Chapter III: Appendix (3)

"AT BERWICK, the twentie sevin day of Februare, the year of our Lord God J^m V^c fyftie and nyne yeris. It is appointed and finallie contracted betwix the noble and mychtie Prince, THOMAS DUKE OF NORTHFOLKE, Erlle Marschell of England, and lievtennent to the Quenis most excellent Majestie of the said realme, in the name and behalf of hir Hienes, on the one pairte, and the rycht honorable Lord James Stewart,[116] Patrik Lord Ruthven, Sir Jhone Maxweill of Terreglis knycht, William Maitland of Lethingtoun younger, Jhone Wischarte of Pittarrow, and Maister Henry Balnaves of Halhill, in the name and behalf of the noble and mychtie Prince, James Duke of Chasteaularault, second persone of the realme of Scotland, and the remanent Lordis[117] of his parte, joyned with him in this cause, for the mainteanance and defence of the ancient rychtes and liberteis of thair countrey, on the other parte, in Forme as heireafter followeth: That is to say, That the Quenis Majestie, having sufficientlie understanded, alsweill by information sent from the Nobilitie of Scotland, as by the [manifest] proceadings of the Frenche, that thei intend to conqueir the realme of Scotland, suppress the liberties thairof, and unite the same unto the Croune of France perpetuallie, contrarie to the Lawis of the same Realme, and to the pactis, aithes, and promisses of France; and being thairto most humblie and earnestlie requyred by the said Nobilitie, for and in name of the hole Realme, shall accept[118] the said Realme of Scotland, the said Duke of Chasteaularault being declared by Act of Parliament in Scotland to be heyre appearand to the Croun thairof, and the Nobilitie and Subjectis thairof, unto her Majesties protection and meantenance, onlie for preservatioun of the same in thair auld fredomes and liberties, and frome conquest during the tyme that the mariage shall continue betwix the Queen of Scottis and the Frenche King, and ane yeare efter: and for expelling out of the samin realme of suche as presentlie and appearandlie goeth about to practise the said conqueist; hir Majestie shall with all speid send unto Scotland a convenient aide of men of warr, on horse and foote, to joyne with the poware of Scottis men, with artelzearie, munitioun, and all uther instrumentes of warr meitt for the purpoise, alsweill by sea as by land, nott onlye to expell the present poware of Frenche within that realme, oppressing the same, bot also to stopp, als far as convenientlie may be, all greater forces of Frenche to enter thairin for the lyke purpose; and shall continue hir Majesties aide to the said realme, Nobilitie, and Subjectis of the same, unto the tyme the Frenche (being ennemyes to the said realme) be utterlie expelled hence; And shall never transact, compone, nor aggrie with the Frenche, nor conclude any leigue with thame, except the Scottis and the Frenche shalbe aggreit, that the Realme of Scotland may be left in dew fredome by the Frenche; Nor shall leave the maintenance of the said Nobilitie and Subjectis, quhairby thei mycht fall as ane pray unto thair ennemeis handis, alse lang as thei shall acknowlege their Soveraine Lady and Quene, and shall indure thameselfis to mainteine the libertie of thair country, and the estait of the Croun of Scotland: And if in caise any fortis or strenthis within the realme be wonne out of the handis of the Frenche at this present, or at any tyme heareafter, by hir Majesties aide, the same shalbe immediatlie demolished by the Scottis men, or delyvered to the said Duck and his partie foirsaid, at thair optioun and choise; neather shall the power of England fortifie within the ground of Scotland, being out of the boundis of England, but be the advyse of the said Duck, Nobilitie, and Estaites of Scotland.

[116] Knox's amanuensis here introduces, as a parenthetical
explanation, "NOW ERLE OF MURAY," a clear proof of this portion of the
MS. having been transcribed before 1570. These words, also copied in
MS. G, are omitted in Vautr. edit.

[117] In Rymer, &c., "the remanent of the rest of the Lordis."

[118] In MS. 1566, "except."

"For the quhilkis causses, and in respect of hir Majesties most gentle clemencie and liberalle supporte, the said Duck, and all the Nobillitie, alsweill suche as be now joyned, as suche as shall heireafter joyne with him for defence of the libertie of that Realme, shall, to the utermaist of thair powar, aide and supporte hir Majestie's arme aganis the Frenche, and thair partaikaris, with horse men, and foote men, and with victuallis, by land and by sea, and with all maner of uther ayde to the best of thair powar, and so shall continue during the tyme that hir Majesties armye shall remaine in Scotland.

_Item_, Thei shalbe ennemyes to all such Scottis men and Frenche, as shall in anywyse shaw thame selfis ennemyes to the realme of Ingland, for the aiding and supporting the said Duck and Nobilitie, to the delyverie of the Realme of Scotland frome conqueist.

_Item_, Thei shall never assent nor permitt, that the Realme of Scotland shalbe conquered, or utherwyse knett to the Croun of France, then it is at this present only by mariage of the Quene thair Soveraine to the Frenche King, and by the lawes and liberties of the Realme, as it aucht to be.

