 G. 
 
 Galbraith, Patrick, kills Robert Semple, 66. 
 Glamis, John Lyon, lord, 271. 
 Glamis, young lord, imprifbned, 273. 
 Glencairn, Alexander Cuningham, earl of, 152, 155-. 
 one of the commanders of the king's army in the 
 battle of Stirling, 156. where he is killed, 1 5-7. 
 Glencairn, earl of, 254, 204. taken prifoner at Sulway- 
 
 Mofs, 295% 
 Glencairn, mafler of, 223. 
 Glocelter, Humphrey, duke of, protector of England, 
 
 during the minority of Henry VI. 14. 
 Glocefler, Richard, duke of, 130, 133, 13c, 136", 138. 
 comes to Scotland at the bend of a powerful army, 
 132. and has the town of Berwick tendered up to 
 him, 134. See Richard III. 
 Gordon, lord, 1 5-. 
 
 Gordon, Alexander, lord, icif, 208, 223, 234. 
 Gordon, lady Catharine, daughter to the earl of Hunt- 
 ley, given in marriage, by the king, to Perkin War- 
 beck, 173. 
 Gordon, William, of Burrowficld, killed in the battle 
 
 of Aberbrothock, 69. 
 Gormack, John, killed, 66. 
 Graham, lord, 75, 104, 152, iff, 15-6". 
 Graham, Miles, grandfbn to Davie 1 Stuart carl of Strath- 
 ern, 15-, 44, 46. gets the lands and earldom of Mon- 
 teith, 34. 
 
 Graham, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Graham, Patrick, younger brother to the lord Graham, 
 married to the only daughter of the earl of Strathern, 
 
 34- 
 Graham, Patrick, the firft archbifhop of St. Andrews, 
 
 and primate and metropolitan of Scotland, 113. re- 
 turns from Rome, 121. is excommunicated and im- 
 prifoned, ibid, his wholefome advice to the king, 
 124. his death, 125". 
 
 Graham, Robert, imprifoned, 19. implacable againft 
 the king, 34. confpires his death, 44. his character, 
 4<5. murders the king, 48. his punifhment, 52, 53. 
 
 Gray, lord, 131, 135-, ij6. one of the murderers of 
 James III. 156. 
 
 Gray, lord, taken prifoner at Sulway-Mofs, 295". 
 
 Grey, lord, killed in the battle of Caxton, 106. 
 
 Grey, lord, one of the commiffioners from England to 
 conclude a peace with Scotland, 142. 
 
 Grey, Sir Ralph, defends the caftle of Roxburgh againft 
 James I. 43. 
 
 Grey, Sir Thomas, one of the confpirators againft Hen- 
 ry V. 44. 
 
 Gruger, Claud, 180. 
 
 Guelders, Arnold, duke of, has his daughter Mary mar- 
 ried to James II. 71, 72. 
 
 Gunthrope, John, privy-feal, one of the Englifh corn.- 
 milhoners for a peace with Scotland, 142. 
 
 H. 
 
 Hailes, lord, 112, 147, 148, ij2, 155, 207. holds out 
 the caltle of Berwick againft the Englifh forces under 
 the duke of Glocefter, 132. 
 
 Halyburton, Patrick, 130. 
 
 Hamilton, Sir James, of Gadyow, 75;, 82, 86, 90. fides 
 with the earl of Douglas, 78. leaves the earl, fub« 
 mils himfelf to the king, and is pardoned, 91, 92. 
 
 Hamilton, James, lord, marries the filler of James III. 
 and created earl of Arran, 120. 
 
 Hamilton, Sir James, natural fon of the earl of Arran, 
 228, 229, 250, 268. kills the earl of Lenox, in cold 
 blood, 25-1. and the earl of Caffils, 25-2. made fu- 
 preme judge of the inquifition, by the clergy, a- 
 gainft ihofe of the reformed religion, 285. is attainted 
 
 of 
 
INDEX. 
 
 of treafon, imprifoned, condemned, and beheaded, 
 286 — 288. 
 
 Hamilton, James, fhcrifF of Linlithgow, banifhed by the 
 clergy, on account of his religion, 25-2. accufes Sir 
 James Hamilton, lord inquifitor, of treafon, 285-. 
 
 Hamilton, Sir Patrick, brother to the earl of Arran^ 
 211. killed in the action at Edinburgh between the 
 DouglalTes and the Hamiltons, 230. 
 
 Hamilton, Mr. Patrick, burnt by the archbilhop of St.. 
 Andrews for his religion, 2J2. 
 
 Harrington, Sir Robert, one of the Englilh commanders 
 in the battle of Sark, 73. made prifoner, 74. 
 
 Hay, Thomas, of Yefter, imprifoned, 19. 
 
 Hay, William, conltable, one of the commifTioners 
 fent to England for the liberty of James I. 1 1, cre- 
 ated earl of Errol, 90. 
 
 HempsfieJd, baron of, 273. 
 
 Henry V. of England, in danger of being murdered by 
 fome of his nobles, in the midft of his army, 44. 
 
 Henry VI. of England, 16, 35-, 36, 95-, 97, 98, 107. 
 governed, in his minority, by the duke of Glocelter, 
 14. wounded and taken prifoner at St. Albans, and 
 afterwards fent to the tower, 96. recovered by the 
 queen at the battle of St. Albans, 105". flies to Scot- 
 land after the lofs of the battle of Caxton, 106. re- 
 turns to England, 108. being betrayed by fome of 
 his fervants, is apprehended, and confined in the 
 tower, 109. 
 
 Henry VII. of England, 154, 174, 175:, 177, 179, 180. 
 proclaimed king after the battle of Bofworth, 144. 
 fends ambaffadors to Scotland to conclude a peace 
 with that crown, 1 4 5-. marries his daughter lady 
 Margaret to James IV. 178. his death, 182. 
 
 Henry VIII. ofEngland, 180, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 
 188, 189, 206, 211, 217, 226, 236, 239* 240, 241, 
 243, 246, 256, 263, 264, 282, 283, 289, 299. re- 
 quires the governor to leave Scotland, 231. raifes 
 an army to invade it, which plunders the coalls, 233, 
 divorces queen Catherine, and marries Anne Bullen, 
 259. calls off the Pope's authority, 262. defires an 
 interview with James V. 265. is excommunicated -, 
 on which occalion he again earneftly delires a meet- 
 ing 
 
INDEX. 
 
 ing with his nephew, 281. but is difappointed, 284. 
 leads an army to invade Scotland, which is defeated, 
 290, 291. and another commanded by the duke of 
 Norfolk, ibid, which, in a little time after, is dif- 
 banded, 292. 
 
 Henry IV. of France, 1 80. 
 
 Hepburn, Sir Adam, of Hailes, imprifoned, 19. made 
 keeper of the caftle of Dunbar, 33. one'of the com- 
 manders in the battle of Popperden, 42. 
 
 Hepburn, John, prior of St. Andrews, contends with 
 Gavin Douglas, and Andrew Forman, for the fee of 
 St. Andrews, 207. infmuates himfelf into the duke 
 of Albany's favour, 212. whom he ftirs up againft 
 many of the nobles, 212 — 214. 
 
 Hepburn, Patrick, of Hailes, takes the caftle of Dun- 
 bar, 69. 
 
 Hereford, earl of, 291. 
 
 Herries, John, lord, taken by the earl of Douglas, and 
 hanged, 79. 
 
 Hialas, Peter, fent to Scotland by Henry VII. to make 
 up matters with James IV. 175. 
 
 Holland, earl of, 34. 
 
 Holftein, duke of, 264. 
 
 Hommil, James, 131. 
 
 Houlbn, laird of, killed in the battle at Linlithgow, 
 tyr. 
 
 Howard, Sir Edmund, put to flight in the battle of 
 Flouden, 198. 
 
 Howard, Thomas, lord, commands the van-guard at 
 the battle of Flouden, 198. 
 
 Howard, William, lord, brother to the earl of Norfolk, 
 fent to Scotland by Henry VIII. to defire a confer- 
 ence with James V. 264. 
 
 Hume, Alexauder, lord, chamberlain, 146, 155", 1 72, 
 198, 207, 210, 213, 216, 220, 221. invades the 
 Englilh borders, and is put to flight, 186. kept his 
 men from engaging in the battle of Flouden, 199. 
 fufpedted by fome to have killed the king, 201. u- 
 lurps almoft a royal authority in the infancy of 
 James V. 208. is the main agent in making the 
 duke of Albany regent, 209. who, notwithstanding, 
 turns jealous of him, being ftirred up by the prior of 
 
 St, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 St. Andrews, 214. makes the queen fufpicious of the 
 conduct of the governor, 215. forced to fly into 
 England, 216. returns, at the governor's delire, to 
 Scotland, ibid, is attainted, 217. furrenders himfelf 
 up to the governor, 218. is received into his favour, 
 219. is again imprifoned, out of fufpicion, by the 
 governor, 222. and beheaded, ibid. 
 
 Hume, David, brother to lord Hume, gets the abbacy 
 of Coid-ftream, 207. 
 
 Hume, Sir David, of Wedderburn, kills Sir Anthony 
 Darcey, 225-. and Robert Blackader prior of Cold- 
 ingham, 228. a/Hits the earl of Angus at Edinburgh 
 againlt the Hamiltons, 230. 
 
 Hume, George, brother to the earl of Hume, made 
 prifoner in an inroad into England, 186. aififts the 
 earl of Angus at Edinburgh, 230. 
 
 Hume, William, flies, with his brother the earl of 
 Hume, into England, 216. is imprifoned, and be- 
 headed, with the earl, 221, 222. 
 
 Hume, lord, 247, 248, 257, 291. imprifoned in the 
 caltle of Down, 267. 
 
 Hungerford, lord, 107. 
 
 Huntley, Alexander, earl of, 5-9, 8j, 87, 99. defeats 
 the earl of Crawford, 86. 
 
 Huntley, Alexander Gordon, earl of, routs the Englifh, 
 wing under the command of Sir Edmund Howard 
 at the battle of Fiouden, 198. 
 
 Huntley, George Gordon, earl of, fent by James V.. 
 to the borders, to Hop the incurfions of the Englifh, 
 290. 
 
 I. 
 
 James I. let at liberty, ly. his ranfom, ibid, hoftages 
 given for it, ibid, comes to Scotland, ibid, is crown- 
 ed, ibid, upon the repining of the people he remits 
 part of the fublidy granted him by parliament, 16. 
 hearkens to the complaints of his fubjecls, 17. caufes 
 the governor's fori, with feveral others of the nobi- 
 lity, to be imprifoned for opprefTion, ibid, calls a 
 parliament, 18. his remarkable fpeech, ibid, calls 
 another parliament at Stilling, 20. wherein the late 
 governor, with his two fons, are condemned, and 
 
 after- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 afterwards beheaded, ibid, renews the league with 
 France, 23, 24. goes, in perfon, to the North, in 
 order to fupprefs the thefts and robberies committed 
 there, 24, 25". applies himlelf, afterwards, to the aits 
 of peace, 29. regulates the date, and invites to the 
 kingdom foreign artilts and manufacturers, 29, 30. 
 erects fchools of learning, 30. recals all the crown 
 lands that had been alienated, or wrongfully ufurped, 
 by the two former governors, 33. renews the league 
 with the king of Denmark, 35. being provoked at 
 the incurlitms of the Englifh, raifes an army, and 
 belieges Roxburgh, 43. raifes the liege, becaule of a 
 confpiracy, and disbandeth the army, 44. is mur- 
 dered, 49. his character, 49 — yi. 
 
 James II. born, 29. is crowned, and committed to the 
 care of Sir William Creighton, chancellor, 55. is 
 clandeftinely taken from him by the queen, 57. a- 
 gain recovered into the chancellor's power, 60. takes 
 upon himlelf the government, 66. receives the earl 
 of Douglas into favour, ibid, marries Mary, daugh- 
 ter to the duke of Guelders, 72. makes a truce with 
 the Englilh, 73. and again another, 74. deftroys the 
 lands of the DouglafTes, 76. by fair letters and pro- 
 mifes he gets the earl of Douglas in his power, 80. 
 and upon the earl's refufing to break from the league, 
 kills him, 82. is obliged to raife an army, for his 
 defence, againft the DouglalTes, 85. ravages the lands 
 of his rebel fubjects, 87. belieges the cattle of Aber- 
 corn, and breaketh the ftrength of the DouglafTes, 
 91, 92. calls a parliament, and eftablilhes many 
 wholelome laws, 95-. receives ambalTadors from king 
 Henry, and the duke of York, each imploring his 
 afTittance, 97. raifes an army, and belieges the caftle 
 of Roxburgh, 98. is there flain, 99. his character, 
 99 — 101. and children, 101. 
 
 James III. crowned, 103. his education committed to 
 the queen his mother, ibid, is governed by the Boyds, 
 Hi. and by their counfel, he alTumes the govern- 
 ment in his minority, without the confent of the o- 
 ther regents, 112. marries lady Margaret, daughter 
 of Chriitiern king of Denmark, 1 19. gives offence 
 to his fubjetfs by his covetoufnefs, 122. entertains 
 
 favourites, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 favourites, and men of low birth and fortune, about 
 him, 122 for which his brothers endeavour to ftir 
 up the country againfl the adminiltration, 123, etc 
 concludes a peace with the king of England, 126, 
 127. his brother and nobility confpire againlt him, 
 128 — 130. hang his favourites and minifters, 131. 
 and imprifon himfelf in the caftle of Edinburgh, 132 = 
 is liberated, and reltored to the exercife of his go- 
 vernment, 137. turns again jealous of his brother, 
 and forfeits him, 138. concludes a peace with Richard 
 king of England, 142. belieges the cattle of Dunbar, 
 and takes it, 145. concludes a truce with Henry VIL 
 of England, ibid, gains the love of his people, 146. 
 calls a parliament, in which many excellent laws 
 were enacted, ibid, his nobility combine againlt him, 
 147, 148. he fummons fome of them before him, 
 149. they rife in arms againfl him, and make the 
 prince of Rothefay their general, ijo. he raifes an 
 army to oppofe them, 152. his army routed, and him- 
 lelf killed, 156, 157. his chancier, 157 — 161. 
 James IV. born, 120. forced to head the rebellion a- 
 gainlt his father, 150. is crowned, 163. caufes a great 
 many ihips to be built for the fecurity of the commerce 
 of his fubjecls, 1 69. turns melancholy for what he had 
 done againlt his father, and girds himfelf with an 
 iron chain, as a penance for his heading the rebel- 
 lion, ibid, much given to games, and knightly exer- 
 cifes, 172. receives and entertains Perkin Warbeck, 
 and marries him to the lady Catherine Cordon, 173. 
 raifes an army, and, at his defire, enters Northum- 
 berland, and ravages it, 174. returns into Scotland, 
 ibid, enters England again, and belieges the caltle 
 of Norham, ibid, concludes a truce with Henry VII. 
 of England, 176". and then a peace, 178. entemfes 
 his daughter, ibid, his trcafury being exhauited by 
 his liberality, he takes means to fupply it ungrateful 
 to the people, 180. but defifts, upon complaints of 
 their opprelfion, 181. takes a pilgrimage to St. Nini-^ 
 ans in Galloway, for the recovery ol the queen, 182. 
 determines on a war with England at the delirc of the 
 French, 187 his manifelto againlt king Henry VIII. 
 187-^-191. an apparition diifuadea him from the 
 
 war, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 war, 191. mutters his army, and marches into Eng- 
 land, 192, 193. routed, with his army, at Flouden, 
 198, 199- his fate uncertain, 200. his character, 
 201 — 204. and itTue, 204. 
 
 James V. born, 182. crowned, 206. committed to the 
 care of the queen, ibid, is taken from his mother, 
 and committed to the cuftody of four lords, 215". is 
 tranfported to Dalkeith, 228. again under the go- 
 
 . vernment of his mother. 240. the cuftody of his 
 perfon committed to eight lords, 243. detained un- 
 der the cuftody of the earl of Angus, againft his 
 will, 244. his refcue attempted, but in vain, 247 — 
 25 1. makes his efcape by a ftratagem, 253. gets 
 the Douglafles attainted and forfeited in parliament, 
 254, 25" 5". concludes a truce with England, 256. in- 
 ltitutes the college of juftice, ibid, a rupture between 
 him and England, 257. concludes a peace, by the 
 mediation of France, 258. the emperor courts his 
 afliftance againft the king of England, 259, 260. the 
 pope fends prefents to him, to move him to oppofe 
 Henry VIII. and the reformation, 263. fends an 
 ambaflador to England to acquaint the king with the 
 delign of the emperor's and pope's embailies, 264. 
 the king of England prefents him with the order of 
 the garter, and defires an interview, 264, 265-. king 
 James goes to France, 268. marries princefs Mag- 
 dalen of France, and returns to Scotland, 269. con- 
 demns the mafter of Forbes and lady Giamis, 270 — 
 273. on the death of his queen, marries Mary of 
 Lorrain, 273. in the national conteft about religion, 
 he follows the counfel of the clergy, and oppoles the 
 reformation, 279. is defired by the nobles to accept 
 of the interview with his uncle the king of England, 
 282. but is hindered by the clergy, ibid, turns ful- 
 len and melancholy, and is troubled > with appariti- 
 ons, 289, 290. his two fons die at one time, 290. 
 raifes an army to oppofe the incurfions of the Eng- 
 lifh, 291. his nobility refufe to enter England, 292. 
 upon which he returns to Edinburgh, and disbands 
 his army, 293. raifes another army to be command- 
 ed by lord Maxwell, 294. but upon Oliver Sinclair 
 being declared the king's lieutenant in the field, the 
 
 foldiers 
 
INDEX. 
 
 foldiers turn mutinous, and fuffer themfelves to be 
 furprized and made prifoners by the Englifh, at 
 Sulway-Mofs, 294, 295. upon which the king be- 
 comes melancholy, and dies, 296. his character, 
 297 — 299. 
 
 James VI. of Great Britain, embalms the corps of his 
 grandfather James V. 
 
 Jane, queen to James I. 14. takes her fon James II. 
 from the chancellor, by ftratagem, 57. is married 
 to James Stuart, 59. her death, 71. and children, 
 ibid. 
 
 Jane, countefs of Angus, afterwards countefs of Hunt- 
 ley, daughter to James I. 5 1 . 
 
 Jerdan, Alexander, profcribed, and a price fet upon 
 his head, 130. 
 
 Innes, laird of, killed in the battle of Stirling, on the 
 king's fide, 157. 
 
 John VII. emperor of the Eaft, id. 
 
 John, lord of the ifles, attainted, 120. refigns his right 
 to the earldom of Rofs, which is annexed to the 
 crown, 121. 
 
 Johnfton, laird of, one of the commanders of the Scots 
 army at the battle of Sark, 73. 
 
 Johnfton, laird of, imprifoned in Dundee, 267. 
 
 Ireland, Dr. fent over from France, to ftir up James 
 III. againft England, 127. made arch-deacon of St. 
 Andrews, 160. 
 
 Irvine, Alexander, of Drum, one of the commi/fioncrs 
 fent to England to negociate the freedom of James 
 I. 11. 
 
 Tulius II. pope, fends a fword and diadem, etc. as a 
 prefent to king James IV. 178. a turbulent and 
 haughty prelate, 183. is befieged, with his cardinals, 
 at Bologna, by the French, 184. excommunicates 
 the king of France, and transfers the title of moft 
 Chrijiian king upon Henry VIII. of England, ibid. 
 
 K. 
 Katherine, of Arragon, married to Arthur prince of 
 Wales, and, after his death, to his bi other Henry 
 VIII. 258. divorced, ibid. 
 Kennedy, lord, 104, 112. 
 
 Ken- 
 
INDEX, 
 
 Kennedy, Sir Gilbert, nephew to James I. 29. 
 
 Kennedy, James, bifhop of St. Andrews, 6S, 70, 80, 
 104. encourages the king, 8y. made chancellor, oy. 
 governs the ftate, 106. founds a college in St. An- 
 drews, 112. his death and character, 112, 113. 
 
 Keir, Robert Stirling, laird of, 156. 
 
 Ker, Mark, of Cesford, imprifoned, 226". defeats Sir 
 James Hamilton at Jedburgh, 228, 229. (lain in the 
 action of Melrols, 247, 248. 
 
 Kilmaurs, matter of, 249. one of the commanders in 
 the battle of Linlithgow, where he is fore wounded) 
 250, 251. 1 
 
 Kirkaldie, William, treafurer, 286. 
 
 Kirkpatrick, Robert, takes the earl of Douglas prifoncr 
 in the action of Lochmaben, 140. 
 
 L. 
 
 Lancalter, duke of, father of Henry IV. of England, 
 36. 
 
 Langton, laird of, 294. taken prifoner at Sulway-Mofs, 
 295". 
 
 Lawther, Allan, 58. 
 
 Learnmont, Sir James, of Darcy, mailer of the hou- 
 mold, 286, 290, 291. 
 
 Lenox, Duncan, earl of, 17. imprifoned, 19. con- 
 demned, and beheaded, 20. 
 
 Lenox, Matthew, earl of, 131, 165-. defeated at Tilly- 
 Mofs by the lord Drummond, 166, 167. one of the 
 commanders at the battle of Fiouden, 19S. kiljed, 
 199. 
 
 Lenox, John, earl of, 223, 226, 229, 240, 242, 247, 
 248. fides with the earl of Arran, and the other 
 lords, againft the governor, and inverts the cattle 
 of Glafgow, 208. reconciled to the governor, by 
 means of the countefs of Arran, 219. one of the 
 eight lords to whom the cuftody of the king's per- 
 fon is committed, 243. becomes the king's main fa- 
 vourite, 246. raifes an army to refcue him out rif 
 the earl of Angus's hands, 249. is defeated, £50. 
 and afterwards murdered in cold blood, 251. 
 
 L^fley, George, baron, created earl of Rothe;, 73J 
 
 Lciley, Walter, fomctiine earl of Rofs, 27. 
 
 X h\i- 
 
INDEX, 
 
 Liddale, John, 141. 
 
 Leighton, Henry, bifhop of Aberdeen, one of the com- 
 miflioners fent to England to negotiate the liberty of 
 James I. 12. his fpeech, ibid. 
 
 Lile, lord, 131, 165-. 
 
 Lilly, Edward, defends the caftle of Wark, 237. 
 
 Lindfay, Alexander, fon of the earl of Crawford, 68. 
 See Crawford. 
 
 Lindfay, John de, one of the hoftages fent to England, 
 for the payment of king James's ranfom, 1 5-. 
 
 Lindfay, lord, one of the commanders on the king's 
 fide, at the battle of Stirling, 157. 
 
 Linton, John, killed at Dundee, by the earl of Craw- 
 furd, 69. 
 
 Livingfton, Sir Alexander, of Calendar, made gover- 
 nor of the kingdom, during the minority of James 
 II. 55". falls out with the chancellor, j6. and gets 
 the young king into his power, 57. is reconciled. 
 58. difgufts the queen, 59. and lofes the cuftody of 
 the king, 60. makes up matters again with the 
 chancellor, ibid, invites, along with the chancellor, 
 the earl of Douglas, by fair letters, to Edinburgh, 
 and by their orders he is beheaded in the caltle, 61, 
 64. is forfeited, and imprifoned, by the influence of 
 the earl of Douglas, 72. 
 
 Livingfton, Alexander, fon of the governor, beheaded, 
 72. 
 
 Livingfton, David, beheaded, 72. 
 
 Livingfton, Robert, treafurcr, beheaded, 72. 
 
 Lochinvar, lord of, 254.. 
 
 Lock, John, reclor of the univcrfity of St. Andrews, 
 
 121. 
 
 Logan, Robert, of Rcftahig, 229. 
 
 Lovat, lord, killed in the battle of Floudcn, 199. 
 
 Louis XI. dauphin, afterwards king of France, 23, 35", 
 
 51, 70, 107, 108, 109, 127, 128. married to Ja- 
 
 dy Margaret daughter of James I. 41. 
 Lyle, Alexander, kills James Stuart of Auchinmintce, 
 
 60. 
 Lyon, William, accufes the lady Glamis of treafon, 
 
 271, 272. banifhed, 273. 
 
 M. Macar- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 M. 
 
 Macarture, John, hanged, 25". 
 
 Macdonald, in Rofs, a notorious thief, beheaded, 28^ 
 29. 
 
 Macdougal, Allan, of Nether-Lorn, 104. 
 
 Mackcalp, Alexander, \66. 
 
 Macrarey, Alexander, hanged, 25". 
 
 Magdalen, of France, married to James V. 269. her 
 death, 270. 
 
 Magnus, king of Norway, 35% 
 
 Mar, Alexander Stuart, earl of, defeated by the High- 
 landers at Inneriochy, 27. 
 
 Mar, John, earl of, brother of James III. imprifoned 
 in the caitle of Craigmillar, where he dies, 125. 
 
 Mar, John, earl of, fon of James III. 157. 
 
 March, Edward, earl of, ioy. proclaimed king, ioj, 
 1 06. See Edward IV. 
 
 March, George, earl of, 122, 149. imprifoned, and 
 afterwards fet at liberty, 1 19. forfeited of his earl- 
 dom, and imprifoned in the caftle of Edinburgh, 
 
 133- ; 
 
 Margaret, daughter to James I. betrothed to the dau- 
 phin of France, 23. arrives at Rochel, 4 1, and mar- 
 ried, ibid, her death, 70. 
 
 Margaret, filter of James III. married to the mailer of 
 Boyd, who is created earl of Arran, 1 iy. is divorced, 
 and conftrained to marry the lord Hamilton, 120. 
 
 Margaret, daughter to Chriltiern, king of Denmark, 
 betrothed to James III. 1 17. arrives in Scotland, and 
 is married to the kingj \ 19. brings forth king James 
 IV. 120. dies, 145". 
 
 Margaret, daughter of Reny, king of Sicily, and wife 
 of Henry VI. 96. routs the duke of York at the 
 battle of Wakefield-grcen, 105-. defeats the earl of 
 Warwick and the duke of York at St. Albans, and 
 recovcreth the perfon of the king, ibid, defeated at 
 Caxton, 106. overthrown again in the North, 107^ 
 and forced to fly into France, 109. 
 
 Margaret, daughter to Henry VII. efpoufed and mar-" 
 
 ried to James IV. 178, 179. brings forth James V. 
 
 X 2 182. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 182. earneftly entreats her husband to defift from 
 his intended invafion of England, 192. is regent of 
 the kingdom, and has the government of her fon, 
 206. writes to Henry VIII. to defift from hoftilities, 
 ibid, great dilbrders in the kingdom, during her re- 
 gency, 207. brings forth a pofthumous fon, 208. 
 marries the earl of Angus, 209. furprized by the 
 duke of Albany, and the cuftody of the king taken 
 from her, 215. ftie flies to England, 216. returns to 
 Scotland, 224. is jealous of her husband, ibid, again 
 aflumes the government of the king and kingdom, 
 240. endeavours to refcue her fon out of the earl of 
 Angus's hands, 245-. is divorced from her husband, 
 246. and marries Henry, ion of the lord Evandale, 
 ibid, her death, 274. 
 
 Margaret, ofValois, married to Henry IV. of France, 
 180. 
 
 Marmal, earl, itfj, 223, 296. 
 
 Martin V. pope, 16. 
 
 Mary, daughter of James I. married to the lord of 
 Campvere, 51, 7°» 
 
 Mary, daughter of the duke of Guelders, arrives in 
 Scotland, and is married to James II. 72. has the 
 education of her fon James III. committed to her, 
 103. her fpeech to him on her death-bed, 109— 1 1 1. 
 dies, in. 
 
 Mary, of Lorrain, fecond wife to James V. 273. brings 
 forth a fon, 274. 
 
 Mary, fifler of Henry VIII. married to Louis XII. of 
 France, 2 1 7. 
 
 Mary, princefs of Scotland, born, 296". 
 
 Maximilian, king of the Romans, 183. cr.tereth into 
 the king of England's pay, 184. 
 
 Maxwell, lord, killed in the battle of Flouden, 199. 
 
 Maxwell, lord, 240, 248, 254, 270, 273, 292. taken 
 prifoncr at Sulway-Mofs, 295-. 
 
 Mill, Alexander, abbot of Cambufkenneth, one of the 
 commiffioners fent to England to fettle matters with 
 that crown, 241. 
 
 Monfter, a remarkable one, born near Glafgow, 179. 
 
 Montague, lord, brother to the carl of Warwick, de- 
 feats king Henry VI's party in the North, 107. 
 
 Mon- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Monteith, earl of, 156, 25-4. 
 
 Montgomery, Hugh, of Eglinton, flays James Boyd, fon 
 of the earl of Arran, 1 20. 
 
 Montgomery, John, reduces the cattle of Inch-Merin 
 in Loch-Lomond, 23. 
 
 Montgomery, matter of, killed in the {kirmifh at Edin- 
 burgh, between the Hamiltons and Douglaffes, 230. 
 
 Montrofe, earl of, one of the Scots commanders at the 
 battle of Floudcn, 198. 
 
 Moor, Elizabeth, wife of Robert II. 4^. 
 
 Mordock, duke of Albany, the governor, 16, 17, 46, 
 47. crowns king James I. at Scoon, ij. arretted and 
 imprifoned, 19. beheaded, 20. 
 
 Motte, MonC de la, fent from France to Scotland to 
 ftir up James IV. againft the Englifh, 1 86. endea- 
 vours to keep the Highlanders in order at the battle 
 ofFlouden, but in vain, 199. 
 
 Moubray, David, one of the Scots hottages for the pay- 
 ment of king James I's ranfom, 15% 
 
 Moubray, Sir William, taken prifoner at the battle of 
 Haldenrig. 291. 
 
 Moulines, lord, 107. 
 
 Murray, Andrew, bifhop of, 71. 
 
 Murray, Angus, a notorious thief, and plunderer, 28. 
 
 Murray, Archibald Douglas, earl of, 71, 78, 86, 87. 
 attainted, 89. (lain, 92. 
 
 Murray, James, a natural fon of James IV. created 
 earl of, 211, 242, 244, 245", 25-6, 257, 267. ac- 
 cufes the lord Hume, chamberlain, of the death of 
 his father, James IV. 221, 222. 
 
 Mufgrave, Jack, a valiant captain, 294. 
 
 N. 
 
 Norfolk, duke of, 96, ioj, 142. 
 
 Norfolk, Thomas, duke of, font by Henry VIII. with 
 a powerful army to Scotland, 291. returns to Lon- 
 don, 292, 293. 
 
 Northumberland, Henry, earl of, burns the town of 
 Dunbar, 73. defeated in the battle of Sark, ibid. 
 routed again, with the earl of Douglas, in the Merfe, 
 94. flain at Caxton-field, 106. 
 
 X 3 Nor- 
 
INDEX, 
 
 Northumberland, Henry, earl of, 132. one of the 
 commiffioners from England to conclude a peace 
 with Scotland, 142. 
 
 O. 
 
 Ogilby, Alexander, of Innerquharity, 68. wounded 
 and taken prifoner in the battle of Aberbrothock, 69. 
 
 Ogilby, David de, one of the Scots hoftages fent to 
 England for the payment of king James's ranfom, 
 
 if- 
 Ogilby, Mr. James, abbot of Dryburgh, 186. 
 
 Ogilby Walter, imprifoned, but afterwards let at liber- 
 ty, 19. 
 
 Ogle, Sir John, one of the commanders of the Englilli 
 army in the battle of Poppcrden, 42. flain, 43. 
 
 Oliphant, lord, one of the Scots commiffioneis lent to 
 England by James III. to conclude a peace with 
 Richard III. of England, 142. 
 
 Oliphant, lord, taken prifoner at Sulway-Mofs, 295". 
 
 Oliphant, Sir John, of Aberdagy, flain in the battle of 
 Aberbrothock, 69. 
 
 Oliphant, William, one of the hoftages for the pay- 
 ment of king James's ranfom, iy. 
 
 Orkney, William Sinclair, earl of, 76, 77, pi, 05". 
 one of the governors of Scotland, during the mino- 
 rity of James III. 104. 
 
 Orleans, Louis, duke of, 144. 
 
 OrmeRon, laird of, 294. taken prifoner at Sulway-Mofc, 
 295. 
 
 Ormond, George Douglas, created earl of, 71. routs 
 the Enghfh at Sark, under the earl of Northumber- 
 land, 73. attainted, 89. defeated at the borders, 
 with his brother the carl of Douglas, and taken pri- 
 foner, 92. beheaded, 94. 
 
 Ormond, earl of, overthrown by Edward earl of March, 
 105-. 
 
 Otterburn, Adam, ofRedhall, 258, z66. 
 
 Qtterburn, Nicolas, 71. 
 
 1\ Pan- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 p. 
 
 Panther, Mr. Patrick, fecretary to James IV. impri- 
 
 foned, 217. fet at liberty, 219. 
 Parr, Sir William, 132. 
 Paul III. fends a legate to James V. to ftir him up a- 
 
 gainft Henry VIII. 262, 263. 
 Pembroke, earl of, overthrown by the earl of March, 
 
 105-. 
 Pennington, Sir John, one of the Englifh commanders 
 
 at the battle of Sark, 73. taken prifoner, 74. 
 Percy, lord, fon of the earl of Northumberland, heads 
 
 the Englifh army at the battle of Sark, 73. taken 
 
 prifoner, in endeavouring to fave hjs father, 74. 
 Percy, Sir Ralph, 107. 
 Percy, Richard, 42. killed in the battle of Popperden, 
 
 43- 
 Perkin Warbeck, the impoltor, comes to Scotland, 172. 
 
 is gracioufly received by James IV. 173. 
 Plains, Monf. du, ambafiador from France, 219. 
 Pool, Richard de la, comes pver, with the gqvernor, 
 
 to Scotland, 237. 
 
 R. 
 
 Ramfay, Alexander, of Dalhoufie, one of the Scots 
 commanders at the battle of Popperden, 42. 
 
 Ramfay, John, of Balmair, 131, 149. llain in the 
 battle of Stirling, 157. 
 
 Ratcliff, Roger, 240. 
 
 Redbeard, Magnus, flain at the battle of Sark, 73. 
 
 Reformation, in England, to what owing, 258, 259. 
 
 Religion, the proteltant, eftablifhed in England, 262, 
 embraced by many in Scotland, 274. a remarkable 
 fpeech in its favour to king James V. 274 — 279. op- 
 pofed by the king, 279, many fuffer for it, 281. 
 
 Reny, king of Sicily, 106, 109. 
 
 Richard III. of England, 140, 141, 143. ufurps the 
 crown, 139. concludes a peace with James III. of 
 Scotland, 142. llain in the battle of Bofworth, 144. 
 
 Richmond, Henry, earl of, defeats Richard III. at 
 
 Bof- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Bofworth, and is proclaimed king, 144. See Hen- 
 ry VII. 
 Richmond, countefs of, 179. 
 Robert II. king of Scotland, 45", 47. 
 Rogers, Sir William, one of the favourites of James III. 
 
 hanged at Lawder- bridge, 131. 
 Ronzard, his character of James V. 299. 
 Rofs, Alexander, of the illes, earl of, imprifoned for 
 
 his oppreffion and cruelty, 25. fet at liberty, ibid. 
 
 rebels again, furprizes the town of Invernel's, and 
 
 burns it, 26. fubmits, ibid., 
 Rofs, Donald, earl of, at the inftigation of the earl of 
 
 Douglas, over-runs Argyle, Arran, etc. 93. See 
 
 Donald. 
 Rofs, lord, 229. 
 
 Rofs, Eupheme, wile to Robert II. 45". > 
 Rothefay, David, duke of, ltarved in the tower of 
 
 Falkland, 46. 
 Rothes, earl of, 2 5"4, 296. imprifoned, 227. attends 
 
 the king to France, 268. 
 Ruthven, lord, 15:2, 15-5-. one of the commanders, 
 
 on the king's fide, at the battle of Stirling, ijd. 
 
 killed, 157. 
 Ruthven, lord, 223, 2 5"4< 
 Ruthven, Sir William de, one of the holbges for the 
 
 payment of James I's ranfom, 15-. 
 Rutland, Edmond, earl of, killed in the battlj of Wake- 
 field-green, 105". 
 Rutland, cail of, 29 1. 
 
 Salisbury, earl of, 5-4, 96. burns the town of Dumfries, 
 73. defeated, with the duke of York, at Wakciiclu- 
 green, and beheaded, 105". 
 
 Salton, lord, /-;. 
 
 Schevez, William, made archbifliop of St. Andrew?, 
 121. 
 
 Scot, Adam, of TufheJow, a notorious thief and rob- 
 ber, executed, 256. 
 
 Scot, Alexander, director of the chancery, killed, on 
 the king's lidc, at the battle of Stirling, 1 j;. 
 
 Scot, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Scot, Thomas, Juftice Clerk to king James V. his 
 
 death, 289. 
 Scot, Walter of Buccleugh, impiifoned in the caltle of" 
 
 Edinburgh, 267. 
 Scot, Sir William, ofBalvery, 219. 
 Scroop, lord, ambafTador from England, his fpeech, 
 
 35—38. 
 Sample, lord, killed on the king's fide, at the battle of 
 
 Stirling, 157. 
 Semple, lord, flain in the battle of Flouden, 199. 
 Semple, lord, 229, 254. 
 
 Semple, Robert, killed in the caftle of Dumbarton, 66. 
 Seton, Alexander, lord Gordon, created earl of Hunt- 
 ley, 73- 
 Seton, lord, 75-. 
 Seton, lord, 291. 
 Seton, Sir Alexander, killed in the battle of Flouden, 
 
 199. 
 Sextus IV. pope, 113. 
 Shrewsbury, earl of, 233, 234,291. 
 Sigifmond, fon of Charles IV. emperor, 16. 
 Sigifmond, archduke of Auftria, married to Eleonora, 
 
 daughter of James I. 70. 
 Simnel, Lambert, drefled out by the old du chefs of 
 
 Burgundy to perfoliate Edward V. 175-, 176. 
 Sinclair, lord, killed at the battle of Flouden, 199. 
 Sinclair, lord, 2J4. 
 Sinclair, Oliver, 293. declared lieutenant-general of the 
 
 army at Sulway-Mofs, 294. upon which the foldiers 
 
 mutiny, 295. taken prifoner, ibid. 
 Somerfet, John, duke of, brother of Henry IV. mar- 
 ries his daughter the lady Jane to James I. 36. 
 Somerfet, Edmond, duke of, 43. flain in the battle of 
 
 St. Albans, 96". 
 Somerfet, Henry Beaufort, duke of, ioj, 106, 107. 
 Somerville, lord, 1 12. 
 
 Somerville, lord, 294. taken prifoner at Sulway-Mofs, 295. 
 Stanley, Sir Edward, one of the Englifh commanders 
 
 at the battle of Flouden, 198, 199. 
 Stanley, Thomas, lord, 132. one of the Englifh com- 
 
 miifioners from Richard III. to conclude a peace 
 
 with Scotland, 142. 
 
 Stra- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Strathern, David Stuart, earl of, uncle to James I. 34, 
 
 Straton, Walter, 49. 
 
 Stuart, Alexander, fecond fon of duke Mordock, dub- 
 bed knight, 16. arrefted and imprifoned, 19. be- 
 headed, 20. 
 
 Stuart, Alexander, fon of Robert II. 34. 
 
 Stuart, Sir Alexander, of Bolmet, kills Sir Thomas 
 Boyd in revenge of the (laughter of lord Darnley, 60. 
 
 Stuart, Alexander, natural fon of James III. promoted 
 to the fee of St. Andrews, 182. killed in the battle 
 of Flouden, 199. celebrated by Erafmus, 204. 
 
 Stuart, Alexander, gives up his right to the crown in 
 favours of his younger brother the duke of Albany, 
 220. made bifhop of Murray, ibid. 
 
 Stuart, Sir Allan, lord Darnley, killed by Sir Thomas 
 Boyd,' 60. 
 
 Stuart, Bernard, (fee Aubigny) comes over from Fiance 
 to ftir up king James IV. againft his brother in law 
 Henry VIII. 182. which he accomplifh.es, 185. 
 
 Stuart, Henry, fon to the lord Evandale, married to 
 the queen, after (he had divorced the earl of Angus, 
 246. created lord Methuen, 25-5. 
 
 Stuart, James, youngeft fon of duke Mordock, fur- 
 prizes the town of Dumbarton, and kills John Stu- 
 art of Dondonald, 20. flies to Ireland, where he 
 dies, ibid. 
 
 Stuart, Sir James, fon to the lord Lorn, married to 
 the queen, $y. his death, 70. 
 
 Stuart, James, of Auchinmintee, killed, 69. 
 
 Stuart, James, natural fon of James IV. created earl 
 of Murray, 211. See Murray. 
 
 Stuart, John, of Dundonald, lirnamed the Red, (lain 
 at Dumbarton, 20. 
 
 Stuart, John, of Darnley, 23. 
 
 Stuart, Robert, nephew co the earl of Athole, one of 
 the principal confpirators againft James I. 44. his 
 character, 46. hanged and quartered, 52. 
 
 Stuart, Walter, fon of duke M01 Jock, arrefted and im- 
 prifoned, 17, 19. beheaded, 20. 
 
 Stuart, William, bifhop of Aberdeen, 258, 267. 
 
 Suffolk, John, duke of, 143 
 
 Sur« 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Surrey, ear! of, commander of the English army at the 
 battle of Flouden, 193, 194, 197, 198. 
 
 Talbot, Sir Edward, 108. 
 
 Turnbull, William, bifhop of Glafgow, founds the uni- 
 verlity there, 95. 
 
 U. 
 
 Vendome, Charles, duke of, 267. 
 W. 
 
 Wardlaw, Henry, bifliop of St. Andrews, 15", 32. 
 
 Warwick, earl of, 74, 96, 105", 107, 108, 109. 
 
 "Waughton, laird of, 294. made prifoner at Sulway- 
 Mofs, 295-. 
 
 Wells, lord, flain in Caxton-field, ioo\ 
 
 Wed, Dr. 186. 
 
 Weltmorland, earl of, flain in Caxton-field, 106. 
 
 "Wharton, Sir Thomas, 294. 
 
 Whitelaw, Archibald, fecretary, one of the Scots com- 
 miifioners to conclude a peace with England, 142. 
 
 William, the conqueror, yields Cumberland to the 
 Scots, 35. 
 
 Wood, Sir Andrew, 150, 152, 156, 166, 185. main- 
 tains the quarrel of James III. 164. obtains a fea 
 victory over Stephen Bull, 167. 
 
 Y. 
 
 York, duke of, defeated by queen Margaret, and flain, 
 with his fon the earl of Rutland, 105. 
 
 FINIS. 
 

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