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

The Fourteenth BOOK.

THIS was the State of Affairs in Scotland, when Iohn Duke of Albany arrived at Dunbarton, on the 20th day of May, in the Year of our Salvation 1515, with the exceed∣ing gratulation of all good Men. For, under his Govern∣ment, they hoped for more quiet Times, and an equal distribution of Justice. In a full Assembly of the Nobility, called in his Name, he had a large Revenue settled upon him; he was made Duke of Albany, Earl of March, and Regent, till the King came to be of Age.

Moreover, Iames, the Natural Son of the late King, was made Earl of Murray, a young Man of such virtuous Endowments, that he far exceeded all the hopes Men had conceived of him. There was also one Fact, which much enhaunsed the estimation of Iohn, and it was done almost in the Face of the Assembly, and that was the punishment of Peter Muffat. He was a notable Thief, who, after many cruel & nefarious Pranks, plaid by him, in the Two last licenti∣ous Years, arrived at length to that audaciousness, that he appeared openly at Court: His unexpected Punishment made such a suddain change of Things, that Criminals began to withdraw for shelter: The Minds of the Good were erected, and the Face of Things be∣gan soon to be changed, from a stormy Tempest to a suddain Tranquillity.

In the mean time, Iohn Hepburn had so insinuated himself into the Regent, by the help of his Friends, whom he had privately greased in the Fist; and afterwards by his obsequiousness, and pre∣tence of knowing the old Customs of the Country, he got his Ear, who of himself was ignorant of Scotish Affairs, insomuch that none was credited, in Matters of great Moment, but He alone; He was sent abroad with Commission, by the Regent, all over Scot∣land, to inquire into Their Offences, who oppressed the Vulgar, and made them as their Slaves. He obtained that Office principally upon these Grounds; First of all, he acquainted the Regent, What new Discords and old Fewds there were in every County; and al∣so, what Factions there were, and who were their respective Heads: Hitherto his Relations were true, for the Things were known to all. But if any Occasion were offered to speak of Hume, he stirr'd up some to complain of his Enormity; so that by the Imputation, partly of True, and partly of Feigned, Crimes, the Regent's Ears

were shut against all Defence, he could make. But when he had al∣most gone over the whole Kingdom, and expresly declared the Al∣liances, Affinities, and Leagues which had interceded between each several Family; and had persuaded the Regent, That no Man of Power, tho' a Criminal, could be punished without the Offence of his Clans; and that, not so much for the Enmity and Conspira∣cies of their Kindred, as, that the Punishment reaching to a few, yet the Example would extend to a great many more; whom a similitude of Faults, and a like fear of Punishments, out of Ene∣mies would make Friends; so that these great and large spreading Factions were not able to be punished by the Force of Scotland, on∣ly; and therefore it was adviseable to desire an Auxiliary Strength from the King of France, to break this Knot of Contumacious Of∣fenders; and that this would be of use to France, as much as to Scotland. In the mean time, the Heads of the Factions were to be kept under, and (if it were possible) taken off, yet with that prudence, that they might not think too many of them to be aimed at at once. The Heads of the Factions at present were Three; of them, Archibald Douglas was wonderfully popular, insomuch that the Vul∣gar doted on him: His Name was much adored, by reason of the great Merits of his Ancestors; besides, he was in the flower of his Youth, and relied so much on his Affinity with England, that he bore a Spirit too big for a private Man. As for Hume, he was formidable of himself, and yet rendred more so, because he was confirmed in his Power by length of Time. Neither did he stop here, but made an invidious commemoration of what the Hume's had acted against the Regent's Father and Uncle; of all which, tho' the Hepburns were partakers, yet he cast the Odium upon the Hume's only: He often mentioned his Cowardise in the last Bat∣tel against the English; and the Talk abroad about the King's Death reflecting upon him, together with the repairing of Nor∣ham Castle, which was done by his connivance; these things he repeated with great earnestness before the Regent. As for Forman, (says he) 'tis true, he was not to be feared upon the account of his Kindred, or any Nobleness of Descent, yet he would make a great accession of strength to what Party soever he inclined, because all the Wealth of the whole Kingdom was gathered together (as it were) into one House, for he was able to supply the present Want of the Party he sided with, with Mony; or else, by his Promises, (all Things being then in his Power) he could draw many into the Partnership of the same Design with himself. This was Hepburn's Speech to the Regent.

The noted Fewds, that had passed between Hepburne and For∣man, were the Cause, that Hepburne was not so much believed, in that part: And besides, his Estate was not so much to be envied, for he rather loved to lay it out, than hord it up; neither was he so munificent to any, as to the French that waited on the Regent; and besides, his desire was more to join all Parties in an universal Concord, than to addict himself to any one Faction. But the suspicion of the Lord of the Marches sunk deeper into the Re∣gent's Mind, which was manifest by the aversion of his Mind from

him; and because his Countenance was not so friendly to him, as before: So that after a few Months, Alexander Hume, perceiving that he was not entertained by the Regent answerable to his hope, began to have secret Meetings with the Queen and her Husband: In those Congresses, Hume grievously lamented the State of the Publick, that the King, in that Age wherein he could not under∣stand his own Misery, was fallen into the Hands of an Exile, one born and brought up in that Condition; who, by a wicked Am∣bition, had endeavoured to rob his Elder Brother of the Kingdom: And, He being the next Heir, Who did not see that all his Endea∣vours were, to settle other Things according to his Mind, and then to pack the innocent Child out of the World, that He might translate the Kingdom to himself; that so, what his Father had im∣piously designed, he himself might as wickedly accomplish? There was but one Remedy in the Case, and that was, for the Queen to retire with her Son into England, and there to put her Self and Concerns into the Protection of her Brother.

These things being brought to the Regent's Ears, were easily believed by him; but, being a Man of an active Spirit, and of quick dispatch in Business, with those Forces which he had ready about him, he prevented their Design, for he took the Castle of Sterlin, and the Queen in it; He took the Oath of Allegiance to the King publickly, by the Decree of the Nobles; the Queen and the Douglasses were removed, and Three of the Nobility, of great estimation for their Faithfulness & Integrity, were joined with Iohn Erskin Governor of the Castle, to preside over the Education of the Young King; they were to succeed one another by turns, and he allowed them a Guard for their Security; upon this, Hume and his Brother William fled into England. And Douglas and his Wife staid no longer behind them, but till they knew Henry's Mind, who commanded them to stay at Harbottle in Northumberland, till his Pleasure was further known.

Iohn, the Regent, was very much concern'd at all their depar∣tures, and therefore he presently sent Embassadors into England, to acquit himself before Henry, that he had done nothing, why the Queen should fear him, or be in the least disaffected towards him; neither had he acted any thing against those, who accompanied her in her Flight and Departure, but that they might enjoy their Country, their Freedom, and, if they pleased, their Estates. Thus publickly he wrote to the King: But besides that, he did not omit secretly to promote the return of the Hume's and Douglas, by the mediation of their Friends; he made them many large Promises, till he had brought them over to his Will. Whereupon, the rest re∣turned Home; but the Queen being big, and near the Time of her Delivery, was constrained to stay there, where she brought forth a Daughter named Margaret, of whom in due place: But as soon as she was able to travel, she had a Royal Accommodation and Re∣tinue sent from London to bring her up thither, where she was ho∣nourably and nobly received by Henry, her Brother, and Mary, her Sister, (who upon the death of her Husband, Lewis of France, had a little before returned into her own Country.

And yet the Suspicions before raised in Scotland, were not much abated, either by the departure of the Queen, or by the return of some of her Retinue: For Gawin Douglas, Uncle to the Earl of Angus, Patrick Pantar, Secretary of State to the former King, and Iohn Drummond chief of his Family, were sent to several Prisons and banished. And (a) Alexander Hume was summon'd to appear before the Assembly of Estates, on the 12th day of Iuly, in the Year of Christ 1516; but he, not appearing, was condemned, and his Goods confiscate. He was inraged at this contumelious Wrong, (for so it was in his Eye) and to drive out one Fear by another, he either sent in, or else incouraged, Tories, to commit great Outrages upon the Neighbourhood: Whereupon the States order'd the Re∣gent to raise Ten thousand Horse and Foot, to repress those Inso∣lencies, and either to take Hume, or else drive him out of the Country. But before it came to Blows, Hume, by the persuasion of his Friends, surrendred himself to the Regent, and so was con∣veyed to Edinburgh, to be a Prisoner under Iames Hamilton Earl of Arran, his Sister's Husband, who was to be esteemed as a Traitor, if he suffer'd him to escape; but the Issue of that Matter fell out otherwise than any Body expected, for Hume persuaded Hamilton to escape away with him, and to make a Party, and so to enter on the Government Himself, he being the next Heir after the former King's Children, in regard he was born of a Sister of Iames the Third; and therefore it was more equitable, that he should enjoy the next Place to the King, than Iohn, who, 'tis true, was also the Son of a Brother, but born in his Banishment; and in all other things a perfect Foreigner, one who could not so much as speak the Scotish Language.

When the Regent heard of this, he went to take in Hamilton's Ca∣stle, and, placing his Brass-Guns against it, had it surrendred in two Days. In the mean time Hume made Excursions out of Merch, and pillaged the Country about, and at length burnt down a great part of the Town of Dunbar. These were the Transactions of that Year.

At the beginning of the Spring, Iohn Stuart, Earl of Lennox, whose Mother was Hamilton's Sister, join'd himself, with a great many of his Friends and Vassals, to the Rebels. These seiz'd upon the Castle of Glasgoe, and there they staid with Hamilton him∣self, expecting the Regents coming. The Regent had called a Council of the Nobles of his Party at Edinburgh, and there rais'd a suddain Force, and entred Glasgoe Castle; one Gunner, a French-Man, was punish'd as a Deserter; the rest were pardon'd by the in∣tercession of Andrew Forman, who was then a Mediator for Peace between them. The Earl of Lennox, a few days after, was re∣ceiv'd into Favour, and from that day forward carry'd it with great Faithfulness and Observance towards the Regent. And not long after, first Hamilton, and then the Hume's, return'd to Court, and had an Amnesty for what was past; it was granted to Hume with greater difficulty than to the rest, because he had rebelled so often; and an express Condition was added, that if he offended another time after that, the memory of his old Crimes should be again re∣vived,

and charged upon him. Peace being thus setled, the Regent retired to Falkland, where he staid some Months; but hearing of great Suspicions against Hume, he returned to Edinburgh. And on the 24th day of September held a Council of the Nobility, where he endeavoured, by his Friends, to draw Hume to Court. Large Promises were made to intice him so to do; but many of his Party dissuaded him; or, if he himself were resolved to go, yet he should leave his Brother William (who by his Valour and Munificence had almost obtained as great, or a greater Authority than himself) at Home, in regard the Regent would be afraid to use any high Seve∣rity against him, as long as his Brother was alive; but he being, as it were, hurried on by a Fatal Necessity, slighted the advice of his Friends; and, with his Brother William, and Andrew Car of Farni∣hurst, came to Court, where presently they were all clapt up in se∣veral Prisons. And, by the advice of the Council, a few days after, were tried, for their Lives, after the Country Custom. And yet there was no new Fact urged against them, Prince Iames, Earl of Murray, accused him for the Death of his Father, who came alive off the Field, as many Witnesses did prove. This Fact was strongly urged, but the Proofs were weak, so that they gave it over, and in∣sisted only on his private Crimes, and the many former Rebellions were objected, of all which Alexander was either the Author, or at least Partaker in them; and moreover, 'twas alleged, that he did not do his Duty in the Battel of Flodden.

Hereupon, the Hume's were condemn'd, Alexander had his Head struck off the 11th of October, and his Brother, the Day after; both of their Heads were set up on an high place, as a Terror to others, and their Estates were confiscate. This was the end of Alexander Hume, the powerfullest Man in Scotland of his Time. He, in his Life-time, had raised up the Hatred and Envy of a great many Men against him; yet, those Prejudices in time abating, his Death was variously spoke of, and so much the more, because he fell not, for the perpetration of any new Crime, but merely by the Calum∣nies (as 'twas thought) of (c) Iohn Hepburn, the Abbat. For he, being a Factious Man, and eager of Revenge, bore an implacable Hatred against Hume; because, by his Means alone, he was disappointed of the Arch-Bishoprick of St. Andrews: So that, tho he had stifled his old Hatred for a Time, yet, 'twas believ'd, he push'd on the Re∣gent (who of himself was suspicious enough of, and disaffected to, the Hume's) to the greater Severity against him, by telling him, how dangerous it would be to the King and all Scotland, if he, at his going into France, should leave so fierce an Enemy alive behind him. For, what would he not attempt in his Absence, who had despised his Authority when present? So that the Contumacy of the Man, which could not be lenified by Rewards, Honours, nor by frequent Pardons, had need be conquered by the Axe, if he would ever keep Scotland in quiet. These and such like Insinuations, up∣on pretence of consulting the publick Safety, being buzz'd into the Ears of a Man disaffected to them before, contributed more to the Destruction of the Hume's, (in the Judgment of many) than any of their Crimes. When the Hume's were put to Death, (d) Andrew Car

obtained the Respite of one Night, to provide for his Souls Health; but, by means of his Friends, and especially a French-man his Keeper, it was suspected, upon the payment of a good Sum of Money down upon the Nail, he made his Escape.

Alexander Hume left three Brothers behind him, who all met with various Misfortunes in those Days; George, for a Murder he had committed, lay private, as an Exile, in England: Iohn, Abbat of Iedburgh, was banished beyond the Tay: David, the youngest, Prior of Coldingham, about two Years after the Execution of his Brothers, being called forth by Iames Hepburn, his Sisters Husband, upon pre∣tence of a Conference, fell into an Ambush, laid purposely for him, and was slain, being much pityed by all; that an innocent young Man, of so great hopes, should be betrayed so unworthily by one, who had little reason so to do. When Severities and Punishments had thus ranged over the whole Family of the Hume's, at last it fell to their Enemies share, and especially to Iohn Hepburn's, who had been so severe an Exactor of the unjust Punishment of others; yet the Destruction of one Family, once so powerful, brought such a Pannick Fear upon all the rest, that Matters were the quieter a great while after. The next December, the Regent brought the King from Sterlin to Edinburgh, and then he desired leave of the Nobility of Scotland to return into France; every one, almost, was against the Motion, so that he was forced to stay, till late in the Spring, and then took Shipping, promising speedily to return, in case any more than ordinary Commotion should arise, which requi∣red his Presence. For the Government of the Kingdom, in his Ab∣sence, he left the Earls of Angus, Arran, Argyle, and Huntly, the Arch-Bishops of St. Andrew's and Glasgoe, to whom he added An∣thony Darcy, a French-man, Governour of Dunbar, who was injoined to correspond with him, and to inform him of all Passages in his Absence. And that no Discord might arise, out of an ambitious Principle, between such Great and Noble Personages, by reason of their Parity in the Government, he allotted to each of them their se∣veral Provinces. Darcy, the French-man, the rest condescending thereunto, had the chief Place amongst them, Merch and Lothian being appointed to be under his Government. The other Provinces were distributed to the rest, according to each Man's particular Conveniency. Mean while, the Queen,(f) about a Year after she had been in England, near the end of May, returned to Scotland, and was attended by her Husband from Berwick: But they lived not to∣gether, so lovingly, as before.

The Regent, at his Departure, to prevent the budding and growth of Sedition in his Absence, had carryed along with him, either the Heads of the noblest Families, or else their Sons and Kindred, (upon a pretence of doing them Honour, but, indeed, as Pledges) into France: And he had sent others of them into different and remote parts of the Kingdom, where they had as 'twere but a larger Pri∣son. He had also placed French Governors in the Castles of Dunbar, Dunbarton, and Garvy, yet a Commotion arose, upon a slight occa∣sion, whence it was least feared, or dreamt of.

Anthony Darcy had carried it with a great deal of Equity and Prudence in his Government, especially in restraining of Robberies. The first Tumult in his Province, which tended to any thing of a War, was made by William Cockburn, Uncle to the Lord of (g) Langton; he had driven away the Guardians of the young Ward, and had sei∣zed upon the Castle of Langton, relying principally on the power of David Hume of (h) Wederburn, whose Sister Cockburn had married. Thither Darcy marched with a sufficient Guard, but they Within re∣fused to surrender the Castle; and moreover, David Hume, with some few nimble Horse, riding up to him, upbraided him with the cruel Death of his Kinsman Alexander; the (i)French-man, partly dis∣trusting his Men, and partly confiding in the Swiftness of the Horse he rode upon, fled towards Dunbar; but, his Horse falling under him, his Enemy overtook and slew him, and set up his Head in an eminent place on Hume-Castle; he was slain the 20th of September, in the Year 1517.

Whereupon, the other Governours had a Meeting, and fearing a greater Combustion, after this terrible beginning, they made the Earl of Arran, their President, and committed George Douglas (Brother to the Earl of Angus, upon Suspicion of his being privy to the Murder newly committed) Prisoner to Inse Garvy-Castle: They also sent to the Regent in France to call him back into Scotland, as soon as ever he could. About the same time, some Seeds of Dis∣cord were sown, between the Earl of (k) Angus, and Andrew Car of Farnihurst, by reason of the Jurisdiction over some Lands which did belong to the Earl, but Andrew alleged, he had Power to keep Courts in them: The rest of the Family of the Car's sided with the Earl, but the Hamilton's took part with Andrew, which they did, more out of hate to the Douglas's, than for any Justice Car had, for his Pretensions; so that both Parties provided themselves against the Court-day, to run a greater hazard than the matter they strove a∣bout was worth. And Iohn Somerval, a noble and high-spirited young Man, of the Douglas's Faction, set upon Iames, the Natural Son of the Earl of Arran, on the Way, and slew five of his Reti∣nue, putting the rest to flight, he also took above thirty of their Horses.

When an Assembly was summoned to be held at Edinburgh, April the 29th, 1520. The Hamiltons alleged, that they could not be safe in that City, where Archibald Douglas was Governour; where∣upon, (l) Douglas, that he might not impede publick Business, about the end of March, resigned up his Government, of his own accord; and Robert Long, a Citizen of Edinburgh, was substituted in his Place. The Nobility of the (m) West part of Scotland, of which there were very many, had frequent Meetings in the House of Iames Beton, the Chancellor; their Design was, to apprehend the Earl of Angus, for they alleged, that his Power was too great and formi∣dable to the Publick; that, as long as he was at Liberty, they should have no freedom for Debate, or Resolution. And Opportunity seemed to favour their Design; for he, having now but a few of his Vassals about him, might be easily surprized, before his Kindred came in to his Assistance. When he perceived what was agitated

against him, he sent his Uncle Gawin, Bishop of Dunkelden, to them, to pacify them, whom, he said, he had provoked with no Injury, and to desire them to manage the Dispute without force of Arms; for, if they could make out any just Complaint against him, he was wil∣ling, in Equity, to give them all due Satisfaction. But his Speech profited not, or being made to Men prepossessed, fierce, puissant, and greedy of Revenge. And therefore Gawin could obtain no good Terms from them, but returned to Angus, and acquainted him with the Arrogance of his Enemy, and then caused his whole Family to follow the Earl; He himself, being a Priest, and infirm too, by rea∣son of Age, retired to his own Lodging. Some think, he did this to upbraid the unseasonable Pride of the Chancellor, who, when he ought to have been a Promoter of Peace, flew armed up and down, like a Fire-brand of Sedition. (n) Douglas, seeing there was no hopes of Agreement, exhorted his Men rather to die valiantly, than, like Dastards, to hide themselves in their Lodgings, from whence (to be sure) they would soon be pluck'd out by the Ears, to their Deaths; for their Enemies had stopp'd all Avenues and Passages, so that not a Man of them could get out of the City: All that were there pre∣sent, assented to what he had spoken; and thereupon he and his Par∣ty, being clad in their Armour, seized upon the broadest Street in all the Town. He had about fourscore in his Train, but all stout re∣solute Men and of known Valour. They divided themselves into the most convenient places, and so set upon their Enemies as they came out of several narrow Alleys, at once; the first they slew, and drove the rest back, tumbling one upon another with a witness. The Earl of Arran, who commanded the opposite Party, with his Son Iames, got to a Ford and made their escape by the North-Lough; the rest ran several ways for shelter to the Convent of the Domini∣cans. Whilst these things were acting, there was a mighty Com∣bustion all over the Town; and, in the midst of the Bustle, Willi∣am, Angus's Brother, enters the City, with a great Party of his Clan-ship. When Douglas had got this Accession to his former Strength, tho there were abundance of his Enemies in the Town, yet he made a Proclamation, by a Trumpeter, that none should dare to appear in the Streets, with Arms about them, but his Friends and Party. Those that desired Passes to depart quietly, had them easily granted; there went out, in one Company, about 800 Horse, (besides those who had taken their Flight, before) with greater Ig∣nominy than Loss. For there fell not above 72, but amongst them, were Men of Note, as the Brother of the Earl of Arran and Eg∣lington's Son. This was done the 30th day of April, 1520. To revenge this Disgrace, the Hamilton's besieged Kilmarnock (a Ca∣stle in Cuningham); Robert Boyd, a Friend of the Douglas's, com∣manded it, but they soon left it, without effecting any thing. The next Year, Douglas came to Edinburgh, on the 20th of Iuly, bringing with him the Hume's, which had been banished, and there he took down the Heads of Alexander and William Hume, which had been set up on Poles. The whole five (o) Years, that the Regent was absent, were very full of Tumults, there was no end of pillaging and kil∣ling, till his Return, which was Octob. 30. 1521. Upon his Arrival, he

resolved to abate the Power of the Douglas's, in order to the quieting of those Seditions, which had hapned in his absence. The Earl of Angus, Head of that Family, he sent into France; he caused the Pope, to call over his Uncle, the Bishop of Dunkelden, to Rome, to purge himself there from some imputed Crimes; who, the Year after in his Journy to Rome, fell sick of the Plague in London, and died: His Virtues were such, that he was very much lamented; for, besides the splendor of his Ancestry, and the comliness of his Personage, he was Master of a great deal of Learning, (as for those Times) and being also a Man of high prudence, and singular Mo∣deration, even in troublesome Times, he was much esteem'd, in point of Faithfulness and Authority, even by contrary Factions; he left behind him considerable Monuments of his Ingenuity and Learning, written in his Mother-Tongue The next Year after the return of the Regent, a Parliament was held, and an Army levyed, appointed to rendevouz at Edinburgh, on a set day; whither they came accor∣dingly, and pitch'd their Tents in the Fields, near Rosselin, none knowing upon what Service they were to be put; but at last an Herauld proclaim'd,(p) that they were to march towards Annandale; a great Punishment being denounced on those, who refused so to do. The rest of the Army marched, obediently enough, to the River Solway, the Boundary of Scotland, only Alexander Gordon, and his Party, staid behind three Miles, backward, further from England: When the Regent heard of it, he came back to him the next Day, and brought him up to the Camp: There he called the Nobles and chief Commanders together, and shewed them many great and weighty Reasons, why he invaded England, on that side. But a great part of the Nobility, by the Instigation of Gordon, who was their Senior,(q) and of greater Authority than them all, wholly re∣fused to set Foot on English Ground; whether out of Disaffection to the Regent; or else, (as they pretended) that 'twas not for the Interest of Scotland, so to do. The specious Pretences, cast abroad amongst the Soldiers, pleased them well enough; for if they had levyed an Army in favour of the French, lest the English might bring their whole Strength upon them, it was sufficient for that purpose, only to make a shew of War; but, if the Interest of Scot∣land were considered, Matters were not well setled at home, and their King was but a Child; so that, 'twas most adviseable for them, at that time, only to be on the Defensive, and to keep their own Country in quiet; for, if they should march forward, the blame, even of fortuitous Miscarriages, might be laid to their charge, and an account of such their Misfortunes might be required at their Hands, in a very short time. Lastly, tho they were never so wil∣ling to march forward against the Enemy, and so to slight the common Danger, as well as to overlook their own Concerns at Home; yet they were afraid the Scots would not be obedient to Command in an Enemies Country; great heed therefore was to be taken, lest, by Emulation, Envy, or late Disgusts, some notable Affront, or shameful Loss, might be received. The Regent, per∣ceiving it in vain to oppose, was fain to yield; yet, that he might not seem to have acted a Pageantry only, with such vast Preparati∣ons

in marching his Army, as far as the Solway, he suborned a fit Person, who used to traffick into England, to acquaint Dacres, then Lord Warden of the English Marches, that some good might be done, if he did treat with Iohn the Regent. He willingly heark∣ned to the Proposal, because he was unprovided for Defence, ne∣ver imagining, that the Scots would have made an Irruption into England on that side; nor, indeed, scarce believing, that they would have made any such Attempt at all. Whereupon he sent an Herauld of Arms, and had a Passport to come and go, with safe∣ty, into the Camp. The next Day, Thomas Dacres and Thomas Mus∣grave, with about twenty more brave Cavaliers, came to the Re∣gent's Tent; where they had private Discourse together, all alone, each having their Interpreters. Dacres, being taken unprovided, was not averse from a Peace; and the Regent, not being able to effect any thing, without the Consent of his Army, clapt up a Truce; and thus an hopeful Introduction to a Peace was made, and so they parted. Those of the Scots, who were the greatest Hinde∣rances of the Action, to avert the blame from themselves, spread a∣broad Reports, that Dacres had bought a Peace from the Regent, for a Sum of Money, of which, Part was in Hand paid, the rest pro∣mised, but never paid. Thus they endeavoured to disparage the Conference, amongst the Vulgar.

The Regent went again, on the 25th of October into France, but promised to return before August the First, next ensuing; yet, he kept not his Day, because he was informed, that the English had a Fleet to intercept his Passage; however he sent 500 Foot in the Month of Iune, both to incourage the Scots, and also, as an Earnest of his speedy return; they never saw the Face of an Enemy, in all their Voyage, till they came near the Isle of May, which is scituate in the Firth of Forth, there they fell among the English Ships, who lay in wait, in those Straits, to stop their Passage. There they had a sharp Fight, and the French boarded their Enemies Ships, but with the loss of their Admiral. When he was slain, the Sea-men would not obey the Captains of the Foot, and the Land-Souldiers, being ignorant of Sea-Affairs, could not command the Mariners; so that, after a great slaughter of the English, they could scarce be forced back into their own Ships.

In the absence of the Regent, Thomas Howard, Earl of Surry, was sent, with ten thousand Men, and a great many Voluntiers, into Scotland: His Advantage was, that the Scots were at Discord amongst themselves, their chief Magistrates were absent, and they were under no certain Command, so that he march'd over Merch and Teviotdale, and took the Castles of both Shires, to the great loss of the Nobles, yea, and of the Commons too (who used upon sudden Invasions to secure themselves, and their Goods, in those Forts.) But Scotland did then labour with such intestine Discords, that no Man thought his Neighbours Calamity did at all belong to him; the English march'd up and down, for several Months, where they listed, without any Opposition; and when, at length, they retrea∣ted, the adjacent Scots endeavoured, in some sort, to revenge them∣selves for their Losses received, and thereupon daily Incursions

were made by them into Northumberland, and great Booties gained from thence; so that Howard was sent against them a second time, who took Iedburgh (a Town unfortified, as the Scots Custom is,) but it cost him some toil, and loss of Men. Whilst these Things were acting in Teviotdale, the Horses of the English Army were so terrified in the Night, ('tis not known, upon what occasion) that about 500 of them broke their Bridles, running up and down the Camp, and overturning all that were in the way; some of the Sol∣diers they trampled down and trod upon; and then ran out into the open Field, as if they had been mad, and so became a Prey to such of the Country Scots, as could take them up. Hereupon, there was a great Consternation in the whole Camp, all crying out Arm, Arm, neither could the Tumult be appeased, till the next Morning. Three days after, the English, without making any further At∣tempt, disbanded their Army, and returned Home.

The Duke of Albany, knowing, that all the Ports on the French Shore were way-laid, by the English, to intercept him in his Re∣turn; being inferior in Strength, resolv'd to piece it out by Strata∣gem; whereupon, he kept not his Navy together in any one Port, but so dispersed them into several Harbours, (here one Ship, there another) that there was no appearance at all of any Warlike Prepa∣ration: And besides, he quartered his Soldiers in the Inland-Coun∣try, that no Body could imagin, he designed to ship them; so that the Admiral of the English Fleet, who waited to disturb his Passage, till the 13th of August, was weary to rove up and down in the Sea any longer, to no purpose; and, understanding by his Spies, that there was neither Fleet, nor Army, on all the French Coasts, he withdrew his Fleet, as supposing, Iohn would not wag, till the next Spring. The Duke of Albany, being informed of the Depar∣ture of the English, presently drew together his Navy of 50 Ships, aboard of which were 3000 Foot, and an 100 Curiasiers; and so, after the Autumnal Aequinox, he set sail from France, and by the 24th of September made the Isle of Arran in Scotland, which hap∣ned to be the same day, wherein the English burnt Iedburgh.

I shew'd before, how miserable the State of Affairs in Scotland was, the last Summer. The Nobles were at variance one with ano∣ther; the English wasted all the Countries near them; they were Masters of the Sea, and thereby all hopes of Foreign Aid were cut off. The Design of the Enemy herein, was, to take down the Pride of the Scot, and, by Sufferings, to incline him to a Pacificati∣on; neither were those Scots that were adverse to the French Fa∣ction, less addicted thereto, for they earnestly desired a perpetual Peace with England; of which Faction, the Queen was the Chief. For when Hume was taken off, Douglas pack'd away, and the other Nobles were judg'd rather fit to follow, than to lead, in the Ma∣nagement of Matters; all those that were not Favourers of the French Interest, applyed themselves to the Queen. She, on the other side, to gratify her Brother, and also to draw the Power into her own Hands, dissembled her private Ambition, and exhorted them, saying, that now was the time to free their young King, who was almost of Age, from the Bondage of a Stranger; and also, to

deliver themselves from the same Yoke; for the Queen now labour∣ed to strengthen her Party against her Husband, whom she long be∣fore began to disgust: Besides, the King of England sent frequent Letters, stuft with large Promises, to the Nobles of Scotland, de∣siring them, to promote his Sisters Designs: He told them, it was not his Fault, that there was not a perpetual Amity between the two neighbouring Kingdoms; and that he, with others, did much desire it at this time; not for any private end of his own, but to make it appear, that he bore a respect to his Sister's Son, whom he was resol∣ved to support, and gratify, as much as ever he was able. And if the Scots would be persuaded to break their League with France, and to strike in with England, they should quickly find, his aim was not Ambition, but Love and Concord only. That Mary, his only Daughter, being married to Iames, by that Affinity, the Scots would not come over to the Government of the English, but the Eng∣lish to That of the Scots. That Enmities as great as theirs, had intervened betwixt Nations, heretofore, which, yet, by Alliances, mutual Commerce, and interchangeable Kindnesses, had been whol∣ly abolish'd and extinct. Moreover, he reckon'd up the Advantages, or Inconveniencies, which might accrue to either Nation, by this Union with each other, rather than with the French; as, that they were one People, born in the same Island, brought up under the same Climate, agreeable one to another in their Language, Manners, Laws, Customs, Countenance, Colour, and in the very Lineaments of their Bodies; so that they seemed rather to be one Nation than two: But as for the French, they differed from them, not only in Cli∣mate and Soil, but also in the whole course of their Conversations. Besides, if France were an Enemy, she could do no great damage to Scotland; and, if a Friend, yet she could not be highly advantage∣ous; as for the Assistance of England, That was near at Hand; but French Aid, was much more remote, there was no Passage for it, but by Sea; and therefore, it might be prevented by Enemies, or else hindered by Storms. They were therfore desired to consider, how inconvenient it was for the management of Affairs, and how unsafe for the Publick, to hang the hopes of their, and the Kingdoms, Safety, upon so unconstant and variable a thing, as a blast of Wind. How much they might expect from absent Friends, against present Dangers, may be easily perceived by the Actions of the last Summer, wherein the Scots not only felt, but even saw with their Eyes, how the English did baffle them, being forsaken by their Friends, and came upon them with all their Strength, ready to devour them; but the French Aid, so long looked for, was kept back by the English Navy, in their own Harbours.

These were the Allegations for a Peace with England: And not a few, being convinced thereby, inclined thereunto; but Others ar∣gued to the contrary, for there were Many in that Assembly, whom the French had brib'd; and some, who had got great Estates out of the publick Losses, for fear they should lose them, did abhor the thoughts of Peace. There were others, who suspected the readiness and facility of the English, in making such large Promises, especially since matters in England were manag'd, for the most part, at the

will and pleasure of Thomas Woolsey, a Cardinal, a Man wicked and ambitious, who referr'd all his Designs to his own private Advan∣tage, and the inlargement of his Power and Authority; and there∣fore he accommodated them to every turn of the Wheel of Fortune, as men say. All these did equally favour a League with France, tho induced thereunto on different Grounds. They alleged, that the sudden Liberality of the English was not free and gratuitous, but done out of Design; and that This was not the first time, that they had us'd such Arts to intrap the unwary Scots. For Edward the First, (said they) when he had sworn and obliged himself, by all the Bonds of Law and Equity, to decide the thing in Dispute, and therefore was chosen Arbitrator by the Scots, had, most injuriously, made himself King of Scotland; and of late Edward the 4th had betrothed his Daughter Cicely to the Son of Iames the 3d; but when the young Lady grew up to be marriageable, and the day of Con∣summation thereof almost appointed, he took the opportunity of a War, which arose upon the account of our private Discords, and so broke off the Match: And that the English King aim'd at nothing else now, but to cast the tempting bait of Rule before them, that so he might make them really Slaves; and, when they were desti∣tute of Foreign Aid, might subdue them at his Pleasure, and una∣wares, with all his force. Neither was that Position a true one, wherein the contrary party did pride themselves, That an Allyance near at hand was better than one farther off; For causes of Dissension would never be wanting among those which were near; which were oftentimes produc'd, even by sudden chances; and sometimes, great Men would promote them, upon every light occasion; and then the Laws of Concord will be prescrib'd by him, who hath the longest Sword. That there was never such a firm and sacred Bond of Friendship, between Neighbouring Kingdoms, which, upon occasions offer'd, or fought for, was not often violated; nei∣ther could we hope, that the English would more refrain now from violating such a League, than they formerly did, against so many Kings of their own Blood; 'tis true, the Sanctity of Leagues, and the Religion of an Oath for the faithful Performance of Pacts and Agreements are firm Bonds and Ingagements to good Men; but amongst those which are bad, they are but as so many Snares and Gins, and give only opportunity to deceive; and such an Oppor∣tunity is most visible in a Propinquity of Borders and Habitations, in the Sameness of a Language, and in a Similitude of Conversa∣tion. But if all these things were otherwise, yet, (proceeded they) there are Two things to be regarded and provided for: First, that we reject not our old Friends, even without an hearing, who have so oft well deserv'd of us. The other, that we do not here spend our time in Quarrels and Disputes, especially about a Business, where∣in nothing can be determin'd, but in an Assembly of all the Estates of the Kingdom. Thus stood the Inclinations of those of the French Faction; and so they obtain'd, that no Determination should be made, till they receiv'd certain News of the French Supplies.

When the return of the Regent was made known, it mightily rejoiced his Friends, strengthned the wavering, and kept back

many, who favour'd the League with England, from complying with it. He sent his Warlike Provisions up the River Clyde to Glas∣goe, and there muster'd his Army; He also publish'd a Proclama∣tion, that the Nobility should attend him at Edinburgh, where he made an elegant Speech to them, commending their Constancy in maintaining their ancient League, and their Prudence in rejecting the perfidious Promises of the English: He highly extolled the Goodwill, Love, and Liberality of Francis, the French King, to∣wards the Scots; and exhorted them, to lay aside their private Ani∣mosities and Fewds; and, seeing foreign Aid was come into them, to revenge their Wrongs, and to repress the Insolence of their Ene∣my, by some notable blow. Hereupon, after his Souldiers had re∣fresh'd themselves, and the Scots Forces had joined them, he march∣ed towards the Borders, whither he came the 22d of Octob. But being about to enter England, and having already sent part of his Forces over a Wooden Bridg, which was at Mulross, the Scots made the same Pretences, as they did in the former Expedition at Solway; and refus'd to enter England, so that he was forc'd to recal that party, which he had commanded over; and pitching his Tents a little below, on the left side of the Tweed, endeavour'd to storm the Castle of † Werke, scituated over against him, on the right side of the River. In the mean time, the Horse that had pass'd over the River, beset all Passages, that no Relief could come to the Besieged, they als•• ••aged with Fire and Sword against all the Country there∣abou•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •• he Description of ‖ Werke Castle is this: In the inner Cour•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉, there is a very high Tower, well fortifi'd, it is com∣pass'd with a double Wall; the outward Wall incloses a large space of Groun•••• (whither the Country-People were wont to fly in time of War, and to bring their Corn and Cattle, with them, for Safe∣guard) the inner Wall is narrower, but trench'd round about, and better fort••fi'd with Towers built thereon. The French took the outward Co••rt by Storm, but the English set Fire to the Barns, and the Straw 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was in them, which made such a Smoke and Flame, that they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them out again. For the next two days, they batter'd the inner Wall with their great Guns; and after they had made a Brea••h wide enough for Entrance, the French again at∣tempted the matter, and valiantly storm'd at the Breach they had made; but they in the inner Castle, being yet safe, darted down all sorts of Weapons upon them, and they lay expos'd to every Blow; so that having lost some few of their Men, they were beat back to their Army, and so returned over the River. The Regent perceiving that the Minds of the Scots were averse from Action; and also ••earing for certain, that the English were coming against them with a numerous Army; their own Writers say, no less than 40000 fighting Men; and besides, that 6000 more were left to de∣fend Berwick, a Neighbour-town: The 11th of Novemb. he removed his Camp to a Nunnery, called Eccles, about six Miles distant from his present Encampment; thence at the 3d Watch he marched by N••ght to Lauder; both Horse and Man were much incommoded in their March, by the sudden Fall of a great Snow. The same Storm occasion'd the English also to disband, and return home, without

effecting any thing. The rest of the Winter was quiet enough.

At Spring, the Regent, in an Assembly of the Nobles, told them the Causes, why he must needs go again into France, but he promised them to return, before the 1st of September next follow∣ing. And moreover, he desired them, that, during his Absence, the King might remain at Sterlin, and that they would make no Peace or Truce with the English, before his Return; as also, that they would innovate nothing in the Government. They promised him faithfully to obey his Commands; and thus on the 14th of May, He, and his Retinue set Sail for France. In his absence, the Reins were let loose, every Man's Will was his Law, and a great deal of havock was made, and Mischief done, without any Pu∣nishment at all; whereupon the King, though but a Child, by the advice of his Mother, and the Earls of Arran, Lennox, Crawford, and many other of the prime Nobility, came from Sterlin to Edin∣burgh, and on the 29th of Iuly, by the Counsel of his Nobles, whom he had convened at his Palace of Holy-rood-house, he took upon him the ‖ Government of the Kingdom; and the next day, caused them all to swear Fealty to him, a second time; and, to shew that he had actually assumed the Administration of matters into his own Hands, he discharged all publick Officers; but a few days after he restored them to their places again.

There was a great Assembly of the Nobles held on the 20th Day of August, that so he might vacate the Power of the Regent, which he had now taken upon himself; and so went in great Pomp (as the manner is) into the publick Hall of the Town; only the Bishops of St. Andrews and Aberdene dissented, alleging, That they ought to stay till the first of September, at which time the Regent had promis'd to return; whereupon they were imprison'd. But they reveng'd themselves with their own Church-weapons, and excommunicated all of their Diocesses. However, in about a Month or two after, they were reconcil'd to the King, and restor'd to the same place in his Favour, which they held before.

About the same time † Archibald Douglas, who, as I said before, was sent into France, sent Simon Penning, an active Man, and much trusted by him, to the King of England, to persuade him to give him the liberty of returning home through his Dominions, which was granted. For Henry was well enough pleased at the Di∣minution of the Authority of so active a Person, as the Duke of Albany; and at the Change which was made in Scotland, so that he entertained the Earl courteously, and dismiss'd him very honoura∣bly. But his Return did variously affect the Minds of the Scots: For seeing all publick Business was transacted under the Conduct of the Queen, and the Earl of Arran; a great part of the Nobility, the Heads whereof were Iohn Stuart Earl of Lennox, and Calen Cambel Earl of Argyle, taking it in great Distaste, that they were not admitted to any part of the publick Administration, received Douglas with high Expressions of Joy, as hoping, by his Aid, either to gain over the Power of the adverse Faction to themselves, or, at least, to abate their Pride. On the other side, the Queen, who, as I said before, was disaffected towards her Husband, was much

troubled at his coming, and sought by all means to undermine him. And moreover Hamilton, out of the Relicks of his old Hatred, was none of his Friend; besides, he fear'd, lest Douglas, who he knew would not be content with a second place, should mount the Saddle, and make him truckle under; so that he strove to main∣tain his own Dignity, and opposed him with all his Might. They kept themselves within the Castle of Edinburgh, and tho they knew very well, that many of the Nobility affected Alterations; yet, trusting to the Strength of the Place, and the Authority of the Kingly Name, (tho it were but a sorry Defence, in those Circum∣stances) they thought themselves secure from Force. ‖ The ad∣verse Party had a great meeting of the Nobles, where they chose Three of their own Party to be Guardians of King and Kingdom, Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus; Iohn Stuart, Earl of Lennox; and Calen Cambel, Earl of Argyle; they made great haste in their business: First, they passed the Forth, and caused Iames Beton, a pru∣dent Man, to join with them, who, perceiving the Strength of the Party, durst not resist. From thence they went to Sterlin, and conferr'd all publick Offices and Employments on the Men of their own Faction, only; and from thence they came to Edinburgh, which they entred without Force, for it was not fortified at all. They cast up a small Trench against the Castle, and besiedg'd it. The De∣fendants had made no Provision for a Siege, and therefore soon sur∣rendred up both It and Themselves. All but the King were sent away, so that now the whole weight of the Government lay upon the Shoulders of those Three Associates; who agreed among them∣selves, That they would manage it by turns, each of them attend∣ing four Months apiece on the King. But this Conjunction was not hearty, neither did it last long. Douglas attended the first four Months, who brought the King into the Archbishop of St. Andrews House, and made use of all the Bishop's Houshold stuff, and other Accommodations, as if they had been his own; (for he had a lit∣tle before revolted from their Faction) and to engage the King to him the more, he suffer'd him to wallow in all kind of Pleasure; and yet he obtain'd not his End neither, in regard the King's Do∣mesticks were corrupted by the adverse Faction, headed by the Queen and Hamilton.

The first Grudges at Court brake forth, upon the account of di∣stributing Ecclesiastical Preferments; for the † Douglasses drew all to themselves; George Creighton was translated to the Bishoprick of Dunkelden: The Abby of Holy Rood in the Suburbs, which was left by him, Douglas gave to his Brother William, who had now for 5 years forcibly held That of Coldingham, about six Miles from Berwick, af∣ter the Murder of Robert Blacketer, the former Abbat: For Robert Blacketer, Robert's Cousin-german, had the Abby bestowed on him by the Pope, with the Consent of Iohn, the Regent. He had also commenced a Suit against Iohn Hume, an Intimate of the Earl of Angus's, and Husband to his Sister's Daughter, about the whole an∣cient Estate of the Blacketers. And therefore Patrick being unable to cope with the Douglasses, suffer'd his Estate to be made a Prey to his Enemies, and reserv'd himself for better times amongst his

Mother's Kindred, far from those Counties, which were obnoxious to the Faction of the Douglasses. They, on the other side, though they did not much value Patrick, yet having the Supreme Power in their Hands, and being unwilling to incur the Blot of invading other Mens Rights by mere Force, made use of Friends, to proffer him some kind of Amends and Satisfaction; he, shewing himself inclinable to an Agreement, even tho he remitted part of his Right, had thereupon a Pass, and the publick Faith given him by Douglas, to come to Edinburgh, which he did, only with a small Retinue, and unarm'd; and not far from the Gates of the City he was set upon by Iohn Hume, who lay in Ambush for that purpose, and slain. As soon as the Noise of the Fact was spread over the City, many mounted their Horses, and pursued the Murderers some Miles, in order to their apprehension; but, understanding that George Douglas, Brother to the Earl, was in their Company, and many more of Douglas's Faction, with the Kindred of Hume, not knowing with what intent they came out, whether to catch, or to defend, the Murderers, they desisted from their Pursuit; whereup∣on strange Reports were divulged abroad concerning the Douglasses.

As for Calen Cambel, he had already withdrawn himself from the Triumvirate; and the Earl of Lennox, though he followed the King, yet, in regard the Douglasses drew all Offices of publick Advantage to themselves, he gave many Testimonies of his Dislike, and that his Mind was quite alienated from them. But they, be∣ing confident of their Power, slighted the Reports and ill-will of others; mean while, the King, though he were us'd more indul∣gently than was fit, that so his infirm Spirit might be the longer in Subjection to them; yet notwithstanding, by little and little, grew weary of their Government, being also alienated from them by his Domesticks, who laid to their charge Actions, some true, some false, and interpreted the doubtful in the worst sense; whereupon, he held secret Cabals with such as he could trust, con∣cerning vindicating himself into his Freedom and Liberty: Nei∣ther was he afraid to open the Secrets of his Heart to Iohn Earl of Lennox, one of his Nobles; for, besides his other Virtues of Mind and Body, he was an honest and fine-spoken Man, and excellently compos'd to conciliate and win upon Men, by a natural Sweetness of Manners and Deportment: Him he made privy to his Designs; and whilst they were consulting concerning the Time, Place, and Manner of it's Accomplishment, Douglas was making many Ex∣peditions against the Banditty, but with no great Success; at length, about the end of Iuly, he resolv'd to carry the King into Teviotdale, as supposing, that his presence would be advantageous, by striking a Terror into the Licentious. Thus an Assembly being held at Ied∣burgh, the King call'd together all the Heads of the chief Families round about, and commanded them to apprehend those Criminals, every one within his own Precinct, of which he then gave them a List: They willingly and industriously obey'd this Command, so that, the Heads of the Thieves were many of them put to Death, and Others were spared in hopes of Amendment. Thus, whilst the Minds of all were very merry and jocund; they, who had a de∣sign

to free the King from the Pupillage of the Douglasses, thought that a good opportunity to effect it, because one Walter Scot, li∣ving not far from Iedburgh, had great Clanships in the Counties thereabouts. The manner of the accomplishing their Project was thus laid; Walter was to invite the King to his House, and there he was to remain with his own good liking, till greater Forces came in, at the Noise of the thing: But their Design seem'd to be disco∣vered, either by Chance, or upon some private Intimation. Where∣upon the King was carried back to Mulross. Yet Walter was not discouraged, but proceeded on strait in his Journy to the King: when he was but a little way off, frightful News were brought to the Douglasses, that Walter was at hand, well-arm'd, and a great Troop of arm'd Men accompanying him. So that there was no doubt to be made, but he, being a factious Man, and withal, good at his Weapon, did intend some Mischief; insomuch that they all presently ran to their Arms. Douglas, tho inferior in number, yet knowing that the Men he had of his own, were choice ones; and besides that, he had several valiant Persons of the Family of the Carrs and Humes's in his Train, with Iohn Hume and Andrew Carr their Principals, resolv'd to put it to a Battel: In the very nick of time, George Hume had almost spoil'd all, who, when Douglas com∣manded him to alight from his Horse, and manage his part in the Fight; answered, He would not so do; no, not if the King himself commanded him. They fought eagerly and couragiously on both sides, as Men who had their King (the price of the Combat) their Spectator. Iohn Stuart stood near the King, without striking a Stroke, only as a Spectator of the Fight.

After a sharp Encounter, Walter was wounded, and then his Men gave ground: but the Joy of the Douglasses Victory was much al∣layed by the Loss of Andrew Carr, who for his singular Virtues was, equally lamented by both Parties. Upon the account of his being slain, there ensued a perpetual Feud between the Families of the Carrs and the Scots, which was not ended without Blood. From that time forward, Iohn Stuart, who carried himself as a Neuter in the Fight, being afore suspected by the Douglasses, was now account∣ed their open Enemy, so that he departed from the Court. These things were acted Iuly 23. in the Year 1521.

The Douglassians, perceiving themselves subject to the Envy of ma∣ny, sought to strengthen their Faction by new Acquists; and there∣fore they made up the old Breach betwixt them and the Hamiltons, a Family much abounding in Wealth, Power and Number, but re∣mote from Court. Them he admitted into part of the Govern∣ment. On the other side, ‖ Iohn Stuart had the advantage of being highly favoured by most People; and having also privately obtain'd the King's Letter to the chief of the Nobility, who, he thought, would have kept his Counsel, he mightily strengthened his Party. And therefore in a Convention of his Faction at Sterlin, where were also present Iames Beton, some other Bishops, and many Heads of the noblest Families; he openly propounded to them the Design of asserting the King to his Liberty. This was unanimously agreed to, and tho the Day for mustering their Forces was not yet

come; yet, hearing that the Hamiltons were gathered together at Linlithgow to intercept their March, it was judged adviseable to attack them, before they join'd with the Douglasses; and accordingly with the present Force which he had, he marched directly towards them: But the Hamiltons having Intelligence that Iohn would march out of Sterlin that Day, early in the Morning had called the Douglassians out of Edinburgh, to their Assistance, before. But the King, besides other Obstacles, did somewhat retard them, by pretend∣ing himself not well; so that he rose later out of his Bed that day, than ordinary; and besides, he march'd very slowly; and upon the way would often turn aside to ease Nature, as if he had been troubled with a Lask. And when George Douglas had in vain flattered him, to make more haste, at last he brake forth into this menacing Ex∣pression, Sir, said he, Rather than our Enemies should take you from us, we will lay hold on your Body; and if it be rent in pieces, we will be sure to retain one part thereof. Those Words struck a deeper Impression on the King's Mind, than is usual in one of his Age; insomuch, that when the Douglasses were banish'd many Years after, and he had some Incli∣nation to recal the rest of them, he could not endure to hear any body speak of a Reconciliation with George. The Hamiltons, betwixt fear of their Enemy approaching, and hope of Aid at hand, had set themselves in Array at the Bridg of the River Aven, which is about a Mile from Linlithgoe, they plac'd a small Guard at the Bridg, and the rest of their Forces on the Brow of the Hills, which they knew the Enemy must pass. Lennox, seeing that his Passage over the Bridg was stopp'd, commanded his Men to pass over a small River, a little above, by a Nunnery (call'd Manuel) and so to beat the Hamiltonians from the Hills, before Douglas's Forces had join'd them. The Lennoxians made towards their Enemies tho∣rough thick and thin, as we say; but by casting down of Stones from the Hills, they were much prejudiced; and when they came to handy Blows, the Word was given, that the Douglasses were at hand; and indeed they, from their March, ran in hastily into the Fight, and soon carry'd the Day; so that ‖ Lennox's Men were grie∣vously wounded and put to flight. The Hamiltonians, especially Iames the Bastard, used their Victory with a great deal of Cruelty; William Cuningham, Son to the Earl of Glencarn, receiv'd many Wounds, but his Life was saved by the Douglasses his Kinsmen. Iohn Stuart was slain, much lamented by the Earl of Arran, his Uncle; and also by Douglas himself, but most of all, by the King; For he had sent Andrew Wood of the Largs, his Favourite, before, (as soon as ever as he had heard of the Fight, by the clashing of the Armour) to save Lennox's Life, if possible, but he came, as we say, a day after the Fair.

After this Victory, the Douglasses, to keep down the Faction of their Enemies, and make them subject to their Will, proceeded in the Law against those who had taken up Arms against their King, as they phrased it; so that, for fear of a Trial, many were forc'd to compound with them for Mony; some put themselves into the Clanship of the Hamiltons; others, into that of the Douglasses; but the most obstinate were called to the Bar: Amongst whom was

Gilbert Earl of Cassils, who, when he was press'd by Iames Hamil∣ton the Bastard, to shrewd himself under the Protection of the Ha∣miltons, out of the Greatness of his Spirit made this Answer, That there was an old League of Friendship made between both their Grand∣fathers; in which his Grandfather was always named First, as the more honourable. And now he would not so far degenerate from the Digni∣ty of his Family, or the Glory of his Ancestors, as to put himself un∣der the Patronage (which was but one degree below plain Slavery) of that Family, whose Chief, in an equal Alliance, was always content with the Second Place. So that when Gilbert was call'd to his An∣swer at a Day appointed, Hugh Kennedy, his Kinsman, made Answer for him, That he had not taken up Arms against the King, but for him, for he was commanded by the King to be at that Fight, and, if it were needful, he proffered to produce the King's Letters to that purpose. The Hamiltons were much troubled at his Bold∣ness: For indeed, the King had wrote to Gilbert, when he went from Court, as well as to others, That he should take part with Iohn Stuart. But seeing the Battel was at hand, insomuch that he could have no time to call together his Clanship and Kindred, as he was upon the way, he turn'd aside, with those of his Family that were with him, to Sterlin.

The Violence of the Hamiltons was somewhat abated by this Trial, but Iames, the Bastard, burnt with a mortal Hatred against Kennedy; and a few days after, as he was returning home he caus'd him to be murther'd upon the way, by means of Hugh Cambel Laird of Air. This Hugh, the same day the Murder was commit∣ted, (which he had commanded his Vassals to execute, that so he might avert all Suspition of so horrid a fact from himself) went to Iohn Erskin's House, whose Wife was Sister to Gilbert Kennedy's Wife; She, as soon as ever she heard of this cruel Murther, did not cease to upbraid him most grievously therewith, to his very face. Thus the noble Family of the Kennedy's was almost quite extinguished; the Son of the Earl, after his Father was slain, be∣ing but a Child, fled to his Kinsman Archibald Douglas, who was then Lord Treasurer, and put himself and his Family under his Protection; he lovingly receiv'd him, and such was the great In∣genuity of his promising Years, that he designed him for his Son-in-law. Hugh Cambel was summon'd to appear, but his Crime being manifest, he fled out of the Land Neither did the Douglasses ex∣ercise their Revenge and Hatred less fiercely upon Iames Beton, for they led their Forces to St. Andrews, seized upon, pillaged and ru∣ined his Castle, because they counted him the Author of all the Pro∣jects the Earl of Lennox had undertaken; but he himself went un∣der frequent Disguises, because no Man durst entertain him openly, and so escaped. And with the like kind of Dissimulation and Soli∣tude the Queen Herself made her Retirement, that so She might not fall into the Hands of her Husband, whom she hated.

At the beginning of the next Spring, Douglas made an Expedi∣tion into Liddisdale, where he slew many of the Thieves, falling upon them unawares in their Hutts, before they could gather them∣selves together for defence; twelve of them he hang'd up, and

twelve more he kept as Hostages; but because their Fellows did not forbear their old trade of robbing, a few Months after, he put them to Death also. At his Entrance on that Expedition, there hapned a matter very memorable, which, for the Novelty of the thing, I shall not pretermit: There was an Under-Groom, or Hel∣per, belonging to the Stables of Iohn Stuart, of mean Descent, and therefore used in a mean Employment, to dress Horses; when his Lord and Master was kill'd by the Hamiltons, he wander'd up and down for a time, not knowing what course to take; at last he took Heart and resolved to attempt a Fact, far superior to the rank and condition, he had been born and brought up in. For he under∣took a Journey to Edinburgh, with an intent to revenge the Death of his Lord who was slain; and there he casually lighted upon a Man of the same Family and Fortune with himself; he demand∣ed of him, whether he had seen Iames Hamilton the Bastard, in the City; who answer'd him, he had; What, said he, Thou un∣gratefullest of Men, hast thou seen him, and would'st thou not kill him, who slew so good a Master as we Both had; get thee gone with a wit∣ness; all Misery betide thee. And thereupon he presently hastned on in his designed Voyage, and came directly to Court. There were then in a large Court, which is before the Palace in the Sub∣urbs, about 2000 arm'd Men of Douglasses and Hamilton's De∣pendants, ready prepared for the Expedition, I spake of before; he, seeing them, past by all the rest, and fix'd his Eye and Mind on Hamilton only, who was then coming out of the Court-yard in his Cloak without his Armor, when he saw him in a pretty long Gal∣lery, (and somewhat dark) which is over the Gate, he flew at him, and gave him six Wounds, one of them almost pierc'd to his Vi∣tals, others of them he pretty well avoided by the Flexure of his Body, and by warding them off with his Cloak which he held before him; and then the Groom presently mixt himself among the Croud; immediately a great hubbub was raised, and some of the Hamiltons suspected, that the Douglasses had done so horrid a Fact, out of the relicks of their old Feuds; so that those two Factions had almost like to go together by the Ears; at last, when their Fear and Sur∣prise was allay'd, they were all commanded to stand in single ranks, by the Walls which were round about the Court-yard; there the Murderer was discovered, as yet holding the bloody Knife in his hand. Being demanded, what he was, and whence and for what he came thither? he made no ready Answer; upon which he was dragg'd to Prison, and put to the Rack, and then he confess'd im∣mediately, that he had undertaken the Fact, in revenge of his good Lord and Master, and that he was sorry for nothing, but that so famous an Attempt did not take effect; he was tortur'd a long time, but discover'd no Body, as privy to his Design; at, last he was condemned and carried up and down the City, and every part of his naked Body was nipp'd with Iron Pinchers red hot; and yet, neither in his Speech, nor in his Countenance, did he discover the least sense of Pain; when his right Hand was cut off, he said, that it was punish'd less than it had deserved, for not sufficiently se∣conding the Dictates of so stout a Spirit. Moreover the same

Year, Patrick Hamilton, Son to a Sister of Iohn Duke of Albany, and of a Brother of the Earl of Arran's, her Husband, a young Man of great Judgment and singular Learning, by a Conspiracy of the Priests, was burnt at St. Andrews: And not long after his Suffer∣ing, Men were much terrified at the Death of Alexander Cambel, he was of the Order of the Dominicans; a Man also of good Inge∣nuity, and accounted one of the most learn'd of all those, who fol∣low'd the Sect of Thomas Aquinas; Patrick had often Conference with him concerning the meaning of the Holy Scripture, and at last he brought the Man to confess and acknowledg, that almost all the Articles, which were then counted Heterodox, were really true. And yet this Alexander, being more desirous to save his Life, than to hazard it for Truths sake, was persuaded by his Friends to prefer a publick Accusation and Charge against him; Patrick, be∣ing a Man of a zealous Spirit, could not brook this Desire of Vain∣glory in the ambitious Man, but brake forth into this Expression o∣penly: O thou vilest of Men, says he, who art convinc'd, that the Te∣nents which thou now condemneth are most certainly true, and not long since didst confess to me that they were so; I do therefore cite thee to the Tribunal of the living God. Alexander was so astonished at that word, that he was never himself from that day forward, and not long after he died in a Fit of Madness.

All this time, and for a great part of the Year ensuing, the Doug∣lasses, being severally intent upon other Matters and Concerns, were secure, as to the King's Departure from them; because they believed, that now his Mind was fully reconciled to them by those Blandishments and immoderate Pleasures they had indulg'd him in. And besides, they thought, if he had a mind to remove, there was no Faction strong enough to oppose them, neither was there any strong Garison, whither to retire, but only Sterlin Castle, which was allotted to the Queen for her Habitation; but then it was de∣serted for a time, by the Queen's Officers, when she hid her self for fear of the Douglasses; and when the Tumult was a little ap∣peased, 'twas somewhat fortified, but rather for a Shew, than for any real Defence. The King having obtained some small Re∣laxation, saw that this must be his only refuge, and therefore he bargain'd with his Mother privately to exchange that Castle, and the Land adjoyning, for other Lands as convenient for her; and pro∣viding all other Requisites as secretly as he could, the Douglasses not being so intent, as formerly, in their Watch over him, he re∣tired by Night with a few in his Company from Falkland to Ster∣lin; whither he soon sent for some of the Nobles to come to him, and others hearing the News, came in of their own accord; so that now he seemed sufficiently secured against all Force: There, by the Advice of his Nobles, he published a Proclamation, that the Douglasses should abstain from all Administration of publick Affairs. And moreover, that none of their Kin, by Blood or Mar∣riage, or of their Dependants, should come within twelve Miles of the Court; he that did otherwise, was to lose his Life. When the Edict was served upon the Douglasses, as they were coming to Sterlin, many were of opinion, that they should go on in their

Journey, but the Earl and his Brother George thought it best to obey the Edict. Thus they went back to Linlithgo, resolving to stay there, till they heard some more News from the Court. In the mean time, the King, with great Diligence, sent Messengers, even to the furthest parts of the Kingdom, to call in all the Nobles, who had a Priviledg of voting, to an Assembly at Edinburgh, to be celebrated Septemb. the 3d. next ensuing. In the Interim, He at Sterlin, and the Douglasses at Edinburgh, gathered Forces about them, but it was rather to defend themselves, than offend one ano∣ther. At length Iuly the 2d. the Douglasses departed out of the City, and the King, with his Forces and Banners display'd, en∣ter'd in; but by the Mediation of Friends, deprecating the King, on their Behalf, Conditions were offer'd to them, which were, That the Earl of Angus should be banished beyond the Spey; That George his Brother, and Archibald his Uncle, should be kept in hold in the Castle of Edinburgh: If they submitted to these Terms, then there was hopes of the King's Mercy, otherwise not. These Terms being rejected by them, they were commanded, by an He∣rauld, to attend the Parliament, that was to be held at Edinburgh the 3d. of Septemb. In the mean time, their publick Offices were taken from them, and Gawin Dunbar, the King's Tutor, was made Chancellor instead of the Earl; He was a good and a learned Man, but some thought him a little defective in Politicks: and Robert Carncross was made Treasurer in the place of Archibald, one more known for his Wealth than his Virtue. The Douglasses being now driven to their last shifts, endeavoured to seize upon Edinburgh, which was void by the King's Departure, and accordingly they sent Archibald thither, with some Troops of Horse; their Design was to keep out the King, and so to dissolve the Parliament: But (on the 7th of the ‖ Calends of September) Robert Maxwell, with his Vassals, had, by the King's Command, prevented them, and kept them from entring the City; yea, the Guards and Sentinels were mounted, and disposed, so carefully in all convenient places, that things were kept there in great Tranquillity, till the Parliament's time of Meeting. Douglas, being disappointed of this hope, re∣tired to his Castle of Tantallon, about fourteen Miles distant from the City. The same day that the King came out of Sterlin, there fell such mighty Showers of Rain from the Heavens, and the Brooks and Rivers did so overflow their Banks, that the King's Re∣tinue was scatter'd into many parties, so that they came much ha∣rassed, and late in the Night, to Edinburgh: They were so mightily batter'd with the Violence of the Storm, that a very few Horse, if they had charged them, might have done them a great deal of Mischief. In that Parliament, the Earl of Angus, George his Brother, Archibald his Uncle, and Alexander Drummond of † Car∣nock (their intimate Friend) were out-lawed, and their Goods con∣fiscate. This Edict or Clause was also added to their Condemna∣tion, that whosoever did harbor them in their Houses, or give them any other Assistance, should incur the same Punishment. That which most of all moved the Court to condemn them, was this, because the King had affirmed upon Oath, That as long as he was in

the Power of the Douglasses, he was afraid of his Life; he also pro∣fess'd, that his Fear was heightned, and made a deeper Impression on him, after George had given him such cutting Menaces, before mention'd. There was only one Man found in this Assembly, by name Iohn Bannatine, a Vassal of the Douglasses, who was so bold as to make a publick Protestation against all that was acted against the Earl, because (as he alleged) his Non-appearance at the day limitted was occasion'd by his just Fear.

A few days after, William, another Brother of the Earl's, Abbat of the Monastery of Holy Rood, died of Sickness, trouble of Mind and Grief, for the present Posture of Affairs. Robert Carncross, one meanly descended, but well monyed, bought that Preferment of the King, who then wanted Mony; eluding the Law against Si∣mony, by a new kind of Fraud. The Law was, that Ecclesiastical Preferments should not be sold, but he laid a great Wager with the King, that he would not bestow upon him the next Preferment, of that kind, that fell; and by that means, lost his Wager, but got the Abbacy. Thus the ‖ Douglasses, seeing that all hope of Pardon was cut off, betook themselves to open force, and to the on∣ly Comfort they had left, which was in Revenge, for they used great Extremity, and committed all sorts of Outrages upon the Lands of their Enemies; they burnt Cousland and † Cranston, and every day skirted by the Gates of Edinburgh, with their Horse; so that the City was almost besieged, and the Poor were made to suffer for the Offences of the great Ones. During these Hurly Burlies, on the 11th of the Calends of ‖ December. A Ship called the Marina, a brave Vessel in those days and richly laden, by stress of Weather, was forc'd upon the Shore of Enverwick; part of the Lading was pillaged by Douglasses Horse, who rang'd up and down in those parts; the rest was taken away by the Country-men, who were so ignorant of the price of it, that they thought the Cinna∣mon therein, to be but a low priz'd Bark, and so sold it to make Fire with, yet the whole Envy of the matter fell upon the Doug∣lasses. Upon this change of Affairs, the Tories, who had a long time refrain'd their Depredations, for fear of Punishment, came forth out of their lurking holes, and grievously infested all the cir∣cumjacent Countries. And though many Pranks were plaid by others, up and down; yet all the Murders and Robberies, every where committed, were charg'd upon the score of the Douglasses, by those Courtiers, who thought they humour'd the King by so doing; that so they might make the name of that Family, other∣wise popular, invidious to the vulgar. And in the beginning of Winter, the King march'd to † Tantallon, a Castle of the Doug∣lasses, by the Sea side, to take it in, that so no Refuge might be left for the Exiles; and that he might take the place with less La∣bour and Cost, he was supplied with Brass-Guns and Powder from Dunbar. That Castle was distant from ‖ Dunbar six Miles, and it was garison'd by the Souldiers of Iohn the Regent, because it was part of his Patrimony; he continued the Siege for some days, wherein some of the Besiegers were slain, others wounded; and some blown up with Gun-Powder; but none at all of the Be∣sieged

were lost, so that he raised his Siege, and retreated. In his return, David Falkner, who was left behind, with some Foot-Souldiers, to carry back the Brass-Ordnance, was set upon by Douglasses Horse, (who were sent out to snap up the Stragglers in the Rear) and slain; his Death did so inrage the young King, who was incens'd enough before, that he solemnly swore in his Passion, that, as long as he liv'd, the Douglasses should never have the Sen∣tence of their Banishment revoked: And as soon as he came to Edinburgh, to straiten them the more, by the Advice of his Coun∣cil, he order'd, that a party of Souldiers should be continually kept at † Coldingham, which was to be rather an active, or flying, than a numerous one, to prevent the pillaging of the Country by them. The charge of doing it was commended by the King to Bothwel, one of the greatest Persons, for Authority and Puissance, in Lothian: but he refused the Imployment, either out of Fear of the Power of the Douglasses, which, not long since, all the rest of Scot∣land was not able to cope with; or else, because he would not have the Disposition of the young King, who was eager and over-vio∣lent of his own accord, to be inur'd to such Cruelty, as totally to destroy so noble a Family: And whereas the King had no great Confidence in the Hamiltons, as being Friends to his Enemies; and he did also disgust them upon the account of the Slaughter of Iohn Stuart Earl of Lennox; and besides there being none of the Nobi∣lity of the adjacent parts, that had Power or Interest enough for that Service, at last he resolved to send Calen Cambel, with an Ar∣my, against the Rebels, a Person living in the furthest parts of the Kingdom, but a prudent Man, of approv'd Valour; and upon the account of his Justice, very popular. ‖ The Douglassians, when the Hamiltons and the rest of their Friends failed them, were re∣duced to great straits, so that they were compell'd by Calen and by George chief of the Humes, to retire, like Exiles, into England.

In the Month of October, two eminent Persons came Embassa∣dors from the King of England about a Peace; which tho earnestly desir'd by both Kings, yet they could scarce find out the way to make it up. For Henry, being about to make War upon Charles the Emperor, was willing to leave all safe behind his back; and with the same labour to procure the Restitution of the Douglasses. As for Iames, he did much desire to have Tantallon Castle in his Power, but his Mind was very averse to restore the Douglasses; and for that Reason, the Matter was canvassed to and fro, for some Days, and no Temper for Accommodation could be found out; but at last, they came to this, That Tantallon Castle should be surrendred to Iames, and a Truce be granted for five Years; and their other Demands the King was to promise the granting of, under his Signet. The Castle was surrendred accordingly, but the other Demands were not as punctually performed, save only, that Alexander Drummond had leave given him to return home, for Robert Brittain's sake: For, some Months before, Iames Colvill, and Robert Carncross, upon suspicion of their favouring the Douglasses, were removed from Court, and their Offices bestowed on Robert Brittain, who then was in high Favour at Court, and had great Command there. Af∣ter

this, tho Matters were not quite settled abroad, (for the Eng∣lish had burnt Arn, a Town in Teviotdale, before their Embassa∣dors return'd) yet the rest of the Year was more quiet; but the In∣solence of the Banditti was not quite suppressed; whereupon the King caus'd William Cockburn of † Henderland, and Adam Scot, no∣ted Robbers, to be apprehended at Edinburgh, and for a Terror to the rest, he put them to Death. The next Year, in the Month of March, the King sent ‖ Iames Earl of Murray, whom he had made Deputy-Governour of the whole Kingdom, to the Borders, there to have a Meeting with the Earl of Northumberland, in order to settle a Peace, and to treat about mutual Satisfaction for Losses. But a Con∣tention arose betwixt them, about expiating the Murder of Robert Car. The One pleaded, that the Process ought to be form'd in Scot∣land, according to the Law. The Other would have it in England. In the Interim, each of them sent Messengers to their several Kings, to know their Minds in the Case.

On the 17th of the Calends of May, there was held a Council of the Nobility, where, after a long Debate, which lasted till Night, 'twas concluded, That the Earl of Bothwel, Robert Max∣wel, Walter Scot, and Mark Carr should be committed Prisoners to Edinburgh Castle. And that the Earls, and chief Men of Merch and Teviotdale, should be sent Prisoners to other Places; it being supposed, That they privately scatter'd abroad the Seeds of a War against England. And in Iuly, the King levied about 8000 Men, and marched out against the Robbers; and that with so much speed, that he quickly pitch'd his Tents by the River † Ewse. Not far from thence, lived one Iohn Armstrong chief of one Faction of the Thieves, who had struck such a Fear to all the neighbouring Parts, that even the English themselves for many Miles about, bought their Peace, by paying him a certain Tribute; yea, Maxwel was also afraid of his Power; and therefore endeavoured his Destructi∣on by all possible ways. This Iohn was enticed by the King's Offi∣cers to make his Repair to the King, which he did, unarm'd, with about fifty Horse in his Company; but having forgot to obtain the King's Pass and safe Conduct for his Security, he fell into an Ambush, who brought him to the King, as if he had been taken Prisoner by them; so that he, and most of his Followers, were trussed up. They, who were the Causers of his Death, gave forth, That he had promised to bring that part of Scotland for some Miles, under the Obe∣dience of the English, if he himself might be well considered for that Service: But, on the other side, the English were glad of his Death, for they were thereby freed of a dangerous Enemy. Six of his sur∣viving Companions, the King kept as Hostages; but, in regard their Fellows were no way deterred thereby, from committing the like Insolencies, in a few Months they were hanged also. And the King took new Hostages of those who staid at home; for the Lid∣disdale Men left their homes, and passed over in Troops to England, making daily Incursions, and great Spoil in the neighbouring Parts.

Not long after, the King restor'd the noble Men to their Liberty, having first taken Hostages from them; Of these, Walter Scot, to gratify the King, killed Robert Iohnston, a noted Tory amongst

the Thieves, which bred a deadly Feud between the two Families, to the great loss and prejudice of them both.

The next Year, which was 1531, there happened a matter very memorable, neither did the Obscurity of the Author, nor the Cu∣riosity of the Time, which made a strict Enquiry thereinto, abate any thing of Mens Admiration of the Novelty thereof. One ‖ Iohn Scot, a Man of no Learning, nor of any great Experience in Business, neither had he a subtil Wit of his own to impose Tricks upon Men, being overthrown in a Law-suit, and not having Abi∣lity to pay Damages, hid himself some days in the Sanctuary of the Monastery of Holy-Rood-House, without eating or drinking any thing at all. When the thing was known and related to the King, he commanded that his Apparel should be chang'd and diligently search'd, and so caus'd him to be kept apart from all Company in the Castle of Edinburgh, where every Day Bread and Water was set before him, but he voluntarily abstained from all human Food for thirty two days. After that time, as if he had been sufficiently tried, he was brought forth naked into publick view, where, the People flocking about him, he made them a long, but sorry, Speech, in which there was nothing memorable, but that he affirm'd, he was assisted by the Virgin Mary to fast as long as he himself pleased. This Answer, savouring of Simplicity, rather than Craft, he was released from his Imprisonment, and went to Rome, where he was also imprison'd by Pope Clement, until he had fasted long e∣nough to convince him of the Truth of the Miracle: Then they clothed him with the Habit that Priests say Mass in, and be∣stowed many Presents on him, and gave him a Testimonial under the Leaden-Seal, which is of great Authority amongst the Papists: Whereupon he went to Venice, where he also confirm'd their Belief by his miraculous Fasting; and, alleging, That he was obliged by a Vow he had made, to visit Ierusalem, he receiv'd of them fifty Ducats of Gold for his Charges on the way. At his Return, he brought back some Leaves of Palm-trees, and a Bag full of Stones, which, he said, were taken out of the Pillar, which Christ was tied to, when he was scourg'd. In his Return, he past through London, and mounted the Pulpit in Paul's Church-yard, and, in a great Audience of People, preached much about the Divorce of King Henry from his Queen, and of his Defection from the See of Rome; his Words were bitter, and if he had been looked upon of any Repute for Wisdom, he must have eaten them again; but, be∣ing imprisoned for some time, and having wholly abstained from Food for almost fifty days together, he was dismiss'd. When he came back to Scotland, he would have joined himself to one Thomas Doughty, who about that time came from Italy, and had built a Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, out of the Alms the People had given him, and had got great Gain by his feigned Miracles. But the Life of this Thomas was sufficiently known to be very wick∣ed; and the Cheats of his pretended Miracles were discovered, yet no Man durst openly gainsay him, for fear of the Bishops, who, by this their new Atlas, sought to prop up the Pile of their Purgatory, then a tottering; and he, to requite them for their Courtesy, when

any of the richer sort of Priests came to the Place, where he was to say Mass, had still one Beggar or other ready at hand, to coun∣terfeit himself mad, or diseased in Body, that so (forsooth) by his Massing, he might be recovered and healed. But Thomas re∣jected Iohn Scot, because he was not willing to admit any other into the Society of his Gain, and thereupon he hired an obscure Cell in the Suburbs of Edinburgh; and there, having erected an Altar, and furnished it according to his Ability, he set up his own Daughter, who was young, but very beautiful, with Wax-Tapers lighted a∣bout her, to be adored, instead of the Virgin Mary. But that way of Gain not answering his Expectation, he returned to his old course of Life, having gain'd nothing by all his preposterous Dissimulati∣on of Sanctity, but to let all Men know, that he wanted not a Will, but Ability rather, to become an errand Cheat.

At the beginning of the following Year, which was 1532, the Earl of Bothwel was committed Prisoner to Edinburgh-Castle, Ia∣nuary 16, because he had taken a private Journy into England, and there had secret Conference with the Earl of Northumberland. Iohn Sunderland, a Knight, by reason of the great Prudence, Integrity and Authority, which he had amongst all good Men, even beyond his State and Degree, was sent to Hermitage (a Castle of Liddis∣dale) to restrain the Incursions of Thieves and Robbers.

Of ancient time, there had been no fix'd Days, nor any set Place, appointed for Matters of Nisi Prius, to be handled by the Judges, until Iohn Duke of Albany had obtained of the Pope, that a yearly Sum of Mony, as much as was sufficient to pay a Salary to a few Judges, should be charged on the Ecclesiastical Order, and 'twas to be levied on every one, according to the value of his Benefice: Gawin Dunbar, Bishop of Aberdene, hereupon made his Appeal to the Pope, in the behalf of himself and other Priests. The Con∣troversy held from the 11th of March to the 24th of April; and then there was a College of Judges settled at Edinburgh. At their first Sitting, they devised many advantageous Projects for the equal distribution of Justice, yet the hoped Event did not follow. For seeing in Scotland there are almost no Laws, but Decrees of the E∣states, and many of them too made not for perpetuity, but tempo∣rary; and the Judges hinder the enacting of Laws what they can: The Estates of all the Subjects were committed to the Pleasure of fif∣teen Men, who were to have a perpetual Power, and even a Ty∣rannical Government, for their Wills were their Laws. In favour of the Pope, they were very severe against the Lutherans; and the Pope, on the contrary, to gratify a King so well deserving at his Hands, gave him the Tithes of all Parsonages, for the next Year following.

This Year, the English perceived that the State of Affairs in Scotland grew every day more quiet than other; but yet, that they were destitute of foreign Aid, because they themselves had joined with the French against Charles the Emperor. Hereupon they sought out an occasion for a War. In April they made an Expedition out of Berwick, and spoiled Coldingham, Douglas, and many other neighbouring Towns, and drove away great Booty. They had no

apparent Provocation, neither did they denounce War before-hand. How eager they were upon War, appears by that King's Proclama∣tion soon after publish'd, wherein 'twas said, that the Garison of Berwick was provoked by some licentious and contumelious Words, which the Scots had let fall. But the Words mentioned in the Pro∣clamation carry no Contumely in them at all. But, this Cause not seeming just enough for a War, they demanded † Canabie, a small Village in the Borders, with a poor Monastery in it, as if it be∣longed to them, which they never pretended to, before; and like∣wise, that the Douglasses might be restor'd. For the King of Eng∣land perceiving, that his Aid was absolutely necessary to the French King, so that he could by no means want it; and also knowing, that he had him fast in a League, wherein the Interest of Scotland was not considered; hereupon, he thought it no hard Matter to bring the Scots to what Conditions he pleased: Moreover, because the Emperor was alienated from him by the Peace with France, and the Divorce with his Aunt; and the Pope of Rome did raise up Wars amongst all Christian Princes, he thought he should omit a great opportunity at home for innovating of things, if he neg∣lected That: The King of Scots, that he might not be unprovided against this Storm, by a publick Proclamation, made all over the Kingdom, appointed his Brother, the Earl of Murray, to be his Vicegerent; and because the Borderers of themselves were not able to cope with the English, who had also a great number of Auxilia∣ries with them, he divided the Kingdom into four Parts, and com∣manded each of them to send out the ablest Men amongst them with their Clans, and Provision for fourty Days. These Forces, thus succeeding one another by turns, made great Havock in the Towns and Castles in those Parts; so that the King of England was frustrated in his Expectation, seeing the War was likely to be drawn out in length; and other Concerns were also to be cared for by him, and therefore he was willing to hearken to a Peace, but would have it fought for at his Hands; for he thought, it was not for his Ho∣nour, either to offer it, or to seek it of himself. And therefore it seem'd most convenient to transact the Matter by the King of France, the common Friend to both Nations. Whereupon the French King sent his Embassador, ‖ Stephen D'Aix, into Scotland, to en∣quire, by whose Default such a War was commenced between the two Neighbour-Kings. The King of Scots clearly acquitted him∣self from being any Cause of the War; he also made a Complaint to him, how long his Ambassadors had been detained in France, without Hearing: And, at the Ambassador's Departure, he sent Letters by him to his Master, desiring him to observe the ancient League, which was renewed by Iohn the Regent at Roan; he al∣so sent David Beton into France, to answer the Calumnies of the English, and, besides, to treat concerning the keeping of the old League, and to contract a new Affinity between France and Scot∣land. He also sent Letters, by him, to the Parliament of Paris, very bitter and full of Complaints, concerning those matters, which had been transacted and agreed between Francis their King, and Iohn, Regent of Scotland; how that ancient Friendships, Pacts and

Agreements were slighted in behalf of Those, who were once their common Enemies. His Ambassador Beton was commanded, if he saw that the things, he had in Command, did not succeed well in France, to deliver those Letters to the Council of the Judges, and presently to withdraw himself into Flanders, with an Intent (as it might be conjectured) to make a League, Agreement and Affini∣ty, with the Emperor.

In the mean time, War was waged in Britain, and Disputes were manag'd at New-castle, concerning the Lawfulness thereof; when the Embassadors sent from both Nations, could not agree on terms of Peace, Monsieur Guy Flower was sent over by the King of France to compose matters: The Scotish King told him, that he would gratify his Master, as far as ever he was able, and also he had some Communication with him, as much as was seasonable at that time, concerning the conjugal Affinity, about which he had sent Em∣bassadors before, which were then in France. Flory, or Flower, be∣ing thus the Umpire for Peace; the Garisons were withdrawn on both sides from the Borders, and a Truce was made, which was afterwards followed with a Peace: When the Peace was settled, the King having for some Years last past, transacted Business with the King of France, and with the Emperor by his Embassadors, about a matrimonial Contract, now being freed from other cares, his Thoughts were more intent that way, than ever. For, besides the common causes which might incline him to some potent Alli∣ance, he was thoughtful how to perpetuate his Family by Issue of his Body, he himself being the last Male that was left alive; inso∣much that his next Heirs had already conceived a firm hope in their Minds of the Kingdom, which did not a little trouble Him, who was otherwise suspicious enough of himself: And indeed, things did very much concur to raise them up to that hope; as for instance, their own domestick Power, the Kings being a Batchelor, his Ven∣turousness in slighting all Danger, so that he would not only stoutly undergo all Hazards, but often court and invite Them; for with a small party, he would march against the fiercest Thieves, and tho they were superior in number, yet he would either prevent them by his Speed, or else fright them by the Reverence of his Name, and so force them to a Surrender; he would sit Night and Day on Horse-back in this Employment, and if he did take any Refresh∣ment or Food, 'twas that which he lighted on by chance, and but little of that neither.

These Circumstances made the † Hamiltons almost confident of the Succession, yet it seem'd to them a long way about to stay for either fortuitous or natural Dangers, and therefore they studied to hasten his Death by Treachery. A fair Opportunity was offer'd them to effect it by his Night-Walkings to his Misses, having but one or two in his Company. But all these things not answering their Expectation, they resolved to cut off the hope of lawful Issue, by hindring his Marriage, what they could; although Iohn Duke of Albany, when he was Regent, seemed to have made sufficient Provision against that Inconvenience, for when he renewed the an∣cient League between the French and Scots at ‖ Roan, he had inserted

one Article, that Iames should marry Francis's eldest Daughter. But there were two Impediments in the way, which almost broke off, and cut this League asunder. For Francis, being freed out of the Hand of the Spaniard, by the Industry and Diligence principally of Henry the 8th, had entred into so strict a League with the English, that the Scotish League was much intrenched upon thereby; and be∣sides, the eldest Daughter of Francis was deceas'd a while before, and therefore Iames desired Magdalen, his next Daughter, to Wife, and sent Embassadors over to that purpose; but her Father excused the matter, alleging, that his Daughter was of so weak a Consti∣tution of Body, that there was little hopes of Children by her; no, nor hardly any Likelihood of her Life it self, for any long time.

About the same time, there was an Affinity treated of with Charles the Emperor by Embassadors, and at length the 24th day of April, 1534. The Emperor sent Godscalk Ericus, that the mat∣ter might be carry'd with greater Secrecy, from Toledo in Spain, through Ireland, to Iames. After he had declared the Commands, he had in charge from the Emperor, concerning the Wrongs offer'd to his Aunt Catharine and her Daughter, by King Henry; concern∣ing the calling a general Council; concerning the rooting out the Sect of the Lutherans; and concerning contracting an Affinity. The Emperor, by his Letters, gave the King his choice of three Ma∣rys, all of them of his Blood; they were, Mary Sister to Charles, a Widow, ever since the Death of her Husband Lewis of Hungary, who was slain in Battel by the Turks; Mary of Portugal the Daugh∣ter of his Sister Leonora; and Mary of England, his Niece by his Aunt Catharine: And because Charles knew, that King Iames was more inclinable to this last Match, he also shewed a greater Propen∣sion thereunto, that so he might take off Iames from his valuing of, and adhering to, the League with Francis, and at the same time might set him at ods with Henry. Iames made answer, that the Marriage with England was indeed, in many respects, most ad∣vantageous, if it could be obtained, but 'twas a Business of uncer∣tain Hope, but of great Danger and Toil, and would be encum∣ber'd with so many Delays, that his single Life, he being the last of his Family, could hardly bear it; and therefore of all Caesar's Neices, he told Him, that the Daughter of Christiern King of Denmark was most convenient for him, who was begotten upon Isabel, the Sister of Charles. A while after, Charles answered this his Demand from Madrid, that she was already promised to another, and though Caesar by offering Conditions seem'd rather to prolong the matter, than really to bring it to pass, yet the Treaty was not wholly laid aside. Matters being quiet at home, Iames resolved to go a Ship-board to take a View of all his Dominions round about, and to curb the stubborn Spirits of the Islanders, and make them more obedient.† First, he sailed to the Orcades, where he quieted all Disorders, by apprehending and imprisoning a few of the Nobility, he garison'd two Castles there, his Own and the Bishops; after∣wards he visited the rest of the Islands, and sent for the chief Men to come to him; those that refus'd, he seiz'd by force; he laid a

Tax on them, took Hostages, and carried away with him, those who were most likely to be Incendiaries, and clapping some of his own Train into their Castles, he sent the leading Men of them, some to Edinburgh, and some to Dunbar, Prisoners: For about that time, Iohn Duke of Albany had surrendred up Dunbar to the King, which till then had been kept by a French Garison. In the next Month of August, great Severity was used against the ‖ Lutherans, some were compelled to make a publick Recantation; others, re∣fusing to appear upon Summons, were banished. Two were burnt, of which one named David Straiton was free enough from Luthera∣nism, but he was accused thereof, because he was somewhat re∣fractary in Payment of Tithes to the Collectors of them, and so was put to Death only for a supposed Crime. In an Assembly which the King caused to be convened at Iedburgh, in order to the suppressing of the Robbers thereabouts; Walter Scot was con∣demned of high Treason, and sent Prisoner to Edinburgh Castle, where he remained, as long as the King lived. The same Month of August, when Francis (as I said before) had excused his Daugh∣ters Marriage on account of her Health, but withal had offer'd him any other of the Blood Royal: The King sent Embassadors into France, Iames Earl of Murray, Vice-roy of the Kingdom, and William Stuart Bishop of Aberdene (those Two went by Sea) and Iohn Erskin by Land, because he had some Commands to deliver to Henry of England by the way. To them be added a Fourth, i. e. Robert Reed, a good Man, and highly prudent. There Mary of Bourbon, the Daughter of Charles Duke of Vendosme, a Lady of the Blood was offer'd to them, as a fit Wife for their King: Other points were accorded easily enough, but the Embassadors, fearing, that this Marriage would not please their Master, would make no Es∣pousal, till they had acquainted him therewith. In the mean time, Henry of England, to trouble a matter which was upon the point of concluding, in November, sent the Bishop of St. Davids into Scot∣land, who brought Iames some English Books, containing the The∣ses's of the Christian Religion, desiring Iames to read them, and di∣ligently to weigh what was written therein; but he gave them to some of his Courtiers, who were most addicted to the Sacerdotal Order, to inspect: They, before ever they had scarce look'd on them, condemn'd them as Heretical; and moreover, they highly gratulated the King, that he had not polluted his Eye (so they phrased it) with reading such pestiferous † Books. This was the cause of their Embassy, according to common Vogue, yet, some say, that they brought some other secret Messages to Iames: Afterward, the same Bishop (together with William Howard, Brother to the Duke of Norfolk,) came so unexpectedly to Sterlin, that they almost sur∣prized the King, before he heard any News of their coming; their Errand was, that Henry desir'd Iames to appoint a day of Inter∣view, wherein they might confer together, for he had at that meeting things of high Concernment, and of mighty Advantage to both Nations to propound to him: In that Message, he gave great hope, if other matters could be well accorded, that he would bestow his Daughter in Marriage upon him, and leave him

King of all Britain after his Decease; and that he might give more credit to his Promises, he would make him for the present, Duke of York, and Vice-roy of the Kingdom of England. Iames willingly assented to such large and alluring Promises, and accordingly fixt a day for the Interview: But there were two Factions, which re∣solved to oppose his Journy for England. ‖ First, the Hamiltons, who secretly laboured to keep the King from marrying, that so they being the next Heirs, he might have no Children to exclude them from the Succession. And next, the Priests also were mightily a∣gainst it; and their Pretences were seemingly just and honest, as first, the danger he would run, if with a small Retinue he should put himself into the Power of his old Enemy, for then he must comply with his Will, though it were never so much against his Own: They also recited the Examples of his Ancestors, who, ei∣ther by their own Credulity; or else by the Perfidiousness of the Enemy, were drawn into a Nouse; and from flattering Promises of Friendship, had brought home nothing but Ignominy and Loss: They also urg'd the unhappy Mistake of Iames the First, who, in a time of Truce, landing, as he thought, in his Friends Country, was there kept Prisoner eighteen Years; and, at last, had such Conditions imposed upon him, which he neither lawfully could, nor ought to have accepted; and then, said they, he was avarici∣ously sold to his own Subjects. Moreover, first Malcolm, after him his Brother William, Kings of Scotland, were brought on the Stage, who were inticed to London by Henry the 2d. and then carried over into France, to make a shew of assisting in a War there, against the French King, their old Ally. But (say they) if it be objected, Henry the 8th will do none of these things; they answered first, How shall we be assured of that? next, Is it not a point of high Im∣prudence, to venture ones Fortune, Life and Dignity, which are now in ones own Power, into the Hands of another? Besides, the Priests saw, that all their Concerns were now at stake, and there∣fore they must, now or never, stand up for them; in order where∣to, they caused Iames Beton, Arch-bishop of St. Andrews, and George Creighton, Bishop of Dunkelden, two old decrepit Men, to come to Court, there to baul it out, That Religion would be be∣trayed by this Meeting and Interview, even, That Religion, (said they) which had been observed so many Ages by their An∣cestors; and which had all along preserved its Defenders, till now; The Ruin of which would be attended with the total Destruction of the Kingdom, also; to forsake that Religion, upon every light Grounds, especially in such a time, wherein the whole World doth conspire together, with Arms in their Hands, for its Preservation, could not be done without great Danger at present, and Infamy for future; yea, it would be a thing of great Wickedness and Impiety also. With these Engines they battered Iames's Mind, which, of it self, was inclined enough to Superstition; and moreover, they corrupted those Courtiers, who could do most with him, desiring them, in their Names, to promise him a great Sum of Mony; so that hereby, they wholly turned away his Mind from the Thoughts of an Interview. Henry took this Disappointment in great Disdain,

(as indeed he had reason so to do) and thus the Seeds of Dissension were again sown between the two Kings.

In the mean time, the King was weary of his single Life, and by reason of foreign Embassies, and his Court-Distractions at home, was variously agitated in his Thoughts; all pretended the publick Good, but some aimed at their own private Advantage under that Vail, and though many persuaded him to an Affinity with Charles, in regard of the flourishing Estate of the Empire at that time, yet he rather inclined to an Alliance with France. And therefore, see∣ing the matter could not be ended by Embassadors, he himself re∣solved to sail over into France, and accordingly, rigging out a small Navy, the best he could fit in so short a time, on the 26th of Iuly he set Sail from Leith, none knowing whither he would go; many were of opinion, that his Design was for England, to visit his Uncle, and to ask him pardon for disappointing the Interview, agreed on the Year before. But a Tempest arising, and being also toss'd with contrary Winds, the Pilot ask'd him, what course he should steer? If there be a necessity, said he, Land me any where but in England: Then his Mind was understood. He might have return'd home, but he was willing rather to sail round Scotland, and to try the Western Ocean; there also he had very bad Weather, and by the advice of a few of his Domesticks as he was asleep, he was car∣ried back again; when he was awake, he took the matter in such great Indignation, that for ever after he bore an implacable Hatred against Iames Hamilton, (whom he also disgusted before, upon the account of the killing the Earl of Lennox) neither was he well pleased with the rest of the Authors of that Counsel, ever after; and there were some, who, in compliance with the King's angry Humour, buzz'd him in the Ears, That the Hamiltons under a pre∣tence of a serviceable Attendance and Duty, had accompany'd him on purpose to undermine his Voyage. However he put to Sea again with a great Train of Nobles, September the 1st, and in ten days arrived at Diep in Normandy; from thence, that he might pre∣vent the News of his Arrival, he went disguis'd, and in great speed to the Town of Vendosme, where the Duke then was, and saw his Daughter, which pleased him not, so that he presently made haste to Court; he came unexpectedly upon Francis and the whole Court, and yet was honourably receiv'd by him; and on the 26th of November, almost against his Will, he bestow'd in Marriage his Daughter Magdalene upon him; For her Father (as I related before) judging his eldest Daughter, by reason of her sickly temper, unfit to bear Children, offer'd him his youngest, or any other Woman of the French Nobility, for a Wife: but Iames and Magdalene had contracted a Friendship by Messengers, which was confirmed by the mutual Sight, Meeting and Discourse one with another, so that neither of them could be diverted from their purpose. The Marriage was celebrated Ianuary the 1st, in the Year 1537, to the great Joy of all: and they both arrived in Scot∣land the 28th of May, being attended by a French Navy. She lived not long after, but died of an Hectick Feaver Iuly the 7th, to the great Grief of all, except the Priests, for they feared, that her Life

would have put an end to their Luxury and Ambition, because they knew, she was educated under the Discipline of her Aunt the Queen of Navar. As for others, they conceiv'd such a Grief for her Death, that then (as I think) Mourning Garments began first to be used in Scotland, which yet after forty Years do scarce continue to be worn, though the publick Manners do decline, and seem to require it. Ambassadors were presently sent into France, Cardinal Da∣vid Beton, and Robert Maxwel, to bring over Mary of the House of Guise, Widow to the Duke of Longoville; for the King, presaging the Loss of his Wife, had cast his Eye upon her. This same Year, the Earl of Bothwel, because he had past over secretly into England, and also had held private Cabals with the English in Scotland, was banish'd out of England, Scotland and France. Moreover, about the same time, many Persons were accused and condemned for high Treason; Iohn Forbes, an active young Man, the Head of a great Family and Faction, was brought to his end, it was thought, by the Emulation of the H••ntly's; for there was one Straughan, a Man fit for any flagitious Enterprize, who was many Years very familiar with Forbes▪ and was either privy to, or else Partaker or Author of, all his bad Actions: He, being not as much respected by him, as he thought he deserv'd, deserted him, and apply'd himself to his Enemy, Huntly; and before him, accused Forbes of Treason, or (as many think) he there plotted the Accusation, with Huntly himself, against him) viz. That Forbes, many Years before, had a Design to kill the King. The Crime was not suffi∣ciently prov'd against him, nor by fit and unexceptionable Wit∣nesses, neither was the Plot of his Adversaries the Huntlys against his Life, hid in the Process; yet, on the 14th of Iuly, the Judges, who were most of Huntly's Faction, condemn'd him, and he had his Head struck off. His Punishment was the less lamented, be∣cause, though Men believed him guiltless, as to the Crime he suf∣fered for; yet, they counted him worthy of Death, for the Flagi∣tiousness of his former Life. Straughan, the Discoverer, because he had concealed so foul an Offence so long; was banish'd Scotland, and liv'd many Years after in France, so deboistly and filthily, that Men thought him a fit Instrument for any wicked Prank whatso∣ever. The King, not long after, as if he had repented of his Se∣verity against Forbes, took another Brother of the Forbes's into his Family, and another he advanced to a rich Match, restoring to them their Estate, which had been confiscate.

A few Days after, there was another Trial, which, on the ac∣count of the Family of the accused Parties, the Novelty of the Wickedness charged on them, and the heinousness of the Punish∣ment was very lamentable. Ioan Douglas, Sister to the Earl of Angus, and Wife to Iohn Lyons, Lord of Glames; also her Son, and later Husband, Gilespy Cambel; Iohn Lyons, Kinsman to her for∣mer Husband, and an old Priest, were accused for endeavouring to poison the King. All these, tho they lived continually in the Country, far from Court, and their Friends and Servants could not be brought to witness any thing against them, yet were put on the Rack, to make them confess, and so were condemn'd, and shut

up in Edinburgh-Castle. The fifth day after Forbes was executed, Ioan Douglas was burnt alive, with the great Commiseration of all the Spectators: The Nobleness, both of her self and Husband, did much affect the Beholders; besides, she was in the vigour of her Youth, much commended for her rare Beauty, and, in her very Pu∣nishment, she shewed a manlike Fortitude. But that which Peo∣ple were most concern'd for, was, That they thought the Enmity against her Brother, who was banish'd, did her more prejudice than her own (objected) Crime: Her Husband endeavoured to escape out of the Castle of Edinburgh, but the Rope being too short, to let him down to the Foot of the Rock, he brake almost all the Bones of his Body in the Fall, and so ended his Days. Their Son, a young Man, and of greater innocent Simplicity, than to have the Suspi∣cion of such a Wickedness justly charged upon him, was shut up Prisoner in the Castle; and, after the King's Death, was released, and recovered the Estate, which had been taken away from his Pa∣rents. Their Accuser was William Lyons; he afterwards perceiving, that so eminent a Family was like to be ruined by his false Informa∣tion, repented when it was too late, and confess'd his Offence to the King; and yet he could not prevail, to prevent the Punishment of the Condemned, or to hinder their Estates from being confiscate.

The next Year following, on the 12th of Iune, Mary of the House of Guise, arrived at † Balcomy, a Castle belonging to Iames Laird of Lermont; from whence she was conveyed by Land to St. Andrews; and there, in a great Assembly of the Nobility, she was married to the King. In the beginning of the Year following, which was 1539, many Persons were apprehended, as suspected of ‖ Lutheranism: And about the End of February, five were burnt, nine recanted, but many more were banish'd; amongst the Suffer∣ers of this Class, was George Buchanan, who, when his Keepers were asleep, made his Escape out of the Window of the Prison, to which he was committed. This Year the Queen brought forth a † Son at St. Andrews; and the next Year, another in the same Place. Also this Year, and the former, Matters were rather some∣what hushed than fully composed; some Men wanting rather a Leader, than an Occasion, to rebel: For, tho many desired it, yet no Man durst openly avow himself Head of any Insurrection. And now the King having Heirs to succeed him, and thereby be∣coming more confident of his Settledness and Establishment, began to slight the Nobility, as a sluggish and unwarlike Generation, and not likely to attempt any thing against him, whose Family was now rivetted and confirmed by Issue-Male: So that he applied his Mind to sumptuous and unnecessary Buildings; he stood in need of Mony for that Work; and, in regard he was as Covetous as he was Indigent, both Factions of Nobles and Priests were equally afraid, and each of them indeavoured to avert the Tempest from falling upon them, that it might light on the Other. And there∣fore, whenever the King complain'd of the Lowness of his Ex∣chequer amongst his Friends, One Party would extol the Riches of the Other, as if it were a Prey ready for the Seisure; and the King hearkned sometimes to the One, and sometimes to the O∣ther,

and so kept both in Suspence, between hope and fear: So that when Ambassadors came at that time out of England, to Court, to desire the King to give his Uncle a Meeting at York, pro∣mising some mighty Advantages by that Interview, and making a large Harangue concerning the Love and Good-will of their King towards him: The Faction, which was adverse to the Priests, per∣suaded him, by all means, to meet at the Time and Place appoint∣ed: When the Sacerdotal Party heard of this, they thought their Order would be quite undone, if they did not hinder the Meeting; and so disturb the Concord, by casting in Seeds of Discord betwixt the King and his Nobles. And, considering of all ways how to effect it, no Remedy seemed more ready at hand for the present Malady, than to attempt the King's Mind, which was not able to resist Offers of Mony, by the Promises of large Subsidies; whereup∣on, they set before his Eyes the Greatness of the Danger, the doubt∣ful and uncertain Credit of an Enemies Promise; that he might have a great Sum of Mony at home, and more easily procurable. First of all, They promised to give him of their own, 30000 Du∣cats of Gold, year by year; and all the rest of their Estates also should be at his Service; besides, enough to obviate future Emer∣gencies, if any hapned; and as for those, who rebelled against the Authority of the Pope, and the King's, and so endeavoured to trouble the Peace of the Church, by new and wicked Errors; and thereby would subvert all Piety, overthrow the Rights of Ma∣gistracy, and cancel Laws of so long standing; out of their Estates he might get above an hundred thousand Ducats more, yearly, into his Exchequer, by way of Confiscation, if he would permit them to nominate a Lord-Chief-Justice in the Case, because they them∣selves could not, by Law, sit in Capital Causes to condemn any Man. And that, in the managing the Process against them, there would be no danger, nor any Delay in passing Sentence, seeing so many thousand Men were not afraid to take the Books of the Old and New Testament into their Hands; to discourse concerning the Power of the Pope; to contemn the ancient Ceremonies of the Church; and to detract from that Reverence and Observance, which was due to Religious Persons, consecrated to God's Service. This they urged upon him with such Vehemency, that he appoint∣ed them a Judg, according to their own Hearts, and that was ‖ Iames Hamilton, base Brother to the Earl of Arran; him they had oblig'd by great Gratuities before; and besides, he was resolv'd to concili∣ate the King's Favour, (who long since had been offended with him) with the Perpetration of some atoning Fact, though never so cruel.

About the same time, there came into Scotland, Iames Hamil∣ton, Sheriff of Linlithgoe, and Cousin-German to the former Iames: He, after a long Banishment, when he had commenced a Suit against Iames the Bastard, and had obtained leave to return, for a time, to his own Country; understanding in what Danger he and the rest of the Favourers of the Reformed Doctrine, were in, sent his Son in a Message to the King, as he was about to pass over into Fife; and having gotten him opportunely, before he went aboard, he

filled his Head, which was naturally suspicious, with fearful Pre∣sages, That this Commission granted to Hamilton, would be a Capital Matter, and pernicious to the whole Kingdom, unless he did prevent this Sophistry by another Wile. The King, who was then hastning into Fife, sent the young Man back to Edinburgh to the Court, called the Exchequer-Court, where he also commanded to assemble Iames Lermont, Iames Kircaldy, and Thomas Erskin, of whom one was the Master of the Houshold, the other Lord High Treasurer, neither of them averse from the Reformed Religion; the Third was highly of the Popish Faction, and his Secretary. These were all ordered to meet: And the King commanded them to give the same Credit to the Messenger, as they would do to him∣self, if he were present; and so took the Ring off his Finger, and sent it them as a known Token between them: They laid their Heads together, and apprehended Iames just after he had dined, and had fitted himself for his Journy, and committed him Priso∣ner to the Castle. But having Intelligence by their Spies at Court, that the King was pacified, and that he would be released, besides the publick Danger, they were afraid also for their particular selves, lest a Man, factious and potent, being released, after he had been provoked by so great an Affront and Ignominy, should after∣wards study a cruel and bitter Revenge against them: Whereupon they speedily hastned to Court, and inform'd the King of the Immi∣nency of the Danger, of the naughty Disposition, Fierceness and Power of the Man, all which they augmented, to raise the greater suspicion upon him; so that they persuaded the King not to suffer so crafty, and withal so puissant, a Person, being also provoked by this late Disgrace, to be set at Liberty, without a legal Trial. Whereupon the King came to Edinburgh, and from thence to Seton, where he caused Iames to be brought to his Trial, and in a Court legally constituted, according to the Custom of the Country, he was condemned, and had his Head struck off, his Body was cut up after his Execution, and his Quarters hanged up in the publick Places of the City. The Crimes objected against him, in behalf of the King, were, That on a certain Day he had broke open the King's Bed-Chamber, and had designed to kill him, and that he had driven on secret Designs with the Douglasses, who were declared publick Enemies. Few were grieved for his Death, (because of the Wickedness of his former Life) save only his own Kindred, and the Sacerdotal Order, who had placed all the Hopes of their For∣tunes, in a manner, upon his Life only.

From that time forward, the King increased in his Suspicions a∣gainst the Nobility; and besides, he was exercised with sundry distracting Cares, insomuch that his unquiet Mind was much trou∣bled with Dreams in the Night. There was One more remarka∣ble than the rest, which was much talked of, That in his Sleep, he saw Iames Hamilton, running at him with his drawn Sword, and that he, first, cut off his Right Arm, then his Left, and threat∣ned him shortly to come, and take away his Life, and then disap∣peared; when he awoke in a Fright, and pondering many things about the Event of his Dream, at last Word was brought him, that

both of his Sons departed this Life, almost at one and the same mo∣ment of Time, one at St. Andrews, and the other at Sterlin.

In the mean while, there was not a certain Peace, nor yet an open War, with the King of England, who was alienated, and offended afore; insomuch, that, without any denunciation of a War, Preys were driven from the Borders of Scotland. Neither would the Eng∣lish, when called upon to make Restitution, give any favourable answer: So that all Men saw, That Henry was in an high Indigna∣tion, because of the frustration of the Interview at York. And Iames, tho he knew that War was certainly at hand, and therefore had made Levies for that purpose, and had appointed his Brother the Earl of Murray, to be General of all his Forces, and had also made all necessary Preparation for a Defence, yet he sent an Ambassador to the Enemy, if 'twere possible, to compose Matters without Blows: In the mean time, George Gordon was sent to the Borders, with a small Force, to prevent the pillaging Incursions of the Ene∣my. The English despised the paucity of the Gordonians, and therefore hasten'd to burn Iedburgh. But George Hume, with 500 Horse, interpos'd and charg'd them briskly; and, after a short Fight, when they saw the Gordons a coming, they were put into a Fright, and so fled away scatteringly, to escape their Enemies; there were not many slain, but several taken Prisoners. Iames Lermont, who was treating about a Peace at New-Castle, had scarce received his an∣swer; but, that the War might be carry'd on the more cunningly, he was commanded to return, in company of the English Army: Moreover, Iohn Erskin, and .... were sent Ambassadors from Scotland to meet the said Army at York, where they were de∣tained by Howard, the General, and never dismissed, till they came to Berwick. Iames, being assured by his Spies, before the return of his Ambassadors, of the marching on of the English Army, formed his Camp at Falkirk, about 14 Miles from the Borders, but sent George Gordon before, with ten thousand Men, to prevent the plun∣derings of the English; yet, he did nothing considerable, and had not so much as a light Skirmish with the Enemy. The King of Scotland was mighty earnest to give Battel, but the Nobility would not hear of it, by any means; so that he was full of Wrath, and brake forth in a Rage against them, calling them Cowards, and un∣worthy of their Ancestors, ever and anon telling them, That seeing he was betrayed by them, he himself and his own Family would do that, which they had cowardly refused to do; neither could he be appeased, tho they came about him and told him, That he had done enough for his Honour, That he had not only kept the English Army, which was so long time a levying, and that had assaulted Scotland on a sudden, (and that, with Threats to do great Matters) from wandring up and down for depredation, but also, for the space of 8 Days, that it re∣mained in Scotland, had so pent them up, that they never marched above a Mile from the Borders; for after they drew out of Berwick they went as far as Kelso up against the Stream; and there being in∣formed of the march of the Scotish Army, they pass'd over the Ford, being so fearful to ingage, that they rush'd into the River scatteringly, and in no order at all▪ and as every one pass'd over,

they left their Colours and hastn'd home, the nearest way they could; Gordon, in the mean time, who saw this afar off, not stir∣ring at all, nor making any attempt upon them, in their Rear. For which, the King conceived against him an implacable hatred. Maxwel, to appease the King's Anger, as much as he could, promi∣sed, if he might have ten thousand Men, to march into England by the Solwa••, and to do some considerable Service; and he would have been as good as his Word, unless the King, being angry with his Nobles, had given secret Letters, and a Commission, to Oliver Sinclare, Brother to the Laird of Rosselin, which he was not to open till such a prefixt time. The Contents were, That the whole Army should acknowledg him for their General; Iames's Design therein was, That, if his Army had the better, the Glory of the Victory might not redound to the Nobles. When they were come into their Enemies Countrey, and about 500 English Horse appeared on the Neighbour-Hills, Oliver Sinclare was lifted up on high by those of his Faction, and, leaning upon two Spears, caused the King's Com∣mission to be read; at which, the whole Army was so offended, and especially Maxwel, that they broke their Ranks and ran in, higly piggly, one among another: Their Enemies, tho accustomed to Wars, yet never hoped for so great an Advantage, when, from the upper Ground, they beheld all things in such a Confusion amongst them, ran in upon them with a great Shout, (as their manner is) and so assaulted them as they were in a Fright, and hovering be∣tween the design of Flying or Fighting; and thus Horse, Foot and Baggage were all driven confusedly into the next Marshes, where many were taken by the English, more by the Scotish Moss-Troo∣pers, and sold to the English. When this loss of his Army was brought to the King, who was not far off, he was moved, beyond measure, with Indignation, Anger and Grief, insomuch, that his Mind was distracted Two ways; sometimes, to take Revenge of the perfidiousness of his own People, (as he called it) and sometimes to make Preparation for a new War, and Retrieval of his Affairs. But in that almost desperate state of things, it seemed the best way to make a Truce with the English, and to call back Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus, on the best Conditions he could. But his Body be∣ing worn out with Watching and Fasting, and his Mind overwhelm∣ed with Cares, he dyed, a few Days after, on the 13th of December, leaving his Daughter, his Heiress, a Child of about five Days old; he was buried the 19 of Ianuary in the Monastery of Holyrood, near his first Wife Magdalene. In his life-time, his Countenance and the Make of his Body were very Comly, his Stature indifferent Tall, but his Strength, above the Proportion of his Body; his Wit was sharp, but not sufficiently cultivated with Learning, through the fault of the Times. His Diet was sparing, he seldom drank Wine, he was most patient of Labour, Cold, Heat and Hunger; he would often sit on Horse-back, Night and Day, in the coldest Winter, that so he might catch the Thieves unawares; and his Nimbleness struck such fear into them, that they abstained from their ill Pranks, as if he had always been present amongst them: He was so well acquain∣ted with the Customs of his Country, that he would give just An∣swers

concerning weighty Matters, even on the High-way, as he rode on a Journy, with a great deal of Readiness and Prudence: He was of easy Access, even to the poorest. But his great Virtues were almost equalled by as many Vices, yet they had this Allevi∣ation, That they seemed imputable rather to the Time he lived in, than to his own Disposition and Nature. For such an universal Li∣centiousness had over-run All, that Publick Discipline could not be retrieved, but with a great deal of Severity and Strictness. That which made him so covetous of Money, was, That, when he was under the Tutelage of others, he was educated in great Parsimony, and as soon as ever he came to be of Age, he entered into an empty Palace; for all his Houshold-Stuff was embezill'd: So that, all the Rooms of his House were to be new-furnish'd, at once; and his Guar∣dians had expended his own proper Patrimony on those uses, which he wholly disapproved; besides, the Instructors of him in his Youth, made him more inclinable to Women, because, by that means, they hoped to have him longer under their Tuition. A great part of the Nobility did not much lament his Death, because he had banished some of them, and kept many others in Prison, and many, for fear of his Severity (a fresh Disgust being now added to their former Contempt) chose rather to surrender themselves to the English King, their Enemy, than to commit themselves to the Anger of their own King.

Notes

• Iohn Duke of Albany, the new Regent, arrives in Scotland.
• Peter Muffat, a noted Rob∣ber, punished.
• Hepburn insi∣nuates himself into the new Regent.
• Douglas, Hume, and Forman, accused by Hepburn, as the Three ••eads of the then Factions.
• Hume.
• Hume, in dis∣content, ap∣plies himself to the Queen and Douglas.
• Hume's De∣sign disap∣pointed.
• Three Gover∣nors over the young King, the Queen and Douglas being displa∣ced.
• Hume, the Queen, and Douglas, fly into England;
• But, upon Re∣conciliation with the Re∣gent, return home again.
• (a)

  Alexander Hume raises an Insurrection,
• But submits, and is made Prisoner.
• He escapes, and creates further Disturbances,
• But is quelled, with his Party.
• Both the Hume's come to Court,
• Are impri∣son'd,
• Tryed and Executed;
• (c)

  Chiefly by the Instiga∣tion of Iohn Hepburn.
• (d)

  Andrew Car escapes out of Prison.
• The Re∣gent desires leave to pass o∣ver into France.
• He appoints seven Deputies to govern, in his absence.
• (f)

  Q. Mar∣garet returns to Scotland.
• Or Inse-Gar∣vy, a fortify'd Rock lying in the middle of the Forth, or Scotish Sea.
• (g)

  A Town in the Merss, a mile west of Duns.
• (h)

  Wederburn in the Merss.
• (i)

  Darcy slain by David Hunt.
• (k)

  Discord between Doug∣las Earl of An∣gus, and Andrew Car.
• (l)

  Archibald Douglas surren∣ders up his Government.
• (m)

  The Western No∣bles conspire to apprehend the Earl of An∣gus.
• (n)

  But he defends him∣self by force, and worsts them.
• (o)

  The Re∣gent, after 5 Years absence, returns from France.
• In Mid-Lo∣thian.
• (p)

  The Re∣gent raise an Army against England;
• (q)

  But the Nobility op∣pose his De∣sign.
• Whereupon he claps up a Truce with the English, and r••∣treats.
• The Regent, a second time, goes into France.
• A Skirmish between the French and English Flee••••.
• The Earl of Surry with an Army ravages over part of Scotland.
• Iedburgh ta∣ken by the English.

  A strange Fright among the Horses of the English Ar∣my.
• The English Army retreats.
• The Regent arrives in Scot∣land from France, a se∣cond time.
• Q. Margaret, with her Bro∣ther Henry the 8th of England, persuade the Scots to break with the French, with their Argu∣ments to in∣force it.
• But the French Faction in Scot∣land oppose in, with their Rea∣sons.
• Cardinal Woolsy a self-ended and ambitious Statesman.
• The Regent again marches with an Army into England,
• †

  Besieges Werke-Castle, is repulsed and retreats.
• ‖

  Werke-Castle described.
• In the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 near 〈◊〉〈◊〉-Ca∣stle.
• The Regent undertakes his third Voyage into France.
• ‖

  In his absence the young King enters upon the Govern∣ment;
• And vacates the Regents Power.
• †

  Archibald Douglas, Mar∣garite's Hus∣band, returns from France, through Eng∣land, into Scot∣land.
• ‖

  He, with his Partisans, seize on the young King, and ma∣nage the Go∣vernment.
• Three Mode∣rators of the Kingdom, Dou∣glas, Stuart and Cambel.
• †

  But Douglas soon ou•••• the other Two.
• At which, the Nobility is much discon∣tented, and en∣deavour to take the King, by Force, out of his Hands.
• Walter Scot overthrown by the Douglasses, in his Endea∣vours to free the King.
• ‖

  Iohn Stua••t, Earl of Lennox, with the King's Privity, renews the Design of redeeming the King from the Douglasses.
• A Mile above the Bridg near Linlithgo.
• ‖

  Lennox fights with the Dou∣glassians and Hamiltonians, is worsted and slain.
• Great Severity used by the Douglasses a∣gainst Lennox's Party.
• The couragi∣ous Answer of Hugh Kennedy, in behalf of Gilbert Earl of Cassils.
• The bold At∣tempt of an Under-Groom, to destroy Iames Hamilton, in Revenge of his Master's, the Earl of Lennox his Death.
• The Groom apprehended and tortured, yet dies very resolutely.
• Patrick Hamil∣ton, nobly de∣scended, put to Death upon the account of Religion.
• The strange Death of Alex∣ander Cambel, the self-con∣demned Perse∣cutor of Pa∣trick Hamilton.
• The King frees himself from the Dou∣glasses.
• Or Falco∣land, about the middle of Fife.
• The Douglasses forbidden, by Proclamation, to intermeddle in the Govern∣ment.
• New Officers at Court.
• ‖

  August 26.
• In East-Lothi∣an, opposite to the Bass-Isle.
• †

  In Sterling∣shire, not far from To•• wood.
• ‖

  The Douglasses arm in despera∣tion.
• In Lothian.
• †

  About four Miles South of Dalkeith.
• ‖

  November 21.
• A Town lying in the Firth or Forth in East-Lothian, four Miles South of Dunbar.
• †

  Tantallon-Ca∣stle besieged by the King.
• ‖

  In the Author it is Tantallon, but, I judg it to be a Mistake of the Transcri∣ber for Du••bar.
• The Siege of Tantallon raised.
• †

  Within two Miles of Ey∣mouth, in the Moss.
• ‖

  The Douglasses forced to fly in∣to England.
• Embassadors from England to piece up an Accommodati∣on between King Iames and the Dou∣glasses.
• †

  In Twidale.
• ‖

  Iames Earl of Murray, and the Earl of Nor∣thumberland, meet to settle Matters be∣twixt the Bor∣derers.
• April 15.
• †

  In Teviot∣dale.
• Iohn Armstrong with many of his Followers hanged.
• ‖

  The strange, and (seeming∣ly) miraculous Fast of one Iohn Scot, for many weeks together, with his Story.
• Thomas Dough∣ty a great Cheat.
• Fifteen Judges with Salary, ap∣pointed to de∣cide Contro∣versal Matters in Scotland;
• But quickly disused.
• The English make War up∣on Scotland.
• †

  Upon the River Esk.
• ‖

  The French Ambassador mediates a Peace between the English and Scotish Kings.
• Iames tran∣sacts with the French King, and afterwards with the Em∣perour, about a Match;
• †

  Which the Hamiltons la∣bour to hinder.
• ‖

  The chief Ci∣ty of Normandy.
• Three Maries offered by Charles the Em∣peror, to King Iames, out of which to chuse a Consort.
• †

  King Iames visits the Or∣cades, and other Isles of Scot∣land.
• ‖

  Lutherans se∣verely dealt with.
• Mary of Bour∣bon offered by Francis as a Wife to Iames.
• †

  Henry of Eng∣land sends Con∣troversal Books of Divi∣nity to Iames, by his Ambas∣sadors.
• ‖

  Ambassadors sent by Henry to Iames, de∣siring an Inter∣view, which was agreed to;
• Tho afterwards disappointed upon several pretences.
• Henry takes the disappoint∣ment of the Interview in great disdain.
• King Iames sails over in∣to France,
• And marries Magdalene, that King's Daugh∣ter;
• Who died soo•• after.
• Mourning-gar∣ments when, and upon what occasion, first used in Scot∣land.

  Ambassadors sent over into France to fetch Mary of the House of Guise. Earl of Bothwel banished.
• Iohn Forbes condemn'd for Treason;
• 'Twas thought unjustly.
• The Lady Ioan Douglas, &c. accused for conspiring to poison the King,
• For which she suffers Death, being burnt alive.
• Mary of the House of Guise, arrives in Scot∣land, and is married to K. Iames.
• †

  In the East-corner of Fife.
• ‖

  Troubles in Scotland about Religion.
• George Bucha∣nan, the Author of this History, imprisoned for the same cause, but makes his Escape.
• †

  Queen Mary brings forth a Son, and the next year ano∣ther.
• Ambassadors from England, to desire an In∣terview at York.
• Which the Fa∣ction of the Ecclesiasticks prevent.
• ‖

  Iames Hamil∣ton set up for a Judge against Lutherans;
• But prevented from executing his Commissi∣on;
• Imprisoned,
• Tried,
• Condemned, and put to Death.
• King Iames presaging Dream.
• His two Sons depart this Life.
• Henry of Eng∣land, being af∣fronted about the Interview, prepares War against Iames;
• And sends an Army against him, comman∣ded by Howard, his General.
• The Nobility of Scotland re∣fuse to fight a∣gainst England; which moves Iames's Passion against them.
• Standing upon the Tweed, 14 Miles above Berwick.
• K. Iames sends an Army into England,
• Which is de∣feated.
• The overthrow of his Army breaks his Heart.
• K. Iames the 5th his Cha∣racter.