_Item_, In caise the Frenche men shall, at any tyme heirafter, invaid, or caus to be invaded, the realme of England thei shall fournishe the nomber of twa thousand horsmen and twa thousand[119] footmen, at the least, or suche parte of ather of thame, at the choise of the Quenes Majestie of England; and shall conduct the same to pas frome the Bordaris of Scotland nixt Ingland, upon hir Majesties charges, to anie pairte upoune the realme of England, for the defence of the same. And in caise the invasioun be upon the northe partes of England, on the northe parte of the water of Tyne, towardis Scotland, or against Berwick, on the north syd of the water of Tweid, thei shall convent and gather thair haill forces upon thair awin charges, and shall joyne with the Ingliss poware, and shall contenew in goode and earnest prosecutioun of the quarrell of England, during the space of thretty dayis, or so muche langer as thei ware accustumed to tarye in the feildis for defence of Scotland, at the commandiment of thair Soverane, at any tyme bypast.

[119] In MS. 1566, "ane thousand;" MS. G. has "200 horsemen and 1000
foot."

And also, the Erlle of Argyle, Lord Justice of Scotland, being presentlie joyned with the said Duck, shall employe his force and good will, whair he shalbe requyred by the Quenes Majestie, to reduce the north pairtis of Ireland to the perfyte obedience of England, conforme to ane mutualle and reciproque contract, to be maid betwix hir Majesties lieutenent or depute of Ireland being for the tyme, and the said Erlle; quhairin shalbe conteaned what he shall do for his parte, and quhatt the said lieutennent, or depute, shall do for his supporte, in caise he shall have to do with James Mackonnell,[120] or ony utheris of the Iyles of Scotland, or realme of Ireland; for performance and sure keaping whairof, thei shall for thair pairte enter to the foirsaid Duck of Northfolk the plaiges presentlie named by him, befoire the entrie of hir Majesties armye in Scottis ground, to remaine in England for the space of six monethis, and to be exchanged upoun delyverance of new hostages, of lyke or als goode conditioun as the formare; or being the lauchfulle sones, bretheren, or heires of ony of the Erlles or Baronis of Parliament, that have, or hereinafter schaw thame selfis, and persist open ennemyes to the Frenche in this quarrell; and so forth, from sex monethis to sex monethis, or foure monethis to foure monethis, as shall best pleis the partie of Scotland; and the tyme of continuance of the hostages salbe during the marriage of the Quene of Scottis to the Frenche King, and ane yeare efter the dissolutioun of the said marriage, untill farder ordour may be had betwix boyth the realmes for peace and concorde.

[120] In the Cotton. MS., "Monneil." Sadler (State Papers, vol. i. pp.
431, 517) calls him, "James M^cDonell," and "Macconnell," and says,
8th Sept. 1559, that the Queen Regent had endeavoured to stir him,
"and others of the Scottish Irishrie, against the Erle of Argyle," to
prevent Argyle from rendering aid to his associates, the Lords of the
Congregation.

In a Report on the state of the West Isles of Scotland drawn up by the
Dean of Limerick, in 1595 or 1596, James M^cConnell is specially
mentioned as having been "holden in great jealousie by the house of
Argyle." It is further added, that "Anne Cambell, halfe syster to the
aforesayde Erle, the wife to the Sherif of Bute, by whome she was
hardlie entreated; ... by reason of her hard usadge jorneyinge towards
Argeile, she was intercepted by the said James, and marryed; by whome
she had five sonnes and a daughter." (Miscellany of the Maitland Club,
vol. iv. p. 44.) As James Stewart, Sheriff of Bute, had lawful issue
by a second marriage, he probably had obtained a divorce from his
first wife.

And, farder more, the said Duck, and all the Nobilitie, being Erlles and Barronis of Parliament, joyned with him, shall subscryve and seall these Articles and comptis within the space of xx or threttie dayis, at the uttermost, nixt following the day of the delyverance of the said hostages; and shall also procure and persuad all utheris of the Nobilitie that shall joyne tharne selfis heirefter with the said Duck, for the causses above specified, lykwyis to subscryve and seall these articles at any tyme efter the space of twentie dayis efter thair conjunctioun, upoun requisitioun maid to thame on the partie of the Quenes Majestie of England.

And, finallie, the said Duck, and the Nobilitie joyned with him, certainlie perceaving, that the Quenis Majestie of England is thairunto moved onlie upoun respect of princelie honour and nychtbourehead, for the defence of the fredome of Scotland from conqueist, and not of any uther sinister intent, doeth by these presentis testifie and declair, that [neither] thai, nor any of thame, meane by this compt to wythdraw ony dew obedience to thair Soveraine Lady the Quene, nor in any lefull thing to withstand the Frenche King, hir husband and head, that during the marriage shall nott tend to the subversioun and oppressioun of the just and ancient liberties of the said kingdome of Scotland; for preservatioun whairof, boyth for thair Soveranis honour, and for the continuance of the kingdome in ancient estait, thei acknowlege thameselfis bound to spend thair guidis, landis, and lyves. And for performance of this present Contract for the part of England, the Quenes Majestie shall confirme the same, and all clauses thairinto contained, by hir letteris patentis, under the Great Seall of England, to be delyvered to the Nobilitie of Scotland, upon the entress of the pledges afoirsaid within the ground of England.

[In witnes wheirof, the Commissionaris for the Ducke of Chasteaularault and Nobilitie of Scotland befoir named, haif subscryved these presentis, and thereunto affixed their seales, the day, yeare, and place afoirsaidis:--

JAMES STEWART.
PATRICK L. RUTHWEN.
JOHNE MAXWELL.
W. MAITLAND.
JHONE WYSHART.
HENRICUS BALNAVES.]

