Weakness, it being no lefs Cruelty to Forgive all than to Spare none, but an Order and Dif cretion in Juftic, temper'd with Severity towards fome more than towards others, according to their Demerits. He was very fenfible of the Afflictions of fuch as were diftreffed, as witnefs the Counteffes of Dowglas and Roß. His Life having fet in the Orient of his Age and Hopes, he deferveth, in the Records of Memory and Fame, a Place amongst the Best but Unfortunate Princes.

He had Iffue of his Queen, James, who fucceeded, Alexander Duke of Albany, John Earl of Mar, Margaret Countess of Arran by the Boyd, and after Lady Hamilton; and Cecily, He was buried with all Funeral pomp, within the Monastery of Holy-rood-honse at Edinburgh.

THE

HISTORY

OF THE

Reign of JAMES the Third,

KING of SCOTLAND.

T

HE Queen having Tidings of the Difafter of her Husband, full of Grief and Cares, with her Son, came to the Army at Roxburgh; and the publick Lofs being revealed (for till then it was but whispered) with more than a Masculine Courage caufed give new and defperate Affaults to the Caftle;many Turrets being thaken, fome Gates broken, Parcels of Walls beaten down, the Mines ready in diverfe Quarters to fpring, the befieged ignorant of the Affailers Misfortune, and by the Diffenfion of their Countrie-men fallen from all Hopes of Relief, treat upon a Surrender. Conditions being obtained peacably to depart with their Lives and Goods, the Fortress is given up: And thortly after, that it fhould not be a Refidence of Oppreffion in following Times, is demolished and equal'd with the Ground.

Many of the Three Fftates being here affembled, the Times not fuiting with other Solemnities, at Kello the Peers of the Kingdom, in a Military Pomp, fet the Crown upon the Head of the King, then fome Seven Years old, and give him their Oath of Fidelity. At their coming to Edinburgh the Education and Governance of him and the other Children is committed to the Queen their Mother; The Credence of what could make for Peace at Home, or War abroad, is trufted to Andrew Stuart Lord Evandale, the Lord Kennedy, Earl of Orkney, the Lord Boyd Chancellor, the Lord Grahame, the Bifhops of St. Andrew's, Glasgow and Dunkeld. The Civil Wars increafing in England, the Governours of Scotland, under colour of preferving the bordering Countries, fent forth fome Companies, which upon Occafions made Roads into Northumberland, and threw down all the Fortreffes out of which Incurfions were wont to be made upon the Scotish Bounds, moft efpecially the Caftle of Wark: After which ravaging, the Winter recalled them home.

The milder Parts of the Kingdom reduced to Order, fome turbulent Chiefs of the Mountaineers taking the Occafion of the Non-age of the King, and of Rumors of Diffenfions amongst the Governours, effay to trouble the Peace of their far and wild Countries: Allan Macdougal of Nether-Lorn,throweth his eldest Brother in clofe Prifon,with Intention to rob him of his Life and Eftate; but he after is furprised by the Earl of Argile: Donald of the Iles taketh the Gaftle of Innerne, and placing there a Garifon, proclaimeth himfelf King of the Iles, compelling the neighbour Towns and fimpler fort of People to pay him Taxes. At the Rumor of this Infolence, all wicked Out-Laws refort unto him; by whofe Power he invadeth the Castle of Blair in Athole, out of which the Earl, the King's Uncle, with his Lady (once Countefs of Dowglas) Hy and take Sanctuary in the Church of St. Bride, where the Church about them being fet on Fire, they were irreligiously taken, and tranfported to the Ifland of Ila. Whilft the Governours were raising an Army, and advancing fuch Forces as were in Readiness against the A&tors, of thefe Mifchiefs, they were afcertained, that, as thefe Savages were lanching forth of that Ifland in their Wherries and fmall Veffels made of Boards and Wickers, by a violent Tempest from Heaven, the moft Part of them were dashed against the Rocks and drowned; and that those who had efcaped,were ftruck with a Pannick Fear, and deprived of their right Judgment and Understanding: An ordinary Accident to Men blinded with Superftition, and guilty of Murder and Sacrilege: Amidst which Distractions,the Earl Athole with his Lady,was fafely returned to his own: Castle.

