rit gave Growth and Augmentation; That Honours wept over fitch bafe Men who had not "deferved them, and the stately Frames of ancient Houfes upbraided with Reproaches the flenff der Merits of thofe new Up-tarts who enjoyed them; That he began to look downwards into every fordid Way of enriching himself, That his Privadoes abuled him in every Thing, but in nothing more than in making him believe, what was plotting against them, was a65 gain his Perfon and Authority; and that it was not them his Brothers and the Nobility Sfought to pull down, but his Sovereignty.

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His Counfellors, Servants, and fuch who loved him, having long bufied their Wits to fave their Mafter's Reputation,and that no Shadow of his Weaknefs fhould appear to the Common People, understanding by whom thefe Rumours were first spread abroad, and obferving many of the Nobility and Gentry to favour the Proceedings of his Brothers, not daring difclofe themfelves to the King what their Sufpicions made them fear would come to pafs, knowing him naturally Superftitious, and an Admirer and Believer of Divinations, fuborn an aged Woman, one Morning as he went a Hunting,to approach him, and tell, fhe had by Divination, That be bould beware of bis nearest Kinfmen; that from them his Ruine was likely to come. This was

no, 1901 fooner told when the Woman was fhifted, and fome who were upon the Plot began to comment the Prophefy of his Brothers. A Profeffor of Phyfick, for his Skill of Divination brought from Germany, and promoted to fome Church-benefice, about that fame time told the King, That in Scotland a Lyon fhould be devoured by his Whelps. William Schevez, then Archbishop of St. Andrew's, by way of Aftrological, Predictions, put him in a fear of imminent Dangers from his Kindred, though truly he had his Knowledge by Geomancy and good Informarions upon Earth, by the Intelligence between the Nobility and Church-men.

Many fuch like Afperfions being laid upon the King, the People cried out, that he had only for his Fellow-companions Aftrologers and Sooth-fayers, whom,as Occafion ferved, he preferred ro Church-benefices and Bishopricks. Patrick Graham, then Prifoner in Dunfermling, a Man defolate and forgotten, as if there had not been fuch a Man in the World, taking the Opportunity of the Rumours of the Time, fent a Letter to the King, which contained

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"That the Mifery of his Imprifonment was not fo grievous unto him as the fad Reports which he heard of his Majefty's Eftate; he was hardly brought to believe them, but by his "long Detention and Imprifonment, he was affured his great Enemy was in great Credit with him. That he had brought the King very low in making him jealous of his Brothers, by giving Truft to his vain Divinations; and no wonder thefe Arts bring forth Diffentions, which "have their Precepts from the Father of Lyes and Difcord. To foment Difcord among Bro"thers, was reproachful to Religion, and outragious to Policy; to feek to know Things to come by the Stars, was great Ignorance, and that Oracles leave a Man in a Wilderness of Folly. "That there was no other Difference betwixt Necromancy and Aftrology, faving that in the one, Men run voluntarily to the Devil, and in the other ignorantly. Humanity attains not the Secrets above; and if it did, it is not wife enough to divert the Wisdom of Heaven, "which is not to be refifted, but fubmitted unto; That never any had Recourfe to thefe Arts, but they had fatal Ends; That Almighty Providence permitting that to befal them out of his Juftice of Neceffity, which before the Oracle was fought, was fcarce Contingent; That "he fhould reft upon the Almighty's Providence, and then all Things would fucceed well "with him, whofe Favours would waft him out of the Surges of Uncertainties.

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After this free opening of his Mind, Patrick Graham was removed out of Dunfermling to the Caffle of Loch-levin (a Place renowned long after by the Imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scotland) where in a fhort time he left the Miferiés of this World.

The People now throughly deceived and incenfed against their King, the most audacious of the Nobility had brought his Brothers on the Way of taking the Government to themselves, their Power being able to perform what their Ambition projected; and the Murmuring of the People feeming to applaud any Infurrections. The Earl of Mar, young and rafh, purblind in forefceing the Events of Things, is ftirred up to begin the Tragedy; fome of the Nobility of his Faction being prefent, with more Liberty than Wisdom, he broke out in menacing and undecent Speeches, as, That bis Brother did wrong to Majefty in keeping near him, and being fo familiar with fuch contemptible Fellows, as thefe of his Bed-chamber and Officers; withal railing against the Government of the State and Court. The King paffionately refenting his Words, caufed remove him from his Prefence and he perfevering in his Railing, was committed to the Caftle of Craigmillar, where furmifing that he was in a Prifon,his Anger turned into a Rage, his Rage kindled a Fever, and his Fever advanced to a Phrenfy. This Sickness increafing, that he might be more near to the Court and his Friends,in the Night he is tranfported to the Canon's Gate in Edinburgh. The King compaffionate of his Difeafe, fendeth his Phyficians to attend him; they, to restore his Understanding, which was molefted, open fome Veins of his Head and Arms, in which Time, whether by his own Disorder and Mifgoverment in his Sicknefs, the Bands being loofed

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loofed which tyed the lancing or, that they took too great a Quantity of Blood from him, he fainted, and after fwooning, died unawares amongst the Hands of his best Friends and Servants. These who hated the King, gave out that he was taken away by his Command,and fome Writers have recorded the fame, but no fuch Faith fhould be given unto them, as to William Elphinfton Bishop of Aberdeen, who was living in that Time, and whofe Records we have followed, who for his Place could not but know, and for his Profeffion would not but deliver the very Truth. Certain Witches and Sorcerers being taken and examined, and convicted of Sorcery at this Time, and being fuborned, they confeffed that the Earl of Mar had dealt with them in Prejudice of the King, and to have him taken away by Incantation. For the King's Image being framed in Wax, and with many Spels and Incantations baptized, and fet unto a Fire, they perfwaded themselves the King's Perfon fhould fall away as that Image confumed by the Fire; and by the Death of the King, the Brothers fhould reach the Government of the State with fuch Vanities was the common People amused.

Alexander Duke of Albany imputing the Death of his Brother to the Favourites of the King, and avouching them to have been the Occafion of his Diftraction, stirred the Nobility and People to revenge fo foul a Deed. But whilft he keeps private Meetings with them of his Faction in the Night to facilitate their Enterprise, betrayed by fome of his Followers, he is furpri fed, and imprifoned in the Caftle of Edinburgh. Out of which, about the appointed Time of his Tryal, by the killing of his Keeper he escaped, and in a Ship which to that Effect was hired, failing to the Caftle of Dumbar, of which he had the keeping, he paffed to France. After the Efcape of the Duke of Albany, the Lord Evandale Chancellor of the Kingdom, railing the Power of the nearest Shires beleaugered the Castle of Dumbar: The Befieged unprovided of Victuals, as Men expecting no fuch Alterations, betake themselves in fimall Boats to the Sea, and came fafe towards the Coafts of England. The Castle having none to defend it, is taken; fome Gentlemen in Purfuit of the flying Souldiers, by their own Rafhnefs perished.

The Kings of Scotland and England toffed along with civil Troubles, and affecting Peace with all their Neighbours, by an equal and mutual Confent of Thoughts, fend at one Time Ambafladors to one another, who firft conclude a Peace between the Two Nations; and that Pofterity might be Partakers of this Accord, contract afterwards an Alliance between the Two Kings. It was agreed, that the Princefs Cecilia youngest Daughter to King Edward, fhould marry with James Duke of Rothfay, when they came to Years of Difcretion. A Motion heard with great Accep tance; but it was thought by fome familiar with King Edward, and in his moft inward Councils, that really he never intended this Marriage, and that this Negociation aimed only to temporize with Scotland, in Cafe that Lewis of France fhould ftir up an Invafion of England by the King of Scotland. King Lewis at this Time had fent one Doctor Ireland a Sorbonift, to move King James to trouble the Kingdom of England, and to give over the projected Marriage; which when King Edward understood, knowing what a Distance was between Things promiled and performed, to oblige King James, and ty him more ftrongly to the Bargain, that this Marriage might have more Sway, he caused for the prefent Maintenance of the Prince, and as it were a Part of the Dowry of Lady Cecilia, deliver certain Sums of Money to King James. Notwithstanding which Benevolence, the witty Lewis wrought fo with the Scottish Nobility, that King James fent Ambaffadors to the King of England, entreating him not to affift the Duke of Burgundy his Brother in Law against King Lewis, which if he refused to do,the Nobility of Scotland, who were now turned infolent, would conftrain him by Reason of the ancient League between the French and the Scots, to affift the French.

The Duke of Albany, during his Abode in France, had married a Daughter of the Earl of Bullogne (fhe was his Second Wife, his first having been a Daughter of the Earl of Orkney, a Lady of great Parentage and many Friends) who inceffantly importuned King Lewis to aid the Duke for the recovery of his Inheritance and Places in the State of Scotland, out of which he was kept by the evil Counsellors of his Brother. Lewis minding to make good ufe of his Brother,and under-hand increafing Difcords and Jealoufies between him and the King of England, flighting his Suits,told him, He could not justify his taking of Arms to fettle a Subject in his Inberitance; That Princes ought to be wrought upon by Perfwafion, not Violence, and he should not trouble a King otherways than by Prayers and Petitions, which he would be earnest to perform. Upon this Refufal the Duke of Albany (having buryed his Dutchefs) troubled with new Thoughts, came to England. King Edward with accuftomed Courtefies receiving him, giveth him Hopes of Affiftance, entring often in Communication with him how to divert the Kingdom of Scotland from the Invafion of his Dominions at the Defire of the French, the Agents and Traffickers of Lewis lying ftill in Scotland, and daily bribing and foliciting the Scots Nobility to oblige the English to ftay at Home. The Duke freely, and in the worft Senfe revealed the Weakness of his Kingdom, "That his King was opinionative, and had "nothing of a Prince in him but the Name: His ungoverned Spirit difdained to liften to the temperate Counsel of foher Men, obeying only his own Judgment. Such who govern'd under "him, were mean Persons and of no Account, Great only by his Favour and endowed with

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little Virtue; who ruling as they lifted, and excluding all others, mide Ufe of his Authority for their own Profit and Advantage. The Nobility were Malecontents, "and affected a Change in the Government which might be cafily brought to pais by the Affiftance of King Edward. If he would help to raise fome civil Broils and Diffention "in the Nation it felf, he needed not to be in Fear that they could or would trouble his Coun try by any Invafion. The King hearing the Duke manifelt what he most affected, approving his Judgment, promised him all Neceffaries, and what he could defire to accomplish the Defign: And he undertaketh by fome fair Way to traffick with the Nobility of Scotland for an Alteration of the prefent Form of Government. After a Dangerous Intelligence, the Lords of Scotland, who under the fhadow of the publick Good, but really out of their Difdain and particular Interefts,confpired against the King, fent the Duke Word, The Golden Age could not be fram'd, nor Arms taken for the Good of the Common-wealth, nor the State alter'd, without the fequeftring of thofe from the King who mifgovern'd him. And thefe could not be remov'd by that Power which was amongst themselves, without great Danger and Trouble, confidering the King's Faction and the Malignant Party. If King Edward would agree to the railing of an Army in England, in Favour of the Duke of Albany, and for reftoring him to his Places and Inheritance, out of which he was most unjustly ejected: And other Pretences, of which they tc fhould afford the Occafions which no way fhould do Harm to the Kingdom of Scotland,diforder'd already, and laid wafte, more by the Licence of a Tyrant in Peace, then it could have been by War; and at this Time, beftow upon them Favours, as they might one Day hereafter હૈદ challenge to receive the like;the Nobility of Scotland fhould be ready with another Army,not to Fight,but to feife upon the King's Favourites, and Mifgovernours of the State: For which the English fhould have many Thanks. That thisEnterprize could not but prove most fuccesful, the Hatred of the Commons confidered against fuch violent Oppreffions. The King was fallen into fo low Efteem, that affaulted by the English, he would be conftrain'd by the Sub"miffion of his Crown to intreat for Safety. The King of England, understanding this was to touch the finest String of State and Dominion (for it is a Matter of much Confequence and main Importance to defend the Subjects of another Prince; for under this Mask and Pretence of protecting the Liberties of a People, of Affiftance and Aid, an Ufurpation and Oppreffion of all Liberty might be hidden; and many have established and fettled themselves in those Kingdoms, which they came to relieve from Tyranny, and the Oppreffion of their Rulers, keep ing by Force what was granted to them at firft by way of Truft, and under the Colour of Helping, ulurped a Sovereignty;) agreeth easily to what was demanded and refolved upon.

The Lords of the Affociation to play more covertly their Game, and mask their Intentions (the Commons ever fuffering and paying for the Faults and Errors of the great Ques) give way for the breaking loose of the Borderers. Fierce Incurfions by the English are made upon Scotland, and by the Scots upon England; fome Villages on either Side are burnt. The Secrecy to this Bufinefs, which was inviolably obferved, was of great Importance, which is the principal Knot and Tye of great Affairs. Rumours are fpred, that the Dukes of Glocester and Albany; with James late Earl of Dowglas, and Alexander Ferdan and Patrick Halyburton, Men profcrib'd, and upon whofe Heads a Price was fet, were at Anwick with a powerful Army, and in their March towards Kelfo. The King awaked out of his Trances by the Alarms of his Nobility and Clamours of the People, maketh Proclamations to all between Sixty Years and Six

teen to meet him at Edinburgh,and to be in Readiness to oppofe their old Eears and Six

now come upon the Borders.

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After many Delays and much loytering, an Army is affembled by the Nobility, which confifted of and a Number of Carts charged with fmall Ordinance. New Incurfions being blazed to have been made by the English, the King amidst thefe Troops marched to Lawder. The Army was encamped,and all Things ordered the best Way the Occafion could fuffer them, little or nothing being left to Fortune, if the English fhould invade, whom the Lords knew were not at all yet gathered, and though gathered, and in à Body, and upon the Borders, or nearer, would never invade them.

The King at this time is marvelloully perplexed, and become fufpicious of the Intentions of his Nobility in this Army: In this Confufion of Thoughts, he fell upon Two Extreams! In his Demeanor and Converfation too familiar and inward with his old Domestick Servants and Favourites, which rendred them infolent (belieying the bare Name of King to be fufficient, whilft Weakness and Simplicity had made him defpifed, and them hated) and too retired, referved, and eftranged from his Nobility, which made them malicious.

This he did, as his Penfiveneis conjectured, that his Nobles should not attempt any Thing to the Prejudice of his Royal Authority, independent of any Council. But what he most feared came to pafshe refolved and dispatched all Matters by his Cabinet-Council where the Surveyor of his Buildings was better acquainted with the Affairs of the State than the graveft of his Nobility. This prepofterous Courfe of Favour made the great Men of the Kingdom to fall head long upon their rafh, tho' long projected, Attempt. After many private Conferences in their Påvilions,

vilions, the Chiefs of the Infurrection, as the Earls of Angus, Lennox, Huntley, the Lords Gray, Lile and others, about Midnight come together in the Church of Lawder, with many Barons and Gentlemen. Here every one of them urging the Neceffity of the Times, and the Dangers the Common-wealth was like to fall into, requireth fpeedy Refolutions; and having before preme ditated, deliberated and concluded what to follow, they draw up a League and Confederation of mutual Adherence in this Order.

"Forafmuch as the King fuffereth himself to be governed by mean Perfons, and Men of no "Account, to the Contempt of the Nobility, and his beft Subjects, and to the great Lofs of the "Commons: The Confederates confidering the imminent Dangers of the Kingdom, fhall en"deavour to feparate the King's Majefty from thefe naughty Upftarts,who abuse his Name and "Authority, and defpife all good Men; and havae aCre that the Common-wealth receive no "Dammage. And in this Quarrel they shall all stand mutually every one to the Defence of "another.

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The Plot agreed upon, and the Confederacy fworn, the Chiefs of them in Arms enter the King's Pavilion, where,after they had challenged him of many Disorders in his Government, contrary to his Honour, the Laws and Good of his Kingdom, they took Sir William Rogers, a Man,from a Mufician, promoted to be a Knight, James Hommil, Robert Cochran, who of a Surveyor of his Works was made Earl of Mar, or as fome mitigate that Title, Intromittor with, and Taker of the Rents of that Earldom, by whofe Device (fome Authors have alledged) Copper-money had been coined, by which a Dearth was brought amongst the Commons; which (as others have recorded) was an unjuft Imputation, for that Copper-money was coined in the Minority of the King,in the Time of the Government of the Boyds, with others. All thefe being convicted by the Clamours of the Army, were immediately hanged upon the River Lidder. John Ramsay a Youth of Eighteen Years of Age, by the Intreaties, Prayers and Embraces of the King was preferved. Thus they,the late Objects of Envy, were turn'd and become the Objects of Pity and Compaffion. The Body of the Commons and the Gentry of the Kingdom,by this notorious Act at Lawder, being engaged, and being made Partakers of the Quarrel of the difcontented Noblemen, and for their own Safety tyed to fecond and affift all their Intentions, and to advance their Ends, the King is conveyed to Edinburgh, and fhortly after he either inclosed himself in the Maiden Caftle, as his Lodging, or, which is more probable, was there, by the contrary Fa&tion committed as into his Prifon, the Earl of Athole, and fome other Lords being appointed

to attend him.

During this Time, the general Humour of the Kingdom being ripe for Mischief, Alexander Duke of Albany (every Thing falling right as it was plotted) prevailed fo with King Edward that the Duke of Glocefter, the King of England's Brother, with the Title of Lieutenant-General for him, fet forwards toward Scotland. The Army confifted of Two and Twenty Thoufand and Five Hundred. In his Retinue there went of the Nobility, Henry Earl of Northumberland, Thomas Lord Stanely, and with them was the Duke of Albany. The Earl of Dowglas came not, being referved for an After-game. The Duke of Albany having been before Commander of Berwick, and a Man who was still in his Abfence beloved of that Garrifon, diverted the Duke of Glocefter from Anwick, where he had incamped in June, to affail the Town of Berwick. By his Intelligence they enter the Town without great Oppofition, and it is given up to their Difcretion. The Caftle by the Lord Hailes,then Captain, was made good against their Affaults. The Duke of Glocefter forefeeing that this Siege would fpend much Time, confidering the Uncertainty of Events, and being invited to march forward by the Lords of the Affociation of Scotland, committing the Charge of affailing the Caftle to the Lord Stanely, Sir John Elrington, and Sir William Parr, with the Body of the Army marched directly to Edinburgh.

The Country lay open to their Invafion, and no Army taking the Field to oppose them, they came into Scotland the Twentieth Day of August 1482. The Army encamped at Reftalrig, the Duke himself entered the Town of Edinburgh, which at the Intreaty of the Duke of Albany, who was his Harbinger, he fpar'd, receiving fuch Prefents as the Citizens offer'd unto him: His Entry feeming rather a Triumph than hoftile Invafion. The King being fhut up from him and immured in the Castle, the Duke by a publick Writing at the Market Places gave out high Demands; "That King James fhould perform what he had covenanted with his Brother King "Edward, that he fhould give Satisfaction for the Dammage done the English, during the laft "Inroads of the Borderers, which if he refufed to accomplish,he as Lieutenant to his Brother, was to exact of him, and take Satisfaction of his Country, denouncing open War, and proclaiming "all Hoftility against him. King James forfaken of his People, and wrong'd by his Lords, laying afide his Paffions, and taking to him more moderate and difcreet Thoughts, as a Man in Prifon, anfwered nothing to his Demands.

The Lords, who by their King's Misfortune had reckoned their Felicity, having obtain'd what they chiefly defir'd, to obviate the common and laft Danger, the Thraldom of their King

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dom by these Strangers whom they had drawn into the Country for the Recovery of their Liberties, affemble themselves together at Hadington with fome Companies, not to fight but to fupplicate. They fent the Lord Darnley and the elected Bishop of Murray, to intreat a Sufpenfion of Arms, and require a firm and lafting Peace for the Time to come. "The beginning "of the War, and taking of Arms was for the Safety of this the Neighbour Country of Eng "land, miferably thral'd by a licentious Prince: There was nothing more unworthy of a. King or Republick, than not to keep their promis'd Faith. The English could have no Co"lour for executing their Indignation further upon this Country, which already by the Rapine of their own Men was impoverish'd and unmanur'd: Only now to be recovered by "entertaining Peace with their Neighbours, and amongst themselves. They require" That the "Marriage contracted between the Prince of Rothfay and Lady Cecilia King Edward's Daughter "might be accomplish'd, when it fhould please the King of England, and the Age of the Two Princes might fuffer it. For any Spoil taken in thefe laft Incurfions, the Intereft confider'd upon both Sides, Satisfaction fhould be given out of the publick Contributions. The Duke of Glocefter, as forgetting and feeming not to know the Grounds of their coming into the Country, and looking to nothing more than his own Fame and Glory, Aufwer'd, "His com❝ing into Scotland, was to right the Honour of his Country fo often violated; and to reftore "the Duke of Albany, unjustly commanded to Exile, to his own native Soil, and the Digni❝ty of his Birth. As concerning the Marriage of the Prince of Scotland with the Daughter of « England, he knew not how his Brother's Refolution stood at the prefent; whereupon he re«quir'd Repayment of the Money's lent to their King upon the firft Agreement; and withal a «Delivery of the Caftle of Berwick up into his Hands: Or if they could not make the Caftle <to be render'd, they fhould give their Oaths upon the Holy Evangelifts, that they fhould "neither affift the Befieged, nor harm the Befiegers, till the Castle were either by Force taken, " or upon fair Conditions rendred.

The Lords having received this Anfwer, yielded freely to all the Conditions, except that they found themfelves perplexed in the rendring of Berwick; it being a Town of old appertain ing to the Crown of Scotland: Though by Force and Violence the English had a long Time kept it, that did not take away their Right and Title. After much contelting, agreeing to the furrender of Berwick, they delired that the Walls of the Town fhould be demolished, that it might not be a Place of Tyranny and Incurfion over their bordering Countries: No Arguments could prevail against the Duke of Glocefter's Refolutions, and being ftronger in Power, he perfever'd in his Demands,and in.all Likelihood this was agreed upon between the Duke of Albany and the Confederate Lords, and the English, before their entring Scotland. Thus the Castle and Town of Berwick returned to the English the 24. of August 1482. after it had been delivered by Queen Margaret,to gain Sanctuary for her Husband King Henry, (when expelled England) and remained in the Poffeffion of the Scots Twenty and One Years.

They likewife appointed a Day for Reftitution of all the Money, lent by King Edward, and promifed upon a full Difcuffion to make Satisfaction for all Dammages done the English by any In-road of the Scottish Borderers. For the Duke of Albany's Provifion, whofe Safety was principally pretended in this Expedition, a general Pardon was promifed for him and all his Followers, together with an Abolition of all Difcontents: Whereby he had given unto him the Cattle of Dumbar,with the Earldoms of Mar and March; he should be reinvefted in all his former Dignities and Places, and by Confent of the Nobility of Scotland, he was proclaim'd Lieutenant of the Kingdom.

The Pe being proclaimed, the Duke of Glocefter in all Solemnity of Greatnefs returned towards London, being welcomed by the King with many Demonftrations of great Joy. He to fhow how much he approved the Conditions of this Peace, went folemnly in Proceffion from St. Steven's Chappel, now the Parliament Houfe, accompanied with the Queen his Sifter, and a mighty Retinue of the greatest Lords into Westminster Hall. Where in Prefence of the Earl of Angus, the Lord Gray, and Sir James Liddale, Ambaffadors extraordinary from Scotland, the Peace was ratifyed. At the Return of the Scots Ambaffadors to their Country, King Edward fent an Herauld with them, who in his Master's Name gave over the Marriage contracted between the Lady Cecilia and the Prince of Rothfay, and required the Money,which had been delivered upon Hopes of Confummation, to his King.The Citizens of Edinburgh had given their Bond for the Rede livery, and a Day being granted to them for the Payment, they at the appointed Day intirely delivered the Sum. Some thought King Edward recalled this Marriage of a Sufpicion he conceived, that the Ambition of the Duke of Albany,and the Hatred of the Subjects against their King, amidst the manifold Distractions of the Realm, might hazard the Succeffion of the Prince of Rothfay to the Crown. But King Edward having gained what he had endeavoured moft to ac quire, a Divifion amongst the Nobles of Scotland, and by this a Security from their Affifting the French, rejected the Match. Befides the Duke of Glocefter, who, after his coming into Scotland, was laying the Foundations of ufurping the Crown of England, his Brother once dead, thought the Alliance of his Brother's Daughter with a King of Scotland, tooftrong a Support to that Race

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