In witnes quhairof, the said Duck his Grace of Northfolke,[121] hath subscryved these presentis, and thairinto affixit his seall, the day, yeare, and place foirsaid. [THO. NORFFOLK.]

[121] Knox has here inserted the Articles of the Convention at
Berwick, 27th February 1559-60, as confirmed by the Duke of
Chattelherault, at Leith, 10th May 1560, "after the incoming of the
English armies," (Calderwood's Hist. vol. i. p. 578.) In this
confirmation the signatures of the Scotish Commissioners to the
Articles are omitted, as the copy it embodied was that exchanged with
the said Commissioners, and attested by Thomas Duke of Norfolk, Earl
Marischal of England, as Commissioner from Queen Elizabeth. The
original Articles, with the signatures of the Scotish Commissioners,
as given in the text above, along with the clause enclosed within
brackets, are inserted in Rymer's Foedera, etc., vol. xv. p. 569;
edit. 1740, vol. vi. par. iv. p. 95, under this title, "Conventiones
Scotorum contra Reginam Unionem Franciæ et Scotiæ designantem, et pro
Defensione contra Francos." A copy of these Articles, from a minute
endorsed by Secretary Cecil, and printed among the Burghley State
Papers, p. 253, omits the testing clause altogether. In the same
volume, there is a letter from the Duke of Norfolk to the Privy
Council, last of February, stating,--"that these three daies have we
been in conference and consultation with the Lords of Scotland, upon
this great and weighty matter." Copies of this Convention are also
preserved among the Cotton. MSS. Calig. B. ix. fol. 34, and B. x, fol.
69. The Commission, dated 29th March 1560, added to one of these MSS.,
has thefollowing marginal note by Sir Robert Cotton:--"It seems by the
Commission given by the Queen for confirmation of these Articles,
dated in the month of March following, that this treaty was concluded
before the Queen would openly profess herself a party, which is to be
noted."

Whiche Contract we find honest, reassonable, and that our saidis Commissioneris thair hathe consideratlie respected to the comoun wealth of this realme, of us, and our posteritie; and thairfoire do ratifie, allow, confirme, and approve the same, with all clauses and articles thairin contained, by thir presentis.

In witnes heirof, to the same subscryved with our handis, our seallis of armes, in sick caises accustomed, are appended. At the camp foiranent Leyth, the tent day of May, the year of God J^m V^c and thriescoir yearis.

(_Follow the Subscriptionis._[122])

[Sidenote: THE SUBSCRIPTIONIS.]

THE DUCK OF CHASTEAULARAULT.
EARLE OF ARRANE.
EARLE OF HUNTLIE.
EARLE OF GLENCARNE.
EARLE OF MORTOUN.
EARLE OF ROTHESS.
EARLE OF MOUNTEITH.
LORD OGULVIE.
LORD OCHILTRIE.
LORD ROBERT STEWARTE.
GAWIN HAMYLTOUN OF KILWYNING.[123]
ERLE OF ARGYLE.
LORD BORTHWICK.
LORD JAMES STEWARTE.
LORD OF SANCT JHONE.
ALEXANDER GORDOUN.
LORD JHONE OF ABERBROTHOK.[124]
LORD BOYDE.
LORD SOMMERVAILL.
ABBOT OF KINLOSS.
ABBOT OF CULROSS.
JAMES STEWART OF SANCT COLMES INCHE.[125]

[122] These Subscriptions obviously exhibit the names and not the
actual signatures of the Subscribers.

[123] Commendator of Kilwinning.

[124] Lord John Hamilton, Commendator of Aberbrothock.

[125] Commendator of the Monastery of Inchcohn, or St. Colme's Inch.

THE INSTRUCTIONIS GEVIN, SUBSCRYVIT TO THE SAID COMMISSIONARIS [THAT WENT TO BERWICK, AR THIR AS][126] FOLLOW:--

[126] The words enclosed in brackets, are supplied from MS. G.

AND for the first, Gif it shalbe askyt of yow be the said Duck of Northfolk his Grace, and otheris, [by] the Quenes Majesties appointment, appointed Commissionaris, gif our pledges be in reddines? Ye shall answer, that thei ar, and in Sanctandrois, the xxiiij of this instant, and shalbe reddy to delyver in hostages for securitie of our promisses, and part of contract, thei offering and macking securitie for thair part by the Quenes Majesties subscriptioun and great sealle, and delyvering the same unto you; provyding that thei chuse and mack thair electioun of the pledges as is convenient.

Secoundlie, Gif the saidis Commissionaris shall demand of yow, what interpryse the armye of England shall tak upoun hand at thair first incumminges? Ye shall answer, in generall the expulsioun of the Frenches soldiouris furth of this realme: and first and in specialle furth of the toun of Leyth, seing thair great forces ar thair.

3. _Item_, Gif it shalbe askit of yow, at what place our freindis and bretherin of England shalbe mett, and what day, what nomber, and what Nobill men in cumpany? Ye shall referr all those thingis to thair electioun and choise.

4. _Item_, Gif it shalbe askit of yow how the armyes shalbe fournissed with victuallis, and especiallie the horse men? Ye shall answer, that with thair advyses ane sufficient order shalbe tackin thairin.