MARGARET Queen of England, after the Second Overthrow,and Taking of her Husband at Northampton, with the Prince her Son, and the new Duke of Somerset, having fled to the Bishoprick of Durbam (whilst Richard Duke of York was establishing his Title and Right to L 2

the

the Crown at London) raised in the North, of Scots and English, a strong Army, which marched towards Tork; the Duke of York leaving the King in the Cuftody of the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Warwick, tho' he knew himself inferiour in Power and Number to his Enemies, by the Pride of his former Victories and the overweening of his Soldiers Valour,with Edmund Earl of Rutland his younger Son, the Earl of Salisbury and others, rencountreth her at Wakefield-Gecen, and here by his own Rafhnefs, with his Son young Rutland, he is killed. Pau

The Earl of Salisbury is taken, and with other Prifoners beheaded at Pomfret Cattle, their Heads were fixed upon Poles about the Walls of the City of Tork; that of the Duke's was mocked with a Paper Crown, and expofed to the barbarous Mirth of the Beholders. The Queen encouraged by this Victory, defiring to difannul all Acts made lately in Prejudice of her Hus band, marcheth couragiously towards London: In which time Edward Earl of March, Son to the late Duke of York, overthrew the Earls of Pembroke and Ormond, both of the Queen's Facti on: At Mortimer-Croß in her way to London, the Queen meeting the Earl of Warwick and the Duke of Norfolk at St. Albans (who carried King Henry her Husband along with them) overs threw them, and recovered the Perfon of her King. It is obferved that Victory always fled from where this King was prefent: The Citizens of London, at the Approach of the Queen's Army fearing Hoftility, fhut their Gates against her, and armed for Refiftance. At this time Edward Earl of March having joined his Victorious Army with the Remainder of the Earl of Warwick's, entred in Triumph the City of London, and with great Applaufe and Acclamations of the People, was proclaimed King. Queen Margaret and her Faction retiring to the North, wan fo the Hearts of that People, that they gathered an Army able to ftand for her Defence, confifting of Threefcore Thousand fighting Men. Edward Earl of March, choofing rather to provoke than expect his Enemies, advanced towards them; the Place of their Meeting was be tween Caxton and Tewton. In this Fight the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland, the Lords Beaumont and Dacres, Grey and Wells were flain, and above Thirty fix Thousand Englifb ftruck down: The Dukes of Somerfet and Exceter fly to Tork to carry the News to the unfortunate King, leaving the Victory to Edward who is again faluted King.

King Henry after this Overthrow, perceiving how defperate his Hopes were in his own Country, with his Queen, his Son, and the Remainder of his difperfed Friends, fecured himself by Flight into Scotland; James Kennedy Bishop of St. Andrew's, to whole Perfon the Authority of the State was then reduced, received him with Magnificence and Honour, and put him in Hopes, by the Affiftance of Scotland, to reftore his Fortune. King Henry, as well to referve fome Re fuge and Sanctuary for himself,as to win the Hearts,and infinuate himself into the Favour of the People of Scotland, caufed render the Town of Berwick to them, which the English had violently poffeffed fince the Days of Edw. I, For which Favour the Scotti Nobility vowed at all Times to come to his Supply, and defend him to their uttermoft: And that the Friendthip begun might continue without all Vacillation, the Queens of Scotland and England, both defcended of the French Race, began to treat of an Alliance, promifing Edward Prince of Wales fhould be married with the Lady Margaret, the King of Scotland's Silter, none of them then having attained the Years of Marriage.

The Miferics of King Henry increafing, fuffered not thefe Two Queens to ftay long together Margaret with her Son Edward, to implore the Aid of her Friends, maketh a Voyage towards France to her Father Reny King of Sicily, Naples and Jerufalem, Duke of Anjou, a Prince large of Titles, fhort of Power. Thefe who had followed King Henry into Scotland, while he is left only intentive to Devotion in the Cloyfter of the Gray-Friers at Edinburgh, return back again to folicit their Friends in England for a Second encounter. Upon the Arrival of Queen Margaret in France, the obtaineth of her Coufin Lewis XI. that those who favoured and affifted the Duke of York, were prohibited Traffick, and commanded to remove out of the French Dominions, and that Five Hundred Soldiers fhould come to her Aid; a Number fo fmall and fo unworthy the Name of an Army, that it was but a competent Retinue for fo great a Princess. With thefe the came to the Coaft of Scotland, and from thence failed to Tinmouth, where being repulfed by the Inhabitants, and forced again to put to Sea, fhe was by a furious Tempeft driven to Berwick,

Here leaving the Prince her Son, Edward, with the Increase and Supply of fome Scots, taking the King her Husband with her, the advanced into the Bishoprick of Durham: In her March through Northumberland, her Army increased to a great Number; the Duke of Somerfer, Sir Ralph Percy, and divers of King Henry's Well-wishers having reforted unto her. King Edward, finding King Henry by the fresh Air of the North to have acquired new Spirits, prepareth to oppofe him, and having fent down the Lord Montague, Brother to the Earl ofWarwick, he himfelf with greater Forces fhortly followed: Montague having through the Shires where he went, and the Bishoprick of Durham, gathered a convenient Army, marched directly againft King Henry. In the mean Time Henry Beaufort Duke of Somerfer, the Lords Hungerford, Rofs,Mou lines, Sir Ralph Percy, prefent themselves to hinder his furthers Progrefsil they are over:thrown, and King Henry with great Difficulty efcapeth to Berwick. At the News of this Over

throw,

throw, King Edward, being in his March towards Durham, finding the Prefence of his Perfon, or Army needlefs, turned towards Tork, and gave the Earl of Warwick Command to take in all the Caftles and Fortreffes which as yet held good for King Henry in the North.

Amongst the Garrifons, placed in Northumberland by the Queen, there was a Garrison of the French in the Caftle of Anwick, under the Command of Peter Bruce, otherwife named le Seigneur de la Varoune Seneschal of Normandy, which held long good against the English. This Peter Bruce was in great Account with Charles VII, Father to Lewis XI, and for this was not much liked of Lewis, but fent over with Queen Margaret to make Wrack upon apparent Dangers. Having escaped Tempests at Sea, he took the Caftles of Bambrough and DunStanbrough, which he demolished. After he effayed to keep the Castle of Anwick; but the Earl of Warwick, King Edward lying near to Durham, there beleaguered him: Whether this Man came from the Race of the Bruces of Scotland, or no, is uncertain; for the vulgar Writers in this detract him, naming him Bryce and a Bretone, or that the Scots would give a proof of their friendship to the Queen of England, and of their Valour to the French; whilft he is every where befet, and near past Hope of Relief, the Earl of Angus, then Warden of the Marches, railed a Power of Twenty Three Thoufand Men and approached the Borders, out of which Number he made Choice of Five Thousand Horfe-men, remarkable for their Valour. Thefe, about the Midft of the Day, coming near the Caftle of Anwick, and by their Colours and Arms being known afar to Captain Bruce, he taketh a Refolution to fally out and meet them; the strongest of the Scottish Horsemen receiving them, convoy them fafely to their Borders; fome of the Befiegers would have fought in the Purfuit, but the English General gave them fair Paffage.

King Edward having taken all the Castles and Forts which in the North held out against him, placing Garrifons in them, returned to London: As King Henry, void both of Counfel and Courage, came back to Edinburgh. Here he had not long ftayed, when tired with the Tedioufnels of his Exile, the prolonging of a wretched Life being more grievous to him than Death it felf, and allured by falfe Hopes of his Friends, he refolveth to hazard upon a Return to his own Kingdom; his Crown loff, all his Favourers and Well-wishers almoft flaughtered, he cometh into England; then difguifed, and by Night-journeys fhifting from Place to Place, at laft betrayed by fome of his Servants, he is found out. It is recorded that a Son of Sir Edward Talbot's apprehended him as he fat at Dinner at Wadding-Town-ball, and like a common Malefactor,with his Legs under the Horfe's Belly, guarded him up towards London. By the Way the Earl of Warwick met him, who led him Prifoner to the Tower. Margaret his defolate Queen with her Son is driven once again to fly to their Father Reny into France.

King Edward, his Competitors being all dead or fuppreffed, finding a Ceffation of Arms expedient, and a breathing Time from War; to fettle and make fure his new Government, as to other his Neighbour Princes for Peace, fo fendeth Ambaffadors to Scotland, to treat for a Truce for fome Years.

The Earl of Argile,Bishop of Glasgow, Abbot of Holy-rood-boufe, Sir Alexander Boyd,and Sir William Cranston, being chofen to this Effect Commiffioners, come to Tork, and the English Commiffioners there attending them,a Truce for Fifteen Years is agreed upon, and folemnly by both Kings after confirmed.

Mary Queen of Scotland, Daughter to Arnold Duke of Guelders, and Mother to King James, the projected Marriage of her Daughter with Edward Prince of Wales, by the Miseries of King Henry and Queen Margaret her Kinfwoman proving defperate; her Son Alexander, either as he went to the Low Countries to fee his Grandfather, or returned from him, being by the English taken upon the Seas; limited in Credence of governing her Children by the Infolence of a proud Nobility, and her Reputation branded,after a long Languishing with inward Difcontentments, turned, as it were reclufe, and began to bid farewel to this World. Her Melancholy growing incurable, amidst her laft Trances,when her Son had come to vifit her, fhe is faid to have spoken to him almost to this Sense.

"That Providence which brought me upon the Earth, and fet a Crown on my Head, doth now recal and remove me to a better Kingdom; and my Happiness is not in this little, "that I leave this Life without Change of that Eftate in which I peaceably lived. Death now fheweth me as in a Mirrour the Frailty of all Worldly Pomp and Glory, which before by the marble Colours of falfe Greatnefs was overfhadowed and covered from me. My "Griefs have been many, few my Contentments; the most eminent of which was the Hopes I conceived of you and my other Children: And now my greatest Regret is, that I leave CC you before I could fee my Wishes accomplished towards you. My only Care was to have you brought up in all Vertue, and Goodness: But Heaven fhall befrow that Charge to more prudent Governours: However take thefe Motherly Directions from me, who can leave you no better Legacy. Be earneft to obferve thefe Commandments which are prefcribed unto you by Religion, for this fupporteth the Scepters of Princes: And a Religious King canno M

" but