The baronage of England, or, An historical account of the lives and most memorable actions of our English nobility in the Saxons time to the Norman conquest, and from thence, of those who had their rise before the end of King Henry the Third's reign deduced from publick records, antient historians, and other authorities / by William Dugdale ...

Hamilton, Earl of Cambridge.

[17 Iac.]

THe first of this Family, that enjoyed this Honor, was Iames Marquess of Ha∣milton in Scotland, sona 1.1 to Iohn Earl of Arran. Which Iohn, being the first b 1.2 in that Realm, who bore the Title of Mar∣quess, was sonc 1.3 to Iames Earl of Arran, (Regent of Scotland, upon the death of King Iames the fifth, and maded 1.4 Duke of Chas••all-Herauld, in Poictou, by Henry the second King of France) and he Grandsone 1.5 to Sir Iames Hamilton, Knight▪ createdf 1.6 Earl of Arran, by King Iames the third, whose sister Mariana he had marriedg 1.7.

In the year 1619. (17 Iac.) this Iames* 1.8 Mar∣quess of Hamilton, was by Letters Patents, bearing date 16 Iunii, advancedh 1.9 to the digni∣ty of Baron of Ennerdale in Cumberland, and Earl of Cambridge: also made Gentleman i 1.10 of the Kings Royal Bedchamber, 4 Martii, An. 1620, (18 Iac.) and Lord Steward of his Houshold; likewise Knightk 1.11 of the most No∣ble Order of the Garter, towards the latter end of that Kings Reign. And having marriedl 1.12 An∣••e Cunningham, daughter to Iames Earl of Glen∣ca••ne, by her had issuem 1.13 two sons, Iames and William; as also three daughters; Anne, mar∣ried to ... Lindsey Earl of Craford, in Scotland, Margaret and Mary: and dyingn 1.14 at UUhitehall,o 1.15 2 Martii, An. 1624. 22 Iac. (towards the end of which year, King Iame••, himself departed this life) was buried at Ha∣milton in Scotland, with his Ancestors.

Whereupon Iames* 1.16 his eldest son, succeeding him, as well in these his English, as other his Scotish honours, grew in such favor with King Charles the first, (then newly arrived to the Crown) as that he was shortly after, made one of the Gentlemen of his Bedchamber, Knight of the Garter, and Master of the Horse.

And in An. 1638. (14 Car. 1.) upon those Tumults raised in Scotland, under colour of asserting the Religion there established, was about the end of May imployed thither, in order to the appeasing thereof: whence he returned in November following.

Moreover, upon that great Insurrection o•• the Scots, in An. 1639. (15 Car. 1.) which occasio∣ned his Majesty to raise considerable Forces by Sea and Land, (himself also marching in per∣son thither) this Marquess had the whole Fleet (prepared for that service) committed to his trust and conduct.

And after that, upon a farther Insurrection the••e, being sent again into that Realm, in or∣der to his Majesties Service, for the better coun∣tenancing him therein, had the Title of a Duke conferred upon him. Where he continued un∣til the year 1643. At which time the Scots ha∣ving levyed another Army, (consisting of eigh∣teen thousand Foot, and two thousand Horse) in ayd of the English Rebels, (whose power at that time began much to decline, by reason of the many Victories which the king had ob∣tained in sundry parts of the Realm against them) He hasted to the King then at Oxford, accom∣panied with his Brother Lanerick, giving out to all the Governors of such Towns and Castles, as lay in his road; that being banished their Country, for their Loyalty to his Majesty, and plundered of their Estates by the Covenanters, they were at that time thus constrained to ••lee, for the safety of their lives.

What cause of suspition the King then had of his Fidelity, is unknown to me; yet sure I am, that upon his arrival* 1.17 at Oxford, his Majesty did not only refuse him access to his pre∣sence, but sent* 1.18 him Prisoner to Pendennis. Castle in Cornwall, where he continued till the month of August, in An. 1646. when all being lost, that with the rest of his Garrisons, were totally surrendred, whereupon he went again into Scotland.

After which, his Majesty being sold by the Brethren of that Realm, (to whom he had fled for refuge) unto the Covenanting Presbyte∣rians here; and from them at length taken by the Independents, and made prisoner in the Isle of Wiht; this Duke discerning how distastful to the World those Hucksters then were, for for thus making Merchandise of their native King, and their Brethren in England grown odious, not restoring him to his R••yal power, when they might: as also that the Independents were generally abominated, for pretending his Re∣stauration, and afterwards keeping him close prisoner in that Island, made overture to the Scots for raising an Army, in order to his Res∣cue.

Which seeming plausible to them, but much more to the Royalists, he wanted neither Men nor Arms, to serve him in that adventure, and to the intent he might therein, obtain the favor of the Kirke, declared for the Covenant, and marcht into England.

But,* 1.19 by that time he got to Preston in Lancashire, his Horse and Foot being at a large distance asunder, ••romwell and Lambert there fell upon him with such advantage; as that he became necessitated to forsake his Foot, and to march Southward. In which, being closely pursued, and not able to make head, he was taken Prisoner at Uto••eter in Staffordshire.

Some say he rendred himself by Articles to L••mbert, as he pleaded at his Tryal; others, that he yielded upon mercy, to the Lord Grey of Gr••••y; but being thence, first brought Pri∣soner to Windsore-Castle, and afterwards to London▪ the business was, to obtain from him a discovery of such Members of either House, then siting at UUestminster, or others of note in the City, as had thus invited him into England. Which if any did, he revealed them not, but offered an hundred thousand pounds to save his life, and to unite with Argyle, (the greatest confident of all their Party,) as it was then said. Whereupon, Messengers being dis∣patcht into Scotland, to sound Argyle, the High Court of Justice, deferred his Sentence for a time. But upon such return as came from thence, he received the doom by Bradshaw, on Tuesday 6 Martii, 1648. and ond Friday next ensuing, lost his Head upon a Sc••ffold, near the Gates of UUestminster-Hall.

This unhappy Man took to Wife the Lady Mary, the eldest daughter to William Earl of Den••igh, by whom he had issue two daugh∣t••rs, viz. the Lady Anne, and Lady Susanna; which Lady Anne, by the deposition of William d••Hamil••on her Unkle, succeeded to the honor and estate of her Father, after the decease of her sa••d Unkle, and became the wife of William Earl of Se••kirke, eldest son to the Marquess of Douglasse.

Which William* 1.20 having thus married her, was created Duke of Hamilton, shortly after the happy Restauration of our present Soveraign, King Charles the Second. The other daughter, viz. Lady Susanna, married to Iohn Earl of Cas••ls in Scotland.

But upon the death of this last mentioned Iames, Willi••m Earl of Lan••rick his Brother, immediately succeeded him in his Honors. Of whom I have no more to say, than that accom∣panying our present Soveraign King Charles the S••cond, with the Scottish Army into England, in An. 1651. he received a mortal wound at UUorce••ter Fight, upon the third of Septem∣ber, the same year, whereof he soon after died, having had issue by Elizabeth his wife, eldest daughter to Iames Earl of Dirlton in Scot∣land, one son, called Iames, who died young, and five daught••rs; Anne, married to Robert Lord C••rn••gie, eldest son to the Earl of Sou∣th••sk••, and now Earl of Southeske; Eli∣z••beth to Iames Lord Kilmores, eldest son to the Earl of Gl••ncarne, Lord High Chancel∣lor of Scotland; Mary, to Iames Lord Al∣m••••t, now Earl of Calendar; Diana, who died young; and Margaret to Sir Iohn Blair, Knight▪ L••ird of Blaire, the head of an antient ••amily in that Realm.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Catal. of Nob. ••y R. ••.
• b 1.2

  Catal. of Nob. ••y R. ••.
• c 1.3

  Catal. of Nob. ••y R. ••.
• d 1.4

  Catal. of Nob. ••y R. ••.
• e 1.5

  Les••. p. 463.
• f 1.6

  H•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Boet. p. 388. n. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• g 1.7

  H•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Boet. p. 388. n. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.8

  Iames.
• h 1.9

  Pa••. 17. Jac. p. 1.
• i 1.10

  〈…〉〈…〉
• k 1.11

  〈…〉〈…〉
• l 1.12

  〈…〉〈…〉
• m 1.13

  Ibid.
• n 1.14

  Ann••l R. Jac u•• su∣pra.
• o 1.15

  Ann••l R. Jac u•• su∣pra.
• * 1.16

  Iame••.
• * 1.17

  16 Dec▪ 1643.
• * 1.18

  3 Ja••. 1643.
• * 1.19

  17 A••g ••648.
• * 1.20

  Wil••iam.