5. _Item_, Gif it be requyred, how the munitioun shalbe carryed, and oxen furnissed to that effect? Ye shall answer, as we have gevin in commissioun to Lethingtoun, quhilk we ratifie.

6. _Item_, Gif it beis asked, wha shalbe Lievtennent to the armie of Scotland? Ye shall answer, my Lord Duckes Grace.

7. _Item_, Gif it shalbe inquyred, what nomber our haill armye extendis to? Ye shall answer, thai will, God-willing, be fyve thousand men.

8. _Item_, Gif it shalbe askit, what maner of way Leyth shalbe assaulted? Ye shall desyre all preparationis to be in reddenes, and the advyse to be taine after the placing of the armyes and view of the strenth schoirtlie.

9. _Item_, Gif it shalbe askit of the Castell of Edinburgh, gif thei will stand freindis or nott? Ye shall declair our diligence maid, and to be maid schoirtlie heirinto; but for the present can assure thame of nothing.

10. _Item_, Gif it beis askit, in caise the Castell be unfriend, whair the armye shalbe placed? Ye shall ansueir, for the first in Musselburgh and Tranent, and thei partis, till the battery, and all preparationis be in reddenes.

11. _Item_, In caise it beis inquyred of all bye-lyeris, and in speciall of my Lord Huntlie, in the North? Ye shall ansueir in generall, ane goode hope is had of the maist pairt thairof; and tuiching my Lord of Huntlie in speciale, ye shall schaw how he hes send writtingis to my Lord of Arrane, with ane servand in creddite, to assure him of his assistance; and for that caus hes desyred letteris of suspensioun of the Quene Dowageris commissioun, to be send to him, to be usit by him in thei partis, and utheris letteris to arreist the Clergies rentis and her's[127] boyth in thei partis, with proclamationis to cause all men to be in reddines to pass foruardis, for maintening of the religioun and expulsioun of strangeris. My Lord hes writtein to him, that he may come to him in proper persone, whairof the answer is nott returned as yitt.

[127] In MS. 1566, "hires;" MS. G, "hyres."

12. _Item_, Gif it shalbe askit, the place and maner of meiting of oure folkis, or of us and thame, in caise Striveling be kept? We referr the ansueir heirof to youre discretionis.

13. _Item_, Gif it shalbe askit that thair layed money shall have passage for thair viveris? Ye shall reasoun the commoditie and incommoditie thairof with the Counsale.[128]

[128] In Vautr. edit., "the Comishall."

14. _Item_, Gif it shalbe askit, what pioneris shalbe had? Ye shall answer, the nomber being expressed, and money be in reddenes to seld[129] thame, thei shall have sufficientlie.

[129] In. MS. G, "to pay;" in Vautr. edit. "to sell," and in both
copies, "have sufficiencie," at the end of the sentence.

15. _Item_, Gif thei shall desyre that we declair our cause unto the Princes of Alamagne, and the King of Denmarke, desyring thair assistance? Ye shall answere, that we think the same good, and shall speedelie tak ordour thairwith.

16. _Item_, Gif it shalbe askit of yow to confirme for us, and in oure name, the thingis past and granted be oure formare Commissionare the young Laird of Lethingtoun? Ye shall in all poyntis for us, and in oure name, confirme the same, sa far as it shall mak either for the weill and conjunctioun of the twa realmes, or this present cause, or yitt for the securitie of oure pairt for fulfilling of the samein: and also, ye shall accept thair offeris, tending to the same fyne, and sic securitie on that parte, as ye may purchese, and especiallie sic as we heirtofoir exprimit. Gevin at Glaskow, the tent of Februar 1559.

_Item_, We gif and grantis you full power to augment, or diminische thir saidis heidis and Articles, as ye think the weall of the cause sall requyre in all pointis.

JOHNNE OF MENTEITH.[130]
ANDRO OF ROTHESS.
R. BOYD.
WILLIAME MURRAY _of Tullibardin_.
JOHNNE ERSKIN _of Dun_.
JAMES HAMYLTOUN.
ALEX^R. GORDOUN.
AR^D. ERGYLE.
GLENCARNE.
VCHILTRE.
JAMES HALIBURTOUN.

[130] The names of these Commissioners are mostly well known:--John
Earl of Menteith, Andrew Earl of Rothes, Robert Lord Boyd, Sir William
Murray of Tullibardine, John Erskine of Dun, James Hamilton Earl of
Arran, Alexander Gordon, Bishop of Galloway, and Commendator of
Inchaffray, Archibald Earl of Argyle, Alexander Earl of Glencairn,
Andrew Lord Ochiltre, and James Halyburton, Provost of Dundee.

Schort efter this Contract, war oure pledgeis delyverit to Maister Winter, Admirall of the Navye, that came to Scotland, a man of great honestie, sua far as ever we could espy of him, quha war saiflie convoyit to New Castell. And sua the Ingliss army began to assembill towardis the Bordour; quhairof the Frensche and Quene Regent assurit, thay began to distroy quhat thay could in the tounis and cuntrey about; for the haill victuallis they careit to Leith; the mylnes thay brak; the scheip, oxin, and kyne, yea, the horse of poore lauboraris, thay maid all to serve thair tyrannye. And, fynallie, they left na thyng quhilk the verray ennemeis could have devisit, except that thay demolischit not gentilmenis housses, and brunt not the tonne of Edinburgh: in quhilk poynt, God brydillit thair furye, to lett his afflictit understand that he tuik cair for thame.

