The history of the kingdom of Scotland;

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■

THE

HISTQK Y

t)F THE

KINGDOM OF SCOTLAND;

Containing an Account of the most
REMARKABLE TRANSACTIONS AND REVOLUTIONS IN

SCOTLAND,

For above Twelve Hundred Years past,
DURING THE REIGNS OF SIXTY-SEVEN KINGS;

From the Year of our Ijord, 434, to the happy Union of both Kingdoms,

UNDER

KING JAMES

The Sixth of Scotland, and First of England, of blessed memory, in 1602 ;

INTERMIXED WITH A VARIETY OF

EjXCELLENT SPEECHES, STRANGE ACCIDENTS,

AND OTHER VERY CONSIDERABLE MATTERS, BOTH DELIGHTFUL AND PROFITABLE.

BY RICHARD BURTON,

A NEW EDITION,

WITH WOOD-CUT PORTRAITS.

PRINTED F O B

MACHELL STACE, No. 12, LITTLE QUEEN STREET,

By W, Smith ^ Co. 6, King Street, Seven Dials.

1813.

TO THE READER.

JL WO considerations induced me to draw up this brief col-
lection: first, that I have not observed any thing already
extant of this nature in so small a volume, 7iotwithstanding
the transactions, revolutions, and accidents have been as
remarkable in this kingdom, as it may be in any other in
Europe; so that they must needs be very surprising to most
readers, who can hardly imagine that such strong actions
should be performed in our neighbour nations, and we have
little or no notice or account thereof in any of our modern
histories. Second consideration was, that having already
published a book of the same value concerning the Kings of
England, and two or three other little Tracts of the most
considerable occurrences and rarities in that country, I could
not but think it necessary and pleasant to give some particular
account of what has happened informer ages in his Majesty's
other famous kingdom of Scotland, wherein I aim at plain-
ness and brevity, yet have left out nothing material, as far
as it was possible to reduce so many notable passages into so

iv TO THE READER.

small a compass, which I doubt not but you will acknowledge
upon perusing hereof, and neither repent your pains nor cost,
which is the real wish of

R. B.*

* The Publisher conceives that it may not be improper to subjoin the
following extract from a book, (obligingly lent him by Mr. Denley, Book-
seller, Holborn,) intitled " Dunton's IVhipping Post, or a Satyr upon
every Body, 1706," as it proves that the initials R. B. (i. e. Richard Burton)
affixed to this and various other similar compilations, are fictitious, the
real name of the compiler being Nat. Crouch : — " To say the truth, Mr.
Crouch collects his news with so much accuracy and judgment, that he is
only out-done by the postman and those high-flyers I nara'd before ; so that I
admire the English post should still continue in the number of the lesser
flyers ; for Crouch prints nothing but what is very useful, and very diverting :
so that R. B. (alias Nat. Crouch) is become a celebrated author. But (as
you find in the History of my Life, p. 282) I think I have given you the
very soul of his character, when I have told you that his talent lies at col-
lection. He has melted down the best of our English histories into twelve-
penny books, (which are fiU'd with wonders, rarities, and curiosities;) for you
must know, his title pages are a little swelling. However, Nat. Crouch is a
very ingenious person, and can talk fine things upon any subject. This
weekly (and monthly) author endeavours to fit his matter to the capacity of
his readers, as desiring rather their profit, than his own applause."

THE

HISTORY

OF

SCOTLAND

OR,

AN ACCOUNT

OF THE MOST REMARKABLE TRANSACTIONS, DURING THE REIGNS
OF SIXTY-SIX KINGS OF SCOTLAND, FROM THE YEAR OF OUR
LORD, 424, TO THE HAPPY UNION OF BOTH KINGDOMS, BY
KING JAMES, OF BLESSED MEMORY, IN 1602.

T,

HE Scots, as well as other nations, esteeming it glorious to
derive themselves from far-fetched antiquity, do affirm their original
descent to be from the Greeks and Egyptians;;^ upon which account
their ancient historians have related, that a certain noble Greek,
called Gathelus, (the son of Cecrops, who built the city of Athens :
others say, the son of Argus, fourth King of Argives,) growing very
extravagant, and committing divers outrages in Macedonia and
Achaia, was often severely reprehended by his father for his unruly
actions; but the young man, impatient of reproof, and continuing
his irregularities, was thereupon banished by his father. In this
his exile, consorting himself with several stout youths of the same
humour, they went altogether into Egypt, and were gladly enter-
tained by Pharaoh Orus, then King of that country, who employed
them under Moses, the Captain-general, against the Ethiopians,

B

a THE HISTORY OF THE

who had invaded Eg;ypt as far as Memphis. Gathelus marclied
under Moses, who, as Josephus reporteth, was chosen commander
in chief by tlie voice of an oracle; and the Ethiopians received a
very ^reat overthrow, w ith the loss of Saba, their principal city in
the Isle of Meroe. In this encounter, as well as many others after-
wards, Gathelus ji;ave such proof of his conduct and courage, that
he became very much in favour with Pharaoh; but Moses was rather
envied than honoured for his valour, since the King fearing that the
Israelites increasing so extremely, might one day challenge the go-
vernment of the kingdom; whereupon Moses was sent out of the
country, and went into t!ie land of Midian : but to Gathelus and
his followers the city of Thebes was given^ which had been formerly
the Israelites : and to add to his honour, Pharaoh gave him his
daughter in marriage, whose name, you must know, was Scota, of
whose posterity, it seems, came the Scoti, or the nation of Scots ;
and the land where they inhabited was called Scotia, or Scotland.

Gathelus being thus advanced, lived all the days of his father-in-
law in great splendor, but he dying after the third generation,
another Pharaoh, called Cheucres, succeeded, who oppressed the
Israelites in Egypt more than his predecessors, till Moses, by divine
appointment, returning from Midian, declared God's will that he
should let go the people; which Pharaoh refusing, was horribly
plag;ued, and more severe judgments threatened. Gathelus be-
lieving the oracle, resolved to forsake this miserable country ; and
providing a great number of ships, he, with his wife and children,
with a multitude of Greeks and Egyptians, sailed out of the river
Nilus in the year of the world 2453, after he had dwelt in Egypt
thirty-nine years. After many dangers at sea, they first touched
upon the coast of Barbary; from whence being beaten back by the
inhabitants, they embarked again and landed in a part of Spain,
called Lusitania, and called the place where they went a-shore,
Port Gathele, of this Gathelus, which they say was afterward, by
corruption, called Portugal, as at this day. When the Spaniards
understood their arrival, they came against them with strong forces;
but, after a bloody fight, were routed by Gathelus, which much en-
couraged him and his followers : soon after, it was agreed that they
should continue there, and Gathelus built a city, called Mundus,
and aftpr, Bacchara. ■ But the Spaniards perceiving these strangers
mightily to increase, designed to have forced them away; yet^
doubting their strength, they proposed to Gathelus to remove to
the north side of Spain, now called Galieia, as being- thinly peopled;

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 3

which he willingly accepted; and sacrificing publiclj to his Gods
for his good success, he departed thither with all his people, and
making a league with the natives, built a city, called Brigantia, now
Conipostella. Being thus settled, Gathelus was called King, and
ordained good lavvs ; and because he would have all his followers
under one government, he commanded that they should be called
Scotchmen, from his wife Scota.

In process of time, growing very populous, the Spaniards resolved
to root them out; but after a sharp tight, the Scots remained con-
querors; upon which, peace followed, and it was agreed they should
live after their own laws, and not to be disturbed. Gathelus being
thus established, saith our historian, sate upon his marble stone in
Brigantia, administering justice to his people This stone was like
a chair, and attended with such a fatal destiny, that the Scots say,
wheresoever it should be found, their nation should reign ; and
therefore it was removed from Spain to Ireland, and tlien to Scot-
land, all their Kings being crowned sitting therein. When Gathelus
observed the people so much to increase, that the country was too
little for them, resolving to maintain the league inviolate with
Spain, he thought of transplanting some of them ; and understand-
ing there was an island north of Spain meanly inhabited, he sent
his two sons, Hyberus and Himericus, with a great navy and strong
army, who landed at Dundalk in that country, and called it Hibernia
from the eldest son's name, now Ireland. Being arrived, they found
the inhabitants to be few and simple, living only on milk, herbs, and
other fruits, growing naturally; hereupon they treated them gently,
and easily persuaded them to submit and join in friendship.

Hyberus having taught them tillage and other good husbandry,
returned into Spain, and succeeded his father Gathelus, subduing
more of that country, the succession continuing in his posterity a
long while after. Himericus was left by his brother to govern
Ireland, ruling both the Scotch and Irish; but in time great dif-
ferences arose, and much blood was shed, till at length, by assistance
from Spain, the Irish were subdued, and the Scots settled there, who
crowned one Brechus, of the blood royal, for their King, being the
first that reigned over Scotchmen in Ireland. To him succeeded
others, and at length one Rothsay, wiio observing Ireland to be too
narrow for them, he transported a great number into the isles,
formerly called Hebrides, now the Western Isles, and gave his
name to that island which he first possessed. From these isles they
went at length over into the main land, on the north of Albion, now

B 2

4 THE HISTORY OF THE

England, settling first in Argyle, and from thence spreading over
all that country, which they then named Scotland ; where they con-
tinued many years in great glory, living under good laws and go-
vernors.

At length, the Picts, a people of Germany, (others say of Sy thia,)
so called from painting themselves, or else from their coloured gar-
ments, landed in Scotland, and in short time got strong footing
therein, building divers forts and castles, and forcing the Scots to
let them have women for procreation : upon which, a league was
made with them, the land being divided betwixt them, and it was
agreed, that if at any time the succession in the kingdom of the
Picts were doubtful, then one born of a Scottish woman should be
admitted to the throne. This alliance was disliked by the Britains,
fearing they might be too strong with this conjunction, and there-
fore they privately endeavoured to foment differences between them,
persuading the Picts to join with them, as being more civilized, and
a better country, enforcing it with an old prophecy, " that the Scots
should one day traitorously destroy the whole race of the Picts out
of their country ;" whereby they so prevailed, that the Picts joined
with the Britains against the Scots : but, upon the point of battle,
the Pictish women came into the army with their children, and with
cries and lamentations declared their grief, persuading them not to
defile themselves with unnatural murder, since they were resolved
to die with their children, rather than their husbands, fathers,
brethren, and kindred should thus destroy each other.

The nobles and commanders considering the reasonableness of
their complaints, presently made an agreement with Fergus, King
of Scots, and turn their joint forces on the Britains, slaughtering
Coilus, the British King, with his whole army; and entering into a
league, offensive and defensive, they miserably tormented the poor
Britains on all sides for many years, till they were vanquished and
beaten back by the conquering Saxons.

After the death of Fergus, several Pictish and Scotish Kings
reigned in that country, and among them, Ederus, in whose fourth
year, Julius Caesar invaded Britain; upon which, Cassibilane, then
King, sent for aid from the Scots and Picts, and were promised it
from both ; but Caesar haviiig soon after vanquished the Britains,
sent to the Scots to submit, who answered, " That they were re-
solved rather to lose their lives than liberties, as, if there were occa-
sion, he should experience." Evvyn, the son of Ederus, succeeded
him, who wholly gave up himself to debauchery and lasciviousness;

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 5

wherein he took so great delight, that he made divers immodest and
filthy laws to encourage his subjects therein, as, " That they might
marry as many wives as they could maintain ; four, six, or ten ; or

JULIUS CESAR.

as manyas they pleased. That poor men's wives ought to be com-
mon to the lords of manors, who likewise had the privilege to have
the maidenhead of every bride on the wedding night." Which last
statute was so pleasing to the lustful nobility, that it continued many
hundred years after, though the former were soon abolished by suc-
ceeding Kings.

Ewin spending all his time among harlots, and abusing his nobles,
by imprisoning some and murdering others, thereby the more freely
to enjoy their wives and daughters, they thereupon began to detest
and abhor his condition-; ; and conspiring against him, raised an
army, encountered him in the field, and took him prisoner; his
friends and partakers not oifering to strike one stroke in his de-
fence. They then committed him to perpetual imprisonment ; but
the same night he was strangled in his chamber, and Metellanus,
the brother of Ederus, succeeded ; in whose reign, our Saviour,

6 THE HISTORY OF THE

Jesus Christ, was born. After this, Claudius, the Roman Emperor,
came into Britain, and sailing; to the Isles of Orkney, took the King
thereof prisoner; whereupon, Caratake, then King of Scots, and
the King of the Picts, joined with the Britains for their common
defence, and a battle was fought against the Romans, wherein nei-
ther side prevailed; yet, afterward, the Romans obtained a great
victory, and the people of Galloway submitted to them ; and soon
after, the greatest part of the kingdom.

Corbred succeeded Caratake, and after him Dardan, for the great-
ness of his stature surnamed the Great, of whom the nobiiity had
conceived a good opinion for his worthy acts in his predecessor's days,
and therefore chose him in the minority of Corbred's three sons;
but having attained the crown he grew outrageous in lust, cove-
tousness, and cruelty, and likewise designed to cut off the three
young princes ; whereupon a rebellion was raised against him, and
having'taken him, they brought him out before the multitude, and
openly beheaded him. Corbred's eldest son, Galde, reigned next,
in whose time the famous Boadicia was slain by the Romans, and all
her Britains almost cutoff; after which, Agricola the Roman general
invaded Scotland, and beat the Picts and Scots ; yet at length the
Romans submitted themselves as vanquished, and accepted the con-
ditions of peace prescribed by their enemies, leaving all the gar-
risons and forts they had in the country.

After thirty-five years' reign Lugtak succeeded Galde his father;
he was abhorred of all men for his detestable cruelty and lust, ravish-
ing not only his aunt, niece, and sister, but his own daughter ; so
that after two years, intending to put to death those whom in an
assembly at Dunstafage blamed his misgovernment, he was there
murdered among the people, with abundance of his partakers. Mogal,
the nephew of Galde, succeeded, who was at first well beloved of
his subjects, and obtained many notable victories against the
Romans, who again invaded the country ; upon which he grew so
proud, that he fell into the same sensualities as his predecessors, and
understanding there was a conspiracy against him, he fled into a
wood at midnight with only two servants, of which the conspirators
having notice the next morning, they pursued him with great fury,
and seizing him, cut off his head, which they set upon a pole, and
carried about in derision.

Conarus, his son, ascended the throne, who was thought to have
been in the treason against his father, and coming to the crown by
wicked means, it could not be expected he should rule well, for he

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 7

soon discovered his debauched humour, wherein he used such excess
that it brought him into great necessity ; whereupon calling an
assembly of his Lords, he demanded a subsidy, alleging, that the
rentf! of the crown were not sufficient to maintain his royal dignity,
and therefore required contribution from his subjects. The nobles
were startled at his demand, resolving to deny him, and therefore
the'next morning, when they were again set in the council chamber,
one of them spake to this purpose : " That since he had no wars
wherewith to spend his treasure, it might seem strange why he
should demand a tax to maintain his household ; but that it might
not indeed be much wondered at, since he preferred only mean
persons, who studied always to oppress his subjects, and enrich
themselves ;" " but," saith he, " this shall be amended ere long,
and they shall be advanced yet higher, even to a fair pair of gal-
lows, and end their lives with shame, as many others have done
before them, who have thus ruined the people; neither is it fit that
a person who so little understands his office, should any longer be
King over us, who ought rather to be confined to a chamber, and some
worthy person by common consent chosen to govern the kingdom."
The King at this insolent speech started up, and loudlj^ called them
traitors, adding, " that if they durst meddle with his person they
should dearly repent it." Notwithstanding which the conspirators
seized him, and committed him prisoner, executing several of his
officers and ministers, and choosing Argadus, one of their number,
governor of the realm, during the life of Conarus, which continued
eight years after.

Ethodius, nephew to King Mogal, succeeded, who, together with
the Picts, made sharp war upon the Britains, ravaging Westmor-
land and Kendal with fire and sword ; at length being at rest, he
much delighted in hunting and music, and was especially taken with
one musician, born in the Western Isles, by whom, after he had
reigned thirty-four years, he was murdered one night in his own
chamber, the murderer alleging he did this wicked act in revenge
for some of his friends and kinsmen, whom the King had caused to
be executed in Argyle ; that he had designed it long before, and
was now ready to receive whatsoever torment they would adjudge
him to ; " for sure 1 am," saith he, " that how terrible soever my
execution be, yet 1 shall feel no pain, but rejoice even in the very
midst of my tortures, since I have so notably and fully revenged the
death of my friends." Upon this he was ordered to be drawn in
pieces with wild horses in a most violent manner. Satrahel, the

8 THE HISTORY OF THE

brother of Ethodius, succeeded, thoug^h he left a son behind him
whom Satrahel would have put to death, with many more of his
wealthy subjects, thereby to enjoy their estates, which caused much
mischief in the kinjjdoni ; but before he had reigned four years, he
was strangled by his own servants ; to whom Donald, his brother,
was successor, who reigned virtuously, was beloved of his subjects,
and died peaceably, after twenty-one years governing the kingdom.

Ethodius, the second son of Ethodius, reigned after him, who
was so very foolish and weak, that the government was committed to
divers noblemen, yet was he extreme covetous, and was slain by his
guard in his sixteenth year. Then his son Athirco was advanced to
the crown, who slighting his nobility, and ravishing two daughters
of Natholicus, a nobleman of Argyle, he with the rest conspired
against him, who suspecting those about him, fled privately to the
sea-side, and went into a boat designing to pass into the Isles, but
being driven back by contrary winds, he chose rather to kill himself
than fall into the hands of his enemies ; after whose death Natholicus

firevailed so with the people, that he was proclaimed King, and the
ine of Athirco laid aside, though he had three sons, and a brother
called Dorus, who escaped into Pictland in a beggar's habit; to
settle himself, he was very kind to the lords and people, endeavour-
ing to appease all quarrels and discontents : but Dorus after a while
sending letters by a Pictish woman to some Scottish Lords of the
welfare of himself and his nephews, she was surprised by Natholicus,
and being put in a sack was thrown into the sea, which act being
declared abroad, they and their associates procured the people to
rebel, of which Nathplicus being informed, he privately retired into
Murrayland, and sent a trusty servant to a witch at Colmkill to
know the fortune of this war, who answered, " That the king should
in a little time be murdered, not by his open enemies, but by the
hands of his familiar friends, in whom he put much trust." The
messenger earnestly enquired by whose hands ? " Even by thine,"
saith she, " as it will plainly appear in a few days." The gentleman
called her old witch, saying, that he hoped to see her burnt
before he should commit so villainous a deed, and made haste to
tell the King; but as he Avent, he began to consider, that if he
should declare the truth, the King might be suspicious of him, and
put him to death ; if he kept it secret, some other might reveal it,
and he be thereby endangered : therefore, to make all sure, coming
to the King, he was by him led into a private room, and all others
being withdrawn, he suddenly struck the King to the heart with his

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 9

dagg^er, and killed him. His death being known to the nobles, they
resolved to send for the sons of Athirco, and employed this person
to fetch them ; who being come, Finloch, the eldest, was crowned
King, who reigned very justly and happily for ten years, but then
going to suppress the rebellion of Donald of the Isles, he was
treacherously murdered by two villains employed by him ; to whom
succeeded his younger brother Donald, who was resolved to be
revenged of the traitor ; but he suddenly setting upon the King,
slew him and above three tliousand more, and having got so great
victory he took upon him to be King, by the name of Donald of
tlie Isles; but being conscious of his usurpation, he never went
abroad without a guard, yet was killed one night by Cratchlint, the
son of King Findock, who succeeded him, after whom reigned
Fingomarc, his brother's son; then Romacus, and Angusianus, who
was slain in battle by the Picts : after him Fethelmacus, his cousin,
who was killed by two Pictish traitors as he lay sleeping ; who
being taken, were torn asunder with wild horses. Eugenius, his son,
came next to the crown, who was killed in a fight with the Romans,
m conjunction with the Picts and Britains, who resolved to root out
the Scottish nation, and made a law that they should resign all their
lands to the Britains and Picts, and forsake the country; and
accordingly the Scots were banished their native land, many of tiiem
going into Ireland and other countries: and to preserve peace
between the Picts and Britains, the Romans built a great wall from
the east sea to the west, with a strict order, that if any Pict should
pass that wall into Britain without leave, he should certainly die.
Hitherto we have followed the Scottish historians, though it is
questioned whether there were such a succession of Kings as we
have mentioned : what follows is allowed to be of more certainty and
authority, and therefore we shall be more particular in the reigns of
the succeeding Kings

I. It is generally believed that in the year of our Lord 424, the
Scots coming- in ifreat numbers out of Ireland, settled themselves in
Scotland, under Fergusius, their King, who was crowned in the
marble chair at Argyle ; and the Picts having broken their league
with the Romans, they joined with the Scots against them, between
whom a very great battle was fought, so that the river Carron was
filled with dead bodies, and the water looked like blood ; but while
the victory remained doubtful, there fell so sudden and violent a
storm of hail and rain, that they could not see each other, but were
forced to part ; iind liuving lost so many on each side, the Romans,

c

10 THE HISTORY OF THE

under Victorinus, their i^eneral, nnirched back into Britain, and the
Scots and Picts broke up their camp ; after which they again as-
semble to hinder the Jiritains from building the wall, falling upon
them, and killing the labourers and soldiers; yea, entering into the
British borders, fetched thence great spoils of goods and cattle : but
the Romans resolving to defend their confederates, fought a terrible
battle under Maximin, wherein the Pictish King, and Fergus, King
of Scotland, were both slain. This overthrow much dismayed the
Scots, fearing they should be now utterly expelled their country,
for the Romans pursued their victory with great destruction, and
Maximin was counselled to have rooted out both nations; but being
satisfied with his success, he retired to York, where hearing of the
disturbances at Rome, ho resolved to usurp the crown of Britain,
and in order thereto he married one of the daughters of Dionethus,
a Prince of Wales.

II. In the mean time the Scottish Lords made Eugenius II. of
that name, son of Fergus, King, and Maximin to establish himself,
was content to make peace with him ; which having done, he next
designed no less than the government of the whole Roman empire;
and taking all the British youth with him, he sailed into France,
causing himself to be proclaimed Emperor, leaving behind Dionethus,
his father, and only one Roman legion of soldiers, who continued
not long ere they were sent for by Etius, Lieutenant to the Emperor
Valentinian, whom they instantly obeyed, though they had sworn
allegiance just before to Maximin. The Britains being thus de-
prived of forces for defending themselves, the Scots and Picts took
occasion to fall upon them with fire and sword, first retaking all
places in their own country which had been garrisoned by the
Romans, and then entering Cumberland, destroyed most part of
Yorkshire. In this distress the Britains sending to Valentinian for
aid, he ordered Gallio to assist them, who pursued their enemies,
and repaired the wall, which was eight feet broad, and twelve feet
high, with towers in divers places, giving directions to the Britains
how to defend themselves, and then returned into France. Gallio
was no sooner gone, but the Picts and other people resolved again
to invade the Britains, and persuaded Eugenius with his Scots to
join with them ; and so entering Britain, they soon overthrew the
wall, and in multitudes entered, beating down the Britains without
resistance, who again apply themselves to the Roman Lieutenant
in Gallia, but were answered, " That they must make the best
defence they could, for he had no forces to spare;'' so that their

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. H

enemies miserably over-run their country as far as the river Humber :
in this their woeful distress they sent the following letters : —

To EtiuSy thrice Covsul., the Roman Lieutenant in Gallia 'y the
lamentable complaint of the Britains.

" When first our ancestors became subjects to the Romans, thej
judged the Senate of Rome by their worthy acts and glorious
achievements, to have been a safe refuge and support to all who
submitted to them ; but we their posterity, by the pernicious designs
of the tyrant Maximin, have been deprived of all means for our
safety and resistance, whereby we are in great danger of losing
both our kingdom and our lives, by the terrible invasions of our
most cruel enemies the Scots and Picts. In this our deplorable
condition we humbly applied ourselves to the Roman empire for
succour, with assured confidence of relief!, according as our faith-
fulness and loyalty hath deserved ; notwithstanding which, we find
ourselves utterly neglected and disregarded, so that we are delivered
up as a prey to those barbarous nations to be ruined, destroyed, and
murdered at their pleasure, whereby it is evident, either that the
Romans have lost their former virtue and gallantry, or else that
their most large empire is by the wrath of Heaven given up to be
over-run by a foreign people. But if it be now the fatal time wherein
the kingdom of Britain is irrecoverably to be taken from the
Romans, and brought under the subjections of some barbarous
nation, we declare that we neither abhor nor refuse the government
of any, the Scots and Picts, the most cruel of all others, only ex-
cepted ; of whose un mercifulness we have long since tasted, and by
their renewed strength, after the loss of our goods, and our walls
being destroyed, we know not how to secure our lives ; for now
they violently rush in upon us, they destroy our fields, burn our
houses, towns and villages, beat down and raze to the ground our
castles and towers ; their bloody swords spare neither innocent
children, women, nor impotent old age, besides vast numbers of
men whom they have slain fighting in their own defence ; and for
the poor remainder of our nation, they are driven to the sea, and
because they can get no passage over, are again forced back upon
their adversaries, so that we are hereby doubly destroyed, being
either drowned by the raging floods, or else murdered by our bloody
enemies : therefore if the honour of the Roman empire, if our

c '2

V2 THE HISTORY OF THE

iiilelitv thereto for above five huiulrecl years liave any power to move
^ou to consider our miseries, we humbly pray and beseecli you to
send us convenient succours, lest we should seem to be niore cruelly
betrayed by the Romans than abused by our barbarous neighbours,
ami all |)eople may be thereby deterred' from putting any trust or
confidence in the protection or friendship of the Romans."

Etius returned answer, tliat the calamities of the Britains did
very much disturb him, but that the present invasions made upon
the empire by several nations did at present hinder him for sending-
them any relief, but he advised them they should make the best re-
sistance they could, and when the empire was settled they should be
fully revenged of all the injuries they had received. At the same^
time the Britains having sent ambassadors to the Scots to treat of
peace, they returned with this answer, " That unless the Britains
wholly submitted themselves, and became their subjects, they would
make no peace;" which the Britains took in such indignation that
they mustered up all the forces possible, and met the Scots in the
field, but were beaten with the loss of fifteen thousand, and four
thousand Scots and Picts ; after which they were forced to sue again
for peace, Avhich was granted upon these hard conditions : That the
Britains should upon no account receive any aid fiom Rome, nor
suffer any enemy of the Scots or Picts to pass through their country ;
that they should enter into no league with any city or nation with-
out their consent, and should be ready to assist the Scots upon all
occasions i that all Britain, as far as Hull or Humber, should be
resigned wholly to the Scots ; that as a trophy of conquest they
should pay the Scots sixty thousand pounds ; and lastly, that they
should deliver an hundred hostages for performing these con.ditions,
which articles being so very severe, were kept no longer than till
the Britains had an opportunity to break them, and that was soon
after; for Eugenius having reigned thirty years, and much enlarged
the Scottish dominions, died;

III. To Avhom Dongard, his brother, succeeded in 470, who fol-
lowed his brother's example, in presorving justice and peace among
his subjects, in whose reign the Britains being weary of their ser-
vitude, by the persuasion of Conanus, resolved to free themselves,
and sent into Armorica, now Brittany, in France, for aid, which
Androneus, King thereof, soo^ agreeok toy sending his son Con-
stantine with considerable forces, who landing at Totnes, in Devon-
shire, he was received Avith great joy, and proclaimed King of
Britain, whereupon he assured them he would to the uttermost of

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 13

his power endeavour to regain their freedoms ; whereby they were
so encouraged that they quickly assembled all able to bear arms,
wherewith they marched against the Picts and Scots, and a bloody
battle was fouj^ht, sixteen thousand Britains being killed, and
thirteen thousand Scots, with Dongard, who was slain by Constantine,
fighting valiantly in the midst of his troops ; upon which the English
marched southward, and the Scots homeward, M'ith their dead king,
in the year 465.

ly. Constantine, another brother of Eugenius, was crowned
King after him, a prince altogether unlike his two predecessors,
giving himself up to lust and wantonness, deflowering virgins, and
ravishing wives, a great favourer of backliiters and slanderers, and
never pleased nor merry but in the company of buffoons and jesters ;
and though of the same name with the British King, yet of very
different qualities, the one studying to promote the good and ad-
vantage of his people, the other minding nothing but lasciviousness
and sensuality. He granted peace to the Britains without their
asking it, releasing not only the tribute, but secretly delivering up
divers castles upon the river H umber into their hands : these, with
several other things which he acted to the prejudice of the realm,
enraged the nobility and people against him, so that they resolved
to make an insurrection, but by the persuasion of Dongall, a discreet
nobleman of Galloway, who declared the great inconveniences
which would unavoidably follow, they were persuaded to suffer
patiently his disorderly government. The Picts observing the ill
conduct of the Scotch King, were afraid that if the King of Britain
should endeavour to revenge the injuries he had received from them,
they were not able to resist him singly, and were like to have small
assistance from the Scots : they therefore sent three British villains
into Britain, who treacherously slew that King; but being taken,
they were cast into a mighty fire, and burned to ashes. Neither did
Constantine of Scotland' long survive him ; for having ravished the
daughter of a nobleman of the Isles, he was by him murdered, after
he had reigned infamously seventeen years, in 481.

V. After him Dongal, or Congal, his nephew, son of his brother
Dongald, was proclaimed King, who endeavoured to reform the
abuses in the commonwealth. In his time Constantinus, the eldest
son of Constantine, was taken out of an abbey, wherein he was a
monk, and advanced to the kingdom of Britain, whereby being
unfit to govern, the ordering of all things was committed to Vor-
tigern, who thereupon renewed the league with the Picts and ScotSj

14 THE HISTORY OF THE

choosins: a guard to the King's person out of them, but soon after
he procured Constautius to be murdered bj some of them, and then
put theiu all to death, as well the innocent as guilty, at which the
Scotch and Pictish Kings were so enraged that they made several
inroads upon the British borders ; upon which Vortigern raised a
very great army, who were commanded by Gitellus, Prince of Wales,
wherewitli he took five hundred of these borderers, and immediately
hanged them up. The Scots and Picts soon after marched toward
them with strong forces, where a great battle was fought, wherein
there were slain of the Britains, (saith the Scotch historian,) twenty
thousand, and of the Scotch four thousand. This great loss much
discouraged the Britains, so that Vortigern being afraid of the
people, designed to have left the kingdom.

But upon consultation with some British Lords, it was concluded
to send for succour from Germany, which was done accordingly,
and Hengist and Horsus, two Saxon Princes, came over with ten
thousand soldiers, and were received joyfully by Vortigern and the
Britains ; they were no sooner refreshed but they fell upon the Scots
before they knew of their arrival, wherewith being much amazed,
a multitude of them were slain. Divers other victories they ob-
tained for the Britains, and great numbers of Saxons daily arriving,
the Britains began to suspect they designed upon their liberties,
which happened accordingly ; for, after a while, Hengist having
notice that Aurelius Ambrosius, and Uter Pendragon, the sons of
Constantine, designed to bring abundance of Britains and French
from Brittany to claim the crown as lawfully descended from their
father, he, with the assistance of Vortigern, endeavoured what he
could to hinder them, and getting possession of York, caused divers
of the nobles and gentry to be sliin, under pretence they would
have betrayed several forts and castles to the Scots, which he then
got into his own hands. The Britains, to prevent these growing mis-
chiefs, deposed Vortigern, and placed his sdn Vortimer in his stead,
and then sent ambassadors to the Scots and Picts, requiring their as-
sistance against the cruel oppressions of the Saxons, who by several
indirect ways endeavoured not only to usurp the government of the
kingdom and enslave them, but likewise utterly to extinguish and
subvert the faith and doctrine of Christ among them ; they therefore
earnestly desired their aid against these their common enemies, who
were called into the realm, not with the public consent of the
nobility and people, but by the private contrivance of Vortigern, to
suppress not only the vScots and Picts, but the Britains themselves,

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 15

whom by his tyranny he was conscious he had given cause to defend
themselves against hira.

Dongal King of Scots having heard their message, replied,
" That he was very Borry to understand into what danger the mise-
rable Christians of Britain were fallen, and therefore if he had no
other motive to join with them against the Saxons, yet the delivering
that island from such a paganish generation was to him a sufficient
cause, who not only used the heathenish rites and ceremonies of
their false religion by sacrificing to their hellish gods, even in the

firesence, and to the great horror and otfence of the Christians, but
ikewise souglit by all means possible to destroy and root out the
faith of our blessed Saviour Ciirist in all places where they had
power;" he therefore promised his uttermost assistance for driving
them hot only out of the frontiers of his dominions, but the whole
kingdom of Britain. The same answer the ambassadors received of
the King of Picts ; and accordingly sending a great army into
Northumberland, they obtained a great victory against the Saxons,
commanded by Occa, the son of Hengist ; and Vortimer at the same
time vanquished them in Kent, so that they all soon fled out of the
country back into Saxony.

King Vortimer a while after was poisoned by the treachery of his
step-mother Roxana, and Vortigern again re-enthroned, upon
taking a solemn oath never to assist the Saxons, nor receive any
foreign nation into the kingdom. He then administered justice to
his subjects, whereby he was exceedingly beloved, and renewed the
league with the Scots and Picts : notwithstanding which, Hengist
again returned, and by force or policy, possessed himself of most
part of the land, so that the greatest number of the Britains were
forced to retire into Wales, together with King Vortigern, where
they remained till Aurelius Ambrosius and Uter arrived from Brit-
tany in France, who besieging him in a castle, at length burnt it,
with the King and his Queen Roxana together, according as (they
say) Merlin, "the soothsayer, had prophesied, who was supposed to
have been begotten by an evil spirit called an Incubus, that in the
shape of men, was thought to accompany with women.

In this place, Hector Boetius relates some strange illusions of
spirits, which happened, and may not be unworthy the remembering.
A Scottish ship departing out of the Forth in that country, about
midsummer, toward Flatjders, there suddenly arose so extraordinary
a tempest as astonished the mariners, being so unusual about that
time of the year. The storm still increasing, so that all the passen-

16 THE HISTORY OF THE

gers despaired of safety, a woman in the hold of the ship called
earnestly to the seamen, beseeching them to throw her into the sea,
wherebj she assured them they should be all secured from danger ;
adding, that she had been a long time conversant with an unclean
spirit,^ which haunted her in the shape of a man, and was at that
very instant using his filthy pleasure with her after tlie manner of
men. There happened to be a priest in the same ship, who going
down to her, and finding her a very wretched and desperate person,
and woefully lamenting her miserable condition, he gave her such
wholesome counsels and useful admonitions, by advising her to a sin-
cere repentance, that she at length seemed thoroughly penitent for
her grievous wickedness and offences ; upon which, there imme-
diately issued out of the pump of the ship, a black stinking cloud,
that, with a terrible noise, smoke, and flame, presently fell into the
sea : after which, the tempest suddenly ceased, and the ship arrived
in safety to her intended haven.

The same author adds, that about this time a young man living
at (jareoth, a village near Aberdeen in Scotland, being a very
handsome complete person, made complaint to the bishop of the
diocese, that a spirit haunted him in the shape of a woman, so ex-
treme handsome and beautiful as he never saw the like ; who would
in the night come into his chamber, and use many pleasant entice-
ments to allure him to enjoy her ; and that he could not be freed from
her by any means. The bishop discreetly advised him to remove to
some'other country, and apply himself to fasting and prayer; which
he performing, accordingly was in a few days delivered from any
further disquiet or temptation.

He likewise adds this third relation, that in the country of Mar,
a young gentlewoman of excellent beauty, daughter of a nobleman,
having refused divers wealthy matches, she at length proved with
child, and being severely charged by her parents to discover the
father, she confessed, that a young man came to her and kept her
company every night, and sometimes in the day ; but whence he
came, or how he went away, she knew not. Her parents giving no
great credit to her words, kept very strict watch to find out who had
dishonoui'ed their family. About three days after, one of her maids
giving notice that the fornicator was at that instant with her, they
thereupon entered the chamber with a great many torches, and
shutting the doors, find their daughter in the arms of a most foul
and deformed monster, very terrible to behold. Among others, a
priest was there of an honest conversation, who, when all others

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 17

were afrighted, boldly approached, and began to recite the begin-
ning of St. John's Gospel ; and coining to these words, " Verbun*
caro factum est," " The word was made flesh," the evil spirit fled,
with a dreadful roaring noise, taking the roof of the chamber with
him, and burning the hangings and covering of the bed; yet was
the gentlewoman safely preserved, who, within three or four days
was delivered of a horrid and mis-shapen birth, which the women,
to prevent shame to the house, seized and burnt to ashes. Thus
much out of Hector Uoetius, who hath writ these and divers other
credible relations, as he affirms, to prove that all which hath been
told concerning these illusions of devils and demons, is not false or
feigned; the credit whereof we must leave as we find them.

But to return to our history, Aurelius Ambrosius having dispatched
Vortigern, resolved to try his fortune against Hengist and the Saxons,
and to restore the Christian religion ; to which purpose he concluded
a firm league with the Picts and Scots, who, joining their forces,
obtained a verj great victory against them, Hengist himself being
slain by Aurelius, as the Scottish historians relate, who afterward
married the daughter of the Pictish King. The Britains being thus
delivered from the tyranny of the Saxons, enjoyed peace some years
after ; and discovering some Saxon priests who pretended to be
Christians, yet sacrificed to their idol gods, they were condemned
and burnt, according to a law then in being. At this time, Dongal,
King of Scots, died, after he had reigned twenty years in great
glory, in 501.

VI. Conranus, his brother, succeeded him, who was a very just
prince, being himself present in courts of justice to hear causes, or
else hunting in some forest near Avhere his judges sate. In his
reign Occa and Pascentius, the sons of Hengist, hearing of their
fatiier's death, came again into Britain with a strong army, at which
time Aurelius preparing to resist them with the assistance of the
Scots, died of a consumption, and his brother Uter succeeded him,
who falling in love with the wife of Gothlois, Duke of Cornwall,
he not only forced her to his pleasure, but to enjoy her more freely,
pursued her husband to destroy him, and at length taking him in a
castle whither he was fled, he caused him to be executed, under
pretence that he had forsaken his captain in a fight with the Saxons :
of this lady Uter begot Arthur, who was so famous a warrior,
whom, because he had no legitimate son, he ordained should suc-
ceed him in the kingdom ; whereat Loth, the Pictish King, who
was right heir after Uter to Britain, was so displeased, that he

D

18 THE HISTORY OF THE

joined with the Saxons against them, and a great battle was fought,
wherein the Britains obtained a glorious victory by the help of St.
Germain, the holy Bishop of Auxerre, as the Scottish writers relate
after this manner.

About Easter both armies came into the field, the Saxons and
Picts on one side, and the Britains on the other, many of whom
were grown idolaters by conversing with the Saxons ; which St.
Germain understanding, preached so effectually to them in the
camp, that tJiey were again reduced to Christianity, and received
the sacrament from him in company of the other faithful Christians :
when both sides were ready to engage, St. Germain, with all his
priests and clergy, marched in the front before tlie British array,
giving strict command that when he and his should cry Hallelujah,
the whole host should answer them with one voice. He then pro-
ceeded on, carrying the King's standard before him, and upon the
approach of the enemy, he with the priests cried thrice with a loud
voice altogether Hallelujah, which being loudly repeated in the
same manner by the whole army at once, made such a tremendous
echo in the adjoining hollow caves and mountains, that the Saxons,
amazed at this redoubled noise, and suspecting that another great
body of their enemies lay in ambush on the hills on each side of
them, yea, doubting that the very mountains and hills, yea, heaven
itself would fall on their heads, they were struck with so dreadful a
consternation, that they immediately betook themselves to flight
with so great haste and terror, that abundance of them were
drowned in the adjacent river, and the rest dispersed themselves
over the country, throwing away their weapons to expedite their
escape. Thus by this christian policy (saith ray author) this holy
man procured a bloodless conquest to Uter and his Britains.

But it seems they thereupon grew proud, debauched, and careless
of their future defence, falling into all kind of luxury and gluttony,
which abuses of divine goodness were much lamented by the good
men of those days, denouncing the wrath of heaven against them if
they did not reform their ways; which in a short time came to pass
accordingly, for Occa again made head against them, and gave
them a notable overthrow, wherein above fifteen thousand Brif&ins
were slain, though the Saxons likewise lost their King Occa; how-
ever, they chose another Occa, nephew to the former, for their
King, who turned all his forces upon Loth, King of the Picts, since,
contrary to his oath, he had assisted the Britains in the last battle,
and falling upon a company of Scots and Picts, cut them off with a

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 19

cruel slaughter; of which, news being brought to Conranus and
Loth, thej assembled their forces, and marched towards their ene-
mies ; but being ready to give battle, they were so struck with fear
of encountering such an army of fierce people, that the King per-
ceiving it, ordered one to make an oration for their encouragement,
which he did to this purpose.

" I cannot but marvel, dear countrymen and friends, to observe
such terror and affrightment in all your countenances, because 1 do
not imagine what the reason thereof should be, that such a number
of able warriors, so well armed and provided, and withal com-
manded by such valiant and courageous captains and leaders, as
there is not the least occasion to doubt of victory and success, should
be thus strangely terrified. As for the Saxons, they are no such
mighty and invincible champions, but that they may now be overcome,
as well as heretofore : hath not Vortimer, the British King, (and like-
wise Aurelius Ambrosius) vanquished them so severely, that afterward
they durst never encounter him in the field, but treacherously pro-
cured his death by poison? Then, since the Britains, whom the
Scots and Picts have so often subdued, have been thus victorious
against them, why should you dread to fight them for the common
defence of your country, and to revenge those wrongs and injuries
you have so lately received from'them ? Especially considering that
the righteous God (as all good men believe) is ever ready to advance
and assist a righteous cause. And whereas it hath been told you
that the Saxons are such huge and giant-like combatants, assure
yourselves the Scots and Picts are as strong and mighty as they, so
that you have no cause to complain of nature, but of your own faint
hearts and want of true courage, if you do not equal, yea, surmount
them in all warlike actions."

These with many other arguments were used to put life and spirits
into the trembling Scots and Picts, Avhich seemed to haVe the
desired effect ; so that they generally declared themselves ready to
die at the feet of their captains, and to follow their Kings whither
soever they would lead them ; who being herewith satisfied, marched
toward their enemies, whom they found ready to receive them, and
that with such rage and violence, that after a huge slaughter on
each side the Scots and Picts were utterly routed and pursued by the
Saxons till dark night, and destroying all they found of these
people the next day : the Scotch King, with the remainder of his
army, hastened to Galloway, and the Pictish to his own country ;
at which time liter. King of Britain, dying, Loth, King of Picts,

n 2

^0 THE HISTORY OF THE

sent to demand the government of the Britains, as having married
the sister and heir of Aurelius and Uter; but the Britains disdaining
liis message, proclaimed Arthur, the bastard son of Uter, King, and
forthwith fell upon and routed the Saxons in several battles, under
his valiant conduct.

King Conranus growing old, his ministers and officers were verj
corrupt, and severely oppressed the people, who being thereupon
discontented, and the nobility joining with them, they conspired
against him and his favourites, especially one Toncet, a person of
mean birth, who being made chief justice or chancellor, exercised
much cruelty, especially as to life and death, taking the forfeitures
of the penal statutes to fill the Xing's coffers, without regard to
justice or right. Among other violent actions, he caused several
rich merchants to be accused of treason upon very slight informa-
tions, for which they were condemned and executed without any
legal proof, only for covetousness to seize their estates; which so
enraged their friends, that they came into the judgment hall, and
first reproached him with words, they then openly murdered him
upon the seat of justice, flying presently into the mountains for
safety : and to prevent punishment for one villainy, they contrived
to commit a far greater, by killing the King as the original cause of
these mischiefs; and Donald, governor of Athol, a man in great
trust about the King, understanding their design, assured them of
his utmost help and assistance : hereupon these outlaws, according
to his instructions, coming secretly to the King's lodgings, were by
him conveyed into his bedchamber, Donald going privately away
as soon as they entered. Conranus perceiving he was betrayed,
and that his enemies were ready to murder him, got out of his bed,
and falling on his knees, besought them to have pity on his age,
and not defile their hands in the blood of their natural lord and King,
since, if they had been any Avay injured, it was without his know-
ledge; but they doubting he should make his escape, were deaf to
his entreaties, and immediately barbarously murdered him, instantly
betaking themselves to flight. This was the miserable end of Con-
ranus, after twenty }ears reign, in 531.

VII. Eugenius, his nephew, the second son of his brother Don-
gal, came next to the crown, who being placed in the marble chair
at Argyle, was earnestly persuaded to avenge the blood of his uncle
for terror to others who should attempt so heinous a deed against
their sovereign lord and crowned King ; yet, on the contrary, he
not only forgave the crime, but took Donald and the other mur-

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 21

derers into his service, and made them privy-counsellors, which
occasioned suspicions that he himself was privy to the murder; and
it was so generally discoursed, that the widow of Conranus, with
his two sons, Aidan and Reginan, doubting their safety, fled into
Ireland: however, Eugenius, to get favour with the people, would
in person often sit in judgment, and if he thought any wronged,
ordered the cause to be heard over again ; if any poor man wanted
money to manage his cause, he would lend it him out of the com-
mon treasury; he ordained that no widow should be obliged to go
above a mile from her own house upon any matter of controversy ;
robbers and thieves to be severely punished ; and lastly, he took
special care to maintain the league with the Picts and Britains.

King Arthur had lately concluded a peace Avith the Picts, but the
Britains soon after desiring Arthur, that since he had no children
he would name his successor in his life-time, accordingly he chose
Constantine, son of Cador, Duke of Cornwall, causing him to be
proclaimed heir apparent, to the great rejoicing of his subjects.
Mordred, son and heir to Loth, King of the Picts, being herewith
offended, as counting himself the true heir, sent to the Britains to
demand his right, charging them with breach of faith and oaths,
who returned answer. That Arthur their King had done nothing
contrary to his oath or promise, since the league held no longer
than his father's life, but according to the dut}^ of a prince who
tendered the happiness of his subjects, in providing one of their
own nation to reign after him, lest it should happen, that afler his
decease the realm should fall into the hands of strangers, which
might occasion much misery and calamity: if, therefore, the Picts
loved their own safety, it would be best for them to keep themselves
within their own dominions, lest by attempting against others,
they should have cause to repent their rash and unadvised under-
takings.

Mordred and his people being nettled with this answer, resolve
upon speedy revenge, and persuaded Eugenius to join with him ;
and both armies being in sight of each other, the bishops of the
three nations endeavoured to procure a peace, which the Britains
would by no means hearken to, so that a bloody battle was fought
near the H umber, wherein twenty thousand Scots and Picts, and
King Mordred were slain, with thirty thousand Britains and King
Arthur, the rest escaping by flight. The next day, the camp of the
Britains being rifled, they found Queen Guyamor, Arthur's wife, with
divers other ladies and gentlewomen, who were all made captives.

32 THE HISTORY OF THE

This dreadful fight so weakened the three nations, that for raanj
years after they were not able to recover it ; before which, divers,
prodigies appeared : grass and herbs were found spotted with blood ;
a caltSvas brought forth with two heads, an ewe yeaned a lamb both
male and female, the sun at noon seemed red like blood, the sky at
the same time appearing full of bright stars for two days together.
In Wales, a battle was fought between a multitude of crows and
magpies on one party, and ravens on the other, with very great
slaughter on both sides.

Alter the death of Arthur, Constantine was declared King, and
to prevent any other from claiming the crown, the Britains took the
cliildren of Mordred, who were brought up by Gaivolaine, a British
nobleman, their grandfather, in Britain, and cruelly murdered them,
running into their mother's lap, beseeching her to save their lives;
by whose death tlie whole family of Mordred was utterly extin-
guished.

The Saxons having advertisement of the weak condition of the
Britains, and that their valiant King Arthirr was slain, landed great
forces, and soon routed the Britains, driving them and their King
Constantine into Wales, and recovering all the land formerly held
by Hengist, which from his name was afterward called England.
Some write, that Constantine having reigned some years in Wales,
his wife and children died; whereupon, growing weary of the world,
he forsook his kingdom and went privately into Ireland ; where, ap-
plying himself to the relief of the poor, he was discovered by a
monk, Mho persuaded him to be one of his order. That being
afterwards sent by the bishop of the diocese into Scotland, to in-
struct the people in the Christian faith, he there suffered martyrdom,
and was afterward canonized a saint ; many churches in Scotland
being dedicated to his memory. Eugenius, King of Scots, lived the
remainder of his days in peace and quiet; and having reigned
thirty-eight years, died in 569.

VIII. Congal, his brother, succeeded; a prince extremely de-
vout, especially in worshipping the cross ; which, it is said, was
carried before him : and at his getting off and on his horse, he, with
all his attendants, would kneel down and reverently kiss it. This
cross was of silver, with a crucifix thereon, and these words engraven :
" Christianorum gloria," " the glory of Christians." He commanded
the cross to be set upon the tops of steeples, towers, and gates,
and forbid it to be graven or painted on the ground, lest it should
be trod upon. He likewise had the clergy in extreme honour; and

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 25

thej, in requital, proclaimed him for a saint, so that St. Colme, an
Irish monk of great sanctity, came over to see him, and to instruct
the people in the Christian faith, bringing Aidan, the son of Con-
ranus, along with him. Soon after, Congal died, and,

IX. Kynatel, his brother, was enthroned King in Argyle, to
whom St. Colme went with Aidan, who was appointed by Congal
to have received the government of the kingdom if he had lived ;
they were both received with great kindness by Kynatel, contrary
to expectation, who embracing Aidan, bid him be of good comfort,
for he should shortly attain to his grandfather's dominion, and have
issue that should succeed him, to the great happiness of the Scottish
nation. What spirit of prophecy he spoke by is uncertain, but it is
most certain, that upon his death-bed he declared, his intent was to
have delivered up the crown to Aidan, as his right, though he had
not time to accomplish it, for he died of a fever within twenty days
after his coronation, appointing Aidan to succeed him.

X. Aidan being crowned accordingly by St. Colme, or Columb,
endeavoured to preserve peace, as well among his own people as his
neighbours, which continued some years, till it happened that divers
lords hunting together, a quarrel arose, and many of them were
slain. The beginners and most guilty being sought for and arrested
by the King's officers, refused to surrender themselves, beating
and abusing the officers very severel}', and then presently fled to
Brudeus, King of Picts, of whom Aidan, according to custom, de-
manded them, to proceed against them according to justice: Brudeus
pitying the condition of the young gentlemen, alleged several
excuses on their behalf, till at length Aidan was so enraged, that
he commanded a party of his people to fetch a great booty of men
and cattle out of the Pictish dominions; wherewith they being pro-
voked, acted the same thing in Galloway : at length it came to a
pitched field, near Donkeld castle in Monteith, where there was
great slaughter on both sides; though, in the end, the Scots got
the victory ; yet losing Arthurnus, the son of Aidan, they did not
much rejoice therein. St. Colme hearing of this breach, came to
Aidan, reproving him for the same, and at length procured an
agreement between them.

At this time the Saxons having driven the Britains into Wales,
divided England into seven kingdoms; whereof, Northumberland
was one, governed by King Etheldred, who endeavoured by all
means to raise war between the Picts and Scots, that being both
weakened, he might with the more ease conquer both ; wherein he

24 THE HISTORY OF THE

prevailed vSo far, that at length the Picts proclaimed war against the
Scots, who, on the other side, renewed their league with the Bri-
taius, who joining their forces, obtained a great victory over the
Saxons and Picts ; but Aldan would not let them pursue, for fear of
treachery, and therefore recalling them by the sound of trumpet,
they assembled about the standard, dancing, singing, and playing
on pipes and instruments, with all manner 6f joy ; but in the midst
of their triumphs, another party of Picts and Saxons appeared in
battle array ; wherewith they were so confounded, that Aidan, with
all his rhetoric, could hardly prevail with them to fall on again.
The Saxons came forward with great fury, and soon routed the
Britains, which the Scots observing, fled likewise, losing many of
their nobility, and King Aidan's third son, who staying to save his
father out of the throng, was himself slain. Several other battles
were fought with equal success, till at length Aidan obtained a very
considerable victory against them, and soon after died in peace,
after he had reigned thirty-seven years, in 606.

About this time, saith my author, -there dwelt among the Picts,
one Valdred, a Scotchman, who converted them to the faith. After
his death, three parishes contended about burying his body, and
that with such heat, as they were even ready to fight ; but, by the
advice of some discreet persons, it was ordered that they should
continue in prayers all that night, and the next morning should
stand to the bishop's determination: next day there were found three
coffins with three bodies, decently covered with cloth, so much alike,
that none could distinguish them asunder; then, by the command of
the bishop, and with great joy of the people, the bodies were carried
to the three several churches and there soJemnly buried, where they
remain to this day, saith my author, in great veneration with the
common people.

XI. After King Aidan was buried in Colmkill, the nobility
assembled for declaring a new King, and by the general vote,
Kenneth, the son of Congal, was proclaimed and crowned according
to custom ; but he lived not above four months after, dying of the
rheum and catarrh : he. delivered the possession of the kingdom, as
it were, by way of surrender, into the hands of Eugenius, son to
King Aidan, with the consent of the nobility before he died, since
it was known he had a right thereunto after Kenneth's decease.

XII. Eugenius, the third of that name, succeeded accordingly,
of whom it is said St. Colme prophesied before his father's death,
that he should reign ; for when the sons of Aidan were brought be-

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 25

fore him, and the King demanded Avhich of them should reign after
him, he passed over the rest, whom he foresaw should die in the
wars, and declared that Eugenius only should succeed him. About
this time St. Colme died, almost wasted through age ; some say he
ended his life among his brethren in Colmkill, others that he died in
Ireland, at a town called Dune, and that his tomb is now there in
great honour; upon which this epitaph is engraven:

Hi tres in Duno tumulo tumulantur in uno;
Brigida, Patricius, utque Columha Pius,

Thus translated by Ballantine :

Saint Colme, Saint Patrick, and Bri^itta pure ;
Those three in Dune lie in one sepulture.

Eugenius being placed on the throne, forgot not the virtuous in-
structions of St. Colme, given him in his youth, so that he rather
studied quietly to preserve what he had, than to enlarge his do-
minions by encroaching wrongfully upon the possessions of others,
whereby he was extremely beloved by all good men ; being likewise
very impartial in the execution of justice, sparing none in regard of
nobility or friendship, but on the contrary, was rather more strict
against the disorders of gentlemen than others; yet, none more
willing and ready to advance those to honour who behaved them-
selves worthily. In his tenth year the Saxons vanquished Cadwallo,
King of Wales, and chased him into Scotland; from whence he
sailed to Brittany in France, where receiving assistance, he returned
back, and slaying many thousands of his Saxon enemies, he was
again restored to his kingdom. About the same time, Etheldred,
King of Northumberland, was slain by the East Angles, and left
seven sons behind him, who, for fear of falling into the enemy's
hands, fled to Eugenius for security; likewise Ebba, his only^
daughter, being taken prisoner, made her escape, miraculously, in
a boat in the river Plumber, and getting thereinto alone, she sailed
into the main ocean, as is related, and at length arrived safely at
the point of land which stretcheth forth into the sea in the mouth of
the Forth in Scotland; which, after her name, is called St. Ebb's
head to this day; where, being received by the bishop, she entered
a nunnery and was made abbess thereof.

Eugenius very kindl}' entertained the sons of Etheldred, though
their father had been a cruel enemy to the Scots, who after they had
continued a while in Scotland, by the devout exhortations and ser-

E

^ THE HISTORY OF THE

raons of the bishops and monks of those days, who continually ap-
plied themselves thereunto, they forsook their idolatry and embraced
(Christianity. Eugenius having reigned sixteen years in peace and
honour, died in 630, leaving three sons behind him, Ferquard,
Fiacre, and Donald, who were all, by their father's appointment,
educated in virtue and goodness by Conon, bishop of the Isle of
Man. Ferquard and Donald did not much regard his instructions,
as judging them not much to agree with their birth and degree ; but
Fiacre^ heard him gladly, resolving to forsake the world and retire
to a contemplative life.

XI II. Ferquard, his eldest son, succeeded, and was very quiet
from any disturbance from abroad, though much discomposed with
domestic troubles, occasioned by the frequent feuds and quarrels
among his subjects, who, in all parts of the realm, murdered, burnt,
destroyed, and robbed each other, so that there was no security
either of life or estate ; all which was occasioned by a false maxim
which the king had entertained, that whilst they thus ruined one
another, he was out of fear of their conspiring or rebellion against
hira, and therefore he never endeavoured to reconcile them ; but at
length, by this means, he was disregarded and slighted bj^ all of
them, so that without his leave or knowledge they chose arbitrators
among themselves to compose their differences ; which having done,
they grew still more insolent toward him ; for being sensible that
he was not displeased at their late divisions, if at least he did not
foment them, they accused him, that, among many other crimes, he
was guilty of embracing the Pelagian heresy, which was very much
abhorred by the people; whereupon, the nobility summoned him by
an herald to appear before a council of the states by them appointed,
that they might be informed whether it were true which was com-
monly reported of him. The King refusing to obey their summons,
they immediately assembled their forces, and besieged him in the
castle whither he was retired for safety ; which being soon surren-
dered, they got him into their hands, and presently committed him
close prisoner.

They then consult whether to depose or restore him again, and at
last concluded to send an honourable embassage to Fiacre, his bro-
ther, into France, whither he had retired himself into a solitary
place for his devotion, and to desire him to return home and take
upon him the government. Fiacre, as it is reported, having notice
of their coming, made fervent prayers to God, to confirm and con-
tinue him in this his contemplative life, and that he might not be

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 27

tempted out into the troubles and vexations of the world; and it
happened according to his nish, for, saith my author, when the am-
bassadors came to the hermitage where he was, he appeared to them
so loathsome and disfigured with the leprosy and filthy sores, that
upon his earnest refusal to forsake his solitary life of an anchorite
for the greatest preferment and kingly dignity in the world, they
were soon satisfied to return with that answer, since they thought
him unfit to govern because of his infirmity ; and returning back to
Scotland with this account, the nobility assembling together, chose
four of the most ancient among them for wardens of the kingdom,
to" manage all as they thought fit. In the mean time, Ferquard
continuing in prison apd being tormented with divers pains and dis-
eases, to be freed from his miseries, slew himself, in the thirteenth
year of his reign, 632. Thus he at last took away his own life, who
had been the occasion of the loss of so many others in those civil
discords, which he was charged to have promoted.

XIV. After this wretched end of Ferquard the lords assembled
at Argyle, and by common consent, Donald, the third son of Eu-
genius, was invested King, who, according to the example of his
father, restored the kingdom to its former state, by reforming the
misgovernment of his predecessor and advancing the good of his
subjects; whereby he soon became beloved and admired of them.
At this time, Cadwallo, King of the Britains, and Penda, King of
those English who inhabited the country formerly called Mercia,
falling upon Edwin, King of Northumberland, who had usurped
the crown, deprived him of his life and kingdom ; and pursuing their
.victory, invaded Pictland, whose people in vain sued to Donald for
aid, because Brudeus, their King, had so often broken faith with
him; yet, upon the death of Edwin, Donald procured Elfred, son
of Etheldred, to be restored to part of his father's kingdom of
Northumberland, and the other part Cadwallo made one Osrike as
king and governor thereof; who marrying one of his daughters to
Elfred, he at length persuaded his son-in-law to restore the Pagan,
and suppress the Christian religion in all their dominions. But this
apostacy was soon revenged upon them ; for the Britains, Saxons,
and Picts gathering a great army, entered Northumberland, and
encountering Osrike and Elfred in battle, utterly routed their forces
and took them prisoners ; who being both put into a common prison,
to prevent more severe torture which they daily expected they des-
perately slew each other. Oswald, his brother, succeeded Elfred,
who was a very zealous Christian and an earnest enemy to his pro

S8 THE HISTORY OF THE

decessor; yet at last he was slain by Penda, King of Mercia, whose
death Donald much lamented, being u prince he loved extremely,
and did not long survive him; for in the fifteenth year of his reign,
fishing in the water called Lochtay, the boat sunk under him and he
was drowned. After several days, his body being found, was buried
among his ancestors at Colmkill in 647.

Xv. Ferquard the Second, his nephew, the son of his brother
Ferquard, succeeded him, of a quick and lively spirit, but rather
inclined to evil than good, especially after he came to the crown, it
being said that from a liberal, modest and gentle prince, he was
suddenly changed into a most insatiable and cruel monster ; for
before he was so charitable, that if any gentleman wanted money
to redeem their lands, or to give for portions with their daughters,
if he had wherewithal, they might be sure of his assistance, yen. he
seemed rather willing to want himself than to see others in necessity;
but now he presently turned covetous, a scoffer at religion, a tor-
mentor of his people, and insatiable in all naughtiness ; that which
he had formerly given to the nobility he now shamefully demanded
restitution of, pretending he did but lend it them, and if any delayed
repayment, he caused their estates to be confiscate, and committed
them to prison, and upon very small allegations many of them were
put to cruel deaths. The famous Bishops Colman and Fynnan per-
ceiving these extravagances, sharply reproved him, and at last find-
ing he did not regard their admonitions, they excommunicated him,
which he so little minded, that while others were at church he went
in the forests to hunt with several of his favourites, who encouraged
him therein ; he was likewise a great glutton and drunkard, sitting
drinking till morning, and then vomiting up the debauches of the
former night, which was accompanied with such filthy lasciviousness,
that he ravished his own daughters ; and because his Queen en-
deavoured to dissuade him from such abomination, he slew her with
his own hands.

Continuing in this course of life for some years, divers of the
nobles conspired against him, but Bishop Colman persuaded them
by no means to attempt any thing against him, assuring them, as it
seems, by divine inspiration, that Ferquard utterly detesting his own
wickedness, should in a short time be punished by the Almighty
according to his deserts, which soon after proved true, for as the
King was in chase of a wolf, the beast being enraged by the hounds,
flew back upon the King, and wounded him very dangerously in his
side ; whereupon either through the anguish or venom thereof, he

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 29

fell into a most filthy disease, for a venomous humour, with a soft
consuming heat, did eat and waste his limbs, and filthy corruption
issued out of his feet, legs, and privy parts, with so horrid a stink
that none could come near him, which bred lice in such an abundant
manner as he could by no means be freed from them. Thus he
continued two years, acknowledging this to be the just punishment
for his sins, of which he seemed very heartily to repent, and was
released from his excommunication by Colman, and then receiving
the sacrament, and putting hair and sackcloth upon his bare skin,
according to the devotion of that age, he desired to be carried into
the next fields, where he penitently gave up the ghost, the eighteenth
year of his reign, in 664.

XVI. Maldwin, the son of Donald, next ascended the throne ;
he maintained peace with the Picts, Saxons, and Britains, and
administered the laws justly to his people, punishing offenders, and
protecting the innocent. In his reign there happened a great quarrel
between the herdsmen of Argyle and Lennox, which at first was
inconsiderable ; but those of the Western Isles, and the people of
Galloway strengthening either party, they grew very formidable.
The King having intelligence hereof, marched toward them, and
soon dispersed them, forgiving the common people, and executing
the leaders, whereby he gained much reputation among his subjects
in those parts. About this time a grievous pestilence reigned
throughout the world, so that in the three years' time wherein it
raged, above half mankind died ; yet were the Scots free from it
then, and many years after, till riot, gluttony, and all other sins
provoked heaven to send it among them. Colman being then in
Northumberland, and finding the English died so fast, desired leave
of the King to retire to the Western Isles in Scotland, for his se-
curity, where he built a monastery, and lived the remainder of his
days. He was no sooner gone, but the people of that country join-
ing with the Picts, made several inroads into Scotland, which injuries
Maldwin paid back with interest, whereby they were so enraged that
they prepared to make an absolute war against the Scots : but in the
mean time Maldwin was strangled in his bed in the night by his own
Queen, upon jealousy of his keeping unlawful company with other
women. The next day she was apprehended, together with those
confederate with her, and were all burnt together upon the top of a
hill, according to their just deserts. Maldwin was thus murdered in
the twentieth year of his reign, 684.

30 THE HISTORY OF THE

XVII. Eugenius the Fourth of that name, nephew to Maldwin,
beiii"^ tlie son of his brother Donfijard, was his successor, who sent
anibiTssadors to Egfred, then King of Northumberland,, to treat of
peace, who pretended to be willing thereto, though he intended
nothing less, and therefore consented to a truce only for eleven
months, in which time he made all necessary preparations for war,
which Eugenius having private notice of, provided likewise for
defence, but to give no just occasion, he strictly commanded all his
subjects not to attempt any thing toward the breach of the truce.
In "the tenth month whereof Egfred having all things in readiness,
sent a party of soldiers to plunder upon the borders of Scotland, who
brought thence not only a great number of cattle, but slew divers of
the borderers who endeavoured to rescue their cattle. Upon this
Eugenius sent ambassadors to demand satisfaction, who after long
attendance could hardly procure audience, and then boldly delivering
their message, received for answer a plain declaration of war, with
a complaint from Egfred, " That since the truce the Scots had
several times fetched booty out of the confines of his dominions,
and had deserved to suffer much more damage than they had yet
received ; that he therefore resolved not to maintain friendship with
those who knew not how to keep their hands from robbing and
stealing from their neighbours : he therefore bid them tell their
King, that within eight days after he should expect open wars both
from him and all his allies and confederates.

Eugenius having received this answer, desired of God, that since
Egbert only sought to violate the peace, divine vengeance might fall
upon his head, who was the alone occasion of the breach thereof;
and mustering his forces, he marched into Galloway, whither a
great army of the English were already come, and had besieged a
strong castle, but were forced to raise the siege to meet Eugenius,
where a furious battle was fought, till at length Egfred being
wounded in the face with an arrow, fell down dead, whereat the
English were so discouraged that they fled, and endeavouring to
pass the river near the camp, abundance were destroyed : the Scots
reckon twenty thousand Saxons and English were slain with their
King, and about four thousand Scots ; by this overthrow the Saxons
and English in Northumberland were very much weakened, of which
Brudeus King of Picts taking the advantage, invaded them with all
the power he could raise, killing, burning, and plundering all before
him, and had certainly wholly subdued that country, had it not been

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 31

(saith my author) for the prayers of St. Cuthbert, which preserved
the people from desolation : but there was another strong reason,
namely, their own divisions, for after having for some time ravaged
the country, they quarrelled about dividing the spoil, and that with
such rage that they made a huge slaughter of each other ; soon after
which Eugenius died in the fourth year of his reign, 688.

Xyill. Eugenius the Fifth, tlie son of Ferquard, was next
invested in the kingdom, who, by the persuasion of Bishop Adnian,
with whom he was educated, and St. Cuthbert, entered into a
league with the people of Northumberland, but would by no means
be persuaded to conclude peace with the PictS, agreeing only to a
truce, which when he found they so often broke to the great
damage of his subjects, he proclaimed war against them, and sent a
herald to bid them defiance ; yet by the continual intercession of
those bishops, the war continued without any notable encounter, or
the loss of much blood during all the reign of Eugenius, which was
only ten years, he dying in 698 ; in which year the Scotch chro-
nicles relate divers wonderful accidents happened : as, that in the
river Humber there appeared a great army of men, and navy of
ships, ready provided for battle ; in the church of Camelon, a noise
was heard like the clattering of armour ; milk was turned into blood
in divers places of Pictland, and cheese converted into a mass or cake
of blood ; corn, as it was gathered in the harvest, appeared bloody ;
in the farthest parts of Scotland it rained blood, which prodigious
sights caused great fear and dread in the minds of the people.

XiX. Amberkeleth, the nephew, or, as some say, the son of
Eugenius the Fifth, was next declared King, who, after his
advancement to honours, soon changed his manners; for Avhereas
he before seemed the only refuge of the poor and indigent, he now
became the patron of all vices, delighting in nothing but luxury
and debauchery, whereby the government became weak and
decayed; whereupon Garnard, then King of the Picts, took this
opportunity to revenge all the injuries formerly received from the
Scots, and gathering strong forces, he therewith entered the Scottish
borders, making woeful ruin and slaughter of the inhabitants: at
length Amberkeleth, having been often blamed and reproached by
his nobility for suffering these horrid abuses against his subjects,
mustered up his men, though not without much dread, to appear in
the head of them, whom he was conscious he had so unreasonably
neglected, so that when they came into the field they little under-
stood military discipline or order; however, he marched on, and

ye THE HISTORY OF THE

pitched his tents by the water of Tey, and after supper, having
occasion to go forth for natural necessity, accompanied with only
two of the sjrooms of his chamber, he was suddenly shot through the
head with an arrow, whereof he immediately died; but by whom or
from whence it came was never known : he reigned not quite two
years, and was slain in 700.

XX. The lords and peers of the land did not much lament the
death of so monstrous a person, yet for fear the army should suffer
any damage, they immediately proclaimed Eugenius the Sixth, his
brother, to be King, who, taking view of*his forces, and perceiving
them not able to engage with the enemy, found means to conclude a
peace, and Spontana, the daughter of Garnard, was married to
Eugenius for confirmation thereof: this poor innocent lady being-
great with child, was the year following murdered one night in the
King's bed, instead of Eugenius himself, by two brethren of the
country of Athol, in revenge of Iheir father's death. Eugenius
being suspected of this murder, and evil spoken of by his subjects,
was at length forced to answer the same by way of attainder, to the
great danger of his life and honour, several of the nobility being
appointed as judges to hear the cause, so greatly was Spontana
beloved by all the Scottish nation ; but was at last found guiltless,
for at the very time when judgment should have passed against the
King, the murdering villains were taken, and he acquitted, to the
great joy of all his loyal subjects : the murderers were condemned,
and hanged naked upon gibbets by the heels, with two cruel mastiff
dogs hung by the heels likewise on each side of them, to torment
and devour them. Eugenius being thus cleared from any suspicion,
resolved to have revenged himself upon his false accusers, but was
dissuaded therefrom by Bishop Adnian. He then applied himself
to the advancement of religion and just government, commanding
the histories of his ancestors to be written and preserved in the
abbey of lonan, after called Colmkill; he augmented the revenues
of theclerg}', and conclude(i a league with the Saxons and Picts,
which continued during his life, which ended at Abernethy, after
seventeen years reign, i n 7 17, being greatly lamented both of the lords
and commons, because of his noble and princely qualities.

XXI. Mordach, his nephew, being the son of Amberkeleth, suc-
ceeded, who was of a gentle, meek, and liberal nature before his
investiture, and so continued to the last; he established peace with
the Pictish, British, and English Kings. In these days, saith the
famous St. Bede, four several nations lived in peace and quietness

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 33

within the bounds of Albion, though differing in manners, lan-
guage, laws, and ordinances ; Saxons, whom he called Englishmen,
Britains, Scots, and Picts. Mordach repaired several churches and
religious houses, ruined in the time of the wars, and not re-edified
bj his predecessors, and after eighteen years reign died in 734.

XXII. Ethfin, the son of Eugenius the Seventh, succeeded in
the state, who was naturally inclined to peace, and the maintenance
of justice; he continued the peace punctually with his neighbours,
and cleared the realm of the common disturbers thereof, so that he
procured both fear and love from his subjects : but in his old nge
he appointed four peers to have the government of the kingdom,
who did not manage themselves with that uprightness which Ethfin
used, conniving at the faults of their friends and favourites, and
permitting the nobility to live in their former licentious course,
whereby many mischiefs and oppressions were acted against the
subjects ; for Donald of the Western Isles, a goodly personage, but
inclined to all vice, maintained a great number of thieves and
robbers, who plundered and destroyed the estates of the inhabitants
of Galloway; neither did the King's lieutenant, Mordach, endea-
vour to repress these violences, being either akin or partaker with
them in their spoils, and therefore the more the people complained,
the worse they were used, so that there was left no hope of redress,
for Ethfin being sick and weak in his latter days, could not "attend to
take order in the government. After he had reigned thirty years, he
died in 764.

XXIII. Eugenius, the seventh son of Mordach, was next
invested King in the marble chair at Argyle, who immediately went
out in pursuit of Donald of the Isles, whom at last he took, though
with some loss of his people, and openly executed, with the chief of
his accomplices ; he likewise caused Mordach to be arraigned, who
partly confessing his upholding Donald, was likewise put to death,
and his goods bestowed upon the commons of Galloway, in recom-
pense of their losses occasioned by his falsehood: the other three
governors were likewise fined upon the same account, which exact
justice procured him great love among his subjects, especially those
of Galloway. He continued the league with the Picts, and Britains;
and English, as his predecessor had done ; and now, reigning in
peace and quiet among his loving people, he fell into all manner of
wantonness and lasciviousness, deflowering virgins, and ravishing
the wives of nobles and commons ; and those only who could pro-

F

34 THE HISTORY OF THE

mote liis libidinous humour, were his only privados; to this was
added, insatiate covetousness and barbarous cruelty, consenting; to
destroy several of his wealthy subjects, thereby to enjoy their
estates : the nobility were so extremely enraged at his abominable
actions, which still increased, notwithstanding all the advertisements
daily given him, that they killed him one day upon the judgment-
seat, just as he was about to have condemned a very rich man,
though altogether innocent of the crime whereof he stood accused,
and then presently apprehending several of his abettors and assist-
ants in evil, they caused them to be hanged, to the great rejoicing
of the wronged people. Such was the end of Eugenius, after he
had scarce reigned three years, in 767. His body was buried with
his ancestors at Colmkill, yet was by many thought unworthy of
that honour after death, who had lived so profligate a life.

XXIV. Fergus the Second, the son of Ethvin, was next advanced
to the throne, who seemed ambitious to exceed his predecessor in
vice and enormity, not regarding the government of the realm, but
devoting himself absolutely to excessive gluttony and lust, main-
taining so great a number of impudent strumpets, that his queen
and lawful wife was despised and disregarded as a servant, or rather
a kitchen wench; who being accounted a woman of great virtue and
modesty, was very much disturbed therewith, and used all kind of
persuasions to reclaim him from such ill courses ; but finding that
she laboured in vain, since his depraved mind hurried him daily
into worse crimes, she thereupon grew desperate, especially since
she received continual abuses from his harlots, and therefore she
secretly strangled him one night in his bed, choosing rather to be
without a husband, than to have one who denied her what was her
right, and on the contrary suffered his impudent paramours to affront
her upon all occasions.

The day afler, the King's body being found, was clothed in funeral
robes, and brought into the place of judgment, strict inquisition
being made for the authors of so heinous an act; for though few
lamented his death, yet some of his friends were very solicitous to
discover the murderers, and bring them to condign punishment ;
upon which divers were apprehended, and put upon the rack, yet
none of them would make any confession or discovery. The queen
was not in the least suspected, being always accounted a meek,
temperate woman; but when she heard how many innocent per-
sons were tormented without desert, she exceedingly lamented their

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 35

miserable condition, and coming in great haste into the judgment-
hall, she got upon an high place, and made the following speech to
the whole assembly.

" I know not, good people, I know not what God it is that
moveth me, nor what divine vengeance pursues and vexes me with
divers thoughts and cogitations ; but this I am sure of, that all this
day I have had no rest nor quiet, either in body or mind : and truly
when I heard that divers guiltless persons were cruelly tortured
here in your presence, had it not been for their sakes, I had soon
rid myself out of the way, and not appeared in this place to declare
that the King's death was my own act. My conscience constraineth
me to confess the truth, without considering my own safety, lest the
innocent should wrongfully perish ; therefore take it for a certain
truth, that none of those whom you have examined are in the least
concerned in this crime, for I, and I alone, am she that, with these
wicked hands, did strangle Fergus the last night, about whose death
you seem so miich concerned ; being moved thereto by two as sharp
motives as can possibly incite a woman ; — impatient lust, and furious
revenge. Fergu?, by his continual converse with concubines, hath
a long time denied me the right of a wife; whereupon, when by my
often advertisements and reproofs I despaired to reduce him to rea-
son, my breast swelled with vehement rage and fury, which drove
me on impetuously to commit so wicked a deed. I thought it better
to dispatch the adulterer, than being de?titute of my husband, and
defrauded of all queenlike honour, to live still subject to the per-
petual injuries of such lewd women as he maintained in my stead :
give liberty therefore to those who are wrongfully accused for the
King's death ; and as for me, you shall not need to proceed against
me as guilty of this fact by order of law, for I that had the boldness
to commit this heinous act, will not fear to do execution upon my-
self, even here immediately in the presence of you all. What
honour is due to the dead, see that you perform it."

Having ended her oration, she plucked forth a dagger hid under
her garments, and therewith struck herself to the heart, falling
down dead immediately in the place. The spectators were amazed
at her constancy in dying, as well as her rage in murdering her hus-
band. The body of Fergus was buried at Colmkill, but the Queen's
in unholy ground, as a self-murderer. He reigned only three years,
and died in 770.

XXV. Solvathius, the son of Eugenius the Eighth, succeeded
him, who seemed a prince born to accomplish great enterprises, had

F 2

36 THE HISTORY OF THE

not fortune hindered ; for he was so extremely tormented with the
g^out, by lying abroad in the cold in hunting-, which continued Avith
him during life, that he was not capable of those worthy achieve-
ments which he designed to have performed. This encouraged
Macdonald, governor of the Isle of Tyne, to take possession of all
the towns and castles in the Western Isles, causing himself to be pro-
claimed King of them ; yea, he transported an army of idle dissolute
fellows into the main land, who made great havoc and destruction
in all places where they came; but the governors of Athol and Ar-
gyle being sent with a company of experienced soldiers, encoun-
tered, and soon put them to flight, chasing them into a streight in
Lorn, the entrance whereof is very narrow, but large within, en-
compassed with cragg}' mountains, and a deep river at the bottom,
so that there was no safe way to get out, but by the passage wherein
they entered at, which Macdonald designed to do; but finding it
strongly guarded by the King's forces, he was much surprised, and
calling his commanders together, they knew not what to agree upon ;
so that after three days they offered to yield themselves at mercy :
but this being denied, they desperately rushed through the midst of
their enemies in the evening, in hope to have forced their way, but
had the hard liap to be every man cut off, by the command of the
governors, for a terror to other rebels. After this, another insur-
rection was raised by the son of Donald, lately executed ; but it was
soon suppressed, and the ringleaders punished. At this time, the
English, Saxons, and Welch, were so employed by the several
kings and governors, who strove for the sovereignty, that they had
no leisure to attempt any thing against Scotland ; neither were the
Picts free from the same inconveniences, one party of them destroy-
ing another, so that the Scots were not in the least troubled with
foreign enemies. And Solvathius having reigned twenty years, died
in 788.

XX y I. Achaius, the son of Ethfin, next ascended the throne, a
man highly renowned for his earnest zeal to justice, who, by his
former conversation among the gentry, perfectly understood the
secret feuds and animosities among them ; for the destruction of each
other, which he foresaw would be of dangerous consequence to the
peace of the kingdom ; and therefore calling them together, he
managed matters with such wisdom and dexterity, that he perfectly
reconciled them. Having thus settled the realm, it happened that
several Irishmen ariving in Cantire, were slain by the inhabitants
of the Western Isles. This loss the Irish were resolved to revenge,

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 37

but Achaius sent an ambassador, disowning the act, as committed
by a company of rovers and outlaws, witliout order or command,
which yei could nothing prevail upon the haughty spirits of the Irish
nobility, (for at that time they had no king over them) who returned
answer, " That they were resolved to receive satisfaction for the
dishonour they had received, before they would make the least over-
tures for peace;" and thereupon getting a great number of ships
and men together, they were all cast away in a tempest, which so
qualified the rest, that they gladly hearkened to an agreement, con-
fessing the just judgment of God upon them for attempting war
against those that had not deserved it of them. Achaius replied,
" That the Irish nation were so stubborn, that they would never
hear reason unless they were thoroughly scourged, and that the
righteous Creator had dealt with them according to their deserts ;
however, setting aside all past injuries, to shew himself to be a fol-
lower of Christ, who hath so often praised and recommended peace
and tranquillity to us, he was content to grant them that peace which
they now sued for : and accordingly it was concluded between both
nations with much satisfaction.

At this time the league with France was first entered into, which
continued so many ages after; for Carolus, surnamed Magnus, the
great, then reigning in France, finding that the English daily mo-
lested the seas, to the great damage of trade and merchandize, es-
pecially upon the coasts of France and Flanders, and many times
landing and plundering the inhabitants, he resolved,, by the advice
of his council, to conclude an alliance with the Scots and Picts,
wherein this principal article should be inserted : " That as ofl as
the English should invade the French, they should fall upon them
at home ; and on the contrary, if the English should war upon the
Scots and Picts, the French would invade the west of England to
divert them." To this end Charles sent several honourable grave
persons as ambassadors to Achaius, who represented to him the con-
venience of this league, and what benefit it would be to both na-
tions, since the English, who were known to be very greedy of pos-
sessing other mens' estates and countries, would be thereby restrained
from such injurious enterprizes as they daily undertook against their
Christian neighbours ; yoa, it would be very advantageous for Christ-
endom in general; for if such insolences continued, they might occa-
sion the diverting those forces which were designed against the
Saracens, the common enemies of Christianity, to suppress the Eng-

3S * THE HISTORY OF THE

lish, and thereby much endanger those parts of Christendom which
lie exposed to the mercy of those barbarous infidels.

This message was heard with great attention by those present,
and the ambassadors very kindly treated ; but since the nobility were
of dilfercnt opinions concerning the league, the king called an ex-
traordinary assembly, and ordering several of his lords to go a-hunt-
ing with the ambassadors, that they might not be present ; he con-
sulted with the rest concerning this weighty affair, and commanded
one Colman, a person of great authority and approved wisdom, first
to speak and give his opinion thereupon ; who standing up, spake
as followcth :

" No man ought to wonder I perceive. King A chains, if many of
our nation are desirous of concluding this alliance with France, as
being persuaded that nothing can be better, nothing more profitable,
nothing more honourable, nor more pleasing to Almighty God, than
to join in league and friendship with a nati(m of the greatest wealth
and power at this day, within the bounds of Europe, so that by this
means the Scottish nation will become famous and renowned through-
out the world ; yet truly these considerations which seem at first so
pleasing, are not to be regarded in respect of the evils that may
arise therefrom, for if our determinations should conclude with the
entering into this naughty and pernicious league, we shall too soon
find how much we have forsaken our reason and interest therein ;
for Avhat is it, I beseech you, but joining in society with the French
against our i>eighbours the English, whose friendship is so useful
and necessary to us, and whose enmity will occasion us to have a near
and domestic enemy at hand at all times, even when our supposed
friends shall be far from us, and divided from our country by a great
and large sea ; at whose pleasure likewise we must make war against
our neighbours and fight for the safety of others, putting our bodies
in danger of wounds and death for those who are a great M'ay from
us ; yea, in their quarrels to hazard our lives and estates, and the
bringing the kingdom itself to the most extreme danger of utter
destruction : I therefore think it best to take mature advice and
deliberation, lest while we seek for vain glory and counterfeit ho-
nour, we thereby provoke our English neighbours, and lose our
liberties, obtained with so much labour and pains by our ancestors,
and for which they so often valiantly fought with the Britains,
Romans, Picts, and lastly, the Saxons. Can there be any thing
more pernicious to n free-born people, than to measure the laws of

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 39

peace, the chances of war, yea, our liberty itself, by the will and
pleasure of a foreign nation, and thereby enter as it were into bond-
age to them ; for tlie avoiding whereof, not only men, but all other
living creatures are ready to tight to the utmost ? If the French, in
the heat of the war, wherein we must engage for their sakes, should
happen to forsake us and conclude a peace with our enemies, leaving
us alone to endure their fury, I would fain know before what judge
we should be able to arraign them, or by what authority we should
constrain them to satisfy us for the vast losses and injuries we are
like to sustain from the hands of the English. Have we strength
and power enough to revenge our wrongs upon them, after we have
been vanquished and brought in a manner into utter confusion, by
the war which we shall enter into for their sakes. If ever we shall
fall into that condition, which God forbid, that through want and
weakness the French should utterly forsake us, and we be thereby
absolutely unable to resist the English puissance, before whom, I
beseech you, I say again, before whom shall we accuse them for
breaking this league? We shall daily have to do with our enemies
after this alliance is concluded, (if it ever be) and but seldom with
our friends. In the midst of our enemies we shall have constant oc-
casion to fight in our own defence, whereas we have a long way
both by sea and land, before we arrive to our friends, if need should
enforce us to crave their aid. Commodities will be brought to us
out of France, Spain, and Germany, not such as we want or desire,
but only those which the English will permit us to have. Again,
when our merchants sail into France, what havens shall we leave
them to resort to in dangerous tempests which often happen at sea ?
Either they must perish and be cast awa| by shipwreck, or fall into
the hands of our enemies, with their lives, liberties, and goods :
what disadvantages will arij^e hereby, your highness (most prudent
prince) and your most circumspect counsellors may easily perceive.
For my part, I think it most expedient that we should continue the
former peace concluded with the Britains, Saxons, and Picts, ac-
cording to the wisdom of our predecessors, who certainly very well
understood what was most for the benefit and interest of the Scottish
nation, and let us not covet new amity with an unknown people,
who have as yet deserved little or nothing at our hands, and whose
designs, 1 must needs say, 1 do very much suspect, since they seek
alliances so far off; if we do otherwise, we shall seem manifestly to
resolve with ourselves to endanger our lives and liberties for the
safety of the French, without having any regard at all to our own."

40 THE HISTORY OF THE

Many of the council seemed very much offended at Colman's ora-
tion, jiidijing the leag:ue with France both honourable and necessary;
upon which, Albian, a man of great nobility, whom the King had
lately made governor of the Isles, spake as followeth : —

" If it were possible that there could be one certain and inviolable
consent and agreement between those four nations who at this day
inhabit the bounds of Albion, or that the English once understood
what it was to maintain and keep their faith and promises, we could
not deny but tlie considerations and advices of Colman ought to be
followed, because we should then have no occasion at all to conclude
a league with any foreign nation ; but since there was never found
more" untruth and breach of promise in any nation than among the
Saxons, (who having got the rule in Albion, are now called English-
men) as the Scots, Picts, and Britains have sufficiently experienced,
I suppose it is plain and evident to you, that we must of necessity
either fight or stand at continual defiance with those who are always
ready to assault us with open force or secret fraud, or else we must
link ourselves with such allies and confederates, as, by their assist-
ance, may be able to support us against the malice of this unfaithful
people. What will you call it, I pray, faith or treason, that when
the Saxons were in time past requested by the Britains to aid them
against their enemies, and were most lovingly treated and highly
rewarded for their service ; yet they, in requital of such kindness,
shewed themselves enemies instead of aiders, destroyers instead of
defenders, turning their weapons upon the Britains who had sent to
them for assistance ? And now they have not only destroyed a mul-
titude of them with fire and sword, but have likewise deprived them
of their kingdom and liberty. What league or truce have they at
any time kept, (none of you are ignorant of what I speak) if they at
any time had occasion to vex their neighbours, or gain any thing by
falsifying their oaths ? Neither have they been ever ashamed to
break their faith where hope of advantage hath at any time been
offered. Into what woeful and most miserable calamities hath the
treachery of the Saxons brought the silly Britains ? How oft have
they broke the peace both with them and the Picts, even when we
had not the least thought of any such thing ? Yea how do they war
against each other at this very time more by craft than force, inso-
much that so many kings and noblemen have been traitorously mur-
dered and made away in Northumberland, as none now dares venture
to take upon him the government of that kingdom. It is not many
years since Oswyn, their King, was ridded out of the way by the

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 41

treason of Osway, who succeeded him, and was himself likewise
deprived of life and kingdom by Osrik, whom Egbert, desirous to
reign in his place, found means to dispatch. Egbert was slain by
MoUo, and Mollo by Alfred, who was also killed by the treachery of
Ethelbert, he himself having no better success, being lately betrayed
by his own subjects, and shamefully cut off. Neither do the English
manage their wars with less unworthy shifts and devices in all places
where they inhabit within Albion. The reverend fathers of the
church, and other godly men addicted to virtue, to whom the preach-
ing of God's word hath been committed, being wearied, and abhorring
the madness, rage, and wicked misdemeanors of that nation, have
left their bishoprics, abbeys, monasteries, and cells, and are removed
from thence into foreign nations ; and if the English do at this pre-
sent abstain from making war upon us, it must not be imputed to
any reverence they have to faith and equity, or their respect to the
league made with us, but to such civil divisions and discords as now
reign among them ; neither need we in the least doubt but when they
cease they will immediately take their swords in hand against us,
notwithstanding all the leagues or covenants of peace to the contrary :
to repress, therefore, and abate their subtle practices, I know no
readier way than to enter into league and friendship with that people,
who being joined with us, may chastise the outrageous frenzy of this
profligate nation as cause shall require. Fortune hath now offered
us convenient means and occasion to perform it : for at this time the
French King's ambassadors freely offer that to us which being so
beneficial, ought earnestly to be wished and desired by us ; that is,
they require us to join in league against the English with their King,
whom France, Spain, and no small part of Germany do acknowledge
for their sovereign. Ought this to be despised by men in their
senses ? Ought the society of the French nation to be refused of us
who inhabit here in the uttermost parts of the earth, since it is
frankly desired by them unto whom for their faith and sincerity both
toward God and man, the large empire of the world is given ? So
that if we thankfully receive this notable benefit, it will purchase to
us the amity of the Spaniards, French, Germans, and all those
nations who acknowledge King Charles for their head and sovereign
lord : hereupon a free passage for merchants to and fro, shall be
opened, to bring in all kind of wares and merchandize. I doubt
not, therefore, but every one of you, if he tlioroughly weigh the
matter, will easily judge that the alliance of the French, so mighty
both by sea and land, and of such approved fidelity and truth, ought

G

4y THE HISTORY OF THE

more to be esteemed, and is much more beneficial to the Scottish
commonwealth than the faithless promises and great disloyalty of
the Saxons. None here are ignorant that the English nation study
no less to bring us under the yoke of servitude than they do the
Welsh, if they had power according to their wills, if therefore we
desire to avoid the wrath and violence of most cruel enemies — if we
would escape their cunning designs — if we regard the Christian re-
ligion, for which the French are continually in arms — if we reverence
virtue and faithfulness above breach of vows and covenants — if we
value the glory and honour of our nation — if we covet the advance-
ment of our country, rest and peace — in fine, if we regard our lives
and liberties, the dearest jewels of mankind, let us with joyful hearts
establish this league with France, and firmly continue the same, with
assured trust and confidence, that it will bring perpetual advantage
and renown to us, both for the security of our realm, and the re-
straining the unreasonable attempts and wrongful injuries which our
adversaries sliali at any time hereafter enterprise against us."

This speech drew the minds of the auditors to be altogether of his
opinion ; and Achaius hereby understanding that his subjects were
generally inclined to the league, he dismissed the assembly till the
next day, and in the mean time treated the ambassadors with a costly
banquet ; after which it was agreed at a conference with the nobility
and lords of the council, that for the solemn ratifying this league with
King Charles, according to his desire, there should go with the am-
bassadors the Lord William, brother to the King, with four other
learned and honourable personages, and to carry four thousand men
with them to fight against the infidels and enemies of Christianity,
as King Charles should order them. The next day Achaius declaring
to the ambassadors what was concluded on, they rejoiced greatly
thereat, giving hearty thanka to him and his counsellors for their
kindness and respect to their master; they went from hence to
Hungus, King of Picts, with the same message, who gave them
many thanks for their good wills, but since it was a matter of con-
cernment, he would take time to deliberate thereupon. The ambas-
sadors then returned to Achaius, and all things being prepared, they
went back again, accompanied with the Lord William, the four
others, and the four thousand men, and being arrived in France,
were received with all manner of kindness by King Charles, who
used them all like his own natural subjects ; and the league being
confirmed by King Charles, was proclaimed throughout France, to
continue between the two nations and their posterities for ever.

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 43

The chief articles whereof were, " That this amity and confede-
ration between the French and Scots was to be firm and perpetual
between them and their posterities for ever; that the Mars or in-
juries attempted hy the English against either nation should be
accounted common to both ; the French being assaulted by the
English, the Scots shall send them aid to be paid, and armed by the
French ; the French on the contrary, to aid the Scots at their own
proper cost and charges. If any person of either nation shall assist
the English with arms, counsel or provisions, he shall be reputed a
traitor to both princes ; neither nation to conclude a peace or truce
without consent of the other ;" and for a further memorial of this
matter, Achaius added to his arms, being a red lion in a field of gold,
a double trace seamed with flower de luce, to signify, that the lion
should be henceforth defended by the aid of the French, and that the
Scottish Kings should fight valiantly in defence of their country,
liberty, religion, and innocency, which the heralds say is repre-
sented by the flower de luce. The Lord William remained with
King Charles, performing many considerable enterprises to the ad-
vantage of the French, in Florence and elsewhere.

About this time Athelstane, son of Ethelwald, King of the West
Saxons, getting the sovereignty of Kent, East Saxony, Mercia, and
Northumberland, and being ambitious to enlarge his dominions,
entered into Pictland about Berwick, as belonging to Northumberland,
and putting all to fire and sword in Deira, he was recalled to sup-
press an insurrection in Mercia. Hungus, the Pictish King, resolved
to revenge this injury, and applied himself to Achaius for assistance,
who willingly sent him ten thousand men, wherewith he invaded the
borders of Northumberland, carrying from thence very great booty,
of which Athelstane havin-g notice, came suddenly upon them, and
then a herald proclaimed that all the Picts should be immediately
put to the sword, which cruel command much amazed the Picts;
yet they fortified the camp in the best manner they could, and after
a while issued out with such courage, that they utterly routed the
English army, killing Athelstane and most of his men, five hundred
only making their escape. The historian saith, this victory hap-
pened to the Picts by miracle ; for the night before the battle there
appeared to Hungus in his sleep, the apostle St. yVndrew, as the
story goes, assuring him of victory, and for a certain token thereof
he told him there should appear such a cross as he formerly suffered
upon in the sky over the Pictish host; when Hungus awaked, look-
ing up to the skv, he saw this cross, and shewed it to his soldiers,

G 2

44 THE HISTORY OF THE

declaring whut was revealed to him in his sleep, wherewith ihey
were so encouraged, as not in the least to doubt of success, which
happened accordingly ; from whence it came to pass, that in time of
war their posterity carried this cross in their banners, and in grati-
tude to this apostle, Hungus built a church, and dedicated it to
St. Andrew, giving thereto many rich ornaments, and causing the
images of Christ and the twelve apostles to be made of beaten gold,
and a case of gold with the reliques of St. Andrew : he bestowed
them upon the same church, granting the clergy many and great
privileges and revenues, which yet they did not long enjoy, being
deprived of them by Feredeth, his successor, and the revenues
bestowed on the soldiers. After this great loss of the English, the
Scots and Picts lived in peace during the lives of both their Kings,
and after Achaius had reigned thirty-two years, he died in 821.

XXyil. Congal the Third, his uncle's son, by Dongal, the
brother of King Ethfin, was his successor, betwixt whom and
Hungus King of Picts, there was very great love and amity, both
studying by all ways and means to maintain the ancient league and
alliance between their people, which procured much quietness and
wealth to both kingdoms. At length Hungus being wasted with a
continual consumption, delivered up his kingdom to his son Dorsto-
lorgus, in the presence of King Congal, and then departed this life.
Neither did Congal long survive him, dying likewise of sickness in
the fifth year of his reign, 826.

XXVIll. Dongal the Second, the son of Solvathius, was next
preferred to the crown, a man of singular wisdom and conduct, but
being somewhat severe in punishing the disorders of the nobility and
young gentry, divers of them conspired against him, and caused
Alpine, the son of Achaius, to lay claim to the crown, who per-
ceiving he must either please them, or be murdered by them, con-
sented to go into Argyle with them, designing to crown him in the
marble chair there ; but Alpine being sensible of the great calamities
this action would of necessity bring upon his country, made his
escape from them, and came to Dongal, who joyfully received him,
promising that if the states of the realm should think it necessary,
he would gladly resign the government to him, as being desirous of
nothing more than the advancement of the House of Achaius. Alpine
gave the King most hearty thanks, beseeching him to continue in the
administration of the realm, and calling God and the world to wit-
ness, that he regarded nothing less than the government of the
kingdom, and as for his marching into Argyle at the head of an

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 45

army, it wa« no fault of his, since the conspirators forced him,
threatening- to kill him if he did not comply with them ; about three
dajiJ after they sent to excuse themselves, charging all the fault upon
Alpine. The King little regarded their words, but raising his forces,
marched so suddenly to the place where they were assembled, that
he surprized most of them before tliey heard of his coming, who
were presently condemned and executed, which so terrified the rest,
that they continued quiet a great while after.

At this time Eganus, the second son of Hungus, King of Picts,
murdered his elder brother Dorstorlorgus, to obtain the kingdom,
which with the assistance of some of the nobility, he attained, and
to settle himself the firmer, he freely bestowed his father's treasure
among his lords and other great men, taking to wife Brenna,
daughter to the King of Mercia, who was his brother's widow,
thereby to appease the Mercian King for the death of his son-in-law;
yet he lived a miserable life, being continually in fear of all men,
and scarce durst trust in any, dotibting they would revenge his
brother's death, and therefore never went without a great guard of
his friends, whom he had obliged with money and great presents ;
but notwithstanding all this precaution, his wife (in revenge of her
former husband's death,) strangled him one night in his bed when
he was drunk, not ha\ ing reigned full two years.

These two sons of Hungus being thus made away without leaving
any issue behind them, the posterity of Hungus were utterly extinct,
whereupon Alpine, who was nephew to Hungus, by his sister Fer-
gusiana, by the advice of King Dongal, laid claim to the Pictish
crown, and thereupon sent messengers to the lords of Pictland, to
demand the government of the kingdom due to him by lawful in-
heritance, and that if they considered the thing, it might seem to be
ordained by Almighty God, tliat for want of a lawful successor of
the line of Hungus in the Pictish realm, the Scots and Picts might
by this means be united into one, for preventing wars and bloodshed
for the future, which had hitherto endangered the ruin of both
nations. The Pictish nobility having notice of the coming of these
ambassadors, unanimously chose one Feredeth to be their King,
a man of great authority among them, thereby to exclude the title
of Alpine.

Soon after the ambassadors came to Camelon, the chief city of the
Picts, where Feredeth and his nobles were assembled, and having
audience, they began to declare Alpine's right to the government,
but the people would not suffer them to proceed any further, making

4() THE HISTORY OF THE

so sjreat an uproar, that to appease it, Feredeth himself stood up,
and commanding silence, acquainted them, " That the Picts neither
could nor would admit any stranger to rule over them, because there
was an ancient law much reverenced among them, that in case of
necessity they might transpose the succession of the crown from one
family to another; and that by the same law it was ordained and
decreed, that if any person were once elected and created King, he
should not be deposed during his natural life, and therefore, though
Alpine were the nephew of Hungus, yet being born a stranger, and
considering that the people by their full authority had translated the
regal administration to another house, one whereof was already
proclaimed and invested King, there was no reason that Alpine v
should now lay any further claim to the kirigdom.

The ambassadors returning with this answer, Dongal sent others,
requiring Feredeth to do reason, or to expect open wars from the
Scots in three months. As these ambassadors were going toward
Camelon, divers Serjeants met them, and forbid tliem to enter the
city, commanding them in the name of Feredeth their King, to
depart out of his dominions within four days upon pain of death,
with which being terrified, they went no further ; yet, according to
their commission, denounced war agahist the Picts, in the name of
Dongal, and Alpine. Upon this, great preparations were made on
each side for war, one to settle Alpine in his right, and the other to
prevent any stranger prince from reigning over them. But while all
things were providing, Dongal happened to be drowned in the
river Spey, the boat being cast away, after he had reigned six years,
in 832.

XXIX. Alpine was then received to the crown with the general
joy of the people, who presently endeavoured to pursue his title to
the Pictish kingdom, and entering thereinto with a well appointed
army, was met by Feredeth, when a very great battle was fought,
wherein King Feredeth was slain, and abundance of his people :
Alpine likewise losing above a third part of his army. The Scots
fearing such another costly victory might endanger the ruin of their
country, resolved to manage it only with a few, who should con-
tinually make incursions upon the Picts, which they did so effectually,
that the country was left desolate of inhabitants. Neither could
Brudus (the son of Feiedeth, whom they had chosen King,) prevent
it ; for ])eing a slothful person, and negligent in his government, he
thereby became a derision among his people, who finally slew him
among themselves before he had reigned a full year. Kenneth, the

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 47

second son of Feredeth, succeeded with no better fortune ; for
assembling an army of his subjects, and coming unto Angus, he
no sooner saw his enemies, but that he threw off his armour, and
imraediateiy fled, leaving his people in the field, and for haste was
slain b_y a ploughman, who met him by chance, and knew him not,
only observing he fled from his company, he judged him to deserve
no other favour. The soldiers finding themselves destitute of a com-
mander, retired in good order without any further attempt.

After this unfortunate end of Kenneth, the Picts choose another
called Brudus, of a stout and warlike spirit, who coming into Angus,
seized and hanged several Scotch robbers. He then sent to Alpine
to renew the ancient league between both nations, but was rejected,
and no peace nor truce to be expected without delivering up the
kingdom ; whereupon Brudus sent a great sum of money to Edwin,
King of Northumberland, desiring his aid : the money was received,
and assistance promised, but never sent, Edwin pretending he had
domestic rebellions to quell, and likewise that he had been requested
by Lewis the French King by no means to endamage the Scots his
confederates, but that if he would defer the war till next year he
would send him succours. Brudus perceiving himself deluded by
the English, summoned all his subjects who were able to bear arms,
to assemble in Caledony within eight days, with all necessary pro-
visions, there to understand his pleasure. His commands were
obeyed, and a mighty army appeared, wherewith he presently marched
towards the enemy. The night before the battle Brudus ordered
all the horses that belonged to the carriages to be put among the
lacquies and women, part of whom was clothed in armour, and part
in white linen, with long poles in their hands like javelins, an hun-
dred horsemen being likewise placed among them : these he laid in
a wood hard by the field of battle. The next morning the fight
began with great fury, wherein at the first the Scots were much dis-
ordered, but by the presence of Alpine were again reinforced, and
began to get ground of the enemy, at which time this counterfeit
troop came out of the wood, and shewed themselves upon the back
of them, appearing a much greater number than they were; where-
with the Scots were so terrified, that they immediately threw away
their arms and fled, so that few were slain in the battle, but many
in the chase. Alpine himself was taken, and having his hands bound
behind him, was led to the next town and there beheaded; his head
was set upon a pole on the highest tower in Camclon, having reigned
only four years, in S36.

48 THE HISTORY OF THE

XXX. The Scots who escaped from this Moeful overthrow, retired
presently into A rgyle, and chose Kenneth the Second, the son of
Alpine, King. The Picts having obtained so considerable a victory,
assembled at Camelon by their King's command, where causing a
solemn procession of thanks to be made for their good success, they
then took a solemn oath upon the four Evangelists, " That from
thenceforward they would never cease to make war against the Scots
till they had utterly destroyed and rooted out the whole race from
the face of the earth ; and that if any man durst mention or propose
any league or peace to be made with them, he should lose his head."
Several grave personages in the assembly were extremely scandalized
at this extravagant presumption and outrage of the people, alleging,
that in prosperity men ought to use modesty ; wherewith the younger
men were so olVended, that they thrust them out of the church where
they were met. The Scots having notice hereof, were not in the
least discouraged, but rather animated at such unreasonable inso-
lence. The next summer the Picts mustering their forces, marched
toward the Scots, but upon a small occasion they fell at variance,
and fought with much eagerness against each other ; neither could
their King appease them, till night parted the fray, and finding no
way to compose the quarrel, the next morning he dismissed his
forces, and went home in great discontent, with the grief whereof it
was thought he soon after died. After whose decease they chose one
Drusken for their King, who endeavoured by all means to remove
the civil discord amongst his subjects.

In the mean time, several Scots being much concerned that the
head of their King should remain in that reproachful manner among
their enemies, and understanding perfectly the Pictish language,
they came to Camelon like merchants, and took an opportunity to
get the head off the walls, which they brought safely to Kenneth,
who highly rewarded them, and honourably buried his father's
corpse together in a leaden colfin in Colmkill. The King then
designed to revenge his father's death upon the Picts, but upon pro-
posing it to his lords, he found them extreme backward, as remem-
bering the late misfortune ; whereupon Kenneth, breaking up the
assembly, invited them all to supper that evening, where they were
highly treated till very late in the night, so that as soon as they
were in bed they fell fast asleep : now the King had ordered several
men to be clothed in shining fish scales, with a stick of shining
rotten wood in one hand, and a great hunting horn in the other^
that they speaking through the horn, their voices might seem terrible

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 49

and unusual. Being thus accommodated, about midnight they
enter, one into each of the lords apartments, who were sound
asleep, and by their noise half awakened them, who were much
astonished at the sight, doubting whether it were a dream or vision;
upon this they heard them speak with strange voices, far greater
than those of men, and uttered these words, " That they were
messengers sent from Almighty God to the nobility of Scotland, to
command them to obey their King, for his request was just ; that
the Pictish kingdom was due to him by rightful inheritance, and
ought to be recovered from that people, who for their great sins and
provocations toward heaven, should suddenly come to utter
destruction ; for such was the pleasure and determination of the
Divine*^ Majesty, which neither wisdom nor policy w^as able to
prevent.

When these pretended messengers had thus spoke, they presently
liid their stars and shining garments under their other clothes, so
that they seemed instantly to vanish away. The next morning, these
lords being again met in the council chamber, declared to each
other what they had seen and heard, which finding to be the very
same to every one, they certainly concluded it was some celestial
oracle, and divine admonition from God, and therefore went and
discovered it to the King, who told them he had seen the like vision,
but that they ought to conceal it, lest they should displease the
Almighty, but when, through his favourable assistance, the war was
brought to an happy end, they might then publish it. This advice
was approved of, and the nobles made all manner of provisions, so
that a greater army was mustered than had formerly been seen,
wherewitTi they unexpectedly invaded Pictland. King Drusken met
them, being assisted by some English, who in the beginning of the
fight left them, so that the Scots obtained a considerable victory,
Drusken escaping by the swiftness of his horse; the Picts hereupon
sue for peace, which Kenneth would not hearken to upon any
other condition than surrendering the kingdom into his hands as his
right.

Upon which, the war went on with greater fury and destruction
of the Picts in all places, who soon after received another terrible
overthrow, wherein their King Avas killed, and most of their nobi-
lity. It is said that the Scots encountered with the Picts in this
fight seven several times in seven several places, wherein the victory
still remained to the Scots ; Kenneth was hereupon advised to dis-
miss his army, but resolving to make an end of the war all at once,

H

50 THE HISTORY OF THE

which was now in so fair a way, he called the people together, and
spako thus to them :

'' It is the duty of a wise captain, when he hath the victory in his
hands, and the war is not yet hnished, to use iiis success to the best
advantage, both for the preservation of himself and his country,
and not to divert from pursuing his enemies once vanquished,
till he have either made them his friends, or else utterly destroyed
and rooted them out; for if any shall imagine it the best course to
siiil't'r tlieni to remain quiet when they are brought low, till it may
be in time they shall recover fresh force and strength, 1 think he
may thereby procure more danger than he is aware of. And to
apply to the present case, the Pictish kingdom we know is now very
much enfeebled, their forces routed, their power weakened, so that
it is in our hands utterly to exterminate and destroy the whole
nation, which yet were an action to be abhorred and detested, if it
were possible for us by any honourable means to invite them in
friendship with us ; but the Picts are of such stubborn and revengeful
natures, that so long as there remains one alive, they will retain in
their hearts the utmost sentiments of vengeance against the Scots
for the losses and mischiefs received by them, so that I think it
impossible any of the Pictish nation should ever have the least
kindness for us for the future; therefore, since we can never make
them friends, it will certainly be our interest and security utterly to
extinguish the whole race, by putting to the sword not only the men
and women, but their very youth and infants, lest they, being
descended from their loins, should in time to come, arm themselves
to avenge the deaths of their parents, and thereby greatly hazard
the utter ruin of our country and kingdom."

Although this cruel determination seemed very severe, yet to
please the King, and for the future safety of Scotland, it was allowed
and confirmed by all the people; upon which such barbarity was
used, that through all the Pictish kingdom no creature of human
shape was left alive, but such as saved themselves within the walls
of Camelon and other strong places, and about two thousand who
fled into England, the rest were unmercifully murdered, without
respect to age, sex, or quality, and new names were given to all
places, that no remembrance of the Picts might remain. Soon
after, the city of Camelon was besieged, wherein were most of the
noblemen's wives and children, the siege continuing so long, that
they were forced to feed upon cats, dogs, and the most abhorred
things in nature ; yet so obstinate were they, that if any did but

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 51

mention surrendering, he was presently slain by his fellows : at
length it was taken by assault, and miserable slaughter was made
among the religious as Mell as others ; a great number of ladies and
gentlewomen got into the presence of King Kenneth, and lament-
ably besought him to take pity upon their miserable condition, and
to save their lives from his bloody soldiers : but such was the rage
of the Scots, that they ran upon them and slew them all without
mercy or compassion ; yea, so dreadful was the carnage, that there
was not one left alive of the Pictish nation, neither man, woman,
nor child, to bewail the miserable destruction of their kindred or
country: then were the walls of Camelon laid level with the
ground, the houses and churches burnt, so that there remained
nothing of this famous city but deplorable ashes and ruins. At the
same time the castle of Maidens, now called Edinburgh, was kept
with a mighty garrison of Picts, who hearing of the woeful (ate of
Camelon, and doubting the same might happen to them, left the
castle, and made their escape into Northumberland. Thus ended
the kingdom of the Picts, after they had reigned therein 117.3 years,
in the year of Christ, 839 ; from the first coming of Fergus into
Scotland, 1166 years, and from the creation of the world, according
to the Scottish writers, 4806.

This year two dreadful comets appeared, fiery armies were seen
in the air, running against each other with burning spears, one van-
quishing the other, and both immediately vanishing. At Camelon,
as the bishop was ofliciating, holding his crozier staff in his hand,
it suddenly fell on fire of itself, neither could by any means be
quenciied till it was burnt to ashes; about noon, the sky being fair
and clear, such a noise and clattering of arms, and neighing of
horses, was heard both in Scotland and Pictland, as if two armies
had been engaged in battle. These prodigies were diversly inter-
preted, though they seemed all to presage the dreadful calamities
that followed.

Kenneth having thus destroyed the Pictish kingdom, caused the
marble chair to be removed out of Argyle to Scone, where the suc-
ceeding Kings were crowned ; those Picts that fled into Northum-
berland endeavoured to persuade the English to attempt the reco-
very of their country, but not prevailing by reason of the intestine
divisions amongst themselves, some of them went to Norway and
Denmark, and others laying aside the thoughts of War, settled
themselves in lawful employments, the Scots from thenceforth living
in great quiet during the life of Kenneth, who was of great renown

H 2

5^ THE HISTORY OF THE

amon£^ tficm for having so much enlarged his dominions, which now
extended from Northumberland South to the Isles of Orkney
North ; and likewise for many good laws he instituted for the
benefit of his people, some of which being extraordinary, may be
worth inserting.

He ordained, " That if any were convicted of extortion, bribery,
or unjust dealing, he should die upon the gallows, and his body
remain unbiiried : thieves to be hanged, and murderers beheaded:
a woman condemned to death, to be either drowned or buried alive :
he that blasphemeth the name of God, of his saints, of his prince,
or of the captain of his tribe, his tongue to be cut out: he that is
convicted of a lie to the hindrance of his neighbour, to have his
sword taken from him, and to be banished out of all men's company :
those who are accused of any crimes that deserve death, to be tried
by the sentence of seven honest men, or of nine, eleven, thirteen,
fifteen, or more, so that they be an odd number : robbers in the
highway, and destroyers of corn, to die by the sword, as in time of
war: fugitives, vagabonds, and the like, to be whipped and burnt
in the cheek : the wife not to suffer for the husband's offences, but
the husband to answer for the wife's misdeeds, if consenting thereto :
any man's wench or concubine to suffer the like penalty with him
that offended with her : he that ravisheth a maid shall die for it,
unless, to save his life, she require him for her husband : a man
taken in adultery, if the woman consent, they shall both suffer
death ; but if she be forced, he only to die, and she released : if a
child wrong his father, either with tongue, hand, or foot, that mem-
ber to be first cut off, his bod}' hanged, and remain unburied : a
murderer, a dumb person, or one ungrateful to his parents, not to
inherit his father's patrimony : juglers, vizards, necromancers, or
such as pretend to raise spirits or seek help from them, to be burnt
to death : let no man sow any grain in the earth till it be first
purged from weeds : he that through negligence or sloth shall suffer
his land to be over-run with weeds, for the first fault, to forfeit an
ox ; for the second, ten oxen ; and for the third, to lose his ground.
Thy companion or friend in the wars, take thou care to bury, but
let thine enemy lie unburied. Stray cattle to be restored to the
owner, vicar of the parish, or searcher for thieves, within three days,
upon pain of being accounted guilty of theft : things found to be
cried in the market, or else the finder judged for a felon : he that
striketh his adversary with whom he is in law, shall be judged guilty
of the action, and the other freed : if an ox or cow kill one another

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 53

and it is not known which beg;un the quarrel, he that is found with-
out horns shall be accounted the cause of the mischief, and the
owner of the same shall have the dead beast and satisfy for the
other : if a sow eat her pii^s, let her be stoned to death, and none to
eat of her flesh : a swine found eating or rootin^^ up corn, to be
killed without damage ; other beasts to be impounded till the owner
make satisfaction."

Other laws he made about the church. " To hurt a priest, to be
accounted death : all ceremonies to be observed : reverence to be
given to altars, temples, images, chapels, priests, &c. The ground
wherein a man slain lies buried, to be left untilled for seven years
after : repute every grave holy, and adorn it with the sign of the
cross, and by no means set thy feet upon it : bury the dead according
to his substance : the body of a nobleman, or he that hath deserved
well of the commonwealth, to be buried in solemn and pompous
manner, but yet in mourning and dolorous sort ; let there be two
knights to attend his body to the grave, one of them mounted on a
white horse, to carry the armour of the deceased, the other shall
ride upon a black horse in mourning, with his face covered ; when
the corps is brought to church, turning his horse from the altar, he
shall proclaim, ' that his master is dead ;' whereat the people making
a great outcry, he shall speedily depart, and the other going up to
the altar, shall offer his armour and white horse to the priest, to
signify that his master enjoys happiness in everlasting light and joy."
With these and other ordinances, Kenneth governed his people in
much felicity, and having reigned twenty years in great honour and
renown, he died in 856.

XXXI. Donald the Second, his brother, reigned after him, of
much different qualities from his predecessor; though before he came
to the government he concealed his vicious inclinations, for fear of
offending his brother. In two years time he subverted all good
order in the realm, giving himself up to riot, gluttony, and de-
bauchery with wanton women, banqueting, and other enormities,
advancing only the vicious, and discountenancing the virtuous.
The nobility observing these disorders, freely admonished the King
of the miscliiefs that would ensue upon the licentious actions of his
servants, but found him altogether deaf to their petitions ; so that
for fear of further offending, they continued in a sad silence to see
oppression and violence reign through the kingdom. At this time,
the residue of the Picts in England renewed their applications to
♦ ho rulers thereof, to assist them in recovering their country, pro-

54 THE HISTORY OF THE

mhing subjection to them for the future ; which induced Osbert and
Ella, Kings of Northumberland, to undertake it, especially since
they heard of tlie miscarriages and weakness of the Scotch govern-
ment; and concluding a league with the Britains who inhabited
Cumberland, they joined their forces and marched toward the river
Tweed, from whence they sent an herald to King Donald, requiring
him to surrender all the country which the Scots had taken from the
Picts, or else he must expect the English and Britains to be no less
severe enemies to them, than they m hose cause they had undertaken
to maintain and defend.

Donald was at first somewhat startled at the news, but being en-
couraged by his friends, he mustered Up his subjects and marched
into the field ; but the youth of the army were so corrupted with
vicious customs, that the provision m hich should have served for the
soldiers was spent among whores, bawds, and gamesters, where-
with the camp was replenished, which occasioned many mischiefs
and murders among them. When their enemies understood these
disorders, occasioned for want of discreet commanders, they came
unexpectedly upon them one morning by break of day, and finding
them utterly unprovided for resistance, made a terrible slaughter
among them : above twenty thousand Scots being slain. King Donald
himself was taken asleep, having overdrank himself the night be-
fore, and many of the nobility with him. When the news of this
unfortunate battle came to Scotland, the people were so wonderfully
astonished that they made no defence against their enemies, so that
the English pursuing their victoiy, took in a great part of the coun-
^^y- -^t length the Scots sued for peace, which was condescended
to by the English, but upon such hard terms, that the people gene-
rally resolved not to accept of them : but Culene, a nobleman and
governor of Angus, assembling them together, spake to this pur-

" Dear countrymen,
" Though your sentiments of the severity of the conditions of
peace are right and just, yet we must likewise consider the time
wherein they are offered us ; even now, when the realm is extremely
enfeebled and impoverished through the frowns of fortune. It is
therefore more adviseable to yield to necessity, and save a part at
present, whereby we may hereafter be in a condition to recover the
remainder, than through wilfulness and obstinacy, to lose the whole.
For, considering our imminent danger, it can be no dishonour to
receive such terms as our enemies will permit, since the Romans did

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 55

once gladly accept of that peace which our noble prince Galde al-
lowed them ; and it is not to be doubted but they regarded their
repute and honour above all things in the world."

With such reasons and arguments Culene quieted the multitude,
and King Donald, with his^ nobles, were freed and sent home ac-
cording to that agreement, and the countries conquered by the
English and Britains were divided between them. The town of
Sterling being the common march to them and the Scots, only the
castle was held by Osbert, who set up a mint there to coin money,
which the Scotch writers, by mistake, affirm to be called Sterling
from this place. He likewise made a stone bridge over the river
Forth, instead of that of wood erected by the Picts ; in the midst
he set up a cross, whereon these verses were engraven : —

Anglos a Scotis separat Crux ista remotis.

Arma hie slant Bruli, slant Scott hac sub Cruce lull.

In Scotch, thus : —

I am free march, as passengers may ken,
To Scots, to Britains, and to Englishmen.

The Picts, who assisted the English, expected to be restored to
their former possessions ; but when they saw Osbert settle his own
subjects therein, they began to suspect lest they of friends should
become enemies, and to secure their interests therein, should root
out the whole generation of the Picts ; whereupon they provided
ships, and most of them sailed into Norway and Denmark; and
those that remained were after slain by the English, so that there
was not one to be found alive in all their dominions.

Donald was received again with much joy and honour by his peo-
ple, in hope that these afflictions would have reformed his manners.
But it happened otherwise; for in a short time he returned to his
old vices, banishing those honourable persons from his presence
who endeavoured the advancement of the kingdom and the ease of
the subject. The nobility perceiving the danger the commonwealth
was in by his ill management, apprehended and committed him to
prison, where, a few days after, in desperation, he slew himself in
the sixth year of his unfortunate reign, in 862. In his time, divers
wonders happened. In Lothian, a child of six weeks old bid his
mother fly out of the country, for the enemy would suddenly take it

56 THE HISTORY OF THE

from the Scots. The beasts in the field roared in a strange manner,
and then fell down dead. Fishes in the shape of men were found
dead on the Scottish shore. In Galloway, such a multitude of
snakes and adders fell out of the sky, that, putrifying on the ground,
thej sent forth such a noisome stench as caused mortal diseases in
man and beast; all which were judged ominous of what after hap-
pened.

XXXII. Constantine the Second, the son of Kenneth, succeeded,
who, at his first entrance, was very desirous to have recovered those
lands which the English had conquered, but his lords informing him
of the weak condition of his realm by the former misfortunes, he
desisted for the present, and fell upon reforming abuses at home;
ordaining, " That priests should attend their cures, be free from the
wars, and not meddle in temporal matters, nor keep horses, hawks,
nor hounds : if any were negligent in his duty, for the first fault to
pay a fine, and for the second, to lose his benefice. Youth to have
but one meal a day, to prevent lasciviousness, and to abstain from
dainties and strong drink; and if any young man or woman were
drunk, to die for it. All youth in the kingdom to exercise running,
wrestling, shooting, thowing the dart, and bowl ; and lie on the
boards, with only a mantle over them, to harden their bodies and
fit them for service. All victualling houses, bawdy houses, and the
like, to be banished out of the nation." By observing these laws,
the Scots grew sober, temperate, and valiant; and Constantine
was much beloved by his people, whom he maintained in peace and
plenty, till one Evan, of the western isles, endeavoured to raise a
rebellion ; who, with several other rude persons, being abridged of
their former liberty, in oppressing their inferiors, grew discontented;
but endeavouring to engage the people of Murrayland, Ross, and
other places therein, they discovered the whole matter to the king,
who thereupon surprised them unawares, causing Evan to be hanged
upon a high pair of gallows, and committing the rest of the conspi-
rators to prison.

This being over, a worse mischief followed ; for the King of Den-
mark pretending right to the lands of the Picts, the residue of that
nation who fled thither having resigned their title and interest to
him, he resolved to make war with the Scots and English, for re-
covering them, and to revenge the wrongs sustained by them ; and
thereupon landed a vast army in Fife, under his two brethren, Hun-
gar and Hubba, before the Scots had any notice thereof, and pre-
sently fell to robbing and murdering the people, especially priests

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 57

and religious people, burning all the churches and chapels they met
with, being themselves heathens and pagans. The Scots and Eng-
lish fled before them, not being able to resist their fury ; till at
length, Constantine being much incensed at those mischiefs and
villainies, raised a mighty army, and obtained a very great victory
against them ; but being numerous, they rallied again, and gave the
Scots a terrible overthrow, ten thousand of them falling that day,
and Constantine being taken prisoner, was carried into a cave by
the sea side, and there barbarously murdered; which place was
called the Black, and afterward, the Devil's Den, in memory thereof.
He reigned thirteen years, and died in 875.

XXXIII. Ethus, the brother of Constantine, was presently car-
ried to Scone and crowned King, to prevent the utter destruction of
the Scottish kingdom, which was now very much endangered. This
year, in the mouth of the Forth, a multitude of fishes like men ap-
peared, swimming about with half their bodies above water, their
skins black, going in great numbers like herrings, and presaging
much mischief, as the people conjectured. The river and ponds
were frozen from November to April, and upon the thaw there was
so great a flood over all the plains and part of the mountains, as
the like had not been known ; and when the waters abated, such a
vast quantity of frogs were left in the mud, that, when dead, putri-
fied the air, from whence many mortal diseases proceeded. A
mighty blazing star was seen night and day, continually following
the moon.

But, to proceed, the Danes having vanquished the Scots, passed
into Northumberland, ruining all before them ; and being aided by
divers Englishmen, they slew Osbert and Ella, both the Kings of
that country, in battle, massacreing all the people, especially church-
men, and at length martyred St. Edmund, King of the East Angles ;
yet the English Kings maintained wars against them many years,
with various success ; most of the people along the coasts of the
German ocean being either slain, or miserably enslaved: but Al-
fred, who succeeded his brother Etheldred, obtained several con-
siderable victories against them, slaying their two captains, Hungar
and Hubba, as the English chronicles relate.

Ethus, King of Scots, was so swift of foot, that he would outrun
harts and greyhounds : but whatever he was of body, his mind was
utterly uncapable of government ; for whereas he might have re-
covered Fife and Lothian, with the other countries, whilf^t the con-
test lasted between the Danes and English, he neglected this oppor-

d8 the history of THE

tunity, delighting- more in pleasure and licentiousness than warlike
exercises; of which the nobility being sensible, they resolved to
depose him ; and speedily seeking him out, who was hunting in the
forest of Caledonia, they seized him and his abettors, committing
them close prisoners, and then proceeded to the investing a new
King; of which, Ethus having intelligence, through anguish of
mind, died within three days after, in the second year of his reign,
875.

XXXIV. Gregory, the son of Dongal the Second, was next
advanced to the crown : he first caused a convocation to be called,
who ordained many things for the advancement of the Christian
religion ; he then proceeded to recover the conquered countries from
the Danes, which he did without resistance, his enemies flying
before him, and then proceeded against the Britains, who likewise
possessed a great part of Scotland ; but they doubting their own
strength, sent to desire peace, offering to surrender all those lands
which had ever belonged to the Scots. Gregory considering that if
the Scots, Britains, and English joined in league, they need fear
neither the invasions of Danes, nor any other barbarous people; he
therefore consented thereto, whereby the confines of Scotland were
enlarged to their ancient and utmost bounds. This alliance much
disheartened the Danes, who expecting present destruction, used
divers practices to break it, and at last effected it ; for the English,
under KingAlfred, having extraordinary success against the Danes, so
that the Britains were no more afraid of them, they repented of the
league they had made, and under Constantine their King entered
Anandale to recover those countries, but King Gregory meeting
them, vanquished their army, Constantine their King being slain
among them. This overthrow endangered the utter ruin of the
Britains by the Scots on one side, and the Danes on the other, the
English refusing absolutely to assist them, because they had so
unjustly broke the late treaty ; so that at last they were forced to
send ambassadors to Gregory, excusing themselves for their late
unfortunate attempt, and charging the guilt thereof upon Constan-
tine, who, contrary to the inclinations of his subjects, undertook
that dishonourable and unfortunate enterprise. King Gregory having
heard their message, answered to this efiect :

" I am very sensible that the Britains now sue for peace, not out
of any reverence or veneration to the solemn oaths and covenants
they so lately entered into with us, but merely because they are
afraid, for if we should still pursue the war, they are sure to receive

KINGS OF SCOTLAND.

59

much damage, if not to be brought to utter destruction thereby :
I am therefore resolved not to conclude any truce or peace with
such faithless people, till the counties of Westmoreland and Cum-
berland are fully resigned into my hands, with an assurance that
from henceforth they will never pretend any right or title thereunto ;
and that for the exact performance of these conditions, the keys of
all the towns, forts, and castles be delivered into my hands, and
likewise that threescore noblemen's sons and heirs be sent me as
hostages and security for their true intent and meaning therein;
neither would 1 have them think these terms hard, since their infi-
delity has deserved no less, yea, much more severity from us.

KING ALFRED.

The ambassadors returning with this answer, they at length con-
descended thereto, since tliey knew not how to avoid it at this time,
and surrendered all that was required, settling themselves in North
Whales, betwixt Conway and the river Dec, where they erected a
kingdom, and maintained wars against the English several years
after. King Gregory having thus enlarged his kingdom, assembled

I 9

CO THE HISTORY OF THE

his nobles at Carlisle, and resolved with their advice to pursue his
good fortune, where it was concluded to conquer the city of York,
whilst the English were employed against the Danes in Kent; at
which very time Alfred sent ambassadors to congratulate his success
against his enemies, and to renew the ancient league with the Eng-
lish against their common enemies, which, upon mature delibera-
tion, was assented to, with new articles for the mutual defence of
each other.

Matters being thus settled with the English, when Gregory
thought of enjoying peace and quiet, the Irish made an invasion
into Galloway, because the inhabitants had plundered two ships
belonging to Dublin. Gregory immediately marched toward them,
but having got a vast booty of goods and cattle, they embarked
again and sailed home. Gregory got his navy together and fol-
lowed them, landing a great army in Ireland, and was soon met by
another of the Irish, encamping themselves strongly upon the bank
of the river Bane, under a great craggy mountain called Fute,
intending to delay fighting till the Scots should be famished for
want of provisions, and then to destroy them at pleasure : of this
King Gregory was aware, and therefore in the night he privately
sent two thousand men through the thick woods and bushes to the
very ridge of the mountain, and upon a sign given, Gregory
assaulting their camp, the soldiers above tumbled down such a
multitude of mighty stones and rocks on the Irish, that above a
thousand of them were slain, and the rest put. to flight. After this
another battle was fought, wherein the Scots were again victorious,
which caused the Irish to desire peace, which was managed by Cor-
mach, bishop of Dublin, who coming to meet him, the King
alighted off his horse, and falling upon his knees, devoutly kissed
the crucifix : the articles were soon agreed, and great rejoicing was
made upon concluding amit}' between both nations. Gregory then
returned home, and had no great disturbance during the rest of his
life, which he ended in a good old age, being never married, but
living very chaste all his days, and was famous for his glorious vic-
tories and achievements, deserving to be reckoned among the most
renowned princes of Scotland : he died in the eighteenth year of
his reign, in 895. In his time lived the famous Johannes Scotus,
or John Scot, a Scotchman born, who was brought up at Athens,
learning there the Greek tongue, from whence he was sent for to
to the Emperor Lewis of France, and was employed by him as
ambassador to Alfred, King of England, with whom he continued,

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 61

teaching his children in the abbey of Malmsbury, where he had a
great number of scholars ; yet when he severely reproved the young
men for their vicious and evil practices, he was murdered by them
with their daggers, whilst he was reading to them, and was afterward
registered among the martyrs.

XXX V^. Donald the Third, the son of Constantine the Second,
succeeded Gregory, who finding all things in a quiet and flourishing
condition, endeavoured to continue the same, causing justice to be
duly administered, so that no injury (especially toward the poor)
was left unpunished ;' and ordaining that such as by swearing unad-
visedly blasphemed the name of Almighty God, or in cursing called
upon the devil, or wished the devil to take any Christian, should be
bored through the tongue with an hot iron. In his reign Gormand,
a Dane, landed a considerable army in Northumberland, pitching
his camp near the shore without doin"^ any damage to the country,
so that it Avas uncertain Avhether he intended to begin a conquest
there, or to make war upon the English ; upon which Donald hast-
ened toward the place, but in the way had^ notice that they were
passed over Humber, and marched farther into England to subdue
that country ; whereupon, in pursuance of the treaty lately made,
Donald sent five thousand men to Alfred's assistance, who soon
after fought with Gormand at Alington, where, after a bloody
battle, the victory remained to the English, yet with so great loss,
that they were not able to pursue their enemies, but were forced to
conclude a peace immediately with them, upon condition that the
Danes should inhabit in England, so they would be baptized into
the christian religion ; and pledges being given for security on
both sides, Gormand received baptism, and changed his name to
Athelstane, during whose life peace continued betwixt the two
nations.

At this time several thieves coming out of Ross in the night, went
secretly into Murrayland, from whence they fetched much booty :
at first, those of Murrayland resisted them as they were able, but
after calling their neighbours to assist them, they skirmished in such
a manner, that above two thousand were slain of both parties.
Donald, offended at this notorious breach of the peace, raising
strong forces, marched toward them, where he seized, condemned,
and executed the ringleaders of this disturbance, and from thence
went into Northumberland to be in readiness, if the Danes and
English should attempt any thing against his subjects in those parts.

62 THE HISTORY OF THE

which he then suspected, where, after he had reigned eleven years,
he died in 905.

XXXVI. Constantine the Third, the son of Ethus, called Swift-
foot, was next advanced to the royal dignity, whose nature was more
inclined to peace than war : King Edward, who succeeded Alfred in
England, being sensible thereof, sent an herald at arms, commanding
him to restore Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmoreland,
which King Gregory had taken from the English by reason of their
domestic troubles, or otherwise to expect war at his hands within
forty days after this summons. Constantine returned answer, That
if King Edward were resolved to make war for those lands which
he enjoyed by just right and title, he and his people would be ready
to defend themselves, beseeching God Almighty to revenge the
bloodshed upon tliose who had unjustly raised the quarrel. Here-
upon some slight inroads and skirmishes happened between them
for about a year, when the power of the Danes increasing, Edward,
by the persuasion of his Lords, proposed terms of peace, which were
willingly accepted by Constantine, and the league was renewed.

The war soon after was renewed betwixt the English and Danes,
and a peace again confirmed by a marriage between Sirick, King of
, Northumberland, and Beatrice, King Edward's daughter, till at
length Sirick was poisoned by his wife ; and because AulafF and
Godfrey, the sons of Sirick, put Beatrice to death for the murder,
Edward made war against them, and vanquished them, though with
the loss of his own life. The Danes being certified of King Edward's
death, made new preparations for war, and AulafF persuaded Con-
stantine to join with him against the English, who sent them an
army, commanded by Malcolm, son of King Donald the Third, of
twenty thousand men, wherewith they concluded absolutely to
destroy the English nation ; Malcolm being at the same time pro-
claimed heir apparent of Scotland, and had Cumberland assigned
him for maintaining his grandeur ; and it was then ordained, that
the successor to the crown should ever after enjoy that title and
province. Malcolm joining his forces with Aulaff and Godfrey, they
marched into the English borders, not sparing for any cruelty or
outrage against the innocent inhabitants, murdering them and
burning their houses without all pity, boasting that they did this to
provoke the English to come into the field, and revenge the blood
of their friends and kindred, confidently presuming that they were
never able to withstand the united force of the Scots and Dunes; but

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 63

the more villainy they committed, the sooner they brought punish-
ment upon themselves ;

For Atheistane, the natural son of King Edward, succeeding his
father, sought with all speed to revenge these horrid insolences, and
raising an arn)y, he encountered them at a place called Bromingtield
in 947, where the English at tirst pretended to fly, and their ene-
mies supposing they had done so really, broke all their ranks to
pursue them; when the English, according to former orders, ral-
lying, beat them down in great numbers, and obtained a triumphant
victory, twenty thousand Scots and Danes being slain, with Wilfert,
King of the Guentes, Hanwall, King of the Britains, and seven
dukes who came to their assistance. Atheistane following his blow,
recovered the three counties which his father demanded, the people
then promising faith and allegiance to him. Malcolm was much
wounded in the battle, yet made his escape, and was carried home
in an horse-litter, declaring to Constantine the whole proceedings
in the battle ; who thereupon calling a council, and perceiving his
kingdom much weakened tor want of the nobility, on whom the late
slaughter fell very heavily, they thinking it more honourable to die
in the field than cowardly to fly, whereby most of them were cut off,
he therefore concluded, that the rest being young and unexperienced,
neither able by force nor counsel to defend the realm, there was no
hope of preserving the same, and despairing of power for resist-
ance, to tree himself from danger and trouble, he resigned the
kingdom, betaking himself to a contemplative life, and became a
canon in the abbey of St. Andrew's, in the year of our Lord 945,
and the fortieth of his reign, where he in a short time died.

In his twenty-seventh year a monster was born of both sexes,
with a head like a swine, feet of a goose, and legs like a man, full
of bristles, and of an horrid shape; another was born in Nor-
thumberland of the male sex, one belly and two thighs, and two
legs from the belly downward, but divided upward into two entire
bodies, and appeared to have two contrary humours, for when one
slept the other waked, when one eat the other would fast, so that
they always quarrelled, beating and tearing each other with their
nails; at length one dying after long sickness, the other not abte
to endure the filthy stench of the dead body, died likewise soon
after : about the same time a fountain of blopd issued out of the side
of a mountain in Galloway in great abundance for seven days toge-
ther, so that all the rivers in that country, whereof there are plenty,
had their water mixed with blood, which running into the sea.

6i THE HISTORY OF THE

caused it to seem bloody some miles from the shore ; all which were
thought to pre-siguify that fatal overthrow at Bromingfield afore-
meutioned.

XXX VII. Malcolm, the son of Donald the Third, succeeded
Constantine, who finding the kingdom much weakened by the late
great losses, studied chiefly to secure the borders of his kingdom,
and to that end resolved to maintain peace with the English ; and
designing to send ambassadors to that purpose, he had notice that
King Athelstane had given Northumberland to Aulaff the Dane, and
had entered a league with him to assist him against the Scots, with
which news Malcolm was much surprised, being sensible of the want
of valiant commanders ; however, calling a counsel, they could resolve
upon nothing, but while they continued in great perplexity, they had
intelligence that a dissention happening in the camp, the English
and Danes had fought a most bloody battle, wherein the English
were victors, who pursued the Danes till night prevented them.
Aulaff with his broken troops, fled into Westmoreland, and getting
what ships they could, sailed to the Isle of Man, which having plun-
dered, they passed from thence to Ireland.

Athelstane having lost many of his soldiers, continued in Northum-
berland without marching into Scotland, great rejoicing being made
in that country for so happy a deliverance by such a strange accident;
at length he sent ambassadors to Malcolm to treat of peace, which
was gladly accepted by the Scots, and the former league was soon
after renewed and confirmed, with only this article added, " That
Northumberland being now chiefly inhabited by Danes, should re-
main in possession of the English, and Westmoreland and Cumber-
land to the Scots, provided that he who should succeed to the crown
of Scotland should do homage to the King of England as his vassal
for the same, ever after. Peace being thus concluded, Indulph, the
son of Constantine the Third, was proclaimed Prince of Cumberland
and Heir Apparent. Malcolm continued some years in quietness,
striving to advance the good and profit of his people ; but at length
making a progress through his kingdom, and causing justice to be
severely executed against offenders, he was murdered in the night
by a few conspirators in the fifteenth year of his reign, 960. The
conspirators, upon diligent inquiry, being discovered, suffered such a
cruel death as they deserved for so villainous a murder, being torn
in pieces with wild horses, and their quarters set upon the gates of
several cities for a terror to regicides.

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 65

XXXVIII. Indulph, Prince of Cumberland, was next crowned in
the marble chair at Scone. His first five years passed over without
any considerable action ; but then AulafF the Dane sent to join in
amity with him against the English, in revenge of the overthrow at
Bromingfield, alleging, that a fit opportunity was now offered, since
after the death of Athelstane the English had created Edmond to be
their King, a man of a dull wit, and unfit for government; neither
ought the league between Malcolm and Athelstane be any impedi-
ment to him, because it expired with their lives. Indulph replied,
" That that league was concluded with much deliberation, and by
consent of all the states of the realm, and ratified with their solemn
oaths for the true performance thereof, so that they could not violate
it without incurring the just indignation of heaven against him and
his people." Aulatf looking on Indulph as a slothful and negligent
person, since he valued the breach of an oath, when it was for his
advantage, sent for more forces from Norway, who landing in
Northumberland, Elgerine, the English governor, declaring himself
to be descended of Danish blood, treacherously yielded up all the
towns, castles and forces in that country to Aulaff, engaging to aid
him to the utmost against King Edmond, who having notice thereof,
raised a potent army, and sending for aid from Scotland in pursuance
of the late treaty, Indulph instantly ordered him ten thousand Scots,
who together fell upon the Danes, and routed them at the first onset,
making a great slaughter in the pursuit. Elgerine was taken alive,
according to Edmond's desire, and for his treason was drawn in
pieces %vith wild horses.

Soon after the Kings of Norway and Denmark came with a mighty
navy upon the coasts of Scotland to revenge the deaths of their
countrymen, designing to land at the Forth, but being beaten off
there, they made a descent in Bucquain. Indulph marched toward
them with powerful forces, and after an obstinate fight, forced them
to fly, a multitude of them being slain. The King with certain
choice troops, pursuing the chace very hard, happened to fall in
among a number of Danes, who fled from the field at the beginning
of the fight, by one of whom he was shot through the head with a
dart, and immediately died, though not before he was revenged of
his enemies, every man of them being slain upon the place. He
reigned nine years and died thus valiantly, though unfortunately, in
the year of Christ, 9G9.

XXXIX. Dufle, the son of King Malcolm, M'as next invested in
the kingdom ; in the beginning of whose reign Cullen, the son of

K

66 THE HISTORY OF THE

Indiilph was proclaimed Prince of Cumberland ; he first went over
into the Western Isles, and purged the country of those malefactors
who robbed and oppressed the husbandmen and people, causing a
great number of them to be executed, the rest flying for security into
Ireland, or else forced to follow some trade, which severity much
discontented the nobility, many of them being of great families, and
they murmured that it was unbecoming them to work for their
livelihoods ; they likewise complained, that the King was only a
friend to the commons and clergy, but neglected his nobles, and
was therefore unworthy to govern them : these discourses were
familiar with them throughout the kingdom.

In the mean time the King fell sick of a strange languishing
disease, which his physicians could in no wise understand, for
though they saw no reason, yet his body consumed away ; he looked
well and lusty, eat and drank very well, but could get no sleep nor
rest by any means whatsoever, falling into exceeding great sweats,
which could no way be prevented : at length it was advised to send
for some physicians from other countries who might better discover
the nature of his distemper ; yet though he had little hopes of re-
covery, he administered the laws justly to his people, but when it
was known what danger he was in, several discontented persons
raised a rebellion in Murrayland, killing divers of the King's officers,
and committing several cruel outrages, though the physicians
would not admit him to have knowledge thereof. It happened
at this time there was some discourse among the people, though
none knew the author, that the King's sickness was not natural,
but caused by sorcery and magic practised by a company of witches
living at a town called Fores in Murrayland, which being brought
to the King's ear, he presently sent several knowing men, who
not discovering their design, were received privately in the dark
into the castle of Fores by the governor named Donwald, who kept
it faithfully for the King against the rebels, to whom declaring
their intent, they desired his assistance. Now the thing had been
whispered in the castle before ; for one of the soldiers keeping a
young wench for his concubine, who was daughter to one of the
witches, she had told him all the proceedings of her mother, and
the rest of the witches, and that the design was to make away the
King.

Having discovered this to Donwald, the wench confirmed it, and
disclosed the house where the mischief was done, which they break-
into at midnight, found one of the witches roasting an image of wax

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 67

at the fire upon a wooden spit, resembling the King's person, and
another witch sat by basting of it with a certain liquor, and mumbling
some words of enchantments ; being seized and examined, they con-
fessed their design was to destro}' the King, for as that image wasted,
so did the King's body break forth into sweat and wasted away, that
the words of incantation were to hinder him from sleeping, and when
the wax was quite melted, then should the King die ; that they were
taught it by evil spirits, and hired to act this villainy by the lords of
Murrayland : hereupon the image was broke, and the witches burned
to death, as they justly deserved. It was said, that the very instant
when this was acted at the castle of Fores, the King was absolutely
freed from his distemper, sleeping that night without sweating, and
the next day was perfectly restored to his health and strength, as if
he had never been sick.

Upon his recovery he raised forces, and routed the rebels in
Murrayland, pursuing and apprehending divers of them, whom he
caused to be hung up on higli gibbets, among whom were divers
young gentlemen of good quality, and a-kin to Donwald, the governor
of Fores castle, whose pardon he used all means possible to obtain
of the King ; but receiving a positive denial, he conceived such
desperate hatred and malice against him, that nothing but his death
could appease. For the King being still in that country, he used
commonly to lodge in the castle, because of the great confidence and
trust he had in Donwald, who could never forget the reproach of his
family to have his kinsmen hung up for a spectacle to the people,
the thoughts whereof continually disturbed him, so that his wife
observing it, would never cease till she understood the reason
thereof, which when he had declared, she being no less incensed
against the King than he, urged and persuaded him thereto, con-
triving how it might be done, which he agreeing to, watched his
opportunity. It happened that the night before the King intended
to depart the castle, he was very late in his oratory at prayers, and
at last coming out, he called those who had been most serviceable
in suppressing the late rebels before him, and giving them hearty
thanks, bestowed divers rich gifts among them, and particularly to
Donwald, whom he accounted one of his most faithful servants;
then going to bed, his chamberlains left him, and went to banquet
with Donwald and his wife, who had prepared several delicate dishes
for them, where they eat and drank so heartily that they fell into a
dead sleep.

K 2

68 THE HISTORY OF THE

Uonwald (though his heart misgave him, and he abhorred the fact#
3'et by the iiustigation of his wife wlio provoked him thereto,) called
tour of his servants, whom he had formerly prepared for the villainj,
and ordered them now to perform it, who entering the chamber, pri-
vately cut his throat as he lay sleeping, without any noise at all, and
immediately carried the body out of a postern gate into the fields,
and throwing it on a horse there ready, they conveyed it two miles
further, where they stayed, and got some labourers to help them to
turn the course of a little river, and digging a deep hole in the
channel, buried the body therein, filling it up with great stones,
very hard and close, and then turning the water into its right course,
none could perceive there had been any new digging in the least ;
the labourers had no sooner finished their work but they murdered
them, and instantly fled to the Isles of Orkney.

Donwald, while the murder was acting, got amongst the guard,
where he continued all night : in the morning when an outcry was
made, that the King was slain, his body conveyed away, and the
bed all stained with blood, he ran thither with the guard, as though
he had been utterly ignorant of the matter, and rushing into the
chamber, finding cakes of blood on the bed and the floor, he killed
the chamberlains as guilty of this heinous crime, and then ran about
like a madman, as if to discover the murderers ; and finding the
postern door open, he then charged the dead chamberlains with the
deed, they having the keys of the gates in their custody, and that it
could not be done without their privity ; yea so over-diligent was he
in his inquisition, that the lords began to suspect him guilty thereof,
though they durst not discover the least sign thereof, being within
his power and jurisdiction. Six months after this horrid murder,
the sun did not shine by day, nor the moon by night, in any part of
the realm, the sky being continually covered with black thick clouds,
and outrageous thunderings, lightning, and tempest, so that the
people were in great fear of utter destruction. This was the mise-
rable end of King DufFe, when he had reigned four years in 973.

XL. Cullen, the son of Indulph, Prince of Cumberland, attended
with many of the nobility, went to Scone, where he was crowned
King, and demanding of the bishops the cause of such intemperate
weather, they unanimously answered, that no doubt it was because
of the just anger of the Almighty for the murder of King Duffe, and
unless the murderers were sought out and punished, worse judgments
might be expected. Cullen ordered them to appoint public pro-

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 69

cessions and fasts for the discovery, and took a solemn vow before
them all, never to cease till he had fully avenged his blood upon the
traitorous inhabitants of Murrayland ; the people there present
getting to their arms, resolved to follow their prince, who presently
marched toward that country : the people thereof trembling at his
approach, but especially Donwald, though there was not the least
suspicion of him, yet his conscience accusing him, and fearing to be
put to the torture, he secretly fled from his family, with only a few
to accompany him, and getting to the river Spey, went into a ship,
designing to fly into Norway.

CuUen having advice hereof, passed over Spey water, and taking
the castle of Fores, slew all within it, and then ransacked and burned
it to the ground. Donwald's wife and two daughters were taken
alive, according to the King's desire, and the mother being put upon
the rack, confessed the whole matter, and that her husband did it
chiefly by her provocation, who they were that performed it, by his^
order, and where they buried him. Whilst this was doing, news
came that Dongal was by shipwreck cast ashore within four miles of
the castle, who being seized and bound by the inhabitants, was
brought to the King; presently after divers lords of Ross brought in
Donwald's four servants who executed the murder; thus all the
otFenders being taken and brought together to the very same place
where the murder was both contrived and committed, they were
arraigned, con4emned, and executed in the manner following, to the
great rejoicing of the people, who magnified the justice of heaven
therein ; they were first scourged by the hangman, and then em-
bowelled, their entrails being burned before their eyes, and their
quarters sent into several parts of the kingdom. This dreadful end
had Donwald and his wife, before they saw sun or moon after the
wickedness committed; those that seized the murderers were highly
rewarded, and freed for ever from all taxes, charges, or going to
the wars.

Then was the body of King DufFe taken up and conveyed with all
magnificence to Colmkill, accompanied all the wa^ by Cullen and
all his lords spiritual and temporal, with a multitude of others.
Some write, that though the corps had been buried six months, yet
was it nothing altered in colour or otherwise, but as sound and
whole as if alive ; and that as soon as it was brought above ground,
the air cleared up, the sun broke forth, shining brighter than ever
could be remembered, and thereupon many flowers sprung up in the
fields, contrary to the season of the year. In that place a church

TO THE HISTORY OF THE

uas after built, and called Killflies, or the church of flowers, to this
day, in memorial thereof. This year several horses in Lothian, of
singular beauty and swiftness, did eat their own flesh, and would
taste no other food : in Angus, a child was born without eyes, nose,
hands, or feet ; a sparrow hawk was strangled by an owl ; which
were all judged monstrous presages of future ill.

CuUen began his reign with the execution of just judgment, which
gave great hope of his future government ; but soon after he fell
into all kind of wantonness and lasciviousness, which encouraged
the youthful nobility and gentry to commit many unreasonable ex-
travagancies, and to abuse priests, merchants, and otheis, of which
they could have no redress ; for several of the most grave and an-
cient peers being grieved thereat, made bold humbly to admonish
him of his duty, and declared the danger of the realm by such
strange disorders. CuUen answered, " 1 am very sensible that
young men cannot be easily persuaded to act like those that have
hoary heads, till time and old age cause them to be grave and sober;
neither do I think it convenient to use such rigor toward them, as
some of ray predecessors have done, having learned by the example
of Indulph, Dufte, and others, what danger I may incur by such
severity in government, I being resolved to rule so that I may be
rather beloved than feared, which I judge to be the only means to
retain my subjects in due and faithful obedience."

Though this answer was very unsatisfactory, yet ijone durst pre-
sume to reply thereto, so that all kind of excesses abounded, the
king only inclining to flatterers and those that could devise provo-
cations to lust, wherein he was so extreme, that he altogether aban-
doned himself thereto, sparing neither widow, wife, nor maid, re-
ligious, nor others ; yea, so shameless indeed, that when he was so
tired with lewdness as he could act no more, he took exceeding
pleasure to behold others perform it in his presence, thereby to stir
up his impotent and decayed lust. This life he continued for three
years, neglecting the execution of all manner of laws, whereby
thieves and robbers increased and committed many horrid insolences,
under which the people groaned. At length he fell into a languish-
ing decay of nature, caused by his former debaucheries, whereby
his flesh rotted away and he appeared like a dead carcase, insomuch
that his own servants abhorred him ; whereupon the ancient nobility
summoned a parliament at Scone, designing to depose him. Cullen
not knowing their intent, was going thither ; but in the midst of his
journey at Aleffen castle, he was murdered by one Cadhard, lord of

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 71

the place, whose daughter he had formerly ravished, amongst divers
others. He reigned hve years, and was slain in 978.

XLl. Kenneth the Third, the son of Malcolm, was next pro-
claimed king, who had enough to do to reduce the people from that
wild and savaj^e kind of life they hadfallen into, by the negligence
of his predecessor. He maintained amit^ with strangers, and obliged
his subjects to follow some lawful employment; and resolving to
punish some notorious offenders, he appointed a sessions at Lanerick,
causing the principal of them to be summoned thither ; but at their
coming, perceiving they should be certainly convicted of several
notorious crimes, they privately withdrew into the western isles for
security. The King perceiving that by the disloyalty of those cri-
minal lords and gentry he could not duly administer justice, dissem-
bled his present indignation, dismissing the assembly, and marched
into Galloway. The next year contriving how to bring these mis-
doers to judgment, he appointed all the nobility to assemble at
Scone, as if to consult about some weighty affairs. The night be-
fore they were to meet, he caused some of his faithful servants to
lie privately hid in the council chamber, completely armed, with
order to their captain not to stir till all the lords were come the next
day, and then to do according to command. In the morning, the
lords were no sooner met, and placed according to their degree near
the King, but the armed men incompassed them; at which being
much affrighted, the King perceiving their surprise, spake to them
to this sense : —

" I would not have you imagine that 1 have caused these soldiers
to come into this council chamber out of any sinister design against
your persons, but only for the preservation of the kingdom ; for it
IS not unknown to you that there are a pernicious kipd of people,
and very dangerous to the realm, confederated and associated toge-
ther, who, by common consent, make it their practice to commit all
kind of mischiefs, and exercise all manner of oppressions against
the poor commons ; they rob, spoil, and plunder them of all their
substance; they ravish their wives, daughters, and maid servants,
and ofl times burn their houses to the ground ; which bold and un-
controlled outrages, what danger they brought to the whole Scottish
commonwealth, for want of due punishment in the days of King
CuUen, none here can be ignorant of. Let us consider that the no-
bility and gentry are maintained by the labour of the commons, and
if they, by robberies and injuries, should be forced to give over
their labour, how should the lords and gentry have wherewith to

72 THE HISTORY OF THE

live so ? That they who wrong the husbandman, rob them likewise ;
and those who abet and encourage such idle rascals as are used to
rob the poor, promote the destruction both of King, lords, and gen-
tlemen, and finally, of the whole state and nation : those, therefore,
that love the common good, will not only endeavour to defend the
commons from the daily wrongs offered them, but will likewise assist
in bringing the robbers and oppressors to just punishment, according
to the laws and customs of the land. The last year, you may re-
member, 1 desired your aid and counsel how to proceed against
them. At Lanerick was the day appointed for their appearance,
but they contemptuously disobeyed my commands, and none of them
came ; by whose contrivance i know not ; but 1 have been informed
that several of you favouring those rebels, because they are of your
kindred, advised them to withdraw from judgment ; and the frequent
messages between you and them, seem very much to confirm the
truth of this report ; but, however, I have laid aside all suspicion,
wishing you (as I hope you are) to be free from all dissimulation;
and now I require you, and speak to you, not as favourers of the
rebels, but as defenders of the commonwealth ; that though haply,
you have been somewhat slack formerly in discharge of your duty ;
you would for the future appear so forward and zealous in helping
to apprehend the offenders, that the world may perceive you have
made full satisfaction for your former errors, if you were before
guilty of any. However, 1 am resolved not to remove those guards
from securing you, till I have brought all those rebels to a full sub-
mission to my obedience and authority."

The lords hereby understanding the King's resolution, began at
first to excuse themselves, and then falling at his feet, humbly beg-
ged pardon for their past faults, if they had any way offended his
majesty, assuring him of their faithfulness and diligence in seizing
the robbers; and the council breaking up, they were kept in the
King's house, where, by their interest with their friends and kindred,
they caused above five hundred of these malefactors to be seized,
who were all hanged upon gibbets, there to remain for a terror to
others. After which, the King licensed the lords to depart to their
own houses, and the kingdom continued in peace long after, and
had so remained, but that the Danes, with great forces, landed at a
town called Montross in Angus, which being soon taken, was ran-
sacked and burnt to the ground, castle and all, and neither man,
woman, child, nor any other creature left alive by these barbarians.
King Kenneth hearing these sad tidings, raised a potent army and

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 73

marched to meet them ; and being come near each other, the King
earnestly persuaded his soldiers to shew the utmost of their valour,
promising to release them from all tributes and payments due to him
for five years to come, and offering ten pounds, or the value thereof
in land, to every man who should bring him the head of a Dane.
He therefore exhorted them to fight courageously, and to remember
there was no hope of mercy ; for they must fight it out at the sword's
point, and not expect any safety in flight, since their cruel enemies
would certainly find them out wherever they were, if they should
chance to be overthrown.

The Scots, encouraged with these words, fell on their enemies
with great courage, and the fight was very bloody, the Scots being
much hindered by attempting to cut off the heads of their adver-
saries, so that two of their wings were forced to give way, the main
battle firmly keeping their ground, though in much danger, being
thus left naked, so that the Danes must needs have been victors had
not providence sent present relief. There happened at the same
time to be a husbandman in the next field, with his two sons, busy
at work, named Hay, of a strong robust body, but a noble and va-
liant mind. This man beholding the King and nobility fighting so
desperately, caught a plough beam in his hand, and exhorting his sons
to do the like, they hastened to the battle, resolving rather to die
like men than to fall into the hands of cruel and unmerciful enemies.
There was a lane near the place in which the flying Scots were beat
down in heaps, here Hay and his sons placed themselves, beating
down all that came in their vvay, and slaying them in great numbers,
so that the Scots who fled, returned again, thinking there had been
some new succours, and pursued the Danes back to their camp,
The King perceiving his men encouraged and his enemies dis-
heartened, called earnestly upon them to perform their parts, and
since their adversaries' hearts began to fail, to pursue them manfully,
and that assuredly they would obtain a glorious victory : which
words giving them fresh vigour, they fought so stoutly, that the Danes
were forced to leave the field, the Scots cutting off a multitude of
them in the chase.

This victory was much ascribed to the courage of the nobility, but
especially to the admirable valour of Hay and his sons, and there-
fore a great part of the spoil in the Danish camp was given to him
by the soldiers. The King having vanquished his enemies, as he
was to enter into Bertha, offered costly garments to Hay and his
sons, that being richly clothed they might be the more honoured of

h

74 THE HISTORY OF THE

the people ; but Hay absolutely refused to change his clothes, and
so marched into the city with the King, carrying his plough-beam
upon his shoulder, being received with little less honour than the
King himself, all runninof to behold him who so valiantly restored
the battle, when it was almost lost past recovery. A while after, at
a council held at Scone, it was ordained, that Hay and his posterity
should be reckoned among the nobility and peers of the realm, and

fifts and lands were bestowed upon them suitable to their estates,
t is said, that by the advice of his sons, who understood the fruit-
fulness of the soil. Hay required so much land in those parts where
the river Tay runs by the town of Errol over against Fife, as a fal-
con should fly over at one flight ; which request being freely granted
by the King, Inshire was the place appointed for the falcon to be
cast off", who never liglited till she came to a great stone near Ross,
not far from Dundee ; whereby, all the country between Inshire and
that stone, being almost six miles in length and four in breadth,
fell to Hay and his sons, the stone being called Falcon's Stone, and
the same land continuing in the possession of the Hays to this very
day; and the plough-beam was added to his arms instead of a
battle axe.

These things happened in the first year of King Kenneth. After-
ward, a quarrel arising upon a small occasion, raised great trouble :
Cruthlint, one of the chief lords of Murray, son to a lady called
Fewella, who was daughter to Crunet, governor of Angus, coming
to visit his grandfather at his castle of £)elbogin, a fray happened
among the attendants, wherein two of Cruthlint's servants were
slain, who complaining thereof to his grandfather, he answered him
very reproachfully, as if he had occasioned the disturbance. Crunet's
servants observing their master's carriage, fell upon Cruthlint him-
self, and beat him so severely, that he escaped with great danger of
his life. In his return he came to his mother Fewella at her castle,
at Fethercarn, who so incensed him, that having got together a
number of people, he went privately toward the castle, and was ad-
mitted by the guard, who, with his followers, immediately killed
, his grandfather, Crunet, and every one else within the castle, ran-
sacking and rasing it to the ground ; the next day he foraged all
the country about, returning home with great booty, vvhich others
revenged, so that much mischief was done ; wherewith, Kenneth,
much displeased) hereby discovering the nature of the Scots, who
must be always governed with a strict hand, and getting forces toge-
ther, he pursued and at last took Cruthlint and his accomplices ; he

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 75

and the principal of them were presently condemned and executed,
the commons being pardoned, as acting by the example of the great
ones; for which impartial justice he was applauded by the people.

At this time, Kenneth, out of a great desire to advance his chil-
dren, caused Malcolm, the son of King Duffe, his nearest kinsman,
to be made away, (who, in the beginning of his reign was created
prince of Cumberland, and so heir apparent to the crown) though
Kenneth dissembled his knowledge thereof, and buried him with
much honour and seeming sorrow. About the same time, ambassa-
dors came from the King of England, desiring, that since Malcolm
was dead, the King and States would appoint another in his stead,
who might do homage for the county of Cumberland, according to
the late league. Kenneth called a council to advise about it, to
whom he made a long oration, persuading them to alter the ancient
custom of electing their princes, because of the great dangers and
inconveniences thereof, and to make an act for the crown to descend
by succession, according to the usage of other nations; to which the
peers of the realm being before prepared and made sensible of the
King's resolution, seemed willingly to agree, Constantine, the son
of King CuUen, and Grime, the nephew of King Duffe, first as-
senting thereto, though by the former law they were in a likelihood
to have succeeded, but since it could not be prevented, they thought
it safest to seem willing to comply at this time: in pursuance hereof
an act was made, " That the heir male of the deceased King, whe-
ther son or nephew, of what age soever he should be, yea, though
he were in his mother's womb at the time of the father's death, he
should succeed; and during his minority, one of the principal noble-
men should govern his person and the realm till he came to fourteen
years of age. The nephew by the son to be preferred before the
nephew of the daughter, and the brother's son before the sister's."
Lastly, Malcolm, the son of Kenneth, was created prince of Cum-
berland, and heir apparent to the kingdom.

Kenneth by this law seemed confident that he had assured the
crown to his posterity, whereby all men thought him now in a
happy state, except himself, for it is recorded, that soon after, as
he was in bed one night, he heard a frightful voice utter words to
this purpose — " Think not, O Kenneth, that the wicked murder
of Malcolm Duffe, contrived by thee, is kept secret from the know-
ledge of the eternal God : thou art he who didst conspire the death
of that innocent prince, treacherously perpetrating that against thy
neighbour, which thou wouldst have cruelly revenged upon any other

h '2

76 THE HISTORY OF THE

if designed against thyself; it shall therefore come to pass, that
both thou and thy issue, by the just vengeance of Almighty God,
shall suffer deserved punishment, to the utter ruin of thy posterity
and family for evermore; for even at this present there are secret
contrivances in hand to dispatch thee and thy issue out of the way,
that others may enjoy that kingdom which tliou didst endeavour to
secure to thy posterity." The King being extremely astonished at
these words, passed that night without sleep, and the next morning
went to Bishop Morean, a man of great holiness of life, to whom
he confessed all the circumstances of this heinous offence, desiring
counsel how to appease the wrath of heaven against him; who
observing his great penitence, comforted him by telling him, that
as God was provoked by sin and wickedness, so he was pacified by
repentance and amendment; whereupon the King submitted to all
the Bishop's injunctions and penances, declaring himself a true peni-
tent, according to the devotion of that age.

Not long after, Kenneth having been at a town called Ferdune,
to visit the relics of Bishop Palladius, went a little out of his way
to lodge at the castle of Pethercarn, where he was entertained by
Fewella, the lady thereof aforementioned, whose son Cruthlint he
had put to death; she was likewise akin to Malcolm UufFe, who
was murdered, and to Constantine and Grime, who were defrauded
of their right by Kenneth's new law; for all these injuries, this lady
had for a long time conceived an immortal hatred against the King,
(though she did not yet certainly know how Malcolm came b^' his
death) and understanding he much delighted in curious buildings,
to execute her wicked purpose, she caused a tower to be made
next her own lodging in tlie castle, which was covered over with
copper, finely engraven with flowers and images, and hung with
cloth of arras very riclily; behind the hangings, divers cross-bows
were fixed, with sharp arrows in them ready bent to discharge ; in
the midst of the room was placed an admirable brazen image,
exactly resembling the person of Kenneth, holding in his hand a
curious golden apple, gloriously beset with precious stones, con-
trived with such extraordinary art, that as soon as any one should
take hold, or remove it never so little, the cross-bows would
immediately discharge all their arrows at him with great force and
violence.

Fewella having provided this bloody present for the King, she
after dinner desired him to go into that inner room : being entered,
he was surprised with the sumptuousness of the furniture ; at last,

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 77

viewing the image, he demanded what it signified. Fewella replied,
" The image represented his highness's own person, and the golden
apple, so richly set with smaragds, jacinths, sapphires, topazes,
rubies, turkisses, and other precious stones, she hath provided as a
gift for him, humbly beseeching him to accept thereof, though not
worthy to be presented to a person of his high honour and dignity."
She then withdrew on one side to avoid the danger; the King con-
tinued admiring the beauty of the apple, and attempting to take it
witli his hand more particularly to observe it, the cross-bows imme-
diately discharged the arrows so directly upon him, that he fell
down stark dead upon the ground. Fewella seeing him fall, got out
at a back door, and flying into the adjoining woods, where she had
ordered horses to wait for her, she mounted and escaped out of danger
before the King's death was discovered : his servants waited long
for his return in the outward room, but he not coming, they first
rapped softly, and then more loudly at the door, but nobody
appearing they suspected the worst, and broke open the doors,
where they found the King quite dead on the floor ; upon which
an outcry being raised, Fewella was cursed and searched for in all
places as the author of this horrid deed, but she could never after
be heard of: some judged that Constantine conveyed her into
Ireland, for the desire he had to succeed; because when the King's
death was known, he procured the assistance of all his friends for
attaining the crown, according to the ancient ordinance of the realm,
which he said could not be abrogated by the private authority of
Kenneth or any other. This miserable end had Kenneth, after
twenty-five years reign, in the year of our Lord 1003.

XLIL Constantine the Fourth, the son of King Cullen, by the
assistance of several of the nobility, was come to Scone and there
crowned king the thirteenth day after Kenneth's death, in w hich
year there were found a multitude of fishes upon the coast of
Buquan, left by the sea, which putrifying, caused great sickness.
The moon appeared like blood, very terrible to behold; in England
and France it rained stones. Malcolm, the son of Kenneth, hearing
that Constantine had usurped the crown contrary to the late statute,
by the rash advice of some young heads gathered all the forces he
could, being about ten thousand men, and marched toward Con-
stantine; but finding himself too weak, he dismissed his army and
went into England, leaving Kenneth, his bastard brother, to watch
Constantine's motions ; between whom soon after a bloody battle
was fought, at which time such a furious ten)pest of wind drove the

78 THE HISTORY OF THE

same so violently into the faces of Constantine's men, that they
were able to make no resistance, but were vanquished; yet had
neither side any cause to rejoice, for Constantino and Kenneth hap-
pening to encounter, and fighting singly, killed each other. Thus
Constantine ended his life in the third year of his reign, 1005.

XLIII. Grime, the nephew of King Duffe, hearing of this
slaughter, mustered up the residue of Constantine's army, and
coming with them to Scone, caused himself to be crowned King, as
lawful successor to Constantine, using all kind of friendship toward
his predecessor's friends, and giving likewise gifts and lands to those
of Malcolm's party; but others who would not be won, he pro-
claimed traitors, and seized their estates. Malcolm having notice
of Grime's coronation, raised a potent army, and marched toward
him; but by the intercession of some bishops on each side, an
agreement was made, whereby Grime was to enjoy the crown during
life, and Malcolm to succeed him, and to continue Prince of Cum-
berland, with the lands thereto belonging, till that time, whereby
for eight years peace continued in the realm ; but Grime, from a
chaste and liberal prince, degenerated into a covetous and cruel
oppressor ; for having put to death divers of his lordvS to obtain their
lands, he exacted so severely upon his subjects, that they were
brought into great misery. The nobilitj', swelling with indignation,
appointed some to wait upon him, who having audience, one of them
thus delivered their meaning :

" Sir, we are sent from the rest of the nobles and peers of the
realm, humbly to admonish you of some things which tend to the
welfare and safety thereof; namely, that since by the persuasion
of evil counsellors, several great enormities and oppressions are
daily committed by your officers and ministers, to th6 utter impo-
verishment and ruin of many of your faithful subjects, they humbly
beseech you to remove those disloyal persons from your presence,
who are so pernicious to the kingdom, whereby you will regain the
love of your loyal people, who cannot but repine at the present
misgovernment, as being thereby brought into such calamities,
that they think it better to be dead than alive, if there be not a
sudden reformation of those horrid extortions which your officers
and servants daily practise, and for which no doubt you must
answer, since the sword is committed to you, not to enrich the
covetous and unjust, and crush the innocent and peaceable, but to
bring such guilty robbers and offenders to condign punishment."

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 79

Grime having heard this oration, gave them fair words, and,
under pretence of kindness, invited theni to a banquet, designing to
have seized them ; of which having notice, they fled privately to
Bertha to the rest of the nobility, who finding no hope of redress,
raised a rebellion against him, which occasioned all kind of mis-
chiefs; of which Malcolm, Prince of Cumberland, having intelli-
gence, came out of England (where he was assisting King Etheldred
against the Danes) with an army of Scots, the lords beseeched him
to take pity on their miserable country, in danger of ruin by the
disorders of Grime, who assenting thereto, he marched towards
him ; a fierce fight ensued, wherein Grime's party were routed, and
himself slain : it is reported that Grime was taken alive, fighting
courageously, and being much wounded in the head, his eyes were
put out, of which he died a few days after in great misery, the ninth
year of his reign, 1011.

XLIV. Malcolm having obtained the victory, called an assembly
at Scone for electing a new King, who consenting to crown him, he
absolutely refused it, unless they would, by their oaths, solemnly
confirm Kenneth's law about the succession ; to which they agreeing,
he was crowned King by the name of Malcolm the Second. In his
reign, a mighty army of Danes under Swain landed in England,
and chased King Etheldred into Cumberland, who receiving aid
from the Scots, fought with him, but was utterly overthrown with
^reat loss, so that despairing of success he fled into Normandy.
Swain having thus conquered England, resolved to root out all the
English nation ; which the lords of England having notice of, falling
on their knees at his feet, humbly besought him to have compassion
of their miserable condition, and though they had formerly been a
puissant nation by sea and land, yet they would now be contented
if he would only grant them their lives, and to continue under
whatsoever servitude and bondage he would prescribe, desiring
neither castles, towns, nor possessions, but only to live with their
wives and children in their native country, at the pleasure of the
conqueror. Swain, though of a cruel nature, yet was somewhat
mollified, and allowed them their lives upon these terms, but withal
disarmed them, and made them absolute slaves to his soldiers, yea,
forced every Englishman to maintain a Dane in his house for a spy
upon his words and actions, to prevent conspiracies, who was called
in honour Lord Dane, and after in contempt Lurdain.

Having so easily subdued England, the ambition of the Danes
spurred them on to invade Scotland, which they did in great num'

. N

80 THE HISTORY OF THE

bers, between whom and King Malcolm divers bloody battles were
fought with various success, in one of which Malcolm's head-piece
was beaten so fast on his head, that he was carried out of the field
for dead : at length the Scots were so weakened, that they were
glad to conclude a peace, and the realm was restored to quietness.
Malcolm then called a parliament at Scone, wherein he divided the
realm into baronies, bestowing them upon those who had best
deserved in the late wars, or whose fathers or friends were slain
therein, reserving little to the crown but commons and forests, with
the mountain whereon the marble coronation chair stood, and a few
other lands. The nobility, on the other side, that the King might
have wherewith to maintain his royal dignity, granted to him and
his successors for ever the wardship of their heirs, if they should die
before their children were twenty-one years old; that he should
enjoy the rents and profits of their estates till they were of that age,
and then they were to pay the King one year's rent beforehand ; and
if they married before twenty-one, it should be with the King's con-
sent, or else they were to compound with him for the same : these
and many other good laws were made, which Malcolm caused to be
written and published in a book called Regiam Majestatem, by which
the people might know how the realm was governed.

Thus did the King abound in divers noble virtues for some time,
so that he might have been reckoned one of the best princes in Scot-
land, had not these excellent qualities been stained with the hateful
vice of covetousness, which caused him to repine at his liberality
towards the barons; and thereupon he contrived many false and
fained accusations against divers of the richest, putting some to
death, and banishing others, to enjoy their lands. The nobility
seeing their danger, since none of their lives were safe, conspired
to take away his; of which having secret notice he fled to Glammis,
but being betrayed by some of his own servants, who admitted the
conspirators into his lodging, he was there slain in revenge of the
death of their friends. The murderers presently fled, but missing
their way, the ground being then covered with snow, they came to
the lake of Forfar, which was then frozen over, and attempting to
pass it, when they were in the middle the ice broke, and they were
all drowned ; yet three bodies were after found, and being quartered,
were set up in several cities and towns for a warning to traitors.
Thus died King Malcolm, in the twenty-fifth year of his reign, in
1035. At this time, on Christmas day, was a great earthquake in
the town of Sterling, and the ground opening, so mighty a stream

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 81

of water issued thereout, that it carried away a wood adjoining to
the river Forth. In the summer the sea came higher into the land
than ere before without any apparent cause ; on Midsummer day was
so vehement a frost, that the corn and fruits were blasted, from
whence a great dearth followed.

XLV. Duncan, the nephew of Malcolm, by his daughter Beatrice,
succeeded in the government, who was married to Crinen, Thane or
Lord of the Isles, whose son Duncan was. Malcolm had another
daughter called Doda, married to Sy nel, Lord of Glammis, by whom she
had Macbeth, a valiant gentleman, but cruel ; whereas Duncan was of
too mild a nature, the beginning of his reign was very peaceable,
but when his remissness in punishing offenders was observed, it
caused many seditious commotions, one of which thus began : Banquo,
Thane or Earl of Lochaber, (from whom proceeded the royal family
of the Stewarts,) going thither to gather the King's tributes, and
punishing some offenders severely, the people of that country as-
saulted him so violently that he hardly escaped with his life, robbing
him of his money and goods, and wounding him very dangerously;
of which complaint being made to the King, the offenders were sent
for by a sergeant at arms : but to add to their villainy, they first
abused, and then barbarously murdered the officer ; after which
despairing of pardon, they persuaded one Macdonald, a great man
among them, to be their captain, and raised an open rebellion, re-
proaching the King, and calling him a faint-hearted milksop, fitter
to govern idle lazy monks in a cloister, than such stout and valiant
men as the Scots. The King sent some forces against them, but
they being much superior in number, cut them all off, and beheaded
Malcolm their commander. This overthrow much startled the King,
who catling a council, Macbeth severely reprehended the KingV soft-
ness and neglect in punishing offenders, at length declared, that if a
full commission were given to himself and Banquo, the}' would
engage quickly to vanquish the rebels, which they accordingly per-
formed, most of them flying from their captain, who yet Joeing
obliged to fight, was quickly routed, and flying to a castle wherein
his wife and children were, desired terms for surrendering it, which
being denied, to prevent a more cruel death, he first slew his wife
and children, and then himself; upon which the gates being set open,
Macbeth entered, and beheld this dreadful spectacle ; yet he caused.
Macdonald's head to be cut off, and sent to the King to Bertha, and
the body to be hanged on a high gibbet.

M

8g THE HISTORY OF THE

Soon after, Swain, King of Denmark, landed a great arm}' in Fife,
killing', burning-, and ravaging all before him, whom Duncan meet-
ing with a powerful array, was utterly discomfited by the Danes, the
King Hying to the castle of Bertha; yet Swain commanded after the
fight that no man should be hurt or wronged, hoping to conquer the
kiiigdom without more bloodshed, and then besieged the King in the
castle, who sent private notice to Banquo and Macbeth to stay with
their forces at such a place till further order. In the mean time
Duncan pretended to treat with Swain about surrendering, and till
the articles were agreed, he Ireely offered to send fresh provisions of
victuals to the enemy's camp, and mixing the juice of a certain berry
in the bread and drink, they sent a great quantity thereof to the
Danish soldiers, who rejoicing thereat, eat and drank very heartily,
till at length the operation of the berries caused them to fall into a
dead sleep, that it was almost impossible to awake them. Duncan
then sent for Banquo and Macbeth, who coming speedily to the
place, made woeful slaughter among them, some never waking,
and those that did were so giddy they could make no defence, so that
of the whole army only Swain and ten more escaped, and got to
their ships ; the greatest part of the mariners hearing of such plenty
came to the camp, and Avere slain also, so that Swain could only
man one ship, wherewith he sailed back to Denmark, cursing his
unhappy fate : after which a peace was concluded between the Scots
and Danes.

About this time a strange adventure happened : Macbeth and
Banquo travelling toward Fores, were met in a wood by" three
women in strange apparel, resembling .people of another world,
who coming up to them, the first saluting him, said, " All hail,
Macbeth, Thane or Earl of Glammis, (which title he soon suc-
ceeded to by the death of his father Synel ;) the second said, " Hail,
Macbeth, Thane of Cawdor ;" the third, " All hail, Macbeth, who
shall hereafter be King of Scotland." " This is very unkind," said
Banquo, " to give all to my fellow, and nothing to me." " Yes,"
says the first, " thou shalt be more happy, for he indeed shall reign,
but with an unfortunate end, and without any issue, and though thou
shalt never be King, yet out of thy family shall proceed those who
will be sovereigns of Scotland for many ages," This was at first
accounted a vain illusion, so that Banquo would jestingly call
Macbeth " King of Scotland ;" and the other him, " the Father of
many Kings." Soon after the Thane of Cawdor being condemned

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 83

and executed, his title and estate was by the King's liberality given
to Macbeth, at which Banquo laughing, said, " Thou hast obtained
two of the things promised by the witches, (or weird sisters, as the
Scots call them ;) there now remains only the third to be performed."
Macbeth revolving these words in his mind, from that instant con-
trived to attain the crown. At this time Duncan having two sons by
his wife, daughter to Syward, Earl of Northumberland, he created
Malcolm the eldest Prince of Cumberland, and thereby heir apparent,
at which Macbeth was much disturbed, resolving to force his way to
the crown, since Duncan endeavoured, as he said, to defraud him of
all title and claim thereto for the fUture, being much encouraged
herein by the former prophecy, but especially by his wife, who had
an insatiable ambition to become a Queen ; communicating therefore
his purpose to his trusty friends, whereof Banquo was chief, in con-
fidence of their assistance, he murdered the King at Inverness in the
sixth year of his reign, 1041.

XL VI. Macbeth being by his accomplices proclaimed King, went
with them to Scone, where he was crowned. Malcolm, called Can-
mor, and Donald, called Baine, the two sons of Duncan, flying for
fear of the usurper, the first to England, and the other to Ireland,
where they both found kind entertainment. Macbeth then endea-
voured to oblige his nobles with rich gifts, and used much diligence
in executing justice upon thieves and plunderers, against whom he
used this policy ; he induced several of his good subjects, by great
rewards, to challenge those who had most oppressed them to fight
with them at a place and time appointed, for a proof of the truth of
their accusations, Avho coming accordingly, were presently seized
and hanged up according to their deserts ; he caused the Lords of
Caithnes, Sutherland, Strathnavern, Ross, and others, to be slain for
their seditious attempts, and enacted divers good laws for the benefit
of his subjects, so that had he had right to the crown, and continued
his integrity to the last, he might have been accounted a gallant
prince.

But he soon discovered his sanguine nature, and the words of the
three sisters were never out of his mind, who promised the kingdom
to the posterity of Banquo, which he resolved, if possible^ to prevent,
and to that end invited him and his son Fleance to supper, having
appointed several murderers to kill them as they returned home, and
accordingly Banquo was slain, but his son by the darkness of the night
'escaped and fled into Wales ; upon which Macbeth would fain have
had it believed that Fleance himself slew his father, and there made his

M 2

84 THE HISTORY OF THE

escape. Fleance grew much in favour with the prince of that country,
and after with his daughter, that at length he got her with child, of
whom was born Walter, who in a few years discovered a great spirit
and courage ; for one of his companions upbraiding him with his
birth, he presently slew him, and then escaped into Scotland, where
by his prudent carriage and valiant exploits he attained to be Lord
High Steward of Scotland, from whose issue proceeded Robert
Steward, who was crowned King of Scotland in the year of Christ,
1370, as hereafter appears.

Macbeth after this grew terrible to the people, judging their own
lives continually in danger, and he as much suspected them, so that
upon some pretended design or other he cut off all he thought endan-
gered him, wherein at length he seemed to take much delight, being
thereby freed from his enemies, and enriched by their estates,
wherewith he kept a guard to secure his person, and for his greater
safety he built a strong castle upon the top of Dunsinnan hill, so
extremely high as to overlook all the countries round about, which
being very chargeable in building, he commanded the lords of every
shire to come and assist therein ; at length it came to the turn of
Macduff, Thane of Fife, who fearing the King would seize him as
he did others, sent his workmen and provisions, but did not appear
himself, which much offended Macbeth, who said, " I perceive this
man will never obey my commands till he be rid with a bridle, and
that I will take care to provide for him ;" neither could he ever
endure him afterward, fearing he might one day do him mischief, and
had certainly put him to death, but that a witch whom he much
credited assured him he should never be slain by a man born of a
woman, nor be ever vanquished till Birnam wood (which was some
miles of,) should come to Dunsinnan castle, which gave him such
confidence, that he new acted without dread of any danger, since he
thought it impossible he should be either slain or overcome.

Macduff finding his condition very uncertain, resolved to go into
England to Malcolm Canmor, and persuade him to come and set up
his claim to the crown of Scotland. Macbeth, who maintained a
spy in every nobleman's house, had immediate notice of his purpose,
and therefore presently marched with some forces to the castle where
Macduff resided, thinking to have found him there ; the gates were
opened to him, they within suspecting no mischief, but not meeting
Macduff, he in a rage caused his wife and children, with all in the
castle, to be murdered, and then seized his goods and estate, pro-
claiming him traitor throughout the realm ; but Macduff was already

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 85

escaped into England, where hearing of the miserable destruction of
his house, he applied himself to Malcolm, representing the woeful
state oP the kiiigdom, by the cruelty and tyranny of Macbeth, for
which he was mortally hated of the people, who groaned for deli-
verance from such intolerable slavery.

Malcolm w?s so moved at his discourse that he fetched a deep sigh,
which Macduff perceiving, laboured earnestly to engage him to
undertake the freedom of his country, having so just a title, and the
earnest prayers and wishes of his subjects to assist him therein.
Though Malcolm was much disturbed at the calamities of his
countrymen, yet not being certain whether Macduff were sincere in
his protestations, or that he were not sent by Macbeth to betray him,
he resolved to try him somewhat further, and therefore thus replied :
*' I do assure you I am truly sorry for the miseries of my country,
but though I were never so much inclined to relieve them, yet by
reason of several incurable vices that reign in me, 1 am not a fit nor
proper person to perform the same ; for first I am so extreme libidi-
nous, and given so much to sensual pleasure, which is the fountain
of all mischiefs, that if I were made King, I should debauch all your
virgins, wives and matrons, so that my intemperance would be more
hardly supported than the bloody tyranny of Macbeth."

Macduff answered, " This is certainly a very great vice, for many
valiant princes have lost both life and kingdom thereby ; yet there
are women enough in Scotland, and if you will be advised, and make
yourself King, 1 will so order the matter that you shall enjoy your
pleasure to the full, and yet so secretly that none shall know it."
Malcolm added, " I am likewise the most covetous person upon
the earth, so that I shall go nigh to destroy most of the nobles in
Scotland by false pretences and accusations, that I may enjoy their
estates and possessions, and to shew what mischief may happen by
my insatiable avarice, I will tell you a story : There was a fox who
having a sore place on his head, it was covered over with a swarm of
flies, who continually sucked his blood, and when one who came by
offered to drive them away, he would not admit it ; for, (said he,)
if these flies who are now full, and do not suck so eagerly, should
be driven away, I shall have others lean and hungry presently settle
in their places, who would suck out the rest of my blood, and be far
more dangerous than these. Therefore, 1 say, suffer me to remain
where I am, lest when 1 am advanced to the government my wretched
covetousness should be so grievous, that your present condition

86 THE HISTORY OF THE

would seem easy in comparison with the outrages I should daily
commit."

" This," says MacdufF, " is a worse fault than the former ; for
covetousnes^ is the root of all evil, and for which many princes have
been brought to death and ruin, yet do but follow my council, and get
the crown, and thou wilt find gold and silver enough in Scotland to
Satisfy thy most greedy desires." " Ay but," says iVlalcolm, " I am so
extremely inclined to dissimulation, lying, and all kind of deceit, that
I naturally rejoice in nothing so much as to betray and deceive those
that put trust or confidence in me ; now since nothing is more ne-
cessary in a prince than faithfulness, truth, and justice, you find I
am hereby absolutely incapable to govern any people or country,
and therefore since you have found remedies for my other notorious
vices, pray provide a cloak for this as well as the rest." " Nay,"
replies Macduff, " this is worst of all ; and here 1 leave you, and
can only lament and say. Oh unhappy and miserable Scotchmen !
who are plagued with so many great calamities, one upon another,
ye have already one cursed tyrant, who now reigns over you without
any right or title, oppressing you with his bloody cruelties ; and this
prince who hath right to the crown is so infected with treachery,
inconstancy, and other English vices, that he is no way worthy to
enjoy it, for by his own confession he is not only avaricious and lustful,
but so false a traitor withal, that no belief is to be given to one
word he speaks ; Avhat therefore shall I say ? Farewell, Scotland,
farewell, my native country, farewell for ever, for I shciU account
myself a banished man hereafter, without the least joy and con-
solation ;" at which words the tears trickled down his cheeks
amain.

Being ready to depart, Malcolm plucked him back, and said " Be
of good comfort, Macduff, for I am guilty of none of these vices,
but have said all this only to try thee, since Macbeth hath used all
manner of stratagems to get me into his hands ; but the more slow
1 have seemed in condescending to thy request, the more diligence
will I now use in accomplishing the same." Hereupon, strictly era-
bracing each other, they entered into an entire friendship, and fell
to consult the best methods to effect their business. Then Macduff,
by letters secretly conveyed to the Scotch nobility, engaged them in
Malcolm's interest, who, being assisted by Edward the Confessor,
with ten thousand men under old Syward, Earl of Northumberland,
marched into Scotland ; and the people flocking in to him, Macbeth

>

KINGS OF SCOTLAND.

87

durst not venture a battle, but fled into Fife, resolving to fortify
himself in his castle of Dunsinnan. Some persuaded him to fly to
the Isles to gain time, but he had such confidence in the prophecy,
that he feared nothing. Malcolm followed him so hastily, that the
night before the battle he came to Birnam Wood ; the next morning
he ordered every man to march with a great bough of a tree in his
hand, that they might thereby come near their enemies without
being discerned.

KING EDWARD THE CONFESSOR.

Macbeth seeing them approach in this manner, admired at the
meaning; but then he recollected that the prophecy, " That Birnam
Wood should come to Dunsinnan castle," was now fulfilled. How-
ever, he marshalled his men for the fight, exhorting them to fight
valiantly: but Malcolm's soldiers throwing down their branches,
and Macbeth thereby perceiving their number, presently fled, Avhom
Macduff pursued with great fury till he came to Lunfannin, when

88 THE HISTORY OF THE

Macbeth pfirceiving him just behind, leaped from his horse, sajing^,
" Thou traitor, what dost thou thus follow me in vain, since I am
not ordained to be killed by any one that is born of a woman?
Come on therefore, and receive the just reward of thy pains ;" and
therewith he lift up his sword to have slain him ; which, Macduff
avoiding-, answered, " Nay then, thy fatal period is at hand, and
thy insatiate cruelty shall have an end, even as thy wizards have
assured thee, for 1 am the man that was ^ever born of my mother,
but ripped out of her womb ;" and tlierewith he stepped to Macbeth
and slew him in the place ; then cutting off his head, he brought it
upon a pole to Malcolm. This end had Macbeth after he had
reigned seventeen years, 1058, and in the sixteenth of King Edward
the Confessor.

XL VII. Malcolm Canmor thus recovering the kingdom, was
crowned at Scone, by the name of Malcolm the Third, and then
called a parliament at Fores, where he rewarded those who had as-
sisted him against Macbeth, with lands and honours, creating many
earls, lords, and barons, according to the English mode. Macduff
>vas made earl of Fife, with three privileges : First, That the earls
of Fife should ever after put the crown on the King's head at his
coronation. Second, That they should be always placed in the front
of the battle. Third, That they should have absolute power to hear
determine all causes within their own jurisdiction, treason excepted.
Some add, it was granted, if any of that family should chance to
kill a man, unless it were maliciously, he should be free, paying
twenty-four marks. While the King was settling the realm, one
Lugtake, called the Fool, cousin to Macbeth, with a great many of
his adherents, was brought to Scone and there crowned King ; but
Macduff being sent against them, he soon dispersed them, Lugtake
himself being slain. After this, Malcolm having notice that a gen-
tleman designed to kill him, he took occasion to go a-huriting, and
being in the forest he called this gentleman apart into the thickest
part of the wood, where the King reproaching him for his traitorous
purpose, considering the many kindnesses he had received, and
therewith leaping from his horse, drew his sword, commanding the
other to do the same, and told him, that having now convenient
time and place, he might try his valour by open force, and not use
cowardly treachery. The conspirator at this being confounded, fell
down trembling at the King's feet, humbly begging pardon for his
heinous intent ; which the King frankly granted.

KINGS OF SCOTLAND.

89

This year, 1066, William, duke of Normandy, invaded England,
and in one battle conquered it, killing Harold, the usurper, and
sixty-seven thousand Englishmen vi^ith him ; pretending a title to
the crown from the grant of King Edward the Confessor. This

WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.

King Edward, in his life-time, sent for his nephew Edward, son of
his brother Edmund Ironside, out of Hungary, whither he had tra-
velled, and there married Agatha, the daughter of the Emperor
Henry, sister to the Queen of Hungaria ; by whom he had a son,
called Edgar, and two daughters. It is said, Edward designed
Edgar to succeed him, and would have resigned to him during his
life, which the other utterly refused; and Edward dying, when
Edgar, his son, saw William had subdued the realm, despairing of
recovering his right, he went into Scotland with his mother Agatha,
and sister Margaret, and were very nobly received by Malcolm, who
soon after married Margaret, with great joy and triumph. William
the Conqueror fearing the effect of this alliance, confined all the

90

THE HISTORY OF THE

well wishers to Edgar that he could take ; upon which, many Eng-
lish fled to Scotland, and had estates bestowed on them, whose
names and posterities remain there to this day. Soon after, King
William sent an herald to demand the delivery of Prince Edgar ;
which Malcolm absolutely denying, war was proclaimed, and Wil-
liam's forces were defeated several times by the Scots, which at
length produced a peace ; and a cross was set up, called the Recross,
or King's Cross, which divided both kingdoms. Afterward, a re-
bellion was raised in Galloway; against whom, Malcolm sent Wal-
ter, the son of Fleance, aforenamed, who gave them a total over-
throw, and presently after crushed another insurrection in the
Western Isles; for which great services he was created high steward
of Scotland, whose posterity have retained that surname to this
day.

WILLIAM THE SECOND.

After the death of William the Conqueror, his son Rufus, who
succeeded, repining that the Scots should enjoy so much of the an-
cient dominions of England, invaded Northumberland, and took the

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 91

castle of Anwiek, putting all within to the sword. King- Malcolm
soon came, and besieged it with a potent army ; and the £nglish
being ready to surrender, a knight came out of the gates, unarmed^
but only a spear, whereon he carried the keys of the castle, riding
toward the Scottish camp ; who being brought to the King, bowing
as if to deliver them, he ran the King through the eye into his brain,
of which he immediately fell down and died ; and by the swift-
ness of his horse, escaped out of danger. It is related, that King
Rufus named this knight. Pierce Eye, giving him an estate in Nor-
thumberland ; from whence the family of the Percies, earls of that
county, are descended. King Malcolm was slain in the thirty-sixth
year of his reign, in 1094. This year such dreadful thunder hap-
pened that many men and beasts were slain therewith, and houses
overthrown. In Lothian, Fife, and Angus, trees and corn were
burnt by fire, kindled no man knew how. King Malcolm left several
children, but Edgar was the true heir.

XLVllL Donald Bane, who fled to Ireland, hearing his brother
Malcolm was dead, returned into Scotland, (with the assistance of
the King of Norway, upon condition he was to have the possession
of the Western Isles) and was received freely by the people as King,
being crowned at Scone by several of the nobility ; who, soon after,
seeming to repent their rashness, Donald was heard to say, " That if
they did not comply fully with him, he would be fully revenged on
them ;" which being told them, turned afterward to his great disad-
vantage ; for William Rufus sending Duncan, Malcolm's bastard
son, out of England, with an array, to claim the crown, when Donald
went to encounter him, most of his men forsook him, and joined
with Duncan -, so that he was forced to fly for safety to the Western
Isles, and l3uncan was crowned King, but soon after murdered by
the procurement of Donald, who was thereupon restored to the go-
vernment. But the Scots being incensed that the Isles were given
to the Danes, who had garrisoned them, sent to desii-e Edgar to
come into Scotland ; who, before he would venture, dispatched mes-
sengers to Donald, requiring him to relinquish the crown, for which
he should enjoy the country of Lothian. Donald hereat enraged,
slew the messengers. Edgar, aided by the King of England, pre-
sently set forward for Scotland, and was met b}^ Donald with a
puissant army, who were vanquished by Edgar, and Donald taken.
Some write, that when the armies were ready to join, Donald's sol-
diers beholding the banner of St. Cuthbert nying iigainst them, im-
mediately deserted him; so that he was again forced to fly to the

N 2

9i? THE HISTORY OF THE

Isles ; where, being seized, he was brought to Edgar, and by him
imprisoned; where he soon after died.

XLIX. Edgar, after this victory, went to Edinburgh, and from
thence to Scone, where he was crowned King. In his reign was
the great expedition of the Christian princes against the Saracens to
the Holy Land, for the recovery of Jerusalem. Edgar had few
troubles or disturbances in his reign, which continuing nine years, he
died in 1 103.

L. Alexander the Fierce, his brother, succeeded him, so called
from his rigour in prosecuting thieves and robbers. In the begin-
ning of his reign, being very devout, after the manner of his parents,
the people of Murrayland and Ross guessing he would not be very
severe against offenders, presumptuously robbed and slew their
innocent neighbours, without respect to age or sex. This news
roused King Alexander out of his devotion to take vengeance on
them, "which he did by executing a great number; the rest being
restrained from their pilfering livelihood, conspired his death, divers
of them, by corrupting the King's chamberlain, being admitted one
night through an house of office into his lodgings; but he suspecting
their design, started out of his bed and catching his sword, first
slew his chamberlain, and then six of the traitors, the rest flying
hastily for fear of discovery : yet some of them were after taken,
and confessed they were encouraged herein by divers of the nobility,
whom they named : the King marched against them with strong
forces, and quickly routed them, many being taken and justly
executed. Alexander having reigned seventeen years, died in 1120.
LI. David, his brother, was next received as lawful heir to the
crown, who made it his whole care to administer justice, especially
to the poor, and restrained those excesses which had debauched the
Scottish nation : it is recorded that King David going one da}' to
hunt a deer in a forest near Edinburgh, which was then full of
woods and trees, of a sudden the dogs had lost the scent, and the
noise had roused all the wild beasts in the forest, all the King's
attendants being dispersed, when he coming alone to the foot of a
hill, there appeared the fairest hart that ever was seen, who running
in a full career toward the King, startled his horse, so that he ran
clear away with him, the hart following with such violence, that he
threw both man and horse to the ground, and as the King held out
his hands to defend himself from the horns of the hart, a cross fell
miraculously into his hands, at the sight whereof the hart imme-
diately vanished, being never seen more; neither did any know

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 93

whether this cross were made of metal, stone, or wood; which
story seems contrived to promote superstition, and the priests made
use of it to persuade him to build an abbey called Holyrood House,
because the thing happened on Holyrood day, wherein this cross
remained till King- David Bruce, who lost it to the English at Dur-
ham Field. Many wise men have much blamed the profuse libe-
rality of this devout prince to the church, whereby the revenues of
the crown were much diminished, which occasioned the destruction
of several princes, who not having wherewithal to maintain their
royal dignities, have procured the fall of divers great families to
possess their estates : sometimes they were forced to lay heavy taxes
and exactions on the people, to the utter impoverishing the realm ;
otherwhile theyhave been constrained to invade England as desperate
men, regardless of their lives ; likewise to stamp bad money, to the
great damage of their subjects; all which mischiefs were occasioned
by King David's unreasonable enriching the church; therefore,
when King James the First saw David's tomb at Dumferling, he
sighing, said, " That he was a sore and woeful saint to the crown."
At this time Queen Maud his wife died, by whom he enjoyed part
of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Huntingdon, whose death so
afflicted him that he never married again ; he had by her one son,
named Henry, who married Earl Warren's daughter, on whom he
begot three sons, Malcohn, William, and David, and three daugh-
ters, Adhama, Margaret, and Maud. King Henry the First of
England having no sons, caused all the English nobility to swear
that they would receive his daughter Maud the Empress for their
sovereign. King David likewise swearing to the same; and there-
fore when King Stephen had usurped the crown, and sent to require
David to perform his homage for the three counties aforementioned,
King David replied, that he had already given his faith to Queen
Maud, and would not break it for the threats of an usurper. Ste-
phen hereupon invades Northumberland with fire and sword, which
the Scots resenting, entered England with a great army, wherewith
they routed Stephen's forces, taking the Earl of Glocester and
several other lords prisoners, to redeem whom Stephen was obliged
to renounce his right to those countries ; of which soon repenting,
he again made an inroad into Scotland, but was fully repaid by the
Scots, so that he was forced to conclude a peace ; and awhile afler
Queen Maud came into England, claiming the crown, Avhich caused
great contentions. Meanwhile Prince Henry, David's only son,
died, being exceedingly lamented, both by his father and all his

9i THE HISTORY OF THE

subjects, some of whom coming to condole his great loss, the King,
who had already mortified his affections to all worldly glory, spake
to this purpose :

" Though 1 have formerly had sufficient experience of your care
and fidelity toward ine, yet this day gives me a full and ample con-
firmation thereof, for now I plainly perceive that you deplore the
loss of my deceased son, no less than if you had buried some of
your awn children, and are therefore come with great charge and
trouble to comfort me, whom you suppose sorely afflicted for the
untimely death of so obedient a child, for which I acknowledge
myself exceedingly obliged, and shall strive to recompense you to
my utmost power; but as to the cause of your coming, my parents,
who, I trust are saints in heaven, instructed me from my tender
years to adore with all reverence the wise Creator and provident
Governor of all things, and to believe that he acted nothing in vain,
but all was ordained for some good end by his high and unsearchable
providence; which precepts I continually revolving in my mind,
whatsoever hath happened to me, whether prosperity or adversity,
I have learned to receive all things with an equal and thankful
heart, as being for the best, and thereby not only to bear all mis-
fortunes with patience, bpt to entertain them as pleasant and de-
sirable : and indeed it hath been my lot to be much exercised herein,
for first my father, who vias dearer to me than all the treasures of
the world, a prince who was a common blessing to all his people,
and no less beloved and admired by them, yet I have seen that
neither the love of his subjects, kinsmen, friends, or children, could
secure him in the least from the fatal necessity of dying ; 1 have
seen my mother, renowned for her singular virtues and graces, go
the same way; my brethren, that were so kind to me and 1 so
endeared to them, my wife, whom I esteem above all earthly crea-
tures, are all gone this very path, and were all compelled to submit
to death's irresistible ordinance, from which no man can be free : it
is therefore to be received with a thankful heart, since the mercy
and bounty of the Almighty hath granted us to be all immortally
happy, if we through vices, which are the spots and diseases of the
mind, do not bring ourselves into danger of eternal death ; there-
fore, methinks I have cause to rejoice that God hath bestowed on
me, by his singular favour, sucli a son, who in all men's judgments
deserved to be beloved while here, and to be wished for and desired
now he is departed hence ; neither ought we to take it heavily, that
he to whom he belonged, and who lent him to us, should call for

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 95

him again, and only take what was his own : for wha^ injury is it if
I should desire that again from any of you, which you possessed
only as lent by roe for a time? Neither do I doubt to want him
long, for if God be so merciful to me as I desire, 1 hope to be called
hence very suddenly by the command of that most high King, and
to be carried up to rest, in the fellowship of heavenly spirits, where
I shall find my father, mother, brethren, wife, and son, in a much
better condition than ever I knew them here below; I will therefore
repeat it once again, 1 rejoice, I say, that by the grace of the
supernal God, I have such faith and confidence that this my son is
already in that blessed state, and that glorious company which we
all earnestly wish and endeavour to attain, when our souls shall
leave these dark prisons of the body ; neither have we any cause to
lament, unless we may seem to emulate him that immense happi-
ness, because we ourselves are still sticking fast in these miry bogs
of dirt and clay, still torn with these thorns and briars, out of which
he hath so happily escaped : but let us rather, by following the steps
of him and other virtuous persons who are gone before us, strive
night and day to come to those heavenly mansions, where by the
divine beneficence they are already arrived."

The nobles, admiring the excellent wisdom and constancy of the
King, departed, and soon after Malcolm, the eldest son of Prince
Henry, was proclaimed Prince of Scotland, and David falling into
a mortal disease, desired to be carried into the church to receive
the sacrament ; which having done, he then recommended his
nephew to the nobility, and kissed them all, earnestly requiring
them to seek the peace of their country, and the advancement of
the public weal, and then died in the thirtieth year of his
reign, 1150,

Lll. Malcolm the Fourth, his nephew, of thirteen years old,
succeeded to the crown; a prince who credited his education under
his grandfather, being of a modest and virtuous temper, of which
some seditious spirits taking advantage, endeavoured to dispossess
him of the kingdom, especially one Somerlide, but he was quickly
suppressed, with the slaughter of two thousand of his followers.
Henry the Second of England now sent a herald to him to come to
London and do homage for the counties of Northumberland, Cum-
berland, and Huntington, as his grandfather David had done, upon
penalty of forfeiting the same. King Malcolm went accordingly
and performed it, upon condition (say the Scottish writers) that it
should nowise prejudice the franchises and liberties of the Scotch

96 THE HISTORY OF THE

kingdom. King Henry having wars at this time with Lewis the
Sixth of France went thither, compelling Malcolm to go with him,
that he might thereby, if possible, break the ancient alliance with
Scotland ; but having lost manj^ of his chief men by sickness, he
returned into England, and licensed King Malcolm to go home;
who calling a parliament at Scone, the lords severely reprehended
him for bearing arms against the French, their most ancient allies
and confederates. Malcolm excused it very modestly, alleging,
that he unwarily put himself into Henry's hands, and what he acted
was by constraint, which therefore the French King could not take
so hemously when he understood the truth of the matter.

King Henry hearing of this dissention, strove to inflame it, and
calling a parliament at York, sent for Malcolm thither, where he
was charged for discovering the secrets of the English army to thii
French, for which, they said, he ought to forfeit the three counties
aforementioned ; and though Malcolm refelled all their allegations
as false and feigned, by substantial reasons, yet by King Henry's
enforcing them, the assembly gave sentence against him to forfeit the
same ; and to make him odious to his nobility, Henry caused it to be
reported that Malcolm had freely renounced all his title and interest
to those counties : so that upon his return to Scotland, without
knowing any thing of these slanders, he was besieged in the castle
of Bertha by sevei'al of his lords, but after they understood how
their King had been abused, they raised the siege, and continued
ever after faithful and obedient subjects. Malcolm hereat incensed,
proclaimed open wars against Henry ; at length after much damage
on each side, an agreement was made on the former terms, only
Northumberland was resigned to King Henry and his heirs for ever.

Several insurrections were made about this time by divers of the
Scotch nobility, but were all happily quelled, to the confusion
of their authors, and the realm settled in peace and quiet, the King
wholly applying himself to administer justice to his people ; and the
nobility being informed that he had made a vow of chastity, the
Archbishop of Saint Andrew's, at a council assembled at Scone,
undertook to advise him to renounce his purpose, by these argu-
ments : —

^' it is not only necessary," said he, " for yourself and the realm,
that your highness take a wife, thereby to raise up heirs to succeed
to the crown, but your grace cannot choose a more perfect state of
life, considering the royal office wherein you are placed, than that
of matrimonyj a state not instituted by this prince, or the other law*

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. . 97

maker, but by God himself, who could neither err nor be mistaken
in any ordinance he made ; a state for pleasure the most elig^ible,
since nothing can be more delightful than to have a worth}' lady for
your companion, to whom you may commit all the secrets of your
heart, whether of joy or sorrow, she being ordained as a comfort in
weal and woe, a support in sickness and health, ready to mitigate
anger or to promote mirth, and cheer the spirits tired with troubles
and vexations ; neither are children to be disregarded the delight
and defence of their parents, especially of Kings and Princes, govern-
ing under them in peace to the great benefit of the commonwealth,
and supplying their places in war for the safeguard of their countries,
and the terror of their enemies. Therefore since men are not born
only for themselves and their own ease, but for the advantage of
their friends and their country, your grace ought to persuade your-
self to alter this determination, and to take a consort, to the joy and
comfort of your subjects, since it is commendable both before God
and man, and so necessary likewise that nothing can be more." But
all these arguments could prevail nothing, Malcolm alleging, that
from his tender years he had vowed his virginity to Jesus Christ,
who he did not doul)t would so provide that the realm should not be
destitute of worthy heirs, when it should please his Divine Majesty
to take him from his subjects to his mercy : and so spending the rest
of his days in devotion, and erecting abbies and monasteries, he died
in the thirteenth year of his reign, 11G3 ; a blazing star with terrible
streams appearing for fourteen days together before his death.

LIII. William his brother, called for his singular justice the
Lion, was next advanced to the throne. After his coronation he
sent to Henry of England to restore Northumberland, as being part
of his inheritance. Henry required him to come to London, and
do homage for Cumberland and Huntingdon, where he should receive
satisfaction ; which being done, Henry declared that Northumberland
was annexed to the crown, and he could make no restitution thereof
without the consent of the states, which he would propose the next
parliament ; and then going into Normandy with an armj', he took
William along with him, and other Scotch lords, which William
agreed to, in hope to have Northumberland quietly delivered, but
after a while seeing little probability, he obtained leave to return
home, where he applied himself to root out those robbers and
oppressors who had abused his subjects, which having done, he sent
again to Henry, who perceiving he must either satisfy him or expect
open wars, by the advice of his nobles he restored as much of

o

98 THE HISTORY OF THE

Northumberland as his grandfather King- Malcolm had possessed ;
but within few years he repented this grant, and caused inroads to
be made on the borders of Scotland, they doing the like upon
England : at length King William raising a considerable army,
marched toward Cumberland, one wing being led by Gilchrist, Earl
of Angus, who for his approved valour had married the King's sister,
and the other by Rouland, the King's cousin.

The English having no forces ready, offered a great sum of money
to procure delay, but William answered, " that he had not begun
the war for desire of money, neither had he given the occasion,
being always willing to live of his own ; and if Northumberland, his
rightful inheritance, were restored, he would cease from all further
attempts." King Henry being in France, the English still endea-
vouring to protract time, sent several other messages with golden
promises, till at length they suddenly surrounded the Scots' camp
one night, who were so surprised therewith, and likewise by another
party who lay in ambush, that they were forced to fly, William him-
self being taken prisoner, and was conveyed over to Normandy to
King Henry, who ordered David Earl of Huntingdon to govern the
realm of Scotland till his brother William was released, who sent
several bishops and noblemen into Normandy to ransom his brother.
At length it was concluded that King William should swear fealty to
the King of England, and do homage for the kingdom of Scotland,
as to his sovereign lord, as other people do, and likewise to the
Lord Henry, his son ; that all the prelates of Scotland and their
successors should acknowledge subjection to the church of England,
and do fealty to whom the King should appoint ; the earls and
baronets to do homage also to King Henry and his son ; the King of
Scots to pay one hundred thousand pounds sterling for his redemp-
tion, one half in hand, and Cumberland, Huntingdon, and Northum-
berland to be delivered to King Henry for securing the rest ; lastly,
for the true performance of these covenants, and that the Scots
should raise no war against the English for the future, four of the
strongest castles were delivered into the hands of the English, namely,
Berwick, Edinburgh, Roxborough, and Stirling.

King William being restored to his realm, one Gilbert of Galloway
raised a rebellion, pretending to the crown, making great slaughter
of all his opposers, and because his brother reproved him for his
cruelty, he put out his eyes and cut off his hands ; against whom
Earl 'Gilchrist was sent by the King with a potent army, who put
them to flight, cutting off great numbers, Gilbert himself escaping

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 99

into Ireland. This year on midsummer day fell so great a storm of
hail that it killed many sheep and small cattle, and people were
beaten down with the violence thereof. In September the sun at
noon was darkened for two hours, without any eclipse, clouds, or
other natural cause. In Yorkshire was such terrible thunder, and
strange lightning, that many abbeys and churches were burned there-
with. At this time King William sent to present his obedience to
the pope, who rejoicing thereat, returned a rose of gold tilled with
balm, adding many new privileges to the church of Scotland. Soon
after Earl Gilchrist turned his wife out of doors, upon suspicion of
adultery, and afterwards strangled her at a village near Dundee, at
which the King was so enraged, she being his sister, thtt he seized
upon all his estate, and proclaimed him traitor, destroying his castle
to the very ground, so that there is not the least remembrance left
thereof.

King William's Queen dying, he married the daughter of the
Lord Beaumont, who was son to a daughter of William the Con-
queror ; by this marriage the peace with England was confirmed, and
an article added, that neither prince should harbour any fugitive or
rebel who were subjects to the other, whereby Gilchrist, who fled
into England, was forced to go back to Scotland in very, mean
apparel, living with his two sons in the woods, in great misery,
unknown to any by reason of his poor clothes. Two ^reat thieves
at this time got into the Western Isles, where having raised a
number of assistants, they got a great many ships together, with
which ifpon occasion they passed to the main land, robbing and
spoiling, and then flying to their ships. The King resolving to sup-
press these insolences, first sent out a navy, who burned all their
vessels, and then landing in the Isles, he encompassed them on
every side, taking and executing most of them upon the wheel,
according to the civil law ; returning from thence the King chanced
to espy Gilchrist, with his two sons, digging of turfs, wondering to
see two such genteel young men so meanly employed : at length
Gilchrist with his bald head came and fell at his feet, saying, " If
there b6 any commiseration in thee, most noble prince, toward such
who by their ofl'ence are. brought into extremity, and have suffered
condign punishment for their crimes, 1 beseech thee for the love of
Christ, who did not spare to shed his own most precious blood, for
the redemption of sinners, to have mercy upon me, and these my
poor and miserable sons, who have suffered much sorrow and want

o 2

100 THE HISTORY OF THE

with me, though they have not deserved it by committing any
fault."

The King inquiring- who he was, and how he came into this
wretched state, the tears trickled so fast down his cheeks that he
could not speak; at length a little recovering himself, he added,
" I am Gilchrist, (most excellent prince,) and the most sorrowful
creature upon earth, who alas have dipped my hands in the blood
of thy family, and was therefore deprived of all my lands, and
banished with these my two sons out of the realm, whereupon we
continued in England a long time, till proclamation being made
against out-laws, we were constrained to return hither, where I and
ray sons have lived by roots all the summer, and are forced to get
our living in the winter with digging of clods ; if therefore pity or
compassion have any place in thy heart, or if thy indignation be
now somewhat qualified, commiserate our sorrowful estate, and
forgive my offences, whereby thou mayst not only attain the honour
and fame of a merciful prince, and be highly renowned among all
nations for that heavenly virtue, but mayst likewise expect the mercy
of God, for shewing thyself a follower of Jesus Christ, the giver of
all mercy, grace, and peace."

The King being moved at these words, and remembring the good
service by him formerly performed, and that he was fallen from so
great honour to such extreme misery, he forgave his crimes, and
restored his estate to him and his sons, Gilchrist continuing ever
after in obedience to his prince, and his sons dying before him, he
left all his lands to the abbey of Aberbrothock, which the King had
newly founded". In England, King Richard the first succeeded his
father Henry, who, resolving to go into the Holy Land, to prevent
the Scots from disturbing his realm, surrendered the four towns and
the three counties, aforementioned; only the garrisons to be com-
manded by the English. David, Earl of Huntington, the King's
brother, accompanying Richard, where they performed wonders;
and ai length returning, Richard dying. King John succeeded, to
whom William went and performed his homage ; but John requiring
him to go over and assist him against France, he refused it, and
thereupon John declared all the aforesaid lands to be forfeited to the
crown of England, and caused a great booty to be fetched out of
Scotland, which had occasioned open wars, if the English lords had
not obliged King John to make restitution, they being loth to en-
gage against Scotland and France at once.

KINGS OF SCOTLAND.

101

KING RICHARD 1.

This winter proved so frosty that no plough could enter the
ground till March. Ale was frozen in the houses and cellars, so that
it was sold by weight : from Twelve-tide till February were terrible
earthquakes continually. King John now raised another quarrel
against the Scots ; but at length peace was established at York, upon
condition that Margaret and Isabel, daughters to King William,
should, after nine years, be married to Henry and Richard, the sons
of King John, ana that if one died the other should succeed to the
crown ; for which William gave a considerable dower with his
daughters, and nine Scotch noblemen were delivered to King John
for true performance. King William returning, came to Bertha,
where such a flood arose by the inundation of the two rivers, Tay
and Almond, that the walls of the town were beat down, and
abundance of people drowned, accompanied with such lamentable
cries and shrieks as if the town had been suddenly surprised ; and

104 THE HISTORY OF THE

and raising fresh arms against them, he wasted this money in riot
and filthiness, falselj alleging it was stolenfrom him. Since, there-
fore, we have had such woeful experience and already suffered such
damage and loss by the two former legates, we may be justly
reckoned fools and madmen to admit a third ; for it is not to be
imagined, that this new one will be any thing better than his fel-
lows; and truly, if any man should ask my judgment in the case, I
freely declare and protest, my opinion is, that neither this legate,
nor any other ever after, ought to be received into the kingdom,
considering what waste and spoil they have made by their unreason-
able exactions. If there be any among you who have more money
than you well know how to spend, in the name of God bestow
it upon poor and indigent, and do not give to this lecherous,
vicious legate, since we have great reason to think, that what
comes into his hands, is utterly lost and thrown away."

The bishop's words appeared so reasonable, that the legate was
not received into the realm. Shortly after, one Ross raised an open
rebellion, taking and burning the town of Inverness : at length, the
Earl of Bucquain pursued and took him and his two sons, striking
off their heads, and sending them to the King. Then the people of
Cathness seized upon their bishop, called Adam, for cursing them
for refusing to pay their tythes, scourging him with rods, and then
setting fire to his house, burnt him in his own kitchen : for which
wicked act, the King himself marched against them, and taking four
hundred, caused them all to be hanged : and that there might be no
succession of such a cursed generation, he ordered all their male
children to be gelt ; the place where it was done being called Stone
Hill to this day. The Earl of Cathness, because he did not assist
the bishop nor endeavour to punish the offenders, was deprived of
his earldom and offices ; but upon his submission, and a fine paid,
he was again restored to them : yet, soon after, he himself was slain
by one of his servants whom he had hardly used, and his house
burnt over him to prevent discovery; and very near this time,
Patrick, Earl of AthoU, had the same fate, being slain in his castle
and burnt. The next year, King Lewis of France desired aid of
King Alexander in his journey to the Holy Land, who sent him
divers choice bands of soldiers, under three valiant leaders ; but the
greatest part perished in Egypt, either by sword or sickness, so that
few returned home. After King Alexander had reigned 35 jears,
and in the fifty-first of his age, he died, 1249.

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 105

LV. Alexander the Third, his son, not above nine years old, was
proclaimed King : when he came to be crowned, great dissention
arose among the nobility, because by the observations of the stars, it
was an unfortunate day; others alleged that he ought first to be
made a knight : at length the difference grew so high, that, to quiet
it, the Earl of Fife upon a sudden set the crown on the King's head,
being placed in the marble chair, disregarding all snrperstitious
omens. In his second year (saith the monkish historian) the pre-
lates and baro«is caused the bones of Queen Margaret, the King's
grandmother, to be taken up and put into a silver shrine, which
being carried toward her tomb, when the bearers came against the
sepulchre of her husband, King Malcolm, they were not able to
proceed further, till an old man present advised them to take up his
bones likewise, and then they carried them to the place where they
now remain, and were in great veneration with the people. He
adds, that at this time a monk of Melross was admonished in a
dream that he should find part of the true cross whereon Christ was
crucified, near Peblis in Lothian, inclosed in a case whereon was
engraven St. Nicholas ; when the case was opened, the cross was
found within it, whereby many miracles were wrought. Not far
from thence was found a stone chest, curiously wrought, wherein
were certain bones wrapped up in silk, but not known whose they
were ; Alexander built an abbey where this relic was found, which
no doubt was the pious intent of inventing these miracles; but
enough of monkery.

Alexander renewed the peace with the English, and married
Margaret, King Henry's daughter, at York with great solemnity ;
and being informed that the Earls of Menteith, Atholl, Bucquain,
and Cumins, had committed many violences and extortions upon
his subjects in his minority, he summoned them to appear before his
judges, which they refusing, were for the contempt proclaimed trai-
tors, and put to the horn ; to revenge which they conspired together,
and seized the King, keeping him prisoner a long while at Stirling,
whereby great disorders happened in the kingdom ; at length an
agreement was made. The next year was so great a dearth by
reason of rain in harvest, that the people were miserably vexed
with famine, which Acho, King of Denmark, being informed of,
took occasion to invade the rest of the Western Isles, some of them
having been possessed by the Danes from King Edgar's time, and
soon taking them, arrived with a great army upon the main land of
Scotland, taking the castle of Air by siege, or foraging the country;

p

104 THE HISTORY OF THE

and raising fresh arms against them, he wasted this money in riot
and filthiness, falselj alleging it was stolenfrom him. Since, there-
fore, we have had such woeful experience and already suffered such
damage and loss by the two former legates, we may be justly
reckoned fools and madmen to admit a third; for it is not to be
imagined, that this new one will be any thing better than his fel-
lows; and truly, if any man should ask my judgment in the case, I
freely declare and protest, my opinion is, that neither this legate,
nor any other ever after, ought to be received into the kingdom,
considering what waste and spoil they have made by their unreason-
able exactions. If there be any among you who have more money
than you well know how to spend, in the name of God bestow
it upon poor and indigent, and do not give to this lecherous,
vicious legate, since we have great reason to think, that what
comes into his hands, is utterly lost and thrown away."

The bishop's words appeared so reasonable, that the legate was
not received into the realm. Shortly after, one Ross raised an open
rebellion, taking and burning the town of Inverness : at length, the
Earl of Bucquain pursued and took him and his two sons, striking
off their heads, and sending them to the King. Then the people of
Cathness seized upon their bishop, called Adam, for cursing them
for refusing to pay their tythes, scourging him with rods, and then
setting fire to his house, jjurnt him in his own kitchen : for which
wicked act, the King himself marched against them, and taking four
hundred, caused them all to be hanged : and that there might be no
succession of such a cursed generation, he ordered all their male
children to be gelt ; the place where it was done being called Stone
Hill to this day. The Earl of Cathness, because he did not assist
the bishop nor endeavour to punish the oflFenders, was deprived of
his earldom and offices ; but upon his submission, and a fine paid,
he was again restored to them : yet, soon after, he himself was slain
by one of his servants whom he had hardly used, and his house
burnt over him to prevent discovery; and very near this time,
Patrick, Earl of Atholl, had the same fate, being slain in his castle
and burnt. The next year, King Lewis of France desired aid of
King Alexander in his journey to the Holy Land, who sent him
divers choice bands of soldiers, under three valiant leaders ; but the
greatest part perished in Egypt, either by sword or sickness, so that
few returned home. After King Alexander had reigned 35 years,
and in the lifly-first of his age, he died, 1249.

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 105

LV. Alexander the Third, his son, not above nine years old, was
proclaimed King: when he came to be crowned, great dissention
arose among the nobility, because by the observations of the stars, it
was an unfortunate day; others alleged that he ought first to be
made a knight : at length the difference grew so high, that, to quiet
it, the Earl of Fife upon a sudden set the crown on the King's head,
being placed in the marble chair, disregarding all surperstitious
omens. In his second year (saith the monkish historian) the pre-
lates and barons caused the bones of Queen Margaret, the King's
grandmother, to be taken up and put into a silver shrine, which
being carried toward her tomb, when the bearers came against the
sepulchre of her husband, King Malcolm, they were not able to
proceed further, till an old man present advised them to take up his
bones likewise, and then they carried them to the place where they
now remain, and were in great veneration with the people. He
adds, that at this time a monk of Melross was admonished in a
dream that he should find part of the true cross whereon Christ was
crucified, near Peblis in Lothian, inclosed in a case whereon was
engraven St. Nicholas ; when the case was opened, the cross was
found within it, whereby many miracles were wrought. Not far
from thence was found a stone chest, curiously wrought, wherein
were certain bones wrapped up in silk, but not known whose they
were ; Alexander built an abbey where this relic was found, which
no doubt was the pious intent of inventing these miracles; but
enough of monkery.

Alexander renewed the peace with the English, and married
Margaret, King Henry's daughter, at York with great solemnity ;
and being informed that the Earls of Menteith, AthoU, Bucquain,
a)nd Cumins, had committed many violences and extortions upon
his subjects in his minority, he summoned them to appear before his
judges, which they refusing, were for the contempt proclaimed trai-
tors, and put to the horn ; to revenge which they conspired together,
and seized the King, keeping him prisoner a long while at Stirling,
whereby great disorders happened in the kingdom ; at length an
agreement was made. The next year was so great a dearth by
reason of rain in harvest, that the people were miserably vexed
with famine, which Acho, King of Denmark, being informed of,
took occasion to invade the rest of the Western Isles, some of them
having been possessed by the Danes from King Edgar's time, and
soon taking them, arrived with a great army upon the main land of
Scotland, taking the castle of Air by siege, or foraging the country;

p

106 THE HISTORY OF THE

at which young Alexander being surprised, as doubting his own
power, thought best to prolong the time by treating of peace, and
therefore sent ambassadors to the camp of Acho, one of whom spoke
to this purpose :

" Were it not that our King and nobles have ever observed it as
an ancient custom to seek redress of injuries by treaty, before they
endeavour to be revenged by the sword, you had not now seen ora-
tors to discourse of peace, but a mighty army ready provided for
battle. But we are of opinion, that though we should obtain vic-
tory over those who have robbed and spoiled our country, yet it is
much better, if possible, to procure restitution by fair means, as
counting it great folly to seek that by fire and sword, which we may
obtain by conference and good words. Nevertheless, when our just
desires and reasonable offers are refused by our enemies, and that
we find them unwilling to have peace, for which all wars ought to
be undertaken, we are always ready to join together as one man, to
avenge ourselves upon our implacable adversaries ; we are now sent
from our King and sovereign to inquire what reason you have to invade
his realm, to destroy his subjects, and to violate that league which
has continued inviolate between both nations from above an hundred
years, and not only to seize his two Isles of Bute and Arran, but to
invade the main land of his dominions with such barbarity, that
you have made no difference of sex, age, or quality, causing women,
children, and old feeble persons to fall by your bloody swords, as
well as those who actually fight against you. What heinous crime
have the Scots committed against you or others, which should
deserve this cruelty at your hands? What rage and fury hath pos-
sessed you to burn the churches of God and his saints, murdering
those who sheltered themselves in them for saving their lives ? If
you have no fear of God, who governs all, neither dread his
punishment for these horrid impieties, yet you have cause to be
afraid of the two potent Kings of Albion that are allied together in
one bond of amity and marriage, who will shortly come against you
with such mighty forces, that you will not be able to resist them ;
since therefore you may now depart with honour, we admonish you
in our master's name that it will be better to satisfy for the mischiefs
you have already done, and return back, than to be reduced to such
miserable extremity as to be forced to beg for mercy when it will in
nowise be granted you."

This confident speech was designed to terrify Acho, who being of
a courageous spirit, seemed little concerned, making this reply

KIINGS OF SCOTLAND. 107

thereto. " I perceive that you ambassadors think to affright ns
with your fierce and threatening words, imagining that we are so
faint-hearted as to forsake our enterprise, merely for furious menaces;
but if you think so you are extremely mistaken: and whereas you
aggravate the injuries you have received in taking those Isles from
you, we perceive you are not indifferent persons, and therefore
incapable to judge; neither will we learn of you what we ought to
esteem right or wrong upon this account : but if you desire to know
the cause why Me have invaded Arran and Bute, we declare and
affirm that not only these two, but likewise all the other islands of
Scotland, pertain to us and our realm by ancient right and title of
inheritance, as upon occasion we can sufficiently make appear ; we
are therefore come to recover the value of those profits which for
many years you have unjustly received of those Isles. Go then and
tell your King, that we neither value his words nor deeds ; yet if
he desire peace without fighting, to prevent the ruin and burning of
his cities and towns, and the total destruction and extermination of
his kingdom, command him immediately to send us ten thousand
marks sterling for the rents he has received of our lands, and to
resign up all his right and title to those Isles for ever, and then he
may hope for peace at our hands, but otherwise utter desolation
attends both him and his people."

King Alexander perceiving that nothing but a battle must decide
the controversy, raised an army of forty thousand men, and marching
against Acho, after several bickerings the Danes were at length
utterly routed, with the slaughter of twenty-four thousand of their
number, and not above five thousand Scots. Acho's nephew being
slain amon^ them, he himself, with a few others, escaping to the
castle of Air, where he had the ill tidings that his navy, consisting
of one hundred and fifty ships, was utterly destroyed by tempest,
not above four being saved; the mariners who escaped on shore
being likewise cut off by the country people, so that very few got
away. Acho being astonished at two such vast misfortunes at once,
sailed with his dismal company into the Isles of Orkney, where he
sent to Denmark for fresh forces ; but before they arrived he died
there, so that all those great preparations came to nothing. The
same day that Acho died, Alexander Prince of Scotland was born.
Magnus his son succeeded Acho, from whom the Scots won all the
islands possessed by the Danes for one hundred and sixty-seven
years past.

p 2

108 THE HISTORY OF THE

At this time Lewis of France made another expedition into the
Hol^^ Land, Alexander sending a thousand Scots to his aid, com-
manded by the Earls of Carrick, Atholl, and others, who most of
them died in the voj'age, and the Earl of Carrick among the rest,
leaving only one daughter, named Martha, heiress to his estate,
who was after married without the King's consent to Robert Bruce,
son and heir to Robert Bruce, Lord of Anandale in Scotland, and
of Cleveland in England, whose mother was Isabel, second daughter
to David Earl of Huntingdon, brother to William King of Scot-
land ; of this marriage was born Robert Bruce, who afterward, for
want of heirs to King Alexander, attained the crown of Scotland.

Queen Margaret, Alexander's wife, and daughter to King Henry
the Third, died about this time, by whom he had two sons, Alex-
ander and David, and one daughter, named Margaret, who about
three years after was married to Aquin, King of Norway; David
died before her, and Prince Alexander soon after without issue,
though married to the daughter of the Earl of Flanders: his
daughter Margaret, Queen of Norway, deceased likewise the same
year, leaving only one daughter behind her, which struck the King
with great grief; however, by the advice of his nobility, he married
another wife, the daughter of the Earl of Champain in France ;
but the same year, as he was riding full speed upon a fierce horse
at Kinghorn, the horse leaped over the cliff into the sea, and broke
his neck, in the forty-second year of his reign, 1290. The day
before his death, the Earl of March demanded of one Thomas
Lermond (called Thomas the Rhymer, and accounted a notable
prophet) what weather would be to-morrow, Thomas answered,
" That to-morrow, before noon, should happen such a dreadful
tempest, that the like was never before in Scotland." In the
morning the sky was fair and clear, and noon drew near without the
least sign of storm or wind ; the Earl of March sent for Thomas,
telling him how much he was mistaken. Thomas said little, only
alleged it was not yet past noon ; at that instant, a post arrived at
the earl's gate with news of the King's sudden death. " This is
that fearful wind," said Thomas, " which shall bring such calamity
and trouble to the realm."

In this King's reign several strange prodigies happened : in his
seventeenth year, an infinite number of worms destroyed the fruits,
flowers, and herbs ; the waters of Forth and Tay overflowed many
towns and villages; in his twentieth year a blazing star appeared,

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 109

of so vast a magnitude that it was seen at noon-day ; such winds
with hailstones happened, that overthrew many houses; and such
dreadful fires that burned down Aberdeen, Perth, part of Lanerick,
with many towns and villages in Lothian and other places. In his
thirty-first year a great pestilence reigned in Scotland; but the
most remarkable was, that when Alexander at his last marriage was
leading up a dance in the company of a great many lords and ladies,
there appeared in the presence of them all a skeleton of nothing but
skin and bones, like the picture of death, very terrible to behold,
which struck them all with such a consternation, that it broke off
their mirth and jollity.

Alexander thus miserably ending his life, without leaving any
issue behind him, great mischiefs and disorders happened in the
realm : at length it was concluded to elect four governors to admi-
nister justice, but Edward the First, King of England, perceiving he
had now a fair opportunity to conquer Scotland, sent to propose a
match with the daughter of Norway, (say the Scotch historians,
who write very severely and partially against King Edward) which
being agreed upon, with limitations and conditions by the lords, two
noble Scotch knights were sent to Norway to fetch the bride, but
she was dead before they came ; upon which great contention arose
between Alexander's kinsmen about their right to the crown : three
especially pretended a title thereto, John Baliol, the son of Mar-
garet, the eldest daughter of David, Earl of Huntingdon, brother to
King William; Robert Bruce, as descended from Isabel, the
youngest daughter of Earl David, and John, Lord Hastings, as
being likewise descended from this youngest daughter, who was
married to his father, Henry Hastings : the governors often con-
sulted about the matter, but not concluding upon any, they resolved
to leave the decision of the whole matter to King Edward, desiring
him to come to Berwick upon that account.

At his coming he appointed twelve Scotch lawyers, to join with
so many English, of the most learned in both kingdoms, who were
to consider maturely of all their claims, and make report accord-
ingly; which being done, the major part judged the right to be in
Robert Bruce. Here the Scotch writers report that Edward pro-
posed to Bruce, if he would swear to hold the crown of him as his
sovereign lord, he would declare in favour of him, otherwise not;
but he affirming that he valued the liberty of his country above his
own private advantage, and would not betray the liberties thereof

110 THE HISTORY OF THE

into the hands of the Ene^lish, which had hitherto been free; there-
upon King Edward made the same offer to John Baliol, who
accepting those conditions, upon the day appointed he gave judg-
ment in behalf of Edward Baliol ; upon winch (say tlie Scotch
historians) the Earl of Glocester, an English lord of great pru-
dence, spake thus to him: " O, King, remenjber what yon have
done this day, in refusing to give a righteous sentence in this mat-
ter; for though the reason be now secret and hid, yet it shall be
revealed when the great Judge, who searcheth the consciences and
minds of all men, shall call you to answer for it at that dreadful
day of the universal judgment; you have now given an unjust sen-
tence against a King, but then shall just judgment be pronounced
on you."

LVI. John Baliol was soon after crowned in great state at Scone,
and the next year came to Newcastle, where he did homage to King
Edward for the realm of Scotland against the consent of the nobi-
lity, say the Scots, since by this means he seemed to bring the realm
into servitude to the English; neither had he but little felicity
therein, for a few years after King Edward commanding him, by
virtue of this homage, to assist him with all the power he could
raise against France, King John, repenting of his rashness, sent to
Edward and renounced his homage, alleging it to be done without
the consent of the three estates. King Edward gave this short
answer to the ambassadors — " Since we perceive your King will not
come to us, tell him we intend shortly to visit him ;" and hereupon
he declared John to have forfeited his crown and dignity, resolving
to deprive him of all princely dignity, and concluding a peace with
France, he procured the friendship of Robert Bruce, who delivered
him all the castles he held in Scotland, upon promise, as it was
thought, of making him King ; on the other side, John renewed the
ancient league with France, and a marriage was concluded between
the eldest daughter of Charles, Earl of Valois, brother to King
Philip of France, and Edward Baliol, the son of John, and forty
thousand crowns were to be paid to John as her dowry. In the
mean time King Edward came into Scotland like an inundation,
carrying all before him, first taking Berwick by storm with so much
bloodshed, that the Scotch writers say it drove the mills at low
water, above seven thousand people being slain in one day, with
most of the nobility and gentry of Lothian and Fife ; then he
utterly routed the forces of Baliol at Dunbar, occasioned, say they,

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. HI

by the treachery of Robert Bruce, who persuaded all his friends in the
Scotch army to flee upon the first onset, which so discouraged the rest,
that they threw down their arms and were slain without resistance.

JIOBERT BRUCE.

After this victory, Bruce applied himself to King Edward to
perform his promise of settling him in the throne ; to whom it
is said King Edward answered, " What, dost thou think we have
nothing else to do, but to conquer kingdoms, and then give them
away to thee ?" tjpon which Robert retired in discontent to his
lands in England. King Edward then took the castles of Edin-
burgh, Stirling, and Forrair, in the last of which, by the procure-
ment of John Cumin, John Baliol and his son Edward were
delivered into his hands. King John laying aside all his royal robes,
presented himself before Edward, with only a white wand in his
hand, and resigned up the kingdoms into his hands, renouncing all
his right and title thereto for ever; which was confirmed by a charter
under the hands of the nobility, who all swore allegiance to King
Edward of England, and delivered all the forts and castles into his

112

THE HISTORY OF THE

hands. John and his son were carried prisoners to London, but
soon after the father was released and sent to Scotland, who per-
ceiving he was hated bj the people, retired to his ancient inheritance
in Normandy, where at length falling blind, he died in an old age,
leaving his estate to his son Edward, who being released resided with
his father before his death.

After this King Edward pursued his quarrel against France, leav-
ing Hugh Cressingham governor of Scotland. The lords of Scotland
no sooner heard he was passed the seas, but they presently began an
insurrection, choosing twelve noblemen to be governors in their several
countries ; about which time William Wallace, the son of Sir Andrew
Wallace, a young man of large stature, and an inveterate enemy to
the English nation, assembling a great number of Scots, performed
many valiant exploits, taking divers towns and castles, and invading
Northumberland, of which Edward having notice, again entered
Scotland, and at Falkirk obtained a very considerable victory.
A while after the Scots discomfited a party of the English, with

WILLIAM WALLACE.

KINGS OF SCOTLAxND. 115

which news Edward was so enraged, that gathering a mighty army,
he marched thither again, the Scots flying before hjni, none daring
to take arms but Wallace and his accomplices, who sheltered them-
selves in the woods, so that the English marched quite through
Scotland, wholly subduing it without opposition ; and to secure them
from rebelling for the future, and make one people of both nations,
he abolished all the laws and statutes of the realm, burned all their
records and books, both sacred and common, commanding the Scots
to use the liturgy of Sarum, and removed the marble coronation
chair from Scone to London, all the nobility taking new oaths of
allegiance to Edward, who then returned to England with great joy
and triumph.

He was no sooner out of sight but the Scots entered into new
practices; for John Cumin, called the Red, and Robert Bruce con-
ferring together about the deplorable state of their country, it was
concluded to endeavour the freedom thereof, and that Bruce should
be King, and Cumin to inherit Bruce's estate : of this agreement
indentures were drawn with their hands and seals thereto, after
which Bruce went into England to prevent suspicion in King Edward,
for it was thought he would have put him and his brethren to death,
if he could have got them all into his power. After Bruce's de-
parture, Cumin suspecting the success of their design, or at least
that he should be of little account when Bruce had once attained the
kingdom, he thereupon privately sent the counterpart of the con-
spiracy, under Bruce's hand and seal, to King Edward, who judging
it to proceed from envy, disregarded it, yet shewed it to Bruce,
enquiring whether it were his hand ; Bruce stoutly denied his know-
ledge thereof, desiring that he might peruse it one night, thereby to
discover the forgery and malice thereof, which if he did not, he was
willing to lose all his estate in England ; to which the King con-
sented. After he was gone, the Earl of Gloucester sent to Bruce's
lodgings twelve single pence and two sharp spurs, which Bruce took
for a warning to be gone instantly, and thereupon causing a smith
to shoe three horses backward, that their track should not be per-
ceived in the snow, which then lay on the ground, he went out of
London about midnight with only two trusty servants, so that by the
morning he was out of Edward's reach, who sent several to overtake
him, and made such speed that in seven days he came to Lochmaben*
in Anandale, where meeting with his brother David, and Robert
Fleming, a gallant young gentleman, he declared wlmt danger he

Q

114 THE HISTORY OF THE

was in by the treachery of Cumin. At that instant they met with
one of Cumin's servants going to King Jildward with letters, signi-
fying that if Bruce were not presently put to death, groat mischiefs
would happen in Scotland, against King Edward's interest.

After having fully examined the messenger, and understood by
him that his master was at the priory at Dumfries, they slew him,
and then posting thither, Bruce found Cumin in the choir of the
church, and charged him for such ill usage ; hot words arose, when
Bruce suddenly drew his sword, and struck Cumin into the belly,
and flying out of the church, met two of his friends, who seeing him
in disorder, enquired the reason : ^' I believe," said he, " that
Cumin is slain." " What !" say they, " hast thou attempted so
great an act, and left it doubtful ?" and going into the place where
Cumin lay wounded, they asked him whether he thought he had his
death's wound, or hoped to recover with the help of a good surgeon ;
he told them he doubted not but he might if he came in time ;
whereupon they gave him three or four deadly wounds more, where-
with he presently gave up the ghost. At this time William Wallace
was betrayed to King Edward, and being brought to London, was
hanged and quartered, his quarters being set up in divers great
towns in Scotland. He was certainly one of the most gallant per-
sons of that age, and adored by the Scots, l^ecause he would never
acknowledge subjection to the English : it is said, when he went
to school, his master taught him these two verses, which he never
forgot :

Dico tibi verum, libertas optima rerum.
Nunquam servili sub nexu vivito, JilL

Remember son that liberty

Is a most happy thing.
Take heed that into slavery

Thyself thou never bring.

LVII. Robert Bruce having thus slain Cumin, procured a pardon
from Rome, that none might scruple to assist him upon that account
for obtaining the crown. Soon after, having got his friends together,
he caused himself to be crowned King at Scone, though at first he
had few to assist him ; for King Edward having notice of his designs,
sent Odomarde Valence against him, who soon discomfited King

KINGS OF SCOTLAND.

115

Robert and his small company, so that he was forced to secure him-
self in woods and desart places, most of his friends forsaking him,
and his queen was taken prisoner and sent to London : at length he
had some assistance from the Isles, wherewith he took Carrick Castle,
and other places, which encouraged others to join with him ; upon
which King Edward marched toward Scotland, with strong forces,
designing utterly to subdue the whole country, but by the way he
fell sick and died ; Edward the Second, called Caernarvan, suc-
ceeding him, who pursuing his father's enterprize, summoned all the
Scotch nobility to Dumfries, to swear allegiance, some of whom

EDWARD II.

appeared, and others refused, because they heard that he was drawn
away by ill counsel, to the great grief of his people, which was like
to occasion disturbance in England. King Robert still increased,
defeating several small parties of the English. At length King
Edward came into Scotland, with an arm^y of one hundred and fifty
thousand foot, and almost as many horse, (if the Scotch historians be
not much out,) besides servants, ostlers, women, and lackeys, many

Q 2

.116 THE HISTORY OF THE

caiTying- their whole families with them, to settle there after the
conquest. King Edward was so elated Avith confidence of victory,
that he brought a Carmelite friar, called Robert Boston, with him,
to describe the manner of it. The place of battle was called
Bannocks Bourn, where King Robert, with thirty thousand men,
utterly vanquished this mighty army, killing ten thousand of them,
with the Earl of Gloucester and two hundred knights, about four
thousand Scots being slain. The friar was taken, and commanded
by King Robert to write the victory of the Scots, who thereupon
made certain rude verses beginning thus :

De planctu cudo, metrum cum carmine nudo.
Risum retrudoy dum tali themate ludo.

Thus Englished : —

With barren verse this rhyme I make,
Bewailing whilst this theme I take.

After this, Robert called a parliament, wherein the crown was
settled upon him and his heirs, and if his son David should die
without heirs, that Robert Steward, the son of Walter Steward,
Lord High Steward of Scotland, and of Margery, King Robert's
daughter, should then succeed. Soon after King Edward made
another expedition into Scotland, but with as ill success as before ;
and after that a third, but with as bad fortune as the former : at
length ambassadors were sent by Edward to conclude a peace, by
whom it was agreed, that King Edward should renounce all his right
and title to the kingdom of Scotland, and declare it to be as free as
in the reign of King Alexander the Third, and for this renunciation
and damages done to the English, King Robert was to pay thirty
thousand marks sterling. For confirming this peace, David Bruce,
Prince of Scotland, married Jane, the sister of King Edward; after
which. King Robert departed this life in 1329 — a prince who
mounted the throne over the carcases of his nearest kindred, en-
countering with the greatest difficulties and calamities of a country
oppressed by powerful and martial enemies, yet bravely struggled
with all disadvantages, and left behind him the character of a great
captain, and a prudent prince. Upon his death-bed he advised his
nobility of three things : First, Not to make an absolute lord over
the Isles, lest it might encourage rebellion, which would not be easy

KINGS OF SCOTLAND 117

to quell bj reason of the strength and difficultj of approach, they
being encompassed by the sea. Second, Never, if possible, to join
in a set battle against the English, nor venture the kingdom upon
the chance of one tight, but rather to skirmish and fight at advantage,
that some reserve might remain. Third, Not to make any long
peace or truce with England, since idleness caused sloth and cow-
ardice. He desired his heart might be carried to the Holy Land,
whither he had designed to have gone, which was undertaken by
Sir James Douglas, who had therefore the bloody heart in his
arms ; but he by the way assisting the Spaniards against the Saracens
in Arragon, was cut off with all his company. This end had this
valiant knight, whom the Scots report to have got the victory fifty-
seven times against the English, and thirteen against the Turks.

LVllL David Bruce^ the son of Robert, but seven years old,
was next proclaimed King, during whose minority Earl Thomas
Randal was appointed governor of the realm ;" who finding the
country much harassed and impoverished, sent ambassadors to King
Edward the Third of England, who concluded a truce between both
nations for three years, after which his whole study was to maintain
justice and equity, ordering every man to provide himself of arms
for defence, if there should be occasion, and to extirpate thieves
and robbers, he commanded saddles, bridles, and other furniture to
be left abroad night and day, and if any were stolen, the sheriff^ of
the county was to produce the thief, or else pay the value of it,
which cleared the kingdom of all vagabonds and idle persons. It
happened that a country clown hid his own plough irons, and pre-
tended they were stolen, thereby to recover the value from the sheriff,
but the cheat being discovered, he was hanged, according to his
deserts.

King Edward, (says the Scotch writers,) envying the flourishing
state of Scotland, sent a monk who poisoned the governor^ and in
the mean time he invaded the borders ; but it seems the venom was
of such a nature as not to kill suddenly, but by degrees, so that
though be were so sick as not able to ride nor go, yet he caused
himself to be carried into the field in an horse litter, in the head of
a considerable army, which being unexpected, Edward sent an
herald, pretending to treat with him, but really to observe the
posture of the Scotch camp. The governor putting on his best robes,
and sitting in a chair, as if recovered from his distemper, ordered
him to be brought in, who requiring some unreasonable conditions,
he boldly answered, "That in a short time he did not doubt to

118 THE HISTORY OF THE

make it appear what little cause the English had to demand such
unjust terms ;" and then bestowing all the rich robes he had on upon
the herald, sent him back again. King Edward by this, supposing
the governor was in health, returned to England, ordering the monk
(say the Scots) to be slain for deceiving him ; in the mean time the
governor returning homeward, died of the venom administered by
the monk. After whom the Earls of March and Mar were chosen
governors, at which time Edward the son of King John Baliol was
persuaded to come from France by one Lorison, Cumin Earl of
Atholl, and other banished Scots, and claim the crown of Scotland,
and landing in England, King Edward assisted him with six thousand
men, upon condition to hold the kingdom from him, as his sovereign
lord ; with these forces he entered Scotland, defeating and slaying
Alexander Seaton and his company, who were sent a«;ainst him.
Encouraged with this success, they marched forward, bui were soon
met with by two great armies raised by the governors ; however
Baliol was resolved to encounter them, though much inferior in
number. The Scots disdaining their weakness, fell to dancing,
drinking, and revelling without fear, which Baliol understanding,
assaulted their camp at midnight, killing all till they came to the
Earl of Mar's tent, whom they slew in his bed fast asleep, making
a woeful slaughter of the rest, so that the dead bodies lay on heaps.
The English were so furious that had not Baliol ordered all his own
party to wear a white cloth about their arms, they would have
destroyed one another. There were slain of the Scots above three
thousand lords and gentlemen, and sixteen thousand others.

LIX. Edward Baliol, after this great victory, finding the nobility
and commons coming daily in great numbers to his assistance, caused
himself to be crowned King at Scone, in 1332. King David, then
not above nine years old, was conveyed into France with his Queen,
Jane, sister to King Edward, where he was kindly entertained by
King Philip, with whom he continued nine years. After this some
noblemen who were for King David, having notice that King
Edward resided in Saint Johnston's, they suddenly besieged the
town, whereupon the people of Galloway, under the Lord Maxwell,
invaded and spoiled the lands of those lords who were at the siege,
which caused them to raise it, and enter into Galloway with fire and
sword. King Edward having fortified Saint Johnston's, and leaving
the Earl of Fife governor, marched into the country with his army,
before whose return his enemies took it, imprisoning the Earl of
Mar, and beheading Andrew Murray : then John Randal, Earl of

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 119

Murray, Archibald Douglas, and others increasing their forces,
encountered with King Edward at Anandale, where after a bloody
fight, Baliol was routed, himself flying away upon a horse without
a bridle. While the Scots were thus ruining one another, King
Edward thought it a fit opportunity to conquer both, and thereupon
he besieged Berwick by sea and land for four month's space, during
which many assaults and skirmishes happened, in one of which
William, son of Alexander Seaton, the governor, was taken prisoner.
At length the besieged were so necessitated for provisions, that they
promised to surrender the town if not relieved in six days, and the
governor delivered his eldest son Thomas as security for performing
the same. Just then a mighty army of Scots marched into England
under Archibald Douglas, the new governor, of which King
Edward having notice, sent a messenger to the governor to deliver
the town immediately, or else his two sons should be instantly
hanged up before his eyes, causing a gibbet to be erected before the
town, and his sons to be brought thither, which Sir Alexander
beholding, was in an extreme perplexity, natural affection and
compassion inclining him to save liis children's lives, yet his faith
and loyalty to his prince and country restrained those first thoughts
for the present ; but at length fatherly tenderness had prevailed, had
not his lady and the mother of his children thus fortified his reso-
lution : — " Dear sir, 1 beseech you consider what reproach and
dishonour will fall upon us and our posterity, if through our trea-
cherj' the town be surrendered into the hands of the enemy, insomuch
as from that hour we shall be infamous to all the world ; neither
have we cause to grieve so much for the loss of our sons, since by
such a glorious death they will obtain everlasting fame, and leave to
their parents the renown of faithful and loyal subjects ; besides, we
are young enough to get more children, instead of those we have
lost, but if we should once lose our honour, by betraying our country,
and turning traitors to our gracious prince and sovereign lord, we
should never be able to recover the same again."

With these and the like arguments this noble and worthy lady
persuaded her sorrowful husband to act nothing unworthily either to
himself or the town, out of commiseration to his sons, who were
accordingly put to death, ending their lives (saith the historian) with
great honour in the righteous quarrel of their country. Douglas,
ithe governor, hearing of the death of these two young gentlemen,
resolved to revenge their blood by fighting with King Edward, and
thereby relieve the town, and accordingly marched toward hini.

120 THE HISTORY OF THE

though contrary to the advice of divers prudent commanders; and a
great battle was fought at Halydown Hill, wherein the Scots were
utterly vanquished, fourteen thousand of their army being slain, and
amongst them Archibald Douglas, the governor, John, James, and
Alane, three sons of Walter Stewart, and several other lords and
gentlemen ; upon which overthrow, Berwick was delivered into the
hands of King Edward, who then settled Edward Baliol in the
kingdom, and a parliament being called at Perth, Edward was con-
firmed King, most of the nobility swearing allegiance to him, and
had most of the fortified towns and castles delivered to him, reward-
ing with lands and commands those who assisted him in recovering
the kingdom : he then used all means possible to get Robert Stewart
into his hands, being sensible of his right to the crown, next to
King David, but he being about fifteen years old, was conveyed to
Dunbarton castle, where he was joyfully received by Malcolm
Fleming, the captain thereof.

Next year, King Edward invaded Scotland by sea and land, but
no enemy daring to appear, he returned home, taking Edward
Baliol with him, and leaving David Cumin to be governor, who
undertook to rule both in the name of King Edward and Baliol, and
seized all the lands of Robert Stewart in Murray and Bucqnain ;
who, in revenge, got his friends together, and seized the castle of
Dunon, slaying all the English therein, and increasing in power,
reduced a great part of the country to the obedience of King David ;
after which, coming to Edinburgh, the earl of Murray and Robert
Stewart were chosen governors. This revolution recalled King E-dward
of England, who quickly marched thither with strong forces and' took
the town of St. Johnstons, which he fortified with bulwarks and
walls, and then went home again. Soon after, Robert Stewart be-
sieged it, and after a long siege had it delivered into his hands, as
likewise Edinburgh castle, by this contrivance : — William Douglas
persuaded one Walter Towers to provide a ship and to sail into the
Forth as a merchant with wine, and coming a-shore he brought two
tuns of wine with him, which he offered to sell to the captain of the
castle; the price was soon agreed on, and the wine to be brought
into the castle the next morning early. Towers comes accordingly
with his cart, and the gates being opened, as soon as entered in, he
plucked out a pin, contrived on purpose, upon which, the cart and
tuns fell down instantly in the passage, so that the gates could not
possibly be shut again. Towers then giving notice to Douglas and
his companions by the sound of a horn, they presently arrived,

KINGS OF SCOTLAxND. 121

and first killed the porters, and soon after, all the rest in the castle,
thereby becoming masters thereof. Other places were daily surren-
dered to them, so that in a short time all Scotland was recovered,
the English and all Baliols partakers with himself being compelled
to go back to England, where he made a full resignation of his right
to the kingdom to King Edward.

Next year, King David, his Queen, with divers Scotch and French
lords, arrived in Scotland in great triumph ; and soon after, the Scots
made divers inroads into England, carrying away rich booty, being
incited thereto by the French King, to withdraw King Edward from
Calais, which he then closely besieged. At length, David, with an
army of sixty thousand meji, marched into Northumberland, and
from thence to Durham, burning all before them, churches and
chapels as well as other places; against whom the Earl of Northum-
berland raised puissant forces, and a very great battle was fought;
wherein, the Scots were put to flight, though King David acted all
the parts of a gallant captain, till at length his weapons being struck
out of his hands, one John Copland came up and required him to
yield himself prisoner, who, before he would do it, he struck Cop-
land a blow with his gantlet that broke out two of his teeth. Many
lords were slain and taken prisoners in this bloody battle, with
abundance of common soldiers. After which, the English took
divers places; but the Scots at length recovering strength, chose
Robert Stewart again governor. This year the battle of Poictiers
was fought, wherein the French King John was taken prisoner, so
that Edward had now two Kings prisoners in England at one time.
After divers years King David was restored to his kingdom, paying
one hundred thousand marks for his ransom, and a truce was agreed
on for fourteen years to come. A parliament being called soon after,
the title of Robert Stewart to the crown was utterly revoked and
disannulled, he being charged with the loss at Durham Field, be-
cause he caused his men to retreat for their security, which dis-
ordered the whole army. John Sutherland, the son of Jane, David's
youngest sister, was then declared heir apparent, but he soon after
dying, Robert Stewart was again received into favour and his title
recognized to the crown. Then King David called a council of his
nobility, and acquainted them that he had promised to transfer the
crown of Scotland to the King of England's son, and his lawful
Jieirs, if his lords would agree to it : but thoy unanimously answered,
that as long as any of them was able to handle a sword, they would
never consent thereto; by which answer David thought himself fully

R

1S2 THE HISTORY OF THE

discharged, and soon after departed this life at Edinburgh castle, in
the thirty-ninth year of his reign, and 47th of his age, 1370. In
liis 17th year, many birds and beasts brought forth their young in
the winter, and not in the spring. Rats and mice were so numerous
as not to be destroyed, and great inundations happened, which did
much damage.

LX. Robert the Second, surnanied Stewart, was next advanced
to the throne, and crowned at Scone in the forty-seventh year of his
age, though opposed by the Earl of Douglas. But, for removing
all differences a marriage was concluded between Eufame, eldest
daughter to King- Robert and James, son to the Earl of Douglas :
thus the Stewarts first came to the crown ; whose successors happily
enjoy the sovereignty of Scotland, England, and Ireland, to this
very day. King Robert, before he was King, had two sons by his
wife Eufame, daughter to the Earl of Ross, named Walter and
David ; but before he was married to her he kept one Elizabeth
Mure instead of a wife, by whom he had likewise three sons, John,
Robert, and Alexander, and several daughters. Soon after his
Queen Eufame dying, he married Elizabeth Mure, his old mistress,
that the children he had by her might be made legitimate. And a
parliament being called, he procured that his eldest son John should
succeed to the crown, and his issue after him ; and in default, to his
sons Robert and Alexander ; and if they died without heirs, then
lis sons Walter and David, whom he had by his Queen Eufame, to
reign successively : to which act all the nobility were sworn.

About this time, divers skirmishes happened between the borderers
of England and Scotland, w ith various success ; and Berwick was
taken, but presently retaken from the Scots. In some of those the
Earl of Douglas and the Lord Piercy had notable encounters, as at
the siege of Newcastle, where above five hundred English were
slain, and above a thousand made prisoners ; and soon after, Richard
the Second, King of England, invaded Scotland with a great army,
under the Duke of Lancaster, and took Edinburgh, but saved it from
burning and plundering for a sum of money paid by the inhabitants,
and then returning home, the Scots entered Northumberland and
got a rich booty, and among other relicts, found a charter of land
given by King Athelstane of England, containing only these words:
" 1, King Athelstane, give to Paulan, Odiam, and Rodiam, all as
good and all as fair as ever they mine were, and thereto witness
Maud, my wife." Whereby the honesty and integrity of our an-
cestors appear, who thought these few words as good security as our

KINGS OF SCOTLAND.

125

volumes o{ writings and parchments. In this expedition, William
Douglas, lord of Galloway, gained much honour ; whereupon King
Robert gave him his daughter Giles, a lady of most admirable
beauty, in marriage. This William was a very stout man, of a
black swarthy complexion, and mighty stature and strength. The
Scots report, that with only eight hundred men he fought against
three thousand English, of whom he slew three hundred in the
field, and took five hundred prisoners. Another time the Scots got

RICHARD 11.

an advantage upon the English by this policy : — In the night several
country fellows having bags of leather like bladders, filled with
small stones, ran up and down the English camp ; the bags making
such a rattling noise as affrighted the English horses, who, breaking
tlieir bridles, fled away through the fields, the English not daring
to come out of their camps, doubting the sudden assault of their
enemies.

Charles the Sixth of France now sent to renew the ancient league
with King Robert, at which time, John Lyon, lord chancellor of

R 2

124 THE HISTORY OF THE

Scotland, was slain by the Earl of Crawford because he was so much
in favour with the King. After which, a truce was concluded with
Engfland, and Robert, by reason of extreme age, being seventy-five
years old, died, having reigned nineteen years, 1390. A prince,
commended for his justice, but not much for his valour, many great
actions being performed by his captains, few by himself; yet he had
this happiness, that ruling in turbulent times and over a martial
people, he met not with any domestic insurrections or rebellions.

LXI. John, his eldest son, succeeded; but because his name was
thought unfortunate in that age by the infelicities of the Kings of
France and England, he changed it to Robert, being the third of
that name. The truce with England prevented any quarrels on that
side, but yet furious dissentions happened among his own subjects,
one of which was very remarkable. Tliomas Dunbar, Earl of Mur-
ray, and James Lindsay, Earl of Crawford, finding that two clans,
or families of Irish Scots, were irreconcileable, they proposed that
thirty persons of each side should decide the difference ; which being
agreed to, they were to fight before the King, near St. Johnston's,
Avhich they did with such rage and fury that all were slain on one
side, except one person only, who, to save his life, leaped into the
river Tay, and by swimming over, escaped : eleven of the others
being likewise killed. When they first came into the field there was
one wanting of the number ; whereupon, a country fellow being
loth such notable sport should be spoiled, offered to supply the
place for half a French crown, though altogether unconcerned in
the matter.

A parliament being called, Robert made his eldest son David
Duke of Rothsay, and his brother Robert, who was Earl of Fife, and
governor of the realm during his father's indisposition, he created
Duke of Albany; they being the first who had the title of Dukes in
this kingdom. The next year the King contracted a marriage be-
tween the Duke ot Rothsay and the Earl of March's daughter; but
Douglas envying him this honour, by the assistance of the Duke of
Albany, caused a revocation of tliis marriage in council ; upon
Avhich, the Earl of March desiring satisfaction of the King, had a
very slight answer, which so enraged him, that he fled into England
to Henry Lord Piercy, called Hotspur, an utter enemy to the
Douglas's. Soon after. King Henry the Fourth entered Scotland
with an army, without doing any damage, giving rich gifts to the
abbies and monasteries, and only requiring the commanders of forts
and castles to hang out his banner and arms as he passed by. The

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 125

^ear after, Annibal Drummond, Queen of Scotland, died ; whereby
the Duke of Rothsay, who had been virtuously educated under her,
being now at liberty, fell into all manner of luxury and debauchery,
endeavouring to ravish and deHour women and virgins of all quali-
ties ; of which, complaint being made to his father, he ordered his
brother Robert to take him into custody and endeavour to reclaim
him ; who being glad of this office, having long designed to root out
his brother's family to make way for his own ambition, he seized
him and shut him up close in Falkland castle, designing to starve
him to death, which was yet awhile delayed by a poor woman's
putting in some oat cakes through a chink ; and after she was dis-
covered and murdered, another woman fed him with milk from her
own breasts through a long reed, who was also dispatched for her
charity, so that he was at length constrained to eat not only all the.
filthy things he could find in the castle, but likewise his own fingers
for mere hunger, and so at length miserably died.

The Earl of March and Piercy making several inroads into Scot-
land, the Earl of Douglas gathered all the flower of the nobility and
gentry to encounter them, which they did accordingly ; but the English
utterly discomfited them, killing and taking prisoners most of them;
among whom was the Earl of Douglas himself, Maudo Steward,
eldest son to Duke Robert, and divers others lords and gentlemen.
The Lord Piercy, elated with this victory, besieged Cockcave
Castle, but soon after he was accused for conspiring against King
Henry, and a battle was fought at Shrewsbury, wherein Earl Dou-
glas assisted Piercy, yet Henry remained victor, after the loss of
divers gallant commanders: the old Earl of Northumberland, father
to Piercy, hearing of his son's discomfiture, fled into Scotland for
security. At this time King Robert had an account of the murder
of his son by his brother, Duke Robert, which he had hitherto con-
cealed from him, and was much disquieted at it, charging Robert
therewith, who utterly denied it, and assured the King he would
bring out those who did it; accordingly he brought in some wicked
profligate fellows, and hired others of their gang to accuse them of
the fact, who being tried before corrupt judges of Robert's pro-
viding, they condemned and executed divers of them as guilty of
the death of the Duke of Rothsay, though they never saw him in
their lives.

Yet did not this clear the Duke of Albany from being suspected
of the murder; yea, the King himself was much unsatisfied, yet
durst not discover it, by reason of the power and policy of his bro^

126 THE HISTORY OF THE

ther, but rather doubted he would make away his second son James,
to prevent which he sent him to be educated in France, giving him
also a letter to the King of England, as if he had foreseen what
after happened, that if he should chance to fall into the hands of
the English, he might thereby procure favour from that King; they
were no sooner at sea, but were surprised by an English ship" who
lay in wait for the prince; others writ6 he desired to be landed
there, because he was sea-sick. Being brought to King Henry, he
delivered his father's letter, writ in the Scotch dialect, which sounded
thus in English.

" Robert, King of Scots, to Henry, King of England, greeting.
Thy great magnificence, humility, and justice are very apparent to
us by the government of thy last army in Scotland ; for though thou
didst seem as an enemy to make fearful incursions into our realm,
yet we have found that our subjects rather received benefit and
pleasure than damage thereby, especially those that received thy
noble father, the Duke of Laricastle, (for Lancaster,) when he was
an exile in Scotland, we cannot forbear therefore, as long as we
live, to love and respect thee as a most noble and worthy prince;
for though other nations contend together for honour, dominion, and
conquest, yet have we no occasion to invade or injure each other,
but rather to contend which of us shall exceed in kindness and
humanity one to another, neither shall we engage for or against any
but at thy pleasure ; and because we are no less solicitous for pre-
serving our children from certain deadly enemies, than thy noble
father sometime was, we are constrained to seek support from the
hands of other princes, for the world is so full of treachery and
malice, that there is no security in the faith of inferior people, since
the power of gold is such, that men will leave no cruelty nor villainy
unattempted to obtain the same; therefore, because we know thy
highness to be endued with many noble virtues, and of such puis-
sance and riches, that no prince at this day may be compared to thee,
we desire thy support and humanity at this time : we judge it is not
unknown to thy majesty, that our eldest son David is slain miserably
in prison by our brother, the Duke of Albany, who in our decrepit
age was chose to be governor of our subjects and realm ; we there-
fore beseech thy highness to be favourable to this bearer, James, our
second and only son, that he may have leave to live under thy faith
and justice, knowing the unstable condition of man's life is suddenly
altered, now flourishing and anon falling into utter consumption;
consider farther, that when kings and princes have no other defence

KIJNGS OF SCOTLAND. 127

but their own subjects, their government is weak and uncertain, for
the minds of the common people are more variable and inconstant
than the wind ; but when princes are corroborated by the amity of
other kings, their brethren and neighbours, no adversity can occur
to them, nor is there any danger of their being ejected out of their
royal dignities. If thy highness (which God forbid) should not
assent to our desires, we request you to remember one thing, that
in our last truce and conditions of peace it was ratified and agreed,
that the supplication made by any of the two Kings of England and
Scotland to the other should be in the nature of a safe conduct to
the bearer, and this we desire may be observed toward our beloved
son ; and the gracious God preserve thee, most noble prince."

These letters being openly read, after much deliberation it was
concluded that James, Prince of Scotland, should be detained as a
lawful prisoner, since several English rebels were sheltered in Scot-
land, to the displeasure of King Henry; yet was his captivity so
favourable that it proved his greatest happiness, being carefully
educated in all arts, sciences, and accomplishments which might
become a prince and a gentleman. The news hereof struck his father.
King Robert, into such grief, that he died soon after, in the sixteenth
year of his reign, 1408.

After the death of King Robert, his brother, the Duke of Albany,
was confirmed in his office of governor, and the Earl of March
was, by the solicitations of his friends, restored to his estate and
honour ; about which time one Donald of the Isles being denied in
a claim to the earldom of Ross, raised forces, which did much mis-
chief, against whom Alexander Stewart, Earl of Marr, gathered a
party, and a battle Avas fought, wherein Donald lost nine hundred,
and the Earl six hundred men ; upon which Donald submitted him-
self King Henry the Fifth succeeding his father in England, pro-
claimed war against France, and passing over, took young King
James with him, whom he required to persuade all the Scots in
service under the French to return to their own country, for which
he promised to remit his ransom, and send him with great riches and
honour into Scotland : to whom James replied, " I very much wonder
your highness doth not consider that I have no authority at all over
the Scots while 1 am under captivity, and have not yet received
the crown ; but if I were at liberty and were crowned according to
custom, and had received the oaths of fealty and obedience from my
subjects, I might then prevail somewhat in this matter, and should
act what was reasonable, but in the mean time I beseech your grace

128

THE HISTORY OF THE

to excuse me, and not desire that of me which I am by no means able

to perform."

him no more in that matter.

The King-, satisfied with his prudent answer, urged

HENRY V.

Robert, Duke of Albany, dying, after he had been governor
fifteen years, his son Mordo or Mordach Stewart, Earl of Fife and
Monteith, succeeded as governor, wherein he continued four years,
though very unfit for that office, being insolent in prosperity and
despairing in adversity ; and so indulgent over his sons Walter and
Alexander, that they committed many horrible outrages and mis-
chiefs ; at length Walter being angry that his father denied him a
falcon, he plucked the bird from his fist, and wrung off" her neck.
The father being moved at his presumption, " Well," said he,
" since I cannot rule you, I will bring home one ere long who shall
govern us both :" after which he used all means possible for redeeming
King James, which he did accordingly, his ransom being set at one
hundred thousand marks, one half was paid in hand, and the other

KINGS OF SCOTLAND.

129

discharged, in consideration that James married the Lady Jane,
daughter to the Duke of Somerset.

JAMES I.

LXIL James the First of that name being thus restored to his
liberty, was attended with many English grandees into Scotland,
where he was received with great rejoicing by his subjects. After
his coronation he called a parliament, wherein he took an account
of the managements of the chancellor, treasurer, and other officers
during the late governor's time, and found that most of the lands
and revenues of tlie crown were wasted and alienated ; upon which
a tax was levied of twelvepence in the pound upon all lands, and
fourpence upon every cow, ox, and horse for two years : this was
paid freely the first year, but the next the commons made such
heavy murmuring, that he forgave them the rest. Divers com-
plaints were made against Mordach, late governor, his wife and
sons, with several other peers for high misdemeanors before the
King's return ; whereupon they were committed to prison, with the
Earls of Douglas, Angus, March, and others, James Stewart, the

s

130 THE HISTORY OF THE

third son of Mordach, in revenge of his father's, mother's, and bre-
thren's imprisonment, burned the town of Dunbrittain, and there-
upon fled to Ireland, where he died: next year Duke Mordach,
with Walter and Alexander Stewart, his sons, were condemned in a
parliament at Sterling, and all three beheaded, whereby the earl-
doms of Fife, Monteith, and Lennox came into the King's hands ;
the rest of the imprisoned lords were soon after restored to liberty
and favour. Donald of the Isles at this time did much mischief^
but being pursued fled into Ireland, where he was beheaded by one
Odo, and his head sent to the King for a present, three hundred of
his followers were in ten days taken and hanged.

King James then made a progress through the kingdom to punish
offenders, allowing no pardon of the governors as being granted
for murders, felonies, and other villainies not pardonable by the
laws of God; so that in his first two years three thousand persons
were executed for their former crimes ; notwithstanding which severe
justice, one Agnus Duffe came with a crew of thieves and robbers,
and took away a great deal of goods out of Murray and Cathnes, to
recover which one Agnus Murray pursued him with strong forces,
who made such desperate resistance, that there remained only twelve
persons alive of both parties, which consisted of many hundreds.
Another notorious robber, called Macdonald Ross, was then taken,
with twelve of his comrades, who had shod a poor widow with
horse-shoes on the soles of her feet, because she threatened to dis-
cover their rogueries to the King, which, as soon as she was reco-
vered, she did, who ordered them to be shod as they had done by
her ; and when they had been three days led about a spectacle to the
people, his companions were hanged and he beheaded.

Next year the queen was delivered of two sons at one birth,
named Alexander and James ; the same year happened a dreadful
eclipse of the sun, so that for half an hour it was as dark as mid-
night, which was after called the black hour. Soon after the King
besieged the castle of Roxborough with two hundred thousand men,
but was forced to leave it still in the hands of the English ; the
Lord Scroop was now sent from Henry the Sixth to persuade the
tScots to relinquish their ancient league with France, and join with
England, which they would by no means hearken to : at this time
the Earl of March was imprisoned and disinherited for his former
rebellion against King Robert, and soon after Margaret, the eldest
daughter of King James, was married to Charles the Seventh of
France, and the former alliance confirmed; the lady was sent over in

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 131

great state, accompanied with five of her own sisters, and arrived
safely in France, though the English in vain endeavoured to seize
her in her passage. Henry Piercy, Earl of Northumberland, about
this time invaded Scotland with four thousand men, and was encoun-
tered by Douglas, Earl of Angus, where after a great slaughter the
Scots remained victors, with the death of fifteen hundred English,
and four hundred prisoners.

Hereupon King James raised a very great army, and again
besieged Roxborough, which when he had reduced to terms of sur-
render, the queen arrived in great haste in the camp, assuring the
King there was a dreadful conspiracy against his life ; whereupon
he instantly raised the siege to provide for his safety, but it was past
remedy, for Walter Stewart, Earl of Athol, was the principal con-
spirator, alleging that he was the true heir to the crown, being
descended from Robert the Second by his first wife, and thereupon
he procured Robert Stewart his nephew, and Robert Graham, an
outlawed wretch, to join with him in the destruction of the King;
who coming one evening with leave of the porters to the Black
Friars at Perth, where the King then lay, one of his servants
coming out to fetch wine observing them, cried " Treason!" but
they presently slew him, which caused so great a noise, that a
young lady, named Catherine Douglas, suspecting mischief, thrust
her arm in the staple of the door of the King's chamber, which they
soon crushed in sunder, and entering slew those that resisted, and
then murdered the King himself with many cruel and deadly wounds,
the Queen being hurt in attempting to save her lord, and Patrick
Dunbar, brother to the Earl of March, was slain in the valiant
defence of his master. Thus was King James murdered in the thir-
teenth year of his reign, and forty-fourth of his age, 1436.

The lords detesting this bloody assassination, used such diligence
in apprehending the traitors, that they were all seized and thus
executed : the Earl of Athol (who was chief, and likewise concerned
in the murder of the Duke of Rothsay aforementioned, and he that
persuaded the King to put Duke Mordach and his sons to death to
make way to the crown, which he designed by this treason) was
three days punished with exquisite tortures before he died ; on the
first he was stripped naked to his shirt, and often hoisted up by a
crane fastened in a cart, and then suddenly let down again, whereby
his bones were disjointed, in which posture he was carried through
the streets; the second day he was mounted upon a pillar, and

s 2

ISa THE HISTORY OF THE

crowned with a red hot diadem, with this motto, " The king of all
traitors;" and thus did he enjoy the crown before his death, as a
wizard had assured him ; the third day he was laid naked on a scaf-
fold, his belly ripped up, and his bowels taken out and burnt before
his eyes ; lastly, his head was cut off, which with his quarters were
fixed in several cities of the kingdom. His nephew, Robert Stewart,
was only hanged and quartered, as acting by the instigation of his
uncle; but because Robert Graham had imbrued his hands in the
King's blood, a gallows being fixed in a cart, he had his right hand
Dfiiled to it, and as he was dragged along the streets, his flesh was
torn off with burning pincers, his heart and bowels burnt, his head
and quarters sent to the townsmen to satisfy the rage of the
sorrowful and injured people. Being asked, during his torments,
how he dared stretch out his hand against his prince, he replied,
" That if he had heaven and hell in his choice, he dared leap out
of heaven and the contentments thereof into the burning flames of
hell;" an answer worthy of such an execrable traitor. In the reign
of this King a sow at Perth brought forth pigs with heads like dogs;
a cow had a calf with an head like a colt : before his death a blazing
star was seen, and a sword appeared gliding up and down the sk}',
to the wonder and terror of the people.

LXII. James the Second, of six years old, succeeded his father,
and by the universal consent of the three estates was crowned king :
during his nonage, Sir Alexander Levingston of Calandar was
chosen governor of the realm, and Sir William Creighton, lord
chancellor, had the government of the castle of Edinburgh and the
King's person ; differences arising between them soon after, occa-
sioned much mischief, one thwarting the orders made by the other ;
the Queen and the governor continued at Stirling, the King and
chancellor were in Edinburgh castle. Disorders increasing, the
Queen, to regulate them, went with a few attendants to Edinburgh,
and persuaded the governor to let her enter the castle to see the
King. Three days after, she pretended to go to church one morning
early, and having prevailed with her son to put himself into a
trunk, she conveyed him upon a sumpter horse to Sterling, where
he was joyfully received by the governor, who thereupon raised a
strong party, and besieged the chancellor in the castle, hut by the
mediation of friends an agreement was made. At this time James
Stewart, son to the Lord of Lorn, married the queen-mother, and
the Earl of Douglas died, leaving a son named William but four-

KINGS OF SCOTLAND.

133

teen years old, who by ill company grew very debauched and insolent,
coming to court attended with two thousand horse, many of them

being common thieves and robbers.

JAMES II.

This year the governor took the whole administration of affairs
into his hands, which so stomached the chancellor, that going one
morning with only twenty-four men to Stirling park, where the
King was hunting, and the governor absent, he persuaded him to
go with him to Edinburgh; at which the governor being enraged,
prepared for revenge, but by the procurement of the bishops they
were perfectly reconciled, and the King was to remain with the
chancellor; upon which they both consulted how to abate the dan-
gerous ambition of the young Earl of Douglas, and at length con-
cluded to invite him into Edinburgh castle with his brother David.
Being come they were entertained with all seeming kindness, but
in the midst of the banquet a bull's head was on a sudden brought
in and set before Douglas, which in those days was a certain sign of

13i THE HISTORY OF THE

sudden execution ; the Earl, daunted at this horrible sight, leaped
from the table to defend himself, but was seized by the guard, with
his brother David, and Malcolm Fleming, and all three instantly
beheaded at the castle gate. William, his uncle's son, succeeded
in the earldom, at which time the King, being thirteen years of age,
resolved to govern himself, which Douglas hearing, came to Stirling,
and offered him his service and assistance, who received him kindly,
pardoning all his misdemeanors, and taking him into such favour,
that Douglas in a short time procured the banishment of the governor
and chancellor, with all their friends from court; at which they
being incensed, raised forces, and other lords assisting each party,
a battle was fought, wherein about six hundred on both sides were
slain ; and a parliament being called, Sir Alexander Levingston and
William Creighton, and divers others, were impeached and con-
demned, some to lose their estates, and Robert and David Levingston
were beheaded.

King James was now married to the Duke of Guelderland's
daughter, and the next year the English invade Scotland, to requite
the many depredations made by the Scots upon the borders, and a
battle being fought, the English were vanquished with the loss of
three thousand men, and several lords made prisoners, the Scots
losing only six hundred ; soon after a truce was concluded for three
years : then Earl Douglas, with divers other lords and gentlemen,
went to Rome to the jubilee, in whose absence his enemies prevailed
so much against him that he was summoned to appear before the
King in forty days, and for not coming was put to the horn, and his
lands invaded and spoiled; but those in his castle making resistance,
it was taken and levelled to the ground, of which the Earl having
intelligence, returned, and making humble supplication to the King,
was restored to his favour, but endeavouring afterward to destroy
the chancellor as his principal enemy, he met with such opposition
that he was forced to fly out of Edinburgh ; yet combining with other
lords, he resolved upon revenge, of which the King having notice,
sent for him, and persuading him to renounce the confederation with
the Earl of Crawford and others, he answered him so insolently, that
the attendants about the King slew him on the place.

Douglas being thus dispatched, his brethren thereupon raised
open rebellion against the King, and being summoned to appear,
they set up papers on the church doors, with the seal of the
Douglases, wherein they charge the King for being a murderer,
bloodsucker, and a false and perjured person ; they then rob and

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 135

spoil the country, doing much mischief, and fighting with the King's
forces. Many were slain on both sides, but at length Douglas's
confederates forsaking him, he fled into England, and soon after
again invaded Scotland, but was discomfited, and again got back to
England, several of his companions, as the Earl of Ormond and
others, being beheaded. At this time the wars between the Houses
of Lancaster and York happened in England, and King Henry was
forced to fly into Scotland ; but when Edward the Fourth had settled
the crown upon his head, reinenibering how ready King James was
to support his adversaries, he ordered some of the borderers to make
inroads into Scotland, to prevent which King James marched into
England, and besieged Iloxborough castle, and being well skilled in
shooting, as he was standing near a piece of ordnance which he com-
manded to be discharged, it being overcharged, broke, and unfortu-
nately killed the King, (and hurt the Earl of Angus,) in the twenty-
fourth year of his reign, and the twenty-ninth of his age, 1460. The
day before liis death a blazing star appeared : the year before a person
who pretended to be an hermaphrodite, was buried alive for per-
sonating a woman, and yet performing the part of a man, in getting
her master's daughter with child : about M'hich time a certain thief
who lived privately in a den, with his wife and children, were all
burned alive, they having made it their practice for many years to
kill young people and eat them ; one girl only of a year old was
saved, and brought up at Dundee, who at twelve years of age
being found guilty of the same horrid crime, was condemned to the
same punishment, and when the people followed her in great mul-
titudes to execution, wondering at her unnatural villainy, she turned
toward them, and with a cruel countenance said, " Wliat do you
thus rail at me, as if I had done such an heinous act, contrary to the
nature of man ? 1 tell you that if you did but know how pleasant
the taste of man's flesh was, none of you all would forbear to eat it;"
and thus with an impenitent and stubborn mind she suffered deserved
death.

LXIV. James the Third, of seven years of age, succeeded his
father, and was presently carried to the siege of Roxborough by the
Queen his mother, a woman of an undaunted spirit, who instead of
unprofitable lamentations, encouraged the lords to prosecute the
siege, which they did with such vigour, that at length the castle was
taken and razed to the ground, and likewise the castle of Wark ;
after which the King returning to Edinburgh, was crowned, seven
regents being elected to govern him and the kingdom, till he should

136

THE HISTORY OF THE

come to age, of which the Queen and Bishop Kennedy were chief;
but the next year after she died, having lived somewhat dissolutely
after her husband's death, with Adam Hepburn, ^ married man,
whereby her fame was somewhat impaired.

JAMES III.

The King being now about twenty years old, married the Lady Mar-
garet, daughter to the King of Denmark and Norway, and the Isles of
Orkney, being twenty-eight, and of Shetland, eighteen, were agreed
to remain in the possession of the Kings of Scotland till her portion,
which was fifty thousand florins, should be paid. The Earl of Arran,
who was one of the commissioners sent to Denmark to bring over
the Queen, had some enemies at court, who in his absence provoked
the King against him, that he threatened to take off his head at his
return, of which his wife, who was the King's sister, giving him
notice while he was on ship-board. He sailed back with her to
Denmark, and from thence went to Italy, where he was murdered

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 137

by a gentleman, for endeavouring to debauch his wife. Donald,
Lord of the Isles, though he had served the King faithfully at the
siege of lloxborough, yet now returned to his old trade of piracy
and robbery ; but while an army was providing to suppress him,
news came that he with the principal of his confederates were by the
hand of heaven struck with madness and distraction, so that they
lost all their ships and booty in the sea. An inquisitor about this
time was sent from Rome to examine Patrick Graham, Archbishop
of Saint Andrew's, whose process against him being sent to the
pope, he pronounced him an heretic, schismatic, and accursed, con-
demning him to perpetual imprisonment, and according to the
temper of those times, this sentence was executed, he being de-
graded and imprisoned during his life. Now Alexander Duke of
Albany, brother to the King, was imprisoned in Edinburgh castle,
but making his escape, fled into France, where he was kindly enter-
tained ; soon after John Stewart, Earl of Marr, the King's younger
brother, was imprisoned and condemned for conspiring to bewitch
his brother to death, for which his veins were cut, and he bled to
death.

King James sent two heralds, by the instigation of the French
King, to King Edward of England, to dissuade him from assisting
the Duke of Burgundy against France, whom Edward would not
admit to audience till he had dispatched a fleet into Scotland, where
they took several ships, and burned the town of Blackness, for
which affront King James prepared an army to invade England, but
was forbid by the pope's legate, that all Christian princes might
unite against the Turks, upon which King James disbanded his
forces. The Duke of Albany coming out of France into England,
King Edward received him honourably, promising as some write, to
make him King of Scotland, and thereupon with thirty thousand
men, under the Duke of Gloucester, and a strong navy, he designed
to invade Scotland by sea and land. The King of Scots hearing of
their approach, raised all the strength possible, and marched to the
town of Lowder, where being encamped, the Earls of Angus,
Huntely, Lennox, Bucquain, the Lords Grey, Lisle, and others,
then in his army, entered his lodgings, charging him with several
misdemeanours, to the damage of the kingdom, especially hearkening
to the lewd counsels of persons of mean birth and quality, such as
Thomas Cockrain, whom from a mason he advanced to the earldom
of Marr; also for coining copper money, to the unspeakable damage

T

138 THE HISTORY OF THE

of the people, in causing great dearth and other mischiefs ; that he
would not hearken to the advice of his nobility, but neglecting his
lawful wife and queen, lived in adultery with an impudent strumpet
called Daysy ; that he had unjustly put his brother the Earl of Marr
to death, and banished his brother the Duke of Albany, and there-
fore they resolved the realm should be no longer disturbed by such
naughty persons.

Hereupon they hanged Thomas Cockrain, William Rogers, and
James Hominil, a tailor, over the bridge at Lowder, saving John
Ramsey, a youth of eighteen, at the King's earnest desire, and com-
mitting the King to Edinburgh castle, they concluded a truce with
the English, whereby the Duke of Albany was restored to his country,
estate, and honour ; and so the English returned home, having taken
the castle of Berwick in their march into Scotland. At length the
duke was persuaded by the Queen to set his brother at liberty,
without consent of the other lords, which they hearing of, fled every
one to his own estate, after which followed much slaughter in several
places by this difference between the King and his nobles. The
Duke of Albany suspecting that poison was given him in his drink
in the King's chamber, fled again from court to Dunbar castle, and
raising forces, was vanquished by the Kin^, and then embarked for
France. Edward the Fourth dying. King Richard usurped the
crown, who concluded a peace with Scotland for three years.

But the discontents of the people daily increasing, by reason of
mal-administration, and the King again entertaining mean fellows
into his council, who abused both nobility and commons, the Earls
of Angus, Argyle, and Lennox, the Lords Hale, Hume, Drum-
mond. Grey, and others, conspired to reform these disorders by
arms, and to take off the hateful name of rebellion as they thought,
they made James Duke of Rothsay the King's son and heir, captain
general, though against his will, protesting that they only designed
the removal of an evil King, not the destruction of monarchy or
their country, but rather the advancement and welfare thereof. The
King being informed of this formidable rebellion, was extremely
disturbed, and raised an army, but before he would use force, he
sent to his son and the lords to propose an agreement : he likewise
sent to the French and English Kings, and to the pope, to interpose
in the quarrel ; but the Scotch nobility and commons were so despe-
rately enraged, that they sent him word if he would resign his crown
and dignity they would treat with him, else not. The same answer

KINGS OF SCOTLAND.

139

%vas given to the English and French ambassadors, which so incensed
the King, that he resolved to meet and fight them, who were now
marching toward Stirling, with all their strength ; neither could the
King be persuaded to stay till the Earls of Huntley, Arrol, Aihol,
Crawford, Rothes, -Southerland, Cnthness and Marshall, with other
lords, came in with their forces, consisting of forty thousand men,
but presently joined battle with them at Banocksbourn, where after
a great carnage of a multitude, the King being vanquished, fled into
a mill, whither being followed and found, he was cruelly slain, and
barbarously left stark naked, in the twenty-ninth year of his reign,
1488.

JAMES IV.

LXV. James the Fourth was next advanced to the throne by the
nobility, (after they had thus slain their sovereign Lord and King)
being about sixteen years old, who was very penitent for being in
arms against his father, wearing an iron chain about his middle all
his life upon that account, proving a very pious, learned, liberal, and

T 2

140 THE HISTORY OF THE

just prince. After his coronation, the Earl of Lindsaj' and the Lord
Lisle, though in the field witli him at the slaughter of his fatliei-,
yet not finding things to their expectation, raised an army, causing
tlie late King's bloody shirt to be carried before them as a banner,
and marching toward Stirling against the young King, they were
overthrow n at ToUymoss, and divers of the principal slain. A par-
liament being called, a general pardon was granted by the King to
those that fought against his father, and those that aided his father
were suspended from bearing any public office for three years. It
was likewise declared, that the deatli of his father happened by his
own default, and that King James the Fourth and his adherents
were guiltless and innocent of ail slaughter then made, and clearly
acquitted from all fault or crime upon that occasion, the three estates
testifying the same with their hands and seals, with the King's great
seal annexed for confirming the same, which was shewed to the
Pope, the Kings of France, Spain, Denmark, and other confederates,
with whom the ancient amity and leagues were renewed. His two
brethren, the Duke of Rothsay and the Earl of Marr, the King
caused to be educated in all princely qualities. The pope sent him
a rose and sceptre of gold, desiring him to persevere in honour and
virtue as he had begun.

At this time, Henry the Seventh reigned in England, and Charles,
the French King, sent an embassy to Scotland, that there was some
probability of a breach betwixt England and France, desiring the
assistance of King James if it should happen, and informing him
that he had with him, Richard, Duke of York, second son to Edward
the Fourth, who had been preserved many years by the Duchess of
Burgundy, whom he would send into Scotland, desiring his assist-
ance to settle the crown of England upon him. Soon after, this
pretended duke, whose true name was Perkin Warbeck, arrived,
and King James, by reason of this French recommendation, enter-
tained him nobly, and married him to the Earl of Huntley's daugh-
ter, his near kinswoman ; and raising forces, invaded England,
hoping the English would quickly flock in to their new King; but
wasting Northumberland, and finding none regarded this young
pretender, he returned home again with a rich booty. At length,
by the mediation of the King of Spain, a truce was concluded be-
twixt both kingdoms for three years, and King Henry insisted to
have Perkin delivered up, but King James, though he was abused
by him, would not consent, only desired him to withdraw out of the

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 141

realm, winch he did into Flanders ; but making another attempt in
England, he was taken, with his wife, whom, lor her beauty, King
Henry thought a fitter match for an Emperor than a soldier, and
therefore used her honourably, she continuing with the queen, as
long as that King lived.

Shortly after a marriage was concluded between King James and
the Lady Margaret, daughter to King Henry, and then a peace to con-
tinue during both their lives. The next year the Queen was delivered
of a son, named James, and two years after King Henry the Seventh
departed this life, and his son, Henry the Eighth, succeeded, who
sent an honourable ambassage to King James ; about which time
the English took two Scotch ships, at which King James was much
offended, and required satisfaction, but received little; only King
Henry promised to send commissioners to the borders to adjust all
differences. The French King and the Duke of Guelderland per-
ceiving King Henry was resolved to make war with France, thej"
both sent ambassadors to King James for his assistance, who being
desirous of peace, sent to the King of England to persuade him to
unity, and offered to compound any differences between them, but
received a very slight answer. Soon after, commissioners met on
the borders, but could not agree; upon which, King James sent a
long letter to Henry, and received as long an answer, whereby
James perceived the English designed rather war than peace, and
therefore sent an herald to the borders to denounce open war; and
raising his forces, the Lord Hume first made an attempt upon some
English who had fetched a booty out of Scotland, following them
into Northumberland ; but an ambuscade of English suddenly issuing
out upon them, cut most of them off.

Meanwhile, the whole power of Scotland assembled, and King
James in the head of them, marched over the river Tweed into
England, against whom the Earl of Surrey, lieutenant of the north,
raised a puissant army, and at Flodden Field a bloody battle was
fought, which continued three hours, wherein above thirteen thou-
sand Scots were slain, with King James himself, and a midtitude of
noblemen and gentlemen, and not above two thousand English, so
that they obtained a complete victory. Thus died King James in
the twenty-fifth year of his reign, and the thirty-ninth of his age,
1512. A prince, who, for his politic and just government, de-
serves to be numbered amongst the most excellent of the Scotch
princes.

Ui?

THK HISTORY OF THE

JAMES V.

LXVI. James the Fifth, his son, a child of a year and five

months old, was by his mother (with the universal consent of the

scattered remnant of the nobility who escaped) crowned Kin^, the

Queen being chosen Recent during his minority, assisted by James

Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow, and the Earls of Huntley, Angus,

and Arran ; but variance happening among them, some of them sent

secretly to the Duke of Albany, the King's uncle, in France, to

come over and govern the realm, as being next heir to the crown

if the child should die without issue ; and a parliament being called,

he was confirmed governor. Soon after, the Queen was married to

Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus, and a truce was concluded with

England for three years. The Duke of Albany in a while arrived

from France, and was received with much triumph ; upon which,

the Earl of Angus and his brother were banished the realm. King

Henry was much displeased at Albany's advancement, knowing that

he would promote the French interest against his : he therefore sent

a herald to Scotland to require the Duke to depart, alleging it was

agreed by the French King at their last interview, that he should

not come into Scotland ; and further, that the King of England was

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 143

uncle to the King- of Scots, whom he was bound to protect and de-
fend ; and that it was not reasonable, since the duke was next heir
to the crown, that he should have the government of him, lest he
should be made away, as other young princes have been ; and that
it was very unjust for the Earl of Angus to be banished, whereby he
could not enjoy his wife, the sister of the King of England. The
herald had likewise in charge, that if the duke refused to depart the
^realm he should declare open war against him.

The duke replied, " That neither the King of France nor Eng-
land should hinder him from coming into his native country ;" and
as for the young King, he loved him as his sovereign lord, and
would defend him and the realm against all invaders, according to
his conscience, honour, and duty : that he had used all kind of
clemency toward the Earl of Angus, notwithstanding his ill deserts,
and principally upon the queen's account, whom he would always
honour as mother to his sovereign. This answer was no way pleasing
to King Henry, and divers mischiefs were committed between both
nations by sea and land. At this time the Emperor of Germany
coming into England, persuaded Henry to proclaim war against
France, whereupon both French and Scots were forbid the kingdom,
and their goods confiscated, they being conveyed away M'ith a white
cross sowed on their garments. Then the Earl of Shrewsbury in-
vaded Scotland, and the Duke of Albany raised a great army, to
march into England, but the nobility refused, alleging that the go-
vernor acted only for the interest of France ; and that since their
King was under age, it was enough for them to defend their own;
whereupon it was concluded, that they should only encamp upon the
borders and watch the motions of the English ; who, under the Earl
of Surrey, a while after, made an incursion into Scotland ; the Scots
repaying them in the same coin ; the poor people suffering much
damage on all sides.

The Duke of Albany, weary of thedissentions among the nobility,
took his leave and departed into France; upon which a peace was
concluded with England, and King James, some time after, married
Magdalen, daughter to the French King; but she dying within a
year, he married Mary of Lorrain, Duchess of Lon^uevil ; about
which time great divisions happened in the kingdom in opinions of
religion, which seemed to shake the state. Hereupon the King
calling a council of his ancient servants, some of whom began to peep
throuffh the clouds of those ijynorant times, the King demanded their

144 THE HISTORY OF THE

advice in the matter, and freedom being allowed, one spake to this
effect : —

" Sir, it is not the least blessings of jour government that the
meanest subject has liberty to declare liis judgment to his sovereign,
and if ever it were a time to deliver sound counsel it is now. Your
kingdom is divided with diversity of opinions; it were to be wished
that one true religion were embraced by all your subjects, since
differences therein are a punishment from God, for men's horrible
vices and roaring sins, and which many times occasion factions, wars,
and utter destruction to nations. But matters being in such great
disorder in your kingdom, and sectaries daily increasing, without
dissembling my thoughts to your majesty, tlic preservation of their
people being the supreme and principal law which God Almighty
hath enjoined to all princes, I think it more expedient to tolerate
both religions, than to suffer the common peat-e of your subjects to
be torn in pieces. If you condemn to death those that adhere to
the new doctrines for mere matters of faith, it will invite numbers
who were ignorant thereof, not only to favour their cause, but to
embrace their opinions, pity and commiseration opening the gates,
which spreads their doctrines and increaseth their numbers : if you
banish them, they are so many enemies abroad ready to invade and
trouble the peace of their native country : to take arms against them
is as dangerous; religion cannot be preached by arms, the first
Christians detested it, since it may produce hypocrites, not sincere
Christians. If it be an heresy, it is in the soul, upon which fire
and iron cannot work ; they must be overcome by spiritual arms ;
love the men, and pity their errors. Who can enforce a man to
believe or not believe what he pleases ? To ruin and extirpate them
is a weakening to the state, since no man is so mean or miserable,
but he is a member of the commonwealth. It is false and erroneous
that a kingdom cannot subsist which tolerateth two religions, since
a little time will contract acquaintance and familiarity; yea, they
will be intermixed in one city, family, and marriage bed. Why
may not two religions, I pray, be suffered in a state, till by some
sweet and gentle means they may be reduced ? Since, in the church
of Rome, which boasteth to be unity itself, there are almost infinite
sects and kinds of monks, differing in their laws, rules of govern-
ment, diet, apparel, opinions of perfection. The Roman empire
had not its extension by similitude in religion. The murders and
massacres committed upon pretence of religion, are far more exe-

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 145

crable and impious, than diversity of opinions with peace and quiet,
can be unjust, since those who flesh themselves, like famished lions,
in the blood of their neighbours, do as much as in them lies to sa-
crifice their souls to the devil, by not giving them time to repent of
their errors. That maxim of the churchmen, that it is more neces-
sary to destroy heretics than infidels, is designed more for the en-
larging of the sovereignty and dominion of the pope, than propa-
gating the Christian religion. Kingdoms and sovereignties should not
be governed by the laws and interest of priests and churchmen ; but,
for the public weal, which oft requires the tolerating some defects
and errors, it is the duty of all Christian princes to endeavour that
their subjects may observe all God's commandments ; yet when some
vice cannot be extirpate without ruin of the state, human judgment
thinks it better to suffer it, as fornication and the like. These men
are of the same nature as we, worship one God, believe the same
hoi}' records, aim at salvation, fear to offend God as well as we ;
they only find some abuses in our church, and require a reformation ;
and shall we for this pursue them with fire and sword, and root
them out of the earth? If they be out of the way, let us bring
them in ; if they be in darkness, let us give them light ; not kill,
banish, and burn those whom by love and sweetness we might
reduce and recal again. Let their opinions be heard and examined
before we condemn them ; which being holily and righteously done,
we shall find it is not our religions, but our private interests and
passions which trouble us and the state."

Yet the King followed not this counsel but inclined to the pre-
lates, who persuaded him, that if he suffered the people to question
points in religion, they would soon presume to make laws for the
government, and restrain the sovereign authority. In pursuance
hereof, all who differed from the Romish faith were proceeded
against with the utmost severity, which yet did but increase their
number. At this. King Henry fearing the designs of the Emperor
and French in conjunction with the pope against him, in revenge
for having renounced his supremacy, sent, desiring to meet King
James at York, and communicate with him about matters of public
advantage to both kingdoms, which James promised to do; but
afterward, by the persuasion of the cardinal and bishops, who
doubted his uncle would prevail with him to follow his example, in
throwing off the Romish yoke, he was dissuaded from it, though
the Laird of Grange made him so sensible of the danger of not
performing his promise, by creating an unnecessary war, that one

u

146 THE HISTORY OF THE

time he thus accosted the prelates, " Wherefore," said he, " did
my predecessors give so many lands and rents to the kirk ? Was it
to maintain hawks, hounds, and whores, for a number of idle priests?
The King of England burns, the King of Denmark beheads you, and
1 will stab you with this whinyard." However, when his passion was
over, their gold and golden promises of continual supplies in case of
war, prevailed upon him to put an affront upon King Henry, and
concluded not to meet him, who took it so heinously, that he re-
solved immediately to invade Scotland, publishing a large declara-
tion of the causes and motives thereunto, making great preparations
by sea and land; and at Solway Moss the Scotch nobility were so
discontented that one Oliver Sinclare, a person of mean birth, was
preferred before them to be lieutenant-general, that resolving not
to fight under such a commander, they suffered themselves willingly
to be overcome without resistance, without the loss of one man on
either side.

The King was not far off when this misfortune happened ; with
the grief of which, and his two only sons, who died in one day the
year before, he fell into a very deep melancholy. The Queen about
this time was delivered of a daughter, who only survived him : at
the news whereof, sighing a farewell to the world, " It will end as
it began ;" says he, " the crown came by a woman, and with a
woman it will go. Many miseries approach this poor kingdom :
King Henry will either take it by arms, or marriage." And five
days' after he yielded up the ghost ; the thirty-second year of his
reign, and thirty-third of his age, 1542.

LXVI. Mary, his only daughter, and a child of but seven days
old, succeeded her father, of which King Henry having notice,
proposed to the lords who were taken prisoners at Solway Moss,
that a marriage should be concluded between his son Edward and
their young Queen, promising them their liberty without ransom,
if they would promote the business, which they all solemnly en-
gaged to perform, and were instantly freed and sent home. Soon
after a parliament being called, ambassadors were sent to Henry to
confirm the same, and a peace was concluded for ten years by their
authority. The Earl of Arran was made governor of the realm,
who seemed to embrace the reformed religion, causing one Friar
William to preach against images and other popish ceremonies, and
the bible was translated and read in the English tongue ; and com-
mitted David Beaton, cardinal and Archbishop of St. Andrew'sj
prisoner, as being an earnest enemy to the Reformation.

KINGS OF SCOTLAND.

14T

MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS.

The French King suspecting that the ancient league with France
might be weakened by this alliance with England, sent Matthew,
Earl of Lennox, then in his service, into Scotland, requiring him
to procure the government of the kingdom, as due to him by right,
though now unjustly usurped by the Earl of Arran, directing letters
to divers Scotch lords of the French faction, to assist him therein.
Having delivered his message, he found the lords and governor very
much inclined to King Henry's interest, who sent assistance to them
against Lennox ; but being upon the borders, the cardinal so
managed his kinsman the Earl of Arran, that he revolted from the
King of England, and joined with the cardinal, the Queen Dowager,
and the French faction, at which the Earl of Lennox was so oftended,
that he renounced the French King's service, and joined with King
Henry, and raising an army, the King of England sent him strong
assistance, wherewith he burned Edinburgh, and took Leitb, with
several other places, discomfiting the Scotch forces in divers skir^

u 2

148 THE HISTORY OF THE

mishes, with the aid of Sir Ralph Evers, and other English com-
manders.

At this time Cardinal Beaton caused Mr. George Wisehart to be
burned at St. Andrew's for heresy, a man learned, an excellent
preacher, and well beloved by the people. Soon after the cardinal
being in his castle at St. Andrew's, several of his intimate acquaint-
ances, as Norman L. Lesly, L. Grange, and sixteen others, entered
the castle, and slew him in his bed, seizing upon all the ammunition
and rich furniture therein, and several other lords and gentlemen
joining with them, were received into the castle, Avhich they de-
fended against the governor. It is recorded, that the cardinal
leaning out of the castle window some days before, in great triumph,
^o see Mr. Wisehart burned, the martyr looking up toward him,
uttered this prophetical speech : — " He that in such state from that
high place now feeds his eyes with my torments, shall in few days
be hanged out of the same window with as much shame and ignominy
as he now leans there with pride ;" which soon after happened, for
when he was killed, the provost raising the town, came to the castle
gates, crying, " What have ye done with the lord cardinal ; where
is he ?" To whom they answered from within, " Return to your
houses, for he hath received his reward, and will trouble the world
no more :" but they cried, " We will never depart till we see him ;"
upon which he was hanged out of that very window to satisfy the
people he was dead. Those within the castle defended it eight
months ; but some forces being sent from France, they were com-
pelled to yield upon terms, only their lives saved, though most of
them were by the French sent to the gallies, and after redeemed by
their friends for great sums of money.

About this time Francis the French King died, and Henry the
Second succeeded. Henry the Eighth of England likewise died,
and left the crown to his son King Edward the Sixth, during whose
minority the Duke of Somerset was protector of the kingdom, who
sent to demand the consummating of the marriage with Queen Mary,
which being denied by the influence of French counsels, he raised a
strong army, and sent them to Scotland under the Earl of Warwick,
who obtained a very great victory, a multitude of Scots being killed,
and many prisoners taken, upon which divers strong forts and castles
were rendered to the English ; after this more aid were sent them
from France, wherewith they had divers successful skirmishes with
the English. The 3'oung Queen was likewise sent to France, where
she remained for some time, and was after married to Francis the

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 149

dauphin of France. Some time after a parliament was called by the
Queen Dowager, who was made regent of Scotland, wherein a
motion was made that common prayer should be read in the English
tongue, which was greatly opposed by the bishops, and thereupon
much disturbance happened. The Queen regent caused John Knox
and some others to be summoned before her, who not appearing,
were denounced rebels ; hereupon Knox persuaded some of the
nobility and burgesses to pull down images and altars in several
churches, and to suppress divers priories, which the Queen hearing
of, sent forces to suppress them under the Duke of Castleherault,
but upon meeting and discoursing with the Reformers, who were
the Earls of Argyle, Arran, L. Hamilton, and others, he joined
with them, and being assisted by Queen Elizabeth, several encounters
happened; but at length all matters were composed, and a peace
concluded between England and Scotland, about which time the
Queen regent departed this life.

The Earl of Lennox was now restored to his honour and estate,
and Francis the French King, husband to Queen Mary, dying, she
was now a widow, when taking a journey through Fife, she was
much pleased with Henry, Lord Darnley, eldest son to the Earl of
Lennox, a proper young gentleman, and quickly married him,
though the match was strongly opposed by the Earl of Murray and
Queen Elizabeth ; he was then proclaimed King at the market cross
of Edinburgh. Soon after the Duke of Castleherault, the Earls of
Argyle, Murray, and their accomplices, were summoned to appear
before the Queen and council in six days, which they refusing, were
put to the horn, and forces raised to pursue them, but they fled into
England, and entreated that Queen to interpose in their behalf;
but a parliamoHt being called, they were outlawed, whereupon their
friends in Scotland got an interest in the King, persuading him that
if he would restore Ihe banished lords and follow their counsel, they
would make him absolute King of Scotland, and that the Queen
should have little interest in the government ; to this he consented, and
going about eight o'clock one evening into the Queen's privy chamber,
attended by the Earl of Morton, the Lords Rnthen and Lindsey,
they told the Queen they would no longer suffer her to govern the
realm, and abuse them with the counsel of strangers, as she had
hitherto done, and seizing upon David Rizzio, an Italian, her
secretary, they immediately slew him, he crying out lamentably,
" Justitia, justitia," the King himself being present, and his dagger

150

THE HISTORY OF THE

found sticking in the body. The Queen was shut up in her chamber,
and a guard set upon her; the Earls of Huntley and Bothwel escaped
by a back window.

LORD DARNLEY.

Next day the banished lords came from Newcastle to Edinburgh,
and were joyfully received by the King and his party ; but the Queen
a while after having private conference with him, persuaded him to
forsake those lords, and go with her ; and then joining with Huntley
and Bothwel, orders were issued for raising forces, whereupon those
lords fled again to England, but upon Queen Mary's request, all
concerned in the murder were ordered to depart. At this time the
Queen was delivered of a son in Edinburgh castle, and immediate
notice thereof sent to Queen Elizabeth by Sir James Melvil, who
waited upon her at Greenwich : when she first heard the news by
Secretary Cecil, which he whispered in her ear as she was merrily
dancing after supper, on a sudden all her mirth was laid aside, and

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 151

retiring, she burst out into these expressions : — " The Queen of
Scots is mother of a fair son, and I am nothing but a barren stock ;"
yet the next day she seemed very jojful to the messenger, and sent
the Earl of Bedford to declare the Queen to be god-mother, the
King of France and the Duke of Savoy being god-fathers, and the
infant was christened James, in June, 1565. In January following,
the King came to Glasgow, where he fell sick, and removing thence
to Edinburgh, the Queen lodged at Holyrood House, but the King
in a house within the town, near the field, where soon after he one
night was barbarously murdered, the house being blown up, and his
dead body thrown into the orchard.

Earl Bothwel was vehemently suspected as the chief actor in the
murder, but it was so carried that he was not only cleared by an
assize or trial, but soon after married the Queen, Avhich caused greats
admiration in many. Some of the lords, enraged at Bothwel's so
sudden promotion, fly to arms, and designed to have surprized the
Queen and Bothwel ; but they having advertisement, got into the
castle of Dunbar, and raised what forces they could get together,
who meeting with those of the nobility, much bloodshed might have
happened, had not the French ambassador composed the diff'erence,
and Bothwel flying, the Queen delivered herself up to the discon-
tented lords, who took her with them to Edinburgh. Bothwel
escaped into Denmark, where he was made a prisoner, and soon
after died there. Several of the murderers were after taken and
executed, who all accused Bothwel as the chief instrument in the
horrid murder of the King.

LXVII. James the Sixth, not above two years old, was then
crowned King at Stirling, by commission from the queen his mother,
who resigned the government, and the Earl of Murray was chosen
regent during his minority, with power to associate seven others to
his assistance, the Duke of Castleherault, and the Earls of Lennox,
Argyle, Athol, Morton, Glencarn and Mar; and a parliament being
called, an act, among others, Avas made for abolishing the pope's
authority in Scotland. On Sunday, May 2 following, the queen at
supper-time escaped out of Lochleven, where she was kept by the
regent and the lords, and with the assistance of George Douglas
and others was conveyed to Hamilton castle, where she raised
forces. The regent upon the news got his friends together, and
within two miles of Glasgow a battle was fought, wherein the
queen's party were discomfited, fourteen of the name of Hamilton
being slain j three hundred were taken prisoners, and among them

152

THE HISTORY OF THE

several lords. The Queen perceiving from the place where she
stood the overthrow of her forces, withdrew into Galloway, and
from thence by sea to Workington in England, where she was stayed
by Sir Ralph Sadler, and conveyed to Carlisle ; after this all the
castles and garrisons of the Queen's friends Were surrendered to the
regent.

JAMES VI. OF SCOTLAND, and I. of ENGLAND.

In 1569 the Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland raised
a rebellion against Queen Elizabeth, and burned the Bible; but
being suppressed by the diligence of the Earl of Sussex, and other
gallant captains, they fled into Scotland; soon after, the regent
riding through Linlithgow, was shot to death with an harquebuz by
one James Hamilton. After this murder, the lords sent for the Earl
of Lennox out of England, who came to Edinburgh, accompanied
with several lords and gentlemen, and soon reduced the Earl of
Huntley and other lords that opposed him, and was by the parlia-
ment made regent of the kingdom ; after which the Queen's lords
again raised forces and fortified several places, but by the good
conduct of the regent they were defeated in several skirmishes ; but

KINGS OF SCOTLAND.

153

at length three hundred of them entering one morning early into
the reoent's house at Stirling, they seized him and mortally wounded
him with a pistol, though lie was soon after rescued by the garrison,
of which wound he quickly died, and the lords chose the Earl of
Mar regent in his stead, who in thirteen months after died, and the
Earl of Morton succeeded; at which time the Duke of Norfolk was
condemned and beheaded upon Tower-hill for high treason, being
charged, among other articles, for designing to marry the Queen of
Scots.

EARL OF MORTON.

Ten days after, commissioners were sent to Queen Mary, charg-
ing her for usurping the title and arms of England, and for con-

triving

to marry the Duke of Norfolk, to which she answered in

the negative. The Earl of Northumberland had wandered in the
woods of Scotland since his last rebellion, and was formerly secured
from being delivered up by Murray, but now Morton sells him to
the governor of Berwick, and he was soon after beheaded at York.
The realm was now divided between two factions, the King and the

154 THE HISTORY OF THE

reformers, and the Queen and her lords, who kept the castle of
Edinburgh, but by assistance from Enj^land the regent gained it :
now several differences arose in matters of religion, some of the
lords approving of reformed episcopacy, and others were for the
discipline of Geneva, which caused many hot contests, and the regent
being deposed, the King, about twelve years old, was crowned at
Edinburgh, and a parliament being called, several acts were made
^ concerning religion.

The Earl of Morton, late regent, is about this time accused for
the murder of the late King, which he confessed before he died,
excusing it, as being forced thereto by the disturbances of that time:
the fatal axe, called the maiden, which he had caused to be made by
a pattern at Halifax in Yorkshire, falling down between two posts,
was now the instrument of his own execution. The Earls of Mar
and Gowry, the Lords Lindsey, Boyd, with two abbots, and others,
seized the King at Ruthen, from which he soon after freed himself,
for being in Falkland, he desired to visit his uncle, the Earl of
March, at St. Andrew's, where taking a view of the castle, Colonel
Stewart, acquainted of the design, clapped to the gates, and shut
out the company, and the next day the Earls of Argyle, Marshal,
Montross, and Rothes, the King's friends, came thither to him, and
to prevent further mischiefs, the King pardoned all those factious
lords who had been his former keepers ; after which Earl Gowry,
for new treasonable practices, was condemned and executed ; the Earl
of Arran was now made lord chancellor, with great power annexed
thereto. In 1586, Mary, Queen of Scots, was brought to a trial at
Fotheringay castle in Northarpptonshire, before twenty-four com-
missioners, whose authority she disowned, as being a free princess ;
yet being charged that Babington, with her privity, designed the
'death of Queen Elizabeth, she was condemned and beheaded for
the same, notwithstanding the repeated mediation of several foreign
princes, and the unwearied endeavours of her son King James, who
threatened severe revenge for such an unparalleled act ; but domestic
quarrels and Queen Elizabeth's caresses at length diverted all those
thoughts. In 1588, the Spanish armada came against England,
upon whii-h the King was persuaded to take this opportunity against
Queen Elizabeth; but he told his lords he would not accept the
assistance of one mightier than himself to fight his cause, lest he
should become master of them all; which resolution much pleased
the Queen, as she signified to him by Sir R. Sidney. The defeat of
the Spanish fleet much disturbed the Catholics in Scotland ; Bothwel

KINGS OF SCOTLAND. 156

and Huntley take arms, but afterward submit to mercy: the King
then goes to Norway, and there marries Ann, Princess of Denmark,
and returning she was crowned with great triumph.

The Earl of Bothwel now endeavours to seize the King and court,
but the design miscarrying he flies, some of his company being
hanged next morning to appease the people. After this, the Earls
of Huntley and Murray quarrelling, Earl Murray was miserably
slain; Bothwel then contrives new designs, and seizes the King at
Holyrood House, and forces him to sign his pardon, to restore him
all formerly possessed by him, and to abandon the chancellor. Lord
Hume, Master of Glammis, and others; whereupon he grew so
insolent, that the King complains of him, and some of his lords
joining with him, he got out of his hands, and Bothwel is proclaimed
a rebel. In 1593, Prince Henry was born, who was solemnly bap-
tized in great state, Lyon, herald at arms, proclaiming his title thus,
Henry Frederick, Knight and Baronet of Renfrew, Lord of the
Isles, Earl of Carrick, Duke of Rothsay, Prince and Steward of
Scotland. Bothwel again raises a rebellion with the assistance of
the Popish lords, but being discomfited he flies into France, and
thence to Naples, where he died poor and miserable. Great disturb-
ance continues about church matters, and the seditious sermons of
some ministers cause dangerous tumults. In 1600, Earl Gowry,
son of him aforementioned, conspires against the King's life, but is
killed in the attempt. On Thursday, March 24, 1602, Queen Eli-
zabeth died at Richmond, declaring King James her successor; the
same day the lords assembling, proclaimed him King, as being
lineally descended from Margaret, eldest daughter to King Henry
the Seventh. They then sent letters to the King of their proceed-
ings, desiring his presence with all speed, as being now a body
without a head. The King hastens his journey, and comes to
Whitehall May 11, 1603, in the thirty-sixth year of his age, and so
long had he reigned in Scotland, and was joyfully received and
crowned King of England, thereby putting a period to those many
mischiefs and miseries which had been occasioned by division of both
kingdoms, which were now so happily united into one. The rest of
his reign is inserted in a late book, called England's Monarchs ; I
shall therefore repeat no part thereof, but conclude with this inge-
nious epitaph, written upon his death, winch happened in 16<^5, afTor
twenty-two years reign in England.

156 THE HISTORY, &c.

UPON KING JAMES THE SIXTH.

You that have eyes awake and weep,
For he whose waking caus'd jour sleep,
Is now himself asleep, and never
Will wake till he awake for ever.
Death's iron hand hath clos'd his eyes.
Which were at once three kingdoms' spies ;
Both to foresee and to prevent
Dangers as soon as they were meant.
That head (whose working brain alone
Wrought all men's quiet but his own)
Now lies at rest : oh ! let him have
That peace he purchas'd in his grave.
For if no Naboth all his reign
Was for his fruitful vineyard slain ;
If no Uriah lost his life
For having had too fair a wife,
Then let no Shimei's curses wound
His honour, or profane his ground.
Kings are as Gods; Oh! do not then
Rake in their graves to prove them men.
For 's daily toils and nightly watches,
For broken sleeps stolen by snatches,
For two fair kingdoms join'd in one :
For all he did, or meant t'have done,
Do this for him, write on his dust.
King James the peaceful and the just.

Sit Gloria Deo.

157

INDEX

Of Names of Persons.

Achaius, 36

Acho, 105

Adnian, 31

Agatha, 89

Agricola, 6

Aidan, Bishop, 21, S3

Albany, Duke of, 124, 137

Albian, 40

Alexander, 92

Alexander II. 102

Alexander III. 105

Alfred, 57, 58, 59, 60

Alpine, 44

Araberkeleth, 31

Androneus of Brittany, 12

Angus, Earl of, 129, 131, 142

Angusianus, 9

Ann, Queen, 155

Argadus, 7

Arran, Earl of, 136, 146

Arthur, King, 17, 21

Arthurnus, 23

Athelstane, 43, Q\, 63, 64

Athirco, 8

Athol, Earl of, 104, 108, 131

Aulaff, 62

Aurelius Arabrosius, 14, 17

Babington, 154

Baliol, John, 109, 110

Baliol, Edward, 118, 120

Bane, 91

Banquo, 81

Baston, 116

Beatrice, 62, 81

Beaton, Archbishop, 142, 146,

148
Bedford, Earl of, 151
Boadicia, 6
Boetius, 15

Bothwell, Earl of, 150, 154
Brenna, 45

Bruce, Robert, 108, 109, 117
Brudeus, 23, 30
Brudus, 46

Bucquain, Earl of, 104
Burgundy, Duke of, 137
Cadhard, 70
Cadwallo, 25
Caratake, 6
Carolus Magnus, 37
Carrick, Earl of, 108
Castleherault, Duke of, 149

158

INDEX.

Cassibilane, 4

Cathness, Earl of, 104

Cecil, Secretary, 150

Charles VII. oi' France, 130

Claudius, the Emperor, 6

Cockrain, Thomas, 137

Colman, 28, 38

Colme, St. 23, 25.

Conarus, 6

Congal, 13, 22

Con^al 111. 44

Conon, 26

Conranus, 17, 20

Constantine, 13, 75, 76, 77, 129

Constantiiie, (sonofCador) 21,

22
Constantine II. 56, 57, 62
Constantinus, 13
Copland, John, 121
Corbred, 6
Cormach, 60
Cratchlint, 9

Crawford, Earl of, 124, 134
Creighton, Sir W. 132, 134
Cressingham, Hugh, 112
Crinen, 81
Cruthlint, 74
Culene, 54
CuUen, 65, 68
Cumin, John, 111, 113
Cumin, David, 120
Cumin, Earl of Athol, 118
Cuthbert, St. 31
Dardan^ 6

Darnley, Lord, 149, 150
David, 92

David, King of Scotland, 118
Daysy, Mrs. 138
Dionethus, 10
Dodo, 81
Donald, 8, 26, 27, 61, 83, 91

Donald of the Isles, 9, 127, 130,

137
Donald, governor of Athol, 20
Donald II. 53
Dongal, 13, 58, 69
Dongal 11. 44
Dongard, 12
Donwald, 66
Dorstolorgus, 44
Dorus, 8

Douglas, Sir J. 117
Douglas, Archibald, 119, 142
Douglas, William, 120
Douglas, Earl of, 122, 125, 129,

133
Douglas, Catherine, 131
Douglas, George, 151
Drununond, Q. Annibal, 125
Drummond, Lord, 138
Drusken, 48
Duff, Agnus, 130
Duffe, 65

Dunbar, Patrick, 131
Duncan, 81
Ebba, 25
Edgar, 89, 91
Edmund, St. 57
Edmond, 65
Edmund Ironside, 89
Edward, King, 62
Edward the Confessor, 86, 89
Edward I. 109
Edward II. 115
Edward III. 117
Edward IV. 137
Edward VI. 148
Edwin, 27, 47
Eganus, 45
Elfred, 27
Elgerine, 65
Elizabeth, Queen, 149

INDEX.

169

Ella, 54, 57

Etheldred, S5, 57

Ethfin, 33

Ethodius, 7, 8

Ethus, 57

Etius, 12

Evan, 56

Evers, Sir Ralph, 148

Eufame, Queen, 122

Eugenius, 9, 10, 12

Eugenius II. 20, 22

Eugenius III. 24, 26

Eugenius 1 V^. SO

Eugenius V. 31

Eugenius VI. 32

Eugenius VII. 33

Ewjn, 4

Feredeth, 44

Ferquard, 26

Ferquard II. 28

Fergus, 4

Fergus II. 34

Fergusiana, 45

Fergusius, 9

Fethelmacus, 9

Fewella, 74, 76

Fiacre, 26

Fife, Earl of, 105, 128

Findock, 9

Fingomarc, 9

iFleance, 83

Fleming, Robert, 113

Fleming, Malcolm, 120, 134

Fynnan, 28

Galde, 6

Gallio, 10

Garnard, 31

Gathelus, 1

Germain, St. 18

Germany, Emperor of, 142

Getellus, 14

y2

Gilchrist, 98

Gloster, Earl of, 110

Gloucester, Duke of, 137

Godfrey, 62

Gormund, 61

Gothlois, 17

(iowry. Earl, 154

Graham, Robert, 131

Graham, Patrick, 137

Grainge, Laird of, 145

Gregory, 58, 62

Grey, Lord, 158

Grime, 75, 76, 78

Guallo, 102

Guelderland, Duke of, 134, 141

Guy amor, 21

Hale, Lord, 138

Hamilton, James, 152

Han wall, 63

Hastings, Henry, 109

Hay, 73

Hengist, 14, 17

Henry II. 95

Henry IV. 124

Henry V. 127

Henry VI. 130

Henry VII. 140

Henry VIII. 145

Henry, Prince of Wales, 153

Hepburn, Adam, 136

Hominil, 138

Horsus, 14

Hotspur, Henry, 124

Hubba, 56, 57, 58

Hume, Lord, 138, 141

Hungar, 56, 57

Huugns, 42

Huntingdon, Earl of, 98, 109

Huntley, Earl of, 150, 154

James I. 127, 129

James II. 132

160

INDEX.

James III. King^, 135

James IV. 139

James V. 142

James VI. 151, 152

Inulph, 64, 65

John, King, 100, 124

John, King of France, 121

Julius CtEsar, 4

Kennedy, Bishop, 136

Kenneth, 24, 46, 48, 71

Kynatel, 23

Lancaster, Duke of, 122

Lennox, Earl of, 147, 149, 152

Lermond, Thomas, 108

Levingston, Sir A. 132, 134

Levingston, Robert, 134

Levingston, David, 134

Lewis, King, 60

Lewis VI. 96

Lindsay, Earl of, 140

Lindsay, Lord, 149

Lisle, Lord, 140

Longuevil, Duchess of, 143

Lorison, 118

Loth, 17

Lugtak, 6, 88

Lyon, John, 123

Macbeth, 81

Macduff, 84

Macdonald, 36, 81

Malcolm, 62, 64, 77, 79, 83, 88,

95
Maldwin, 29
March, Earl of, 108, 118, 124,

129
Margaret, Queen, 108
Marr, Earl of, 118, 127, 137
Mary Stuart, Queen, 146-7
Maud, 93
Maximin, 10
Melvilj Sir James, 150

Merlin, 15

Metellanus, 5

Mogal, 6

Mordach, 32

Mordred, 21

Morean, 76

Morton, Earl of, 149, 153, 154

Mure, Eliz. 122

Murray, Earl of, 124, 151, 152

Murray, Anclrew, 118

Nathoiicus, 8

Norfolk, Duke of, 153

Northumberland, Earl of, 121,

131, 153
Occa, 15, 17
Ormond, Earl of, 135
Osbert, 54, 57
Osrike, 27
Palladius, 76
Pascentius, 17
Penda, 27
Percy, 91
Philip, King, 118
Piercy, Lord, 122
Ramsey, John, 1,38
Randal, Earl, 117, 118
Rhymer, Thomas, the, 108
Richard I. 100
Richard II. 122, 123
Richard III. 138
Riginan, 21
Rizzio, David, 149
Robert, King, II, 122
Rogers, William, 138
Romacus, 9
Ross, 104
Ross, Earl of, 122
Rothsay, Duke of, 124, 138
Roxana, 15
Ruthen, Lord, 149
Sadler, Sir Ralph, 152

INDEX.

161

Satrahel, 7

Savoy, Duke of, 151

Scotus, Johannes, 60

Scroop, Lord, ISO

Seaton, Alexander, 118

Seaton, William, 119

Seaton, Thomas, 119

Sidney, Sir R. 154

Sinclare, Oliver, 146

Sirick, 62

Solvathius, 35

Somerset, Duke of, 129, 148

Spontana, 32

Stephen, 93

Steward, 84, 116

Stewart, Walter, 120

Stewart, John, 120

Stewart, James, 120

Stewart, Robert, 120, 121, 131

Stewart, Colonel, 154

Surrey, Earl of, 141

Sutherland, John, 121

Swain, 79, 82

Synel, 81

Syward, 86

Syward, Thomas, 119

Toncet, 20

Towers, Walter, 120

Valdred, 24

Valentinian, 10

Victorinus, 10

Vortigern, 13, 17

Vortimer, 14

Uter Pendragon, 14, 17

Wallace, William, 112

Walter 90

Warbeck, Perkin, 140

Warwick, Earl of, 148

Wilfert, 63

William the Conqueror, 89

William Rufus, 90

William the Lion, 97

Wisehart, George, 148

i6i

INDEX

Of Names of 1^ laces.

Aberdeen, 109

Aleffan Castle, 70

Alington, CI

Anandale, 5S

Angus, 47

Anwick Castle, 91

Arg3^1e, 4, 7, 36

Arran, J 07

Athens, 60

Athol, 36

Bane River, 60

Bannocksbourn, 139

Bertha, 73

Bertha Castle, 96

Berwick, 43, 98, 102, 109,

119, 120
BirnamWood, 84
Blackness, 135
Bromingfield, 63^ 65
Bute, 107
Caledony, 47
Camelon, 31, 45, 50
Cantire, 36
Carlisle, 60, 102, 152
Carrick Castle, 115
Carron, 9
Cockcave Castle, 125

110,

Colmkill, 8, ;24, 28

Cumberland, 10

Dee, River, 59

Delbogin Castle, 74

Devil's Den, 57

Donkeld, 23

Dumfermling, 93

Dumfries, 114, 115

Dunbar, 110, 151

Dunbarton Castle, 120

Dundee, 74^, 99

Dune, 25

Dunon Castle, 120

Dunsinnan Castle, 84

Dunstafage, 6

Durham, 121

Durham Field, 93

Edinburgh, 51, 98, 111, 132,

133, 137, 147
Emol, 74
Falkirk, 112
Falkland, 154
Falkland Castle, 125
Fethercairn, 74
Fife, 56

Flodden Field, 141
Fores Castle, 67, 82

INDEX,

16^

Fotheringay Castle, 154

Gallowaj, 19, 29

Gareoth, 16

Geneva, 154

Glammis, 80

Glasgow, 151

Greenwich, 150

Halifax, 154

Haljdown Hill, 120

H umber, II, 61

Johnston's, St. 102, 118, 120,

124
Kendal, 7
Lanerick, 72, 109
Leith, 147
Linlithgow, 152
Lochleven Castle, 151
Lochnaaben, 113
Lochtay, 28
London, 95
Lorn, 36
Lowder, 138
Malmsbury, 61
Man, Isle of, 64
Mar, 16
Melross, 105
Montross, 72
Murrajland, 8, 56, 61, 66

Northumberland, 23

Orkney, Isles of, 6, 68, 107

Peblis, 105

Perth, 102, 109, 131, 132

Poictiers, 121

Richmond, 155

Ross, 56

Roxborough, 98

Roxborough Castle, 130, 131,

137
Scone, 57, 65, 68, 74, 77, 80,

88, 113
Shrewsbury, 125
Solway Moss, 146
Spey, River, 69
Stirling, 59, 98, 111, 130, 132,

133, 151
Stone HiU, 104
Tey, 32
Tollymoss, 140
Totness, 12
Wark Castle, 135
Western Isles, 90
Westmorland, 7
Workington, 152
York, 96, 105, 145
Yorkshire, 10

FINIS.

i'rinted by W. SMITH and Co. Klog-streef, Seven-dial*.

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