t 
 
 i 
 
 }
 
   
 
 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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