[Sidenote: The Crewell Fact of Martyckis.]

Befoir the cuming of the land armye, the Frensche past to Glasgu, and distroyit the cuntrey thair about. Quhat tyrannye the Martyckis[131] usit upone ane poore Scottis suldiour, it is feirfull to heir, and yitt his fact may not be omittit. Silver wald thay gif nane to the poore men, and sua war thay slow to depairt of the toun; for albeit the drum struik, the enseingze could not be gottin. Thair was ane poore craftis man, quha haid bocht for his victuallis are gray laif, and was eitting ane morsell of it, and was putting the rest of it in his bosome. The tyranne cam to him, and with the poore catyveis awin quhynger first straik him in the breist, and after cast it at him, and sua the poore man, stagring and falling, the mercyless tyranne ran him through with his rapper, and thairefter commandit him to be hingit ower the stair. Lord, thow wilt yitt luik, and recompense sick tyrrannye; how contemptable that ever the persoun was!

[131] See _supra_, page 12, note 1.

The secunde of Aprile, the yeir of God, J^m V^c and threscoir yeiris, the army be land enterit in Scotland, the conducting quhairof was commitit to the Lord Gray,[132] quha haid in his company the Lord Scrope, Sir James Croftis, Sir Hary Peircey, Sir Francis Laike, with mony uthir capitaneis and gentilmen having charge, sum of futmen, sum of horsmen. The armye be land was esteimit to ten thowsand men. The Quene Regent past to the Castell of Edinburgh,[133] and sum utheris of hir factioun.[134] At Prestoun met thame the Duckes Grace, the Erle of Argyle, (Huntlie came not till that the seige was confirmit,) Lord James, the Erlles of Glencairne and Menteith, Lordis Ruthwen, Boyd, Ochiltre, with all the Protestantis gentilmen of the West Fyffe, Anguss, and Mearneis. Swa that for few dayis the armye was greit.

[132] William Lord Gray de Wilton, "a gallant warrior," who
distinguished himself on several occasions, and who, in 1559, was
appointed Warden of the Middle and Eastern Marches.

[133] In a letter to Sadler, Randall writes on the 25th January
1559-60,--"It is thought that the Quene Douagier shalbe received very
shortlie into the Castell of Edinburgh, for any travaile that can be
to the contrarie, with her onlie howsholde servaunts and
gentlewoomen." Two months later, on the 28th March 1560, he says, "It
hath been longe in doubte whether the Quene Douagier woolde either to
the Castell of Edinburgh or to Lythe; it is saide, that it is now
resolved, that it will to the Castell this daye."--(State Papers, vol.
i. pp. 696, 712.) That the Queen had the purpose of entering the
Castle at the time first specified, is evident from an incidental
notice in the Treasurer's Accounts of his having paid £8 on the 26th
January 1559-60, "to Maister Johne Balfour, for transporting of the
Quenis Grace cofferis fra the Abbay of Halierudhous to the Castell of
Edinburgh." On the same day, a messenger was sent "with clois
writtingis of the Quenis Grace to Monsr. Dosell;" and two days later
17s. was paid "to ane boy passand of Edinburgh, with clois writtingis
of the Quenis Grace to Monsr. Labroce, rynnand all the nycht." On the
last of January, the Queen herself received the sum of £250. The
actual date when the Queen passed from Holyrood House to the Castle,
was the 1st of April. (Diurnal of Occurrents, pp. 56, 274.)

[134] The chief persons who remained in the Castle of Edinburgh with
the Queen Regent, were John Hamilton, Archbishop of St. Andrews,
William Earl Marischal, William Chisholm, Bishop of Dunblane, Robert
Crichton, Bishop of Dunkeld, Abraham Crichton, Provost of the Church
of Douglass, and James Makgill, Clerk-Register.--(Lesley's History, p.
284; Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 274; Holinshed's Chronicles, &c.)

Efter the deliberatioun of twa dayis had at Enneresk,[135] the haill camp marchit fordwart with ordinance, and all preparatioun necessar for the seige, and came to Restalrig upoun the Palme Sunday Evin.[136] The Frensche haid put thamselffis in battell array upoun the Linkis without Leith, and had send furth thair skyrmissaris; quha begynning befoir ten houris, contyneuit skyrmissing till efter foure houris at efter none, quhan thair was gevin upone thame ane charge be sum horsmen of Scotland, and sum of Yngland. Bot because the principall Capitane of the horsmen of Yngland was not present, the haill troupis durst not charge; and swa was not the owerthraw and slawchter of the Frensche sa greit as it anis appeirit to haif bene; for the greit battell was anis at the trote; bot quhen thay persevit that the greit force of the horsemen stuid still, and chargeit not, thay returnit and gaif sum rescourse to thair fallowis that fled; and swa thair fell onlie in that defait about three hundreth Frenschmen. God wald nocht gif the victorie swa suddanlie, leist that man sould glorye in his awin strenth. The small victorie that was gottin, putt baith the Yngliss and Scottis in ower greit securitie, as the ischew declairit. The Frensche inclosit within the toun, the Yngliss armye began to plant thair palyeanis[137] betwix Leith and Restalrig.[138] The ordinance of the toun, and especiallie that quhilk lay upoun Sanct Anthonies Stepill[139] did thame greit annoyance: aganist quhilk place war bent aucht cannounis, quhilkis schott sa continewallie, and sua just, that within few dayis, that Stepill was condemnit, and all the ordinance that was on it dismontit, quhilk maid the Ynglismen sum quhat mair negligent than it became guid men of war to have bene; for persaiving that the Frensche maid na persute without thair wallis, they tuik oppinioun that they wald never ishe mair, and that maid sum of the Capitanis for pastyme, go to the toun:[140] the soldiouris, for thair ease, did lay thair armour besyde thame, and, as men without daingear, fell to the dice and cairtis. And sua, upoun the Pasche Mononday,[141] at the verray hour of noon, the Frenche ischeit baith on horse and fute, and with greit violence, enterit in to the Yngliss trynscheis, slew and putt to flycht all that was fund thairin. The watche was negligentlie keipit, and so was the succourse slow, and lang in cuming; for the Frenche, befoir that any resistance was made unto thame, approcheit hard to the greit ordinance. Bot than the horsmen troupit togidder, and the futemen gat thameselffis in array, and sua repulsit the Frenche back agane to the toun. Bot the slauchter was greit: sum sayis it doubill exceidit that quhilk the Frenche resavit the fyrst day. And this was the frute of thair securitie and oures, quhilk efter was remeidit; for the Ynglismen maist wyslie considdering thame selfis not abill to beseige the toun round about, devysit to mak montis at dyverse quarteris of it, in the quhilk thay and thair ordinance lay in as gude strenth as thay did within the toun. The common soldiouris keipit the trynscheis, and had the said montis for thair saifgaird and refuge, in case of any greiter persute than thay war abill to sustene. The patience and stowt curage of the Englismen, hot principallie of the horsmen, is worthy of all prayse: for, quhair was it ever hard that aucht thousand (thay never exceidit that number that lay in camp) sould beseige four thousand of the maist despairit throt-cuttaris that were to be found in Europe, and lye sua neir unto thame in daylie skyrmissing, the space of thre monethis and mair. The horsmen nycht and day keipit watche, and did sa valiantlie behaif thameselffis, that the Frenche gatt na advantage fra that day back to the day of the assault, quhairof we shall schortlie heir.

[135] In MS. G, "Inneresk;" in Vautr. edit., "Enresk." The village of
Inveresk may be said to form part of Musselburgh, and is situated on
the east side of the River Esk, near its confluence with the Frith of
Forth, about six miles from Edinburgh.

[136] Saturday, the 6th of April, was the eve of Palm Sunday.

[137] In MS. G, and Vautr. edit., "pavilliones."

[138] The village of Restalrig lies about a-mile to the south-east of
Leith.

[139] The building thus converted by the French troops into a place of
defence, was the Hospital or Preceptory of St. Anthony, founded by
Robert Logan of Restalrig, in 1435. It stood near the Kirkgate Street,
at the south-west corner of what is still called St. Anthony's Wynd;
and is said to have been the only establishment in Scotland belonging
to the Canons of St. Anthony. During the siege in May 1560, the
building was probably nearly all demolished. On the 17th of that
month, the English troops having raised earthen mounds for their great
ordinance, "beganne to shoote at Sanct Anthonyes steeple in Leith,
upon the which steeple the Frenche had monted som artillerie, which
was very noisome to the campe; bot within a few hours after, the said
steeple was broken and shott doune; likewise they shott doune some
part of the east end of the kirk of Leith." (Historie of the Estate of
Scotland, in the Wodrow Miscellany, vol. i. p. 84.) Another old
authority states,--"Upon the 20th day [of April] the principell
blokhous within Leith, callit St Anthonies Kirk, was dung doun with
cannones, and also the High Street where the viveris (provisions) lay,
and many uther houssis upon the east syd of the toun."--(Lindesay of
Pitscottie's Chronicles.)

[140] MS. G. has "go upe to the toun of Edinburgh."

[141] Easter Monday fell on the 15th of April.

In this meanetyme was this uther Band made of all the Nobilitie, Barronis, and Gentilmen, professing Chryst Jesus in Scotland, and of dyveris utheris that joynit with us, for expelling of the Frenche army; amangis quham, the Erle of Huntlie was principall. The Band followis:--

[ANE CONTRACT OF THE LORDS AND BARONS, TO DEFEND THE LIBERTY OF THE EVANGELL OF CHRIST.][142]

[142] In the MS. copies of Knox, this Band of Association by the Lords
and Barons of Scotland, for setting forward the Reformation, is simply
entitled, "The Last Band at Leyth." It was printed "from the Original"
at Hamilton Palace, by Bishop Burnet, in his History of the
Reformation, vol. iii. p. 287. It was probably not very accurately
transcribed, but some slight corrections from that work have been
adopted. It was reprinted in the Appendix to Crawford's Officers of
State, p. 444; and in Keith's History, vol. i. p. 273. In all these
copies, as well as in Knox, the names of the Lords and Barons who
subscribed the Band are omitted. A contemporary copy in the British
Museum, among the Harleian MSS. (No. 289. fol. 70.) has enabled me to
supply this important omission.

[Sidenote: _NOTA._--HEIRUPONE CAME THE PERSUTE.][143]

[143] In Vautr. edit. "Now hereupon," &c.

AT EDINBURGH, the xxvij day of Aprile, the yeir of God ane thousand fyve hundreth threescoir yeiris: We, quhais namis ar underwrittin, haif promittit and oblist oure selffis faithfullie, in the presens of oure God, and be thir presentis promittis, that we altogidder in generall, and every ane of us in speciall, be him selff, with oure bodeis, guidis, freyndis, and all that we may do, sall sett fordwart the Reformatioun of Religioun, according to Goddes word; and procure, be all meanis possibill, that the treuth of Goddes word may haif free passage within this Realme, with due administratioun of the sacramentis, and all thingis depending upoun the said word: And siclik, deiplie weying with oure selfis the misbehavour of the Frenche Ministeris heir; the intollerabill oppressiouns commitit be the Frenche men of weir upon the poore subjectis of this Realme, by meyntenance of the Quene Dowager, under cullour and pretence of authoritie; the tyrannye of thair Capitanis and leadaris; and manifest danger of conqueist, in quhilk this countrey presentlie standis, be reasoun of dyverse fortificatiouns upoune the sea-coast; and uther novelties of lait attemptit be thame; promittis, that We sall, als weill every ane with uther, as altogidder, with the Quene of Englandis armie, presentlie cumit in for oure delyverance, effectuallie concur and joyne togidder, taiking anefald plane pairt,[144] for expulsioun of the said strangeris, oppressouris of oure libertie, furth of this Realme, and recovery of oure ancient fredomis and liberteis; to the end, that in tyme cuming, we may, under the obedience of the Kyng and Quene our Soveranis, be onlie rewllit be the lawis and customeis of the cuntrey, and borne men of the land: And that never ane of us sall haif pryvey intelligence be writting, message, or communicatioun with ony of oure saidis ennemeis or adversareis in this cause, bot be the advise of the rest (at least of fyve) of the Counsale. Attour, that we sall tender the commun cause, as gif it war the cause of everie ane of us in particular; and that the causses of everie ane of us now joinit togidder, being leifull and honest, sall be all oure causses in generall: And he that is ennemy to the causses foirsaid, sall be ennemy to us all: in sa far, that quhatsoever persone will planelie resist thir oure godlie interpryseis, and will not concur as ane guid and trew member of this Common weill, we sall fortifie the auctoritie of the Counsale, to reduce thame to thair dewitie. Lyke as we sall fortifie the auctoritie foirsaid of the Counsale, in all thyngis tending to the furtherance of the saidis causses: And gif ony particular debait, quarrell, or contraversie, sall arryse, for quhatsoever cause, bygane, present, or to cum, betwix ony of us, (as God forbid,) in that caise, we shall submit our selfis and oure saidis questionis, to the decisioun of the Counsale, or to arbitratouris to be namit[145] be thame. And providing alwayis, that this be not prejudiciall to the ordinarie jurisdictioun of Judgeis, but that men may persew thair actiouns by ordour of law civilie or criminallie, befor the Judges Ordinaris[146] gif thai please.

[144] In MS. G, "taking and hald plain parte;" Vautr. edit. has "take
and holde ane playne parte." In Burnet, "taking one fold and plain
part of the expulsion."

[145] In MS. G, "to be maid."

[146] In Knox these four words are omitted.

[In wytnes of the quhilk we have subscrivit this present Band with our hands, day, zeir, and place above wryttine.

JAMES.
JAMES HAMMYLTON.
HUNTLEY.
AR^D. ARGILL.
GLENCARN.
ROTHES.
MORTOUN.
A. GORDOUN.

JAMES JOHNSON, _Apparand of Elphistoun_.
PATRYK DOWGLASS.
ROBERT CAMPBELL.
ANDREW JHONSON.
ROBYN CAR.

JAMES STEWART.
JHON MONTEY^T.
RUTHWEN.
R. BOYD.
OGYLWYE.
VCHILTREE.
JHON MAXVEL.
PATRYK LYNDSAY.
JHON MAISTER PHORBES.
LORD SOMERWELL.
JAMES HALYBURTOUN.

ALEX^R. DUNBAR _of Cumnok_.
GRAYTLY.
W^M. DOUGLAS _of Whyttingeym_.
GEORGE HWME _of Spott_.
JHON GORDON, _of Finlatter_.
ALEX^R. SETON, _Younger of Meldrum_.
HENRY GRAHAME, _Youngar of Morphy_.
ALEX^R. GORDOUN _of Abyrzelde_.
DRUMLAYNRYK.
FAUNHAUS.[147]
CRAYNSTON _of that Ilk_.
WEDDERBURN.
ALEX^R. HUME.
JHONSON.

GEORGE NYSBYT, _with my hand at the pen_.
CUNNYNGAYMHYD.
LESLYE _of Bowquhane_.
JHON INNES _of that Ilk_.
ARTHUR PHORBES.
W^M. LESLEY _Youngar of Wardes_.
JHON WISHART.
DRUMLOYGHIE.

CESFUIRD.
HUNDHILL.
MARK KAR.]

[147] I suspect some of these names may have been mistaken; such as
"Graytly," and "Faunhaus," which an examination of the original might
correct.

[Sidenote: THE DOCHTER WILL NOT TAK EXAMPILL BY THE MOTHER.]

[Sidenote: THE 20 OF MAIJ, ANNO 1566.][148]

[148] In all the other copies this marginal note forms part of the
text. It is in the same hand with the MS.: see note 1, page 68.

This Contract and Band came not onlie to the eiris, bot alssua to the sycht of the Quene Dowager; quhairat sche stormit nott a little, and said, "The maledictioun of God I gif unto thame that counsaleit me to persecute the prechearis, and to refuise the petitiouns of the best pairt of the trew subjects of this realme. It was said to me, That the Yngliss army could not ly in Scotland ten dayis; bot now thay [have] lyin near ane moneth, and ar mair lyk to remane than the first day thay came." Thay that gaif sick informatioun to the Quene, spak as wardlie wyise men, and as thingis appeirit to have bene; for the cuntrey being almaist in all the partis thairof waistit, the victuallis nixt adjacent to Leith either brocht in to thair provisioun, or ellis destroyit; the mylnis and uther placeis, as befoir is said, being cassin doun, it appeirit that the camp could not have bene furnissit (except it haid bene by thair awin schippis, and as that could nocht have bene of ony lang continewance, sua sould it have bene nathing confortable:) Bot God confoundit all warldlie wisdome, and maid his awin benedictioun als evidentlie to appeir as gif in ane maner he had fed the army from above. For all kind of victuallis thair was mair aboundante, and of mair easie priceis, in the camp all the tyme that it lay, efter that aucht dayis war past, than either thay haid bene in Edinburgh any of the twa yeires of befoir, or yit hes bene in that toun to this day. The pepill of Scotland sa mekill abhorrit the tyrrannye of the Frenche, that thay wald have gevin the substance that thay had, to have bene ridd of that chargeable burding, quhilk oure synnis had provockit God to lay upoun us, in geving us in the handis of ane woman, quhom our Nobilitie in thair fulischnes sauld unto strangearis, and with hir the libertie of the Realme. "God, for his greit mercies saik, preserve us yitt from farther bondage, in the quhilk we ar lyke to fall, gif he provyde not remedy; for oure Nobilitie will yett remane blynd still, and will follow hir affectiouns, cum efter quhat sua may." Bot to returne to oure Historie.

* * * * *

[Sidenote: THE ASSAULT OF LEITH, THE 7 OF MAIJ 1560.]

The campe abounding in all necessarie provisioun, ordour was taikin for confirmatioun of the Seige;[149] and sa the trynches war drawin als neir the toun, as thay gudlie mycht. The greitt campe removit fra Restalrig to the west syde of the Watter of Leith; and sa war the cannounis plantit for the batterie, and did schute at the south-west wall. But be reassone all was eird, the brek[150] was nott maid sa greit upoun the day bot that it was sufficientlie repairit upoun the nycht. Quhairof the Inglismen begynning to weary, determinit to gyve the brusche and assault; as that thay did upoun the sevint day of Maij, beginning befoir the day-licht, and contineuing till it was neir sevin houris. And albeit that the Ingliss and Scottis, with greit slauchter of the suldiouris of baith, were repulsit, yitt was thair never ane scharpar assault gevin of so few handis; for thay exceidit not ane thousand men that assaultit the haill twa quarteris of the toun, and yitt thay dampnit the haill blok-housses; yea, thay anis pat the Frenche clene of thair wallis, and were upoun baith the west and eist blokhousses. Bot thay wantit baking; for thair ledderis wantit sax quarteris of the just hicht; and sua quhill the former wer compellit to fecht upoun the tope of [the] wall, thair fellowis could nott win to support thame, and sa war thay be multitude dung back agane, quhen it was anis thocht the Toune was win.

[149] In Holinshed's Chronicles is contained a minute account of the
Siege of Leith, in May 1560. Thomas Church-yard, the English Poet, who
was present among the troops commanded by Lord Gray de Wilton,
published in "The First Part of Churchyarde's Chippes," (a kind of
Poetical Miscellany,) "The Siege of Leith," written in stanzas of
seven lines. It was first printed at London in 1565; again in 1575,
and 1578. This poem referred to, is included in the volume of
"Churchyard's Chips concerning Scotland," edited by George Chalmers,
Lond. 1817, 8vo.

[150] In MS. G, "Bot be ressoun the wall was eirthe, the breiche," &c.;
Vautr. edit. has, as in the text, "But by reason all was earth, the
breache," &c.

Sir James Croftis[151] was blamit of mony for not doing his dewitie that day; for he was appoyntit, with ane sufficient nomber of the maist abill men, to haif assaultit the north-west quarter upoun the sey-syde, quhair, at an low-water (as at the tyme of the assault) [the passage] was easy:[152] bot neather he nor his approchit to thair quarter appoyntit. He had befoir, at thair first cuming in, spokin with the Quene Regent[153] at the foir blok-house of the Castell of Edinburgh. Quhidder sche had enchantit him we knew nott, but by suspitioun of that day, in the quhilk he desaivit the expectation of many, and, sa far as man could judge, was the caus of that greit repulse; for sum ascribit the schortnes of the ledderis to him: bot that omittit, quhilk mycht have proceidit of negligence, his absens frome the persute of his quarter, was the cause that sick Frenche as war appointit thair to defend, seing na persewar, came to the releif of thair fellowis, and sa the twa joyning togidder, with greit slauchter gaif the repulse to oure company. The Frenche menis harlotis, of quhom the maist pairt war Scottis hureis, did na less creweltie than did the souldiaris; for besydis that thay chargeit thair peceis, and ministrit unