The history of Scotland written in Latin by George Buchanan ; faithfully rendered into English.

James I. The Hundred and Second King.

IN the mean time, the King, with the Queen, was Crowned on the Eleventh of the Calends of May; he being placed in the Chair of State, by his Cousin Murdo, (an Office belonging to the Earl of Fife.) A while after, many profitable Laws were enacted for the Good of the Publick, but especially to restrain Robberies; which, by the Licen∣tiousness of former times, had grown to such an heighth, that Laws and Magistrates were despised, as if Right had been only in Arms. Afterwards, they consulted how to raise the Kings Ransom, for, seeing the Publick Treasure was very low, by reason of so many Wars, the Governours having pardoned the Offendors, and bestowed Rewards on good Patriots, so that the Kings Revenue being Mortgaged, and Money taken up thereupon, he could not pay it of his Own, but was forced to crave Aid of his Subject••; And indeed, the Nobles,

whose Sons were left Hostages, easily obtained, That an Act should pass to that purpose; but, in the payment of the Money, there was not so ready an Obedience. For, upon a Valuation of all Moveables, a Twentieth part was imposed, which, in so great a want of Money; yet Plenty, and consequently, Cheapness of other things, seemed in∣tolerable to Men, who were not accustomed to Taxes: And who also were more concerned at the Example for the future, than for the present Damage: And moreover, the higher Sort were calum∣niated by the Vulgar, as if they had cast too much of the Burden up∣on the Shoulders of the Poor. But that which troubled the Com∣mons most, was, the short Day appointed for the payment of the Tax, for it was Commanded to be brought in within 15 Days; and if any one did not pay, his Cattel were to be seized upon, either by the Lord of the Mannor, or the Sheriff of the County. And if any one alleged his being in Debt, or in Arrears of Rent to his Land∣lord, the Exception did not avail to abate his Contribution: And the Mischief was increased by the Severity and Harshness of the Col∣lectors, who did not only thus vex the People; but, by false Reckon∣ings; or, upon the accompt of Charges, they deducted a great part of the Money, which was Collected for the Publick Use: Besides, the Imposition seemed more Grievous, because the former Gover∣nours had been very remiss and moderate in their Levies and Cess∣ments, that so they might insinuate themselves into the Love of the Commons, and thereby keep them off from designing the Restitu∣tion of their Lawful King: And for that cause, it was, that when the Assembly had given Liberty to Robert, the King's Uncle, to Le∣vy a Tax, he, to ingratiate himself with the Commonalty, refused to let it pass into an Act, affirming, That he had rather pay down so much Money of his own, than that the Commons should be burdened on such an account. When the King had exacted the First Payment, which came in very hardly, and with the Ill-will of the People, who com∣plained, That besides the burden of the Wars, they had these new Taxes imposed upon them, he forgave the rest.

In this Assembly, Murdo, Duke of Albany, Walter and Alexander his Sons; Dunac Earl of Lennox, his Son in Law, and Robert Grame, who some Years before had killed the King, were taken, and com∣mitted to Prison; so were 24 more of the Cheif Nobility, but the rest were not long after set at liberty; Murdo only with his Son, and Son-in-law, being retained in Custody. The same day that Murdo was ta∣ken, the King seized upon all his Castles, as Falcoland in Fife, and Down in Menteith, out of which, his Wife was carried to the Castle of Tintallon in Lothian. Iames his youngest Son, hearing of the Havock of his Family, gathered a Band of Men together, and burnt the Town of Dunbarton, and slew Iohn Howard (the King's Uncle) Sir∣named Rufus, and 32 of his Followers; and then he fled into Ireland, where he dyed shortly after. And also Finlaw, Bishop of Lismore, one of the Dominican Order, who fled with him, and was his Coun∣sellor in all his Affairs, departed this Life there. The Wife also of Walter, with her Two Sons, Andrew, Alexander, and Arthur a Base∣born Son, fled into Ireland also, who, in the Reign of Iames the Third, returned again, and were Endowed with great Honour. The

same Year, in an Assembly of the Estates at Sterlin, Murdo, with his Two Sons, and Son-in-law were had out of Prison to be Tryed, according to Law; the Procee, dings were after the Custom of the Country, which was This. Some Man, Eminent for Wisdom and Authority, is chosen out, to be President of the Court, and he hath at least Twelve Assessors joyned with him, who are to hear the Crimes Objected, and to pass Sentence on the Prisoner, or Party ac∣cused, according to their Oaths. These Judges are usually of the same Quality with the Party accused: Or, at least, of the next Con∣dition to him, as near as may be: The Prisoner hath Power to ex∣cept against his Judges, till the number of 12, and sometimes more, be compleated; and when the Crimes are weighed, the Sentence is Pronounced, according to the Majority of Voices. In this Case, Judges were chosen after the same manner, it is not much material to mention their Names, (but certainly, they were Persons of Repute, and some of them nearly related to the Accused) but the Prisoners were condemned by them of High Treason. The Two young Men were put to death the same Day; Their Father and Grandfather by the Mothers's side, the Day after, on a little Rising Hill, over a∣gainst the Castle of Sterlin: There is a constant Report, tho' I find it not mentioned in History. That the King sent to Isabella, Wife of his Cousin-German, the Heads of the Father, Husband, and Son, to try, whether so fierce a Woman, out of impatience of Grief (as it sometimes comes to pass) would not reveal the Secrets of her Mind: But tho' She was much disturbed at the suddain Spectacle, yet She gave no intemperate Language, onely Answered, That if the Crimes Object∣ed were True; That the King had done Iustly, and according to Law.

When the Assembly was ended, Iohn Montgomery, and Humphry Cuningham, were sent by the King to take a Castle, which was held in the Name of Iames Stuart, the Fugitive, and they reduced it ac∣cordingly. And not long after, Iohn Stuart of Dernely, (who, when the Scots Commanders in France were destroyed, several ways, was made General of the Horse amongst them) together, with the Arch-bishop of Rhemes, came into Scotland, to renew the Antient League with the French, and to contract a Marriage between Lewis the Son of Charles the Seventh, and Margarite, Daughter of Iames, Both of them yet but Children. Which Matters being Accomplish∣ed the next Year, which was, 1426. All Scotland was subdued with∣in the Mount Grampius: And the King took heart to proceed fur∣ther in his Conquests. And First, he caused the Castle of Inverness to be Repaired, which is situate in a convenient place, in the fur∣thest part of Murray. Two Years after, he went thither to Admini∣ster Justice, and Suppress Robberies; thither he sent for the Chief of all the Families, especially of those who were wont to issue out with great Troops, and fetch in Booties from the Neighbouring Countries: And when he had subdued them, he laid Taxes on them, and made the Commonalty provide Victuals for them which were Idle, themselves; Some of those Robbers had 1000, some 2000, some more Pattizans, at their Command, whereby Good Peo∣ple were kept under for fear of Danger: And the Bad, who found a sure Refuge amongst them, were made more bold to commit all

manner of Wickedness: The King had persuaded most of them, some by Threatnings, others by Flatteries, but he committed about 40 of the chief of them to Prison, and, upon Tryal, Two of the most Eminent, Alexander Macrory, and Iohn Macarthur were hanged up, also Iames Cambel was put to death for the Murther of Iohn the Islan∣der, one of Note in his Country; The rest were divided into seve∣ral prisons, of which some afterward suffred, and others were freely set at Liberty. Thus the Heads of the Faction, being either Slain or kept Prisoners; the King judged the Common sort, being deprived of their Leaders, would not stir, and therefore he persuaded them by kind and gentle words, to do that which was just, and to place the hopes of their safety upon no other Basis, as firm and secure, but Innocency of Life. If they would do so, he would be always ready to honour and reward them; if not, they might take Example by the Punishment of others, and, most certainly, expect the like Themselves.

When other Matters were thus composed; yet the King had still with Him, Alexander the Islander, one of the most potent Per∣sons in the Land, next the King himself; for he Commanded over all the Aebudae; and besides, he had an Accession of the fertile Coun∣ty of Ross, by means of his Mother, who was Daughter to Walter Lesly, Earl of Ross. He having committed many cruel and flagiti∣ous Acts, was thereupon in great Fear of the King, whom yet he found very exorable, by the Mediation of his Friends; insomuch that he was courteously invited to Court, kindly entertained there; and having obtained an Amnesty for what was past, great Hopes of Favour were propounded to him, if he would inure himself to a more quiet and obedient Carriage and Deportment for the time to come, and so he was sent home. But he was so far from being thankful to the King for his Pardon, and afterwards for his Liberty, that, he thought, he had Great wrong done him, that he was kept some days in Prison. And therefore, as soon as he was returned to his old Comrades, he gathered a Company of Them together, who were accustomed to live upon the Spoil, and went to Innerness, in a seemingly peaceable manner; where being hospitably entertained, he suffered his Followers to pillage the Town, and after he had set fire to the Houses, he laid Siege to the Castle; but, hearing of a Force coming against him, was compelled to raise his Siege, and march in great haste to Loch-Abyr. There, by reason of the oppor∣tunity of the Place, he resolves to put himself upon the Fortune of a Battel, with that Army which he had with him, which were 10000 men, hardned to the Wars. But Two Tribes or Clans of Those, who followed him chearfully to the Plunder, when they heard of the Kings Preparations made against them, deserted him; to wit, The Catans and the Camerons, called vulgarly, Clan-Chattan, and Clan-Cameron.

Being thus deprived of Part of his strength, and having no great Confidence in the Fidelity of the rest, he began to think of hiding himself again, and so, dismissing his Army, he retired, with some few into the Aebudae, and there consulted concerning his Flight into Ireland. But, presuming, that even there he could not be safe from

the wrath of the King, he thought it best to fly to his last Refuge, viz. the Kings Mercy and Clemency; which, before, he had so large experience of: But here his Thoughts were at a loss betwixt Hope and Fear; when he considered, what Mischiefs he had done at his first Revolt; and, after the King had graciously pardoned him, with what perfidiousness and cruelty he had again broke forth, and so had cut off all hopes of further Indemnity; and, therefore was in great Doubt and Perplexity, whether he would commit himself, his Life and Fortunes to the Kings Anger, so justly conceived against him. In these Circumstances, he resolved to take a middle Course, between Flight and Surrendring himself, which was, to send Agents to Court, to beg Pardon for his Offences; and to incline the Kings Heart to Lenity towards him. And, for this Service, he chose quiet, moderate, Men, and not at all infected with the same contagious Vil∣lanies, whereof he himself was Guilty; and on that account, not unacceptable to the King; yet notwithstanding, they could obtain no other Answer from him, but That he would hear nothing unless he would put himself into his hands; neither would he Treat with him, as long as he was absent. Alexander cast up all his dangers in his mind, and foreseeing, that he could be safe no where from the Kings Fury, resolved to choose a fit Time and Place, and so to cast himself upon him; for, he thought, he would count it a shame to injure, or punish, an humble Supplicant. Whereupon he comes pri∣vately to Edinburgh, where the King then was, and on the day where∣in our Lord's Resurrection is celebrated with great Solemnity, he threw himself at the Kings Feet, having a Linen Cloak, or Plad, about him, wherewith he was rather covered than cloth'd, and in a Speech composed to procure pity, put himself into his hands, and begg'd his Life and Estate. His Habit, the Place and Time, and so great and sudden a Change of Fortune, did much affect the By-stan∣ders. The Queen and the Nobles, who were present, interceded with the King for him, and did so far incline and affect his Mind, That they were commanded to stay, till their Devotions were ended. In the Interim, the King pondered every thing with himself, and thought it not safe to dismiss so perfidious, potent, and Factious a Person, without any Punishment at all; and yet, on the other side, to make some Gratification to the Request of the Queen, he thought it best to keep him alive, in safe Custody; for, by this means, he might gain an Opinion of Clemency; and also prevent his opportunity to do further Mischief; provide for the security of the Common People; and withal terrify others by his Example. Hereupon he was sent Prisoner to Tintallon-Castle, and his Mother, a fierce Woman, was Banished into the Isle of Inch-colm. For it was thought, That she would have excited him to new Attempts.

The Licentiousness of Alexander being thus repressed, yet all things were not quiet in the Northern Countrys. For the men of Caithnes and Cameron, who, the Year before, had deserted Alexander, fell out grievously amongst themselves; and fought one another with so great eagerness. That many of Caithnes were slain, but the Camero∣nians almost all lost. Also in the Aebudae, where 'twas thought Things would be quiet by reason of Alexander's Exile, yet new Commoti∣ons

were raised by Donald Balock, Cosin-German to Alexander, on pretence to revenge the wrong done to his Kinsman. To quell this Insurrection, Alexander and Alan, both Stuarts; One Earl of Caith∣nes, the Other of Marr, gathered some of their Countrymen toge∣ther, and went into Loch-Abyr to meet Donald, (for the Report was, that he would make his descent there) where they waited his Coming. He, perceiving that they kept no Order, but were without Tents or Guard, in the Fourth Watch landed his men without any Noise, and so set upon them unexpectedly whilst they were half a sleep, and made a great slaughter amongst them. Alan, with almost all his Brigade, was lost there; and Alexander, with a Few, saved his Life by Flight. Donald was exalted with this Success, and so wasted all Loch-Abyr, with Fire and Sword, no man daring to oppose him; but, at length, hearing, That the King was making towards him with a greater Force, he trussed up his large bundles of Pillage, sent them a Shipboard, and returned into the Aebudae. The King marched as far as Dunstafnage after him, and there saw the ruin and fearful devastation which had been made; whereupon he conceived great wrath in his Breast, and was about to pass over into the Islands; but the Chiefs of their Families came with their humble Supplications to him, alleging, That there was no general guilt in the Case, be∣cause nothing had been acted by publick Advice, but all the fault lay at Alexanders own door, and of some indigent and lewd Persons be∣sides, that sided with him. The King answered, he would not ad∣mit of their Excuse, unless they would apprehend the Authors of those wicked Pranks, and deliver them up to him to be punished; when they had promised to do their endeavour therein, the King let some of them go, to find out the Thieves; the rest he kept in the na∣ture of Hostages: Those, who were dismissed slew many of the Thieves, and brought 300 of them Prisoners to the King, (Donald himself, for fear of Punishment, being fled away) who caused them all to be hanged.

This punishment of the Robbers, tho' for the present, it made things a little more quiet in the Aebudae, and the Neighbouring Parts; yet, the unquiet dispositions of some wicked and turbulent Persons would not suffer that Calm to be long-lived. The King, at the de∣sire of his Nobles, had released Two of the Augus's, Duffus, and Murdo, Commanders of the Thieves. These turned their Fury up∣on one another, meeting in equal Numbers (for each of them main∣tained about 1500 Partisans, out of the Rapines of the People.) They fought so obstinately, that there was scarce any one left, on either side, to be Messengers of the Slaughter made; for 'tis said, that, on the one side there were but Twelve, on the other but Nine left alive; so that the King, who was equally Angry with Both, had scarce any left of them to inflict Punishment upon.

And yet their Calamity did not restrain one Macdonald from his wonted Fierceness. He was a noted Robber, born in Ross, whose wicked Disposition was excited by the Impunity of the Former Times; so that he, (as we say) play'd Rex, along time, among his Neighbours. Amongst the rest, they say, he committed one Fact, superlatively Cruel. A Widow-woman being robbed by him,

grievously bemoaned her Case, and ever and anon cryed out, that she would complain to the King; Wilt thou so, says he? Then to the intent thou mayst better compass thy Journy, I my self will assist thee, and so calling a Smith, he caused him to nail Horse-shoes to the Soles of her Feet, and, not contented with that wrong, he added also contumelious and jeering words, telling her, now that she was more fenced against the roughness of the ways, and, in a mockery, he shewed her thus shod to those that passed by. The Woman be∣ing of a fierce and stern disposition, and rather enraged than terrified by his Reproaches, as soon as she was able to go, went to the King, and declared to him the Matter of Fact. The King had heard of the same, before, by others; and he having then the Authors in Prison, bid the Woman be of good chear; for she should speedily see the same Punishment inflicted on the Inventors of it; and hereupon, he caused Mackdonald, and Twelve of his Complices, to be brought out of Prison, and to have their Feet shod with Iron-Nails, and so to be carried Three days about the City, a Cryer going before, and decla∣ring the Cause of this new Punishment; then the Captain was be∣headed, and his Twelve Associates hanged, all their Bodies being set upon Gibbets in the High-ways.

These new Crimes, which a Pardon, once obtained, had not pre∣vented, made the King more eager to find out Donald the Islander. And therefore, being informed that he lay concealed in a Noblemans House in Ireland, he sent Messengers to him to give him up to Pu∣nishment, the Nobleman fearing, that if he should send him away alive, thro' so long a Tract both by Land and Sea, he might possibly make an escape, and then his Maligners might allege, that it was done by his Connivence, caused him to be slain, and sent his Head to the King by his own Messenger. Open Robberies being thus di∣ligently suppressed, the King endeavoured to extirpate some hidden Crimes and evil Customs; and to accomplish this Work; he made choice of eminent Persons, much commended for their Prudence and Sanctity, giving them Power to Travel all over the Kingdom, to hear Complaints; and if their were any Offences complained of to them, which ordinary Judges, either for Fear durst not, or for Fa∣vour and Affection would not, intermeddle with, then They them∣selves should hear the Case, and determine it. And moreover, he added to them, One, who was to correct and rectify Weights and Measures, a Thing very necessary; seeing, then, not only every City, but almost every House, used a different kind of measure; In a Parliament he made wholesome Laws to this purpose, and caused Iron Measures to be set up in certain Places, and sent out one to all Markets and Fairs, who was to regulate all the Measures according to that Standard, and a grievous Punishment was denounced on him, who used any other Measure, than That which was publickly thus Signed and Marked.

Whilst he was Transacting these things for the Publick Good, in the year 1430. the Fourteenth day of October, his Queen was brought a Bed of Twins; and thereupon a publick Rejoycing was made, and the King, to add something to the Popular Mirth, forgave for∣mer Offences to some Noblemen, the Chief whereof, were, Archibald

Douglas, and Iohn Kennedy, who, because they had spoken too rashly and unadvisedly concerning the State and Government of the Realm, were made Prisoners, Douglas in the Castle of Loch-Levin, and Kennedy in the Castle of Sterlin. And, as a farther Testimony of his Reconciliation to Douglas, he made him Godfather (as we call him) at the Baptizing of his Children, which is wont to be ac∣counted a matter of great Honour, and a Testimony of intimate Friendship; and moreover, he made his Son, one of the Knights, which were created in Testification of the publick Joy, on this occa∣sion. The other parts of his Kingdom being thus purged and amend∣ed; he next bent himself to reform the Ecclesiastical State; but the Priests could not be corrected by the Civil Magistrate, for the Kings of Europe having been long engaged in mutual Wars, the Ecclesia∣st••cal Order had, by little and little, withdrawn themselves from their Obedience, and obeyed only the Pope of Rome; and he indulg∣ed their Vices, partly because he gained thereby, and partly because he might make Kings more obnoxious to him, by reason of the great power of the Clergy in their Kingdoms. Whereupon he resolved to prevent their Tyranny the Best and Onely way he was able; for, seeing it was not in his power to amend what was past; nor to Out unworthy Men of those Preferments which they once enjoyed; he thought to provide the best he could for the Future, which was, to set up publick Schools for Learning, and liberally to endow them; because these would be Seminaries for all Orders of Men; and what∣soever was eminent or noble in any Commonwealth, issued out from them, as from a Fountain. Hereupon, he drew Learned Men to him by Rewards; yea, himself would be sometimes present at their Disputations, and when he had any Vacation from Civil Affairs, he delighted to hear the Collations of the Learned, thereby endeavour∣ing to eradicate the False Opinion which many Nobles had imbibed, viz. That Learning drew Men off from Action to Sloth and Idleness, and did soften Military Spirits, either breaking, or, at least, weaken∣ing all their Vigorous Efforts; so that the Study of Letters was only fit for Monks, who were shut up, as in a Prison, and good for no other use. But alas, the Monks, as they had degenerated from the Simplicity and Parsimony of their Ancestors, so they had turned themselves wholly from the Culture of their Minds, to the Care of their Bodies; and Learning was as much neglected by the rest of the Priesthood, also; and especially for this Cause, That Benefices were bestowed on the most slothful and worst Persons of Noblemens Families, which were unfit for other Employments; or else they were intercepted by the Fraud of the Romanists; so that a Parsonage was nothing else but a Reward for some piece of Service, and that ordinarily none of the Best. And besides, there was another Mischief which added much to the Corrupting of Ecclesiastical Discipline; and That was, the Orders of Begging-Friers. These Friers at the beginning pretended greater Sanctity of Life, and so easily imposed upon the People, to hear Them rather than their Parish-Priests, who were commonly gross-bodied and dull-witted. Yea, those Parish-Curates, or Priests, as they grew Rich, did scorn to do their own Work themselves, but would hire These Fryars, (for so they called Themselves) for a

small yearly Stipend, to Preach a Few Sermons, in the year, to the People; In the interim, they withdrew into Cities, and there chaunt∣ed out their idle Songs, as it were, after a Magical manner, not knowing what they said; and there was none of them, that ever hardly looked towards his own Parish, but when Tithes were to be gathered. Yea, and by degrees, they withdrew themselves from this Office of Singing at certain hours in Cathedrals and Churches, too; which, though it were but a light, was yet a daily, Service; and hired poor Shavelings to supply their Places in Singing and Mas∣sifying; and so by muttering and mumbling out a certain Task and Jargon of Psalms, which was appointed every day, they made a collusive kind of a Tragedy, sometimes contending in alternate Verses and Responses; otherwhiles making a Chorus between the Acts, which at last closed with the Image, or Representation, of Christs Death. And the Friers, their Hirelings, on the one side, did not dare to offend their Masters, on whom their Livelihood depended; neither yet, on the other, could they bear their Insolence, conjoined with so much Avarice; so that they pitched upon a middle way, that they might engage them to make easier Payment of their Pensions; they oftentimes bitterly inveighed against their Lust and Avarice before the People, who gave ear to their Doctrine; and, when they had raved enough in their Sermons to keep them in Fear; and also, to conciliate the minds of the Vulgar, they took up, and consulted for themselves also in time, seeing they were also in Ecclesiastical Orders. They told them, that whatever Disorders were, yet the Order of Priesthood was a Sacred thing, and that the Temporal, or Civil, Magistrate, had no Power to punish them; they were only responsible to God and to the Pope, (who had almost equal Power with God) and because, their Avarice encreasing with their Luxury, they thought they should not squeez Gain enough from the People; therefore these Friers set up a new kind of Tyranny, holding forth, in their Sermons, the Merit of Works. Hence arose Purgatory, and the Lustration of Souls (which the Pope was pleased to detain there) by the Sacrifices (forsooth) of the Mass, by the sprinkling of Holy Water, by Alms and Pensions given or offered, by Indulgences, Pil∣grimages, and Worshipping of Reliques; The Friers being exercised in this kind of Bartering Trade and Chaffer, in a little time, claimed the Power to themselves, both over the Living and the Dead, too.

In this ill Condition, Iames, the First, found Church-Affairs in Scotland; and therefore he thought it the most Compendious Way to restore the Old Discipline, if Good and Learned Men were admitted to Benefices. And to Increase the Emulations of Young Scholars, he told the Masters and Governors of Universities and Schools, that, because he himself was hindred by the Publick Affairs of State, so that he could not consider every Students particular Merit, they should therefore be very careful to Commend Learned and Virtuous Young Scholars to him, that he might gratifie them with Church-Preferments; who being thus advanced, might not only be Useful to the People by their Doctrine and Example, but also might assist the Meaner and Poorer sort of those that were designed for Church∣men, with their Substance; and so far to Relieve their Tenuity,

that Good Wits might not be compelled, for Want, to break off their Studies and Course of Learning, and betake themselves to Mecha∣nical, Sordid, or Mercenary, Trades, and Employments. And to the in∣tent, that good Men might, with more diligence, apply themselves to Learning, and the Slothful might know, that their only Way to Preferment was by Virtue, he distinguish't Degrees of Studies, that so he might know who were fit for such or such Promotions; Which Course, if succeeding Kings had followed, certainly we had never fallen into these times, wherein the People cannot endure the Vices of the Priests; nor, the Priests, the Remedy of those Vices. Neither was the King ignorant, that the Church was incumber'd with those great mischiefs, under which it then labour'd, by reason of the Immode∣rate Opulency thereof, and therefore he did not approve the Prodi∣gality of Former Kings in exhausting their Treasury to inrich Mona∣steries, so that he often said, That though David was otherwise the Best of Kings, yet his profuse Piety, so praised by many, was prejudicial to the Kingdom; yet notwithstanding, He himself, as if he had been carry'd away by the Rapid Torrent of Evil Custom, could not with∣hold his hand from building a Monastery, for the Carthusians, near Perth, nor from endowing it with large Revenues. One thing in him was very admirable, that, amidst the greatest Cares for the high Affairs of the Publick, he thought the most inferior and private Matters not unworthy of his Diligence, provided some benefit came to the Publick by them. For whereas Scotland had been exercised with continual Wars, after the death of Alexander the Third, for almost 150 years, wherein her Cities had been so often spoil'd, and burnt, and her Youth generally made Soldiers, so that other Trades were much neglected, he invited Tradesmen of all sorts to come out of Flanders, proposing great Rewards and Immunities to them; by which means he filled his Cities, (almost empty before, in regard the Nobility did usually keep themselves in the Country) with this sort of Artificers, neither did he only restore the appearance of an∣cient Populousness to the Towns hereby; but also ingag'd a great number of Idlers to fall to honest Labour; and hereby it came to pass, that what was with small cost made at home, need not with far greater, be fetch't from abroad.

Yet, whiles he was thus strengthning all the weak parts of his King∣dom, by proper Remedies, he ran into the great dislike and offence of his Subjects, especially for Two Reasons. The one, seem'd light in appearance, yet 'was That, which is the beginning of almost all Calamity to a People. For when Peace was universally setled; Idle∣ness, Luxury, and Lust, to the destruction, first of ones self, then of others, followed thereupon. Hence arose sumptuous Feastings, Drinking Caresses, by day and night, personated Masks, Delight in strange Apparel, Stateliness of Houses, not for necessary Use, but to please the Eye; A corruption of Manners, falsely called Neatness, and, in all things, a general neglect of the Country Customs; so that no∣thing, forsooth, was accounted handsom or comely enough, but that which was New-fangled and Strange. The Commonalty did wil∣lingly cast off the fault of these things from themselves, and laid it on the English Courtiers, who followed the King, and yet they did

not inveigh against such wanton and pleasurable Courses, more bit∣terly in their Words, than they studiously practis'd them in their Lives. But the King obviated this Mischief, as much as he could, both by good Laws, and also by his own good Example, for he kept himself in his Apparel and Frugality, within the rate of the Richer sort of private Men, and if he saw any thing of Immoderation in any part of a Man's Life, he shew'd by his Countenance, and some∣times by his Words, that 'twas displeasing to him. By this means, the course of increasing Luxury was somewhat restrain'd, rather than the new Intemperance extinguisht, and the old Parsimony reduc'd. His other Fault was bruited abroad by his Enemies, and afterwards broke forth into a Publick Mischief. Robert, the King's Uncle, and Murdo his Cosin-German, who had the Regency of the Kingdom for many Years, seeing they themselves aspir'd to the Throne, and yet knew not how to remove Iames out of the way, they did what was next to it i. e. Engage the Affections of Men so to them, that the better sort might have no extraordinary miss of a King; nor any ar∣dent Desires after him, so that they us'd such great Moderation in the management of Affairs,, that their Government seem'd to many, not only tolerable, but very desireable, if Walter, M••rdo's Son, had carried it with a semblable Popularity and Moderation. For they so engaged the Nobles to them, by their Liberality and Munificence, that some injoyed the Lands, belonging to the King, by Connivence. To others they gave them, and, in favour of some particular Men, they Cancell'd Proceedings and Judgments in Law, and restor'd some, who had been banish'd, and, amongst them, one Eminent and Po∣tent Person, George Dunbar, Earl of Merch; who, during his Exile, had done much mischief to his Country; and by this means, they hop'd so to ingage the Nobility, that they would never so much as think of calling home the King; and then, if Iames Dy'd without Issue, the Kingdom would come to them, without any Competitor; but if he should chance to return from his Banishment, yet their Fa∣ction would be so powerful, that if the King bore them a Grudge, yet they were able to defend themselves by force against him; but when the King did actually return, the old Favour and Respect born to the Uncle, seem'd to be quite extinguish'd by the new Injury and Flagi∣tiousness of Murdo, so that, it plainly appear'd, that nothing was more popular than Iustice. And therefore the People were not only consenting, but also contributed their assistance, to the Execution of Murdo, the Father, and his Two Sons; and to the Banishment of of a 3d. So that the King's Revenue was Augmented by the Con∣fiscation of their Estates: and also by the Access••on of the Estates of Iohn Earl of Buchan, who Dyed Childless in France, and of Alex∣der Earl of Merch, who was also Childless, and a Bastard, who Dy'd at home, concerning whom I shall speak a few Words, by way of Digression.

This Alexander was the Son of Alexander, Son to King Robert; In his Youth, by the ill Advice of some bad Men, he turn'd to be a Com∣mander amongst Th••eves▪ but when he came to ••an's Estate, he was so Reform'd, that he seem'd plainly to be quite another Man, so that his Vices gradually decreasing, by the benefit of wholsom Counsel,

he so manag'd things, both at home and abroad, that he left a Memo∣ry behind him, precious to Posterity. For at home, he quell'd the Insurrectio•• of the Islanders at Harlaw, making great Slaughter of them. And so he extinguisht a dangerous War, in the very Rise and Bud, and thô he had great Wealth well gotten, and had bought 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stately S••••ts, insomuch, that he much exceeded his Neigh∣bour••▪ yet he addicted not himself to Idleness or Pleasure, but went with •• good Party of his Country-men into Flanders, where he fol∣low'•• Charles D. of Burgundy, against the Luick-landers; in which War he got both Estate and Honour, and besides, he Married rich∣ly in Holland, and Island of the Batavians, but the Hollanders not being able to bear the Government of a Stranger, he return'd back, and provided a stately Fleet, with great Cost, yet no great Benefit, because it was against Men, who were very well provided, both with Land and Sea-Forces. At length, he set upon their numerous Fleet, returning from Dantzic, which he took and pillaged, and slew the Mariners, and burnt the Ships, so that he repaid the Enemy for the Loss he receiv'd from them, many times over; yea, he so subdued the Fierceness of their Minds, that they desired a Truce for an Hun∣dred Years, and obtain'd it; He also caus'd a Breed of brave Mares to be brought from as far as Hungary, into Scotland, whose Race con∣tinu'd there for many Years after.

These Rich Earls Dying without Issue, Buchan and Marr, their Pa∣trimonial ••nheritances, descended Rightfully to the King. And moreover, he alone injoy'd all the Possessions of the Three Brothers, Sons to King Robert the 2d, by his last Wife; but not without the Grudges of the Nobility (who had been accustomed to Largesses,) that he alone should enjoy all the Prey, without sharing any Part of it amongst them. Further, they conceiv'd another, and fresher Cause of Offence, That the King had revok'd some Grants made by Robert and Murdo, the last Regents, as unjust. Amongst those Grants, There were Two noted ones, George Dunbar, who was Declared a Publick Enemy, was afterwards recall'd by Robert, and part of his Estate restor'd to him. His Son George succeeded him therein, to the Joy of many; who were well pleas'd, that so Ancient and Noble a Family, which had so often deserv'd well of their Country, were re∣stor'd to their Ancient Dignity. But the King, who look'd narrow∣ly (and perhaps, too pryingly) into his Revenue, was of Opinion, that the Power to restore Incapacities, to recal Exiles, and to give back their Goods forfeited for Treason, and so brought into the King's Exchequer, was too great for One that was but a Guardian of another Man's Kingdom, and chosen but as a Tutor only, to Claim and Use; especially, since Largesses made in the Minority of Princes, by the Old Laws of Scotland, might be recalled; if not confirm'd by their re∣spective Kings, when they came to be of Age. And therefore Iames, that he might reduce the Merch-men into his Power, without noise, in regard they were a Martial People, and Borderers upon England, detains George with him, and sends Letters to the Governour of the Castle of Dunbar, Commanding him, on receipt thereof, he should immediately Surrender it up to William Douglas, Earl of Angus, and Alexander Hepborn of Hales, whom he had sent to receive it. Here∣upon,

George complain'd, that he was wrongfully dispossest of his Ancient Patrimony, for anothers Fault; and such a Fault too, as was forgiven by him, who then had the Supreme Power. The King, to pacifie him, and to proclaim his Clemency amongst the Vulgar, be∣stowed Buchan upon him. This Fact of the King's was variously spo∣ken of, as every ones Humour and Disposition led him. And more∣over, there was also another Action, which much hastned his End, the Beginning whereof is to be fetcht a little higher.

I said before, that King Robert the 2d. had Three Sons by his Con∣cubine, he had also Two by his Wife Eufemia, Walter Earl of Athole, and David Earl of Stratherne, yet when their Mother the Queen was Dead, he Married the Concubine afore-spoken of, that so he might, by that Marriage, Legitimate the Children he had by her, and leave them Heirs to the Crown; and accordingly, at his Death, he left the Kingdom to the Eldest of them. To the 2d. he gave great Wealth, and the Regency also. The 3d. was made Earl of several Counties. In this Matter, tho' his other Wif's Children thought them∣selves wrong'd, yet being younger, and not so powerful as they, they smothered their Anger for the present. And besides, their Power was somewhat abated, by the Death of the Earl of Strathern, who left but only one Daughter behind him, afterwards Marry'd to Pa∣trick Graham, a Noble young Man, and one of a potent Family in that Age, on whom he begat Meliss Graham; His Parents liv'd not long after, and the Child, after a few Years, being yet a Stripling, was sent as an Hostage into England, till the Money for the King's Ransom was paid. But the Earl of Athole, tho' every way too weak for the adverse Faction, yet never gave over his Project to cut off his Kindred, nor cast away his Hopes to recover the Kingdom; and be∣cause he was inferior in open Force, he craftily fomented their Divi∣sions and Discords, and invidiously made use of their Dangers, to pro∣mote his own Ends, so that by his Advice that large Family was re∣duc'd to a few. For many were of Opinion, that he gave the Coun∣sel to take off David, King Robert's Son; and Iames had not e∣scap'd him neither, unless he had past a good part of his Life in Eng∣land, far from home; for he gave Advice to the Earl of Fife, that seeing his Brother was a Drone, he Himself should seize on the Kingdom. When the King lost all his Children, and was obnoxious to his Brothers Will, and not long after, dyed of Grief himself; There was only the Regent of the Kingdom, with his Children, that hindred his hopes, in regard, he was an active Man, of great Wealth, Power, and Authority, and moreover, very Popular, and full of Chil∣dren. These Considerations did somewhat retard his Counsels, but when Robert Dyed of a Natural Death, and his Son Iohn was slain in the Battel of Vernevil, then he resum'd his former Project with greater earnestness, and bent all his Mind and Endeavour how to free Iames, and set him at variance with Murdo, and his Children. And seeing they could not, all of them, stand safe to∣gether, which soever of them fell, he foresaw, that his Hope would be advanced one step higher, to the Kingdom. And when Iames was returned into his Country, he turn'd every Stone to hasten Murdo's Destruction, he suborn'd Men fit for the turn, to forge Crimes

against him, and he himself sate Judge upon Him and his Sons. And when they were cut off, there was only Iames left, and one little Son, a Child, not yet 6 Years old. And if he were slain by the Conspiracy of the Nobles, he did not doubt, but himself, who was then the only remaining Branch of the Royal Stock, should be ad∣vanc'd to the Throne. Athole was in these Thoughts Night and Day, yet he conceal'd his Secret Purposes, and made a great shew of Loy∣alty to the King, in helping to rid his Allies out of the way; for that was his only Contrivance, that, by the Offences of Others, he might increase his own Power, and diminish his Enemies.

In the mean time, Meliss Graham (who, as I said before, was gi∣ven in Hostage to the English) was depriv'd of Strathern: because the King making a diligent Enquiry into his Revenue, found, that 'twas given to his Grandfather, by the Mothers-side, upon conditi∣on, That if the Male-Line fail'd, it should return to the King, in re∣gard 'twas a Male-Feo, as Lawyers now speak. This Young Man's Loss, who was absent, and also an Hostage, did move many to Com∣miserate his Case; but Robert his Tutor took it so heinously, that it made him almost Mad. For he, taking the Case of his Kinsman more impatiently, than others, did not cease to accuse the King open∣ly of Injustice, and being Summon'd to Answer for it in Law, he appear'd not, and thereupon was banish'd the Land. This made his fierce mind more enrag'd for revenge, as being irritated by a new Injury; So that he joyn'd secret Counsels with those, who had also their Estates confiscated; or, who took the punishments of their Friends, tho' justly inflicted, in great disdain; or, who accus'd the King as a Covetous man, because he was so intent upon his gain, that he had not rewarded them, according to their Expectations: And besides, he bewailed, That not only many noble Families were brought to ruin, but that the Wardships of Young Nobles, which were wont to be the Rewards of Valiant Men, were now altogether in the Kings hands, so that all the wealth of the Kingdom was almost in one hand, and others might starve for misery and want, under such an unjust Valuer of their labours.

Now that which he upbraided him, concerning Wardships, with, is This, 'Tis the Custom in Scotland, England, & some Countrys of France, that Young Gentlemen or Nobles, when their Parents dye, should remain in the Tutelage of those, whose Feudatarys they are, till they arrive at the age of 21 Years, and all the Profits of their Estates, (be∣sides the Charges necessary for their Education) and also the Dowry given with their Wives, comes to such their Tutors and Guardians. Now these Tutelages, or, (as they are commonly call'd) Wardships, were wont to be Sold to the next of kin, for a great Sum of Money; or sometimes, well deserving men were gratify'd with them; So that they expected Benefit upon the Sale of such Wardships or In∣comes, for a reward by their keeping of them. But now, they were much vex'd, that the King took them all to himself, neither did they conceal their vexation and displeasure. When the King heard of these Murmurings and Complaints, he excus'd the thing, as done by Necessity, because the publick Revenue had been so lessen'd by former Kings and Governors, that the King could not maintain his

Family, like himself, nor be decently guarded and attended, nor yet give Magnificent Entertainment to Ambassadors, without them. Be∣sides, he alleged, that this Parsimony and Care of the King in pro∣viding Money in all just and honest Ways, was not unprofitable to the Nobility, themselves; whose greatest damage was, to have the Kings Exchequer low. For then Kings were wont to extort by Force from the Rich, what they could not be without; yea sometimes, they were forced to burden and vex the Commons too, by exacting Taxes and Payments from them, and that, the Parsimony of the King was far less prejudicial to the Publick, by imposing a Mean to immoderate Donations, than his Profuseness was wont to be, for then he was still forc'd to seize on other Mens Estates, when his Own was consum'd. This answer satisfy'd all those who were Moderate, but those who were more Violent, and who rather sought after occasions of com∣plaint, than were willing to hear any just Compurgation of an im∣puted Crime, were more vehemently enraged by it.

This was the State of Scotland, when Embassadors arrived out of France to fetch Margarit, Iames his Daughter, who had before been betrothed to Lewis, Son of Charles the 7th, home to her Husband; That Embassy brought on another from the English; For seeing that the Duke of Burgundy was alienated from their Friendship, and me∣ditated a revolt, and that Paris, and other transmarine Provinces were up in a Tumult, lest, when all the strength of the Kingdom was drawn out to the French War, the Scots should invade them, on the other side; The English sent Embassadors into Scotland, to hinder the Renovation of the League with France, and the Consumma∣tion of the Marriage, but rather to persuade a perpetual League with them, who were born in the same Island, and us'd the same Language. And if they would do so, and solemnly Swear, That they would have the same Friends and Enemies with the English, then they pro∣mis'd that their King would quit his claim to Berwick, Roxburgh and other Places and Countrys, which were, before, in Controversy be∣twixt the Nations.

Iames referr'd the Desire of the English to the Assembly of the Estates, then met at Perth; where, after a long debate upon it, the Ecclesiasticks were divided into two Factions; but the Nobility cry'd out, That they knew well enough the Fraud of the English; who, by this new League, sought to break their old Band of Alli∣ance with the French, that so when the Scots had lost their Anci∣ent Friend, they might be more obnoxious to them, if, at any time, they were freed from other Cares, and could wholly intend a War with Scotland; and that the liberal Promises of the English were for no other End; but as for themselves, they would stand to their old League, and not violate their Faith, once given. The English, be∣ing thus repuls'd, turn from Petitions to Threats, and seeing they refus'd to embrace their Friendships, they denounc'd War; telling the Scots, that if their King sent over his betroth'd Daughter into France, one that was an Enemy to the English; The English would hinder their Passage, if they could; yea, and take them Prisoners, and their Retinue too, having a Fleet ready fitted for that purpose. This Commination of the Embassadors was so far from terrifying

Iames, that he rigg'd his Navy, and Shipped a great Company of Noblemen, and Ladies, for her Train, and so caus'd his Daughter to set Sail sooner than he had determin'd, that he might prevent the designs of the Engl••sh. And yet notwithstanding all this precaution, it was God's Providence, rather than Man's Care, that she came not into the Enemies hand; for, when they were not far from the Place, where the English, concealing themselves, waited for their Coming; behold! upon a sudden, a Fleet of Hollanders appear'd, laden with Wine from Rochel to Flanders. The English Fleet made after them, with all their Sail, (because the Burgundian, being a little before re∣conciled to the French, did oppose their Enemies with all his might) and being nimble Ships, they quietly fetcht them up, being heavy laden and unarm'd, and as easily took them; but before they could bring them into Port, the Spaniards set upon them unawares, and took away their Prey, and sent the Flandrians safe home. Amidst such changeable Fortune betwixt Three Nations, the Scots landed at Rochel, without seeing any Enemy: They were met with many No∣bles of the French Court, and were brought to Tours, where the Marriage was Celebrated, to the great Joy and mutual Gratulation of Both Nations.

Upon this Occasion, the English Writers, especially Edward Hall, and he, that pilfers from him, Grafton, inveigh mightily against Iames, as Ungrateful, Perfidious, and forgetful of Ancient Courtesys, who, being Nobly entertain'd among the English for so many Years, honoured with a Royal Match, and large Dowry; and besides, re∣stor'd to Liberty, from a long Imprisonment, suffer'd all these Obli∣gations to be post-pon'd, and preferr'd the Alliance with France, before That with England; But the thing it self doth easily refute their Slan∣ders. For, First, their Detaining of him, when he landed on their Coast, being against their League, and also the Law of Nations, 'twas a Wrong, not a Courtesy; Next, as to their not killing him, but putting him to a ransom for Money, rather than imbrue their hands in the Blood, not of an Enemy, but of a Guest, That was at∣tributable not so much to their Love or Mercy toward Him, as to their Covetous and avaritious Minds; and grant, there were any Courtesy in it, yet what was it other, but like that of Thieves, who would seem to give the Life, which they took not away? and, if he were ingag'd to the English on that account, 'twas a private, not publick, debt. As for their bestowing Education upon him, who was Innocent, by reason of his Age, a Suppliant by his Fortune, and a King by Descent, tho' most unrighteously detain'd, it bears, in∣deed, some shew of Humanity, which, if they had neglected, they might have been justly blamed; and indeed it had been a commen∣dable piece of Kindness, if the Injury going before, and the Cove∣tousness following after, had not marr'd it; unless you will say, that if you purposely wound a Man, you may require him to give you thanks for his Cure, and so you imagin a light Compensation for a great Loss, is to be esteem'd as a Courtesy; or, because you have done some Part of your duty, that, therefore you should expect the Reward, in full, of a benefit, bestowed on another. For, he that takes Care that his Captive should be Educated in Learning, either for his

own pleasure; or that he may yield him a better Price, thô some advantage accrue hereby to the Party educated, yet the Master doth not aim at the Good of the Slave, in his Institution, but at his Own. But (says he) the King honoured him with the Marriage of his Kinswoman, and thus the Royal Young Man was as Royally b••st••wed. But, what if that Affinity were as honourable to the Father, as the Son in Law? He would else have Marry'd her to a private Man, but now he made her a Queen, and ingrafted her by Marriage into that Family, on which the Famousest of the English Kings had of∣ten before bestowed their Children, and from whom so many For∣mer Kings had descended. But, he gave a very large Dowry with her; To whom, I pray, was it given, but to the English themselves, who took it away, before it was paid, and made a shew of it in Words to the Husband, but, indeed, kept it for their own use? so that the Dowry was only spoken of, not given; and so spoken of, That they would have the Young Man, whom they also had otherwise grie∣vously wrong'd, much indebted to them, that he carried his Wife away with him, without a Dowry. But, they sent him home a Freeman, say they; Yes, as a Pyrate doth Discharge his Captive, when his Ransom is paid: But how free, I pray? Even if we may believe the English Writers themselves, under the inforc'd Obligation of an Oath, always to obey the English King, as his Lord, and so to bring a Kingdom, which he did yet injoy, into a perpetual Ser∣vitude, which if he had actually injoyed he could not alienate; and yet he must mancipate it, forsooth, before he received it. This is not to set one free, but to turn him loose with a longer Chain, and that, not as a King, but as a Steward only, or Vicegerent of a∣nother man's Kingdom. I forbear to urge, that they compell'd a man in Captivity, and as yet under the Power of another, to make a Promise; yea a promise of That, which he could not perform; nei∣ther could he compel those to perform it, who had Power so to do. This is that high piece of Liberality, which, they say, Iames was un∣mindful of: But let us suffer these unskilful Writers, and forgetful of all Moderation and Modesty in their Stories, to account Profits receiv'd as Courtesys given; How great must we think, That Liberty of falsifying, or else Desire of evil Speaking, to be, which they use against the Daughter of the aforesaid King? For (whereas such men, otherwise impudent enough, had nothing to allege against her Man∣ners) they write, that she was unacceptable to her Husband, be∣cause of her stinking Breath? Whereas Monstrelet, a Contemporary Writer of those days, doth affirm, that she was very faithful and beautiful, and he who wrote the Pluscartin Book, who accompanied that Queen, both at Sea, and at her Death, hath left it on Record, that as long as she lived, she was very dear to her Father and Mo∣ther in Law, and to her Husband, too; as appeared by the Inscrip∣tion and Epitaph, in French Verses at Chalons, by the River, Matrona, where she dyed, which sound much to her Praise, 'twas then pub∣lished, and afterwards turned into the Scotish Lingue, which some of our Country men have by them, to this day. But I will leave these Men, who do so calumniate other mens Credits, and neglect their Own, that they care little, what they say of others, or what others think of them, and return to the Matter.

When the King, having been at Charge to rig out his Navy, had try'd to exact a Tax from the People, and the greatest Part plainly refused to pay a Penny, a Few paid a small matter, and that grudgingly too, he commanded his Collectors, to desist from levying the rest, and to restore what they had already received. And yet he did not hereby shun the clamours of the People, for some male∣volent Persons, who were angry for some private loss, did daily in∣cite seditious Persons and Innovators against him. At the same time, the English began to prey upon Scotland, both by Land and Sea, un∣der the Command of Percy, Earl of Northumberland; William Dou∣glas, Earl of Angus was sent to encounter him, with near an Equal number of men, for they were about 4000. on either side; of the Scots, there fell Alexander Iohnston of Lothian, a Noble Person, and of known Valour, some Write that 200. others, that only 40 were slain of both Armies, and about 1500 English taken Prisoners.

Iames having been twice provoked by the English, First, by their Fleet, which lay in wait to intercept his Daughter; and Next, by the late spoiling of his Country, resolves to proclaim open War a∣gainst them; whereupon he listed as great an Army as he could, and made a fierce assault on Roxburgh, and, in a short time, he expected the Surrender thereof, when, behold, the Queen came posting to him in as long Journys, as ever she was able to make, to inform him of a sad Message, which was, that there was a grievous Conspiracy form'd against his Life, and unless he took special Care, his Destru∣ction was at hand. The King, being dismay'd at this sudden news, Disbanded his Army, and return'd home, but was very ill spoken of amongst the Vulgar, because, just upon the point of Surrender, at the beck of a Woman, he retir'd after the Kingdom had been at so much charge and trouble; so that, he seem'd to have sought for nothing by his Arms, but Disgrace. After he return'd, he went to the Monast'ry of the Dominicans, near the Walls of Perth, to make a private enquiry into the Conspiracy, as well as he was able; but his design was smelt out, by Men, that Watcht all opportunities to do mischief; for one of the Kings Domesticks, who was in the Plot, (Historians call him Iohn, but his Sirname is not mentioned) dis∣covered to his Complices, what was doing at Court, so that, they hastned the matter, lest their secret Caballs should be discovered, and Remedies apply'd against them. Walter, Earl of Athole, the Kings Uncle, tho' he were the Ring-leader of the Conspiracy, yet did what he could to avert all Suspicion from himself; He sent for his Kinsman, Robert Graham, (of whom I have spoken before) as fit for Execution, but rash in Counsel, and who bore an old grudge to the King, because of his former Imprisonment and Banishment, and also upon the account of his Brothers Son, (to whom he was Guardian, in his hope) who had Strathern taken from him; he joyns with him Robert his Nephew by his Son, an active Young Man, he informs them, what he would have them to do, and that when the Deed was done, he should be in high Authority, and then he would provide for their Safety well enough; they freely promise to do their Endeavour, and accordingly hasten to perpetrate the Fact, before the whole Series of the Plot was made known to the King.

Hereupon they privately gathered their Company together, that so, knowing the King had but a few about him in the Monast'ry of the Dominicans, he might with as little noise as might be cut him off; and that they might surprize him unawares, they advise Iohn his Servant, above-mentioned, whom they had drawn to their Party, to be assistant to them; according to his promise, he brings the Con∣spirators in the midst of the Night into the Court, and placed them pri∣vately near the Kings Bed-Chamber, and shews them the Door, which they might easily break, in regard he had taken away the Bar there∣of; Some think, that they were received into the Palace by Robert, Nephew of the Earl of Athole.

In the mean time, whilst they waited there, being solicitous how to break the Door, which they thought would be their greatest Ob∣stacle, Fortune did the Work without their Helps, for Walter Stra∣ton, who, a little before, had carried in Wine, coming forth, and perceiving Men in Arms, endeavour'd to get in again, and cry'd out with as loud a Voice as he could, Traitors, Traitors. Whilst the Conspirators were dispatching him, a noble young Damsel, of the Family of the Douglas's, as most say, tho' some write She was a Lovel, shut the Door, and not finding the Bar, which was fraudu∣lently laid aside by the Servant, She thrust her Arm into the Hole or Staple, instead of a Bolt, but they quickly brake that, and so rusht in upon the King. The Queen threw herself upon his Body, to de∣fend him; and when He was thrown down, She spread Herself over him, and after She had receiv'd Two Wounds, She could hardly be pluckt off. And then, when he was left of all, they gave him 28 Wounds, and some of them just in his Heart, and so kill'd him. Thus this Good King came to his End, (and that a most Cruel one too, and much lamented by all Good Men) by the Conspiracy of most wicked Assassins and Robbers; when his Death was divulg'd by the Noise and Lamentation which was made, a great Concourse of People came presently into the Court, and there spent the rest of the Night (for the Paricides had made their Escape in the dark) in Be∣wailings and Complaints. There, every one spake variously accord∣ing to their several Dispositions, either bitterly, to raise a greater Odi∣um against the Parricides; or, lamentably, to increase the Grief of their Friends; each Man reckon'd up what Prosperities, or Adver∣sities, he had undergone. In his Childhood, he was expos'd to the Treacheries of his Uncle; and endeavouring to escape them, he was precipitated into his Enemies hands▪ Afterwards, his Father died, and the rest of his Youth was spent in Exile among his Enemies. Then Fortune chang'd, and he had an unlook'd for Restoration; and after his Return, in a few Years, he Govern'd so, that the tur∣bulent State of the Kingdom was chang'd in a Calm and Serene One. And again, having a suddain Mutation of Affairs. He, whom his Enemies had spar'd abroad, was now slain by the Treachery of his Kindred at home; and that in the Flower of his Age, and in the midst of his intended Course, to settle good Laws and Customs, in his Kingdom. And besides, they gave him his deserved Elogies for all his Virtues, both of Body and Mind, for Mens Envy was extin∣guish'd towards him, now he was dead. For tho his Bodily Sta∣ture

was scarce of a full size, yet he was robust and strong; so that he exceeded all his Equals in those Exercises, wherein Agility and Manhood use to be shewn; and as to his Mind, he was endued with that quickness and vigor of Wit, that he was ignorant o•• no Art, worthy the Knowledge of an Ingenious Person; yea, he could make plain Latin Verses, according to that Age, Ex tempore; Some Poems of his, written in the English Tongue, are yet extant, in which there appears excellency of Wit, tho' perhaps, some more polite Learn∣ing be wanting in them; he was excellently well skill'd in Musick more than was meet or expedient for a King; for there was no Mu∣sical, or Singing, Instrument, but he could readily Play thereon, and Tune his Voice so, that he might have been compar'd with the best Masters of that Art, in those Days. But, perhaps, some will say, These are but the Flowers of his Studies, where is the Fruit? These are more for Ornament, than Instruction or Use, to strengthen a Man for doing of Business: Know then, that, after he had Learn'd other Parts of Philosophy, he was also skill'd in Politicks, concern∣ing the Regulation of Kingdoms, and of Mens Manners. How Great, and how Ripe, Civil Abilities were in him, doth sufficiently appear, by the order of the Matters perform'd by him, and by the Laws which he made; whereby he exceedingly benefited, not only his own Age, but even Posterity also. And his Death declar'd, that there is nothing more Popular than Justice; for they who were wont to detract from him, whilst he was alive; now he was dead, had most flagrant Desires after him. Insomuch, that the No∣bles, as soon as they heard he was Murder'd, came in of their own ac∣cord, from their respective Countries, and, before a Tryal was ap∣pointed, they voluntarily sent out into all Parts, to apprehend the Murderers, and bring them to Justice; very many of them were taken. The Principal of them were put to new and exquisite kinds of Death. The rest were hang'd. The Chief Heads in perpetrating the Wickedness, were reckon'd to be, Walter, Earl of Athole, Robert his Nephew by his Son, and their Kinsman Robert Graham; the Punish∣ment of Walter (because he was the Chief Author, and Instigator, of the who••e Plot) was divided into Three Days Suffering. In the 1st, he was put on a Cart, wherein a Stork-like Swipe or Engine was erect∣ed, and by Ropes, let through Pullies, was hoisted up on high, and then the Ropes being suddainly loos'd, he was let down again, almost to the Ground, with grievous pains, by reason of the Luxation of the Joints of his Body. Then he was set on a Pillory that all might see him, and a Red-hot-Iron-Crown set on his Head, with this Inscription, that he should be called King of all Traitors. They say, the cause of this punishment, was, that Walter had been sometimes told, by some Female Witches, (as Athole was always noted to have such) That he should be Crown'd King in a mighty Concourse of People; for, by this means that Prophecy was either fulfill'd or eluded, as indeed, such kind of Predictions do commonly meet with no other Events. The Day after, he was bound upon a Hurdle, and drawn at an Horse-Tail thro' the greatest Street in Edinburgh. The 3d Day, he was laid along upon a Plank in a conspicuous Place, and his Bow∣els were cut out, whilst he was alive, cast into the Fire, and burnt be∣fore

his Face, afterwards, his Heart was pulled out, and cast into the same Fire, then his Head was cut off, and expos'd to the view of all, being set upon a Poll in the highest Place of the City. His Bo∣dy was divided into Four Quarters, and sent to be hang'd up in the most noted Places of the best Cities of the Kingdom. After him, his Nephew was brought forth to suffer, but, because of his Age, they would not put him to so much pain; and besides, he was not the Author, but only an Accomplice in another Man's wicked Design, as having Obey'd his Grandfather therein; so that, he was only Hang'd, and Quarter'd. But Robert Graham, who did the Deed with his own Hand, was carried in a Cart thro' the City, and his Right Hand was nail'd to a Gallows, which was set up in the Cart, and then came Executioners, which did continually run Red-hot-Iron Spikes into his Thighs, Shoulders, and those Parts of his Body, which were most remote from the Vitals; and then he was Quarter'd, as the former. After this manner was the Death of Iames vindicated, 'tis true, 'twas a cruel one, but 'twas reveng'd by Punish∣ments so Cruel, that they seem'd to exceed the very bounds of Huma∣nity; for such extreme kinds of Punishment do not so much restrain the Minds of the Vulgar, by the fear of Severity, as they do make them wild to do, or suffer, any thing; neither do they so much deter wicked Men from committing Offences by their Acerbity, as they lessen their Terror, by often beholding them; especially, if the Spirits of the Criminals be so hardened, that they flinch not at their Punishment. For among the unskilful Vulgar, a stubborn Confidence is sometimes prais'd for a firm and stable Constancy. Iames departed this Life on the Beginning of the Year 1437. the 12th day of February, when he had Reign'd 13 Years, and in the 44th year of his Age: So great diligence was us'd in revenging his Death, that within 40 Days, all the Conspirators were taken and put to Death. He left one Son, the younger of the Twins, halfe of whose Face was Red, as if it had been Blood-shotten.

Notes

• April 20.
• 〈…〉〈…〉 Scotl••nd, ••∣bout 〈…〉〈…〉
• The King re∣mits one halfe of his Ransom-Tax.
• Several Scots Nobles impri∣soned.
• Others 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• Murdo brought to his Trial.
• The Ancient manner of Trying No∣bles in Scot∣land.
• Murdo, &c. found Guilty, and Beheaded.
• Embassadors from France to Scotland, about Peace and a Marri∣age.
• K. Iames the First, his pros∣perous Begin∣nings.
• Free 〈◊〉〈◊〉 punished by the King.
• Alexander the Islander, ••ise•• in Arm••
• But is suppres∣sed.
• Easter.
• And submits to the Kings Mercy.
• Donald B••l••ck makes an In∣surrection.
• But is quelled.
• Tories fall out among them∣selves.
• Mackdonald a Free-booter.
• His Cruelty to a Woman,
• Retaliated on himself and his Followers.
• Donald's Head sent to the K. from Ireland.
• The King re∣forms Publick Manners.
• He also recti∣fies Weights and Measures.
• His Queen brings forth Twins.
• Do••gla•• and Kennedy re∣leased from Prison.
• He reforms the Ecclesiastica•• Estate;
• Which was Wofully dege∣nerated and corrupted.
• He Erects Publick Schools, and is present him∣self at their Disputations▪
• Parish Priests and Begging Friers the Causes of the Decay of Ec∣clesiastical Discipline, with the Man∣ner, how.
• King Iames aims to prefer only Worthy Persons to Be∣nefices and Church Pre∣ferments.
• He invites Tradesmen out of Flan∣ders.
• Luxury and Prodigality, the trust of Idleness.
• Robert and Murdo affect the Throne.
• Murdo and his Sons put to Death.
• The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and his Exploits.
• Exceptions ta∣ken against Iames.
• A Castle stand¦ing upon the T••ne, 3 Miles below Ha∣dington.
• The Dispute between K. Robert's Legiti∣mate, and Na∣tural Chil∣dren, occasion great Trou∣bles.
• The Earl of Athol's Ambi∣tion.
• A Town of Normandy in France.
• Plots against Iames.
• Upon the Ac∣count of Wardships &c.
• Embassadors from France and England, to Scotland.
• The Scots joyn with the French against England.
• Iames Marries his Daug•••••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 o•• France, and sends her thi∣ther.
• A Stately City on the L••••r.
• The English Writers im∣puting Perfidi∣ousness to Iames, are blamed by this Author, and their Reflecti∣ons upon him Wiped off.
• In Champaign in France.
• A Fight be∣tween the S••••ts and Eng••ish.
• Iames enters England, but retires up∣on notice of a Conspiracy formed against him by his own Kindred.
• K. Iames Cru∣elly Assassina∣ted.
• His Death highly lament∣ed, with his Laudable Cha∣racter.
• Earl of 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ and other of K. Iames's Murderers Tortured and Executed.
• Descants upon such severe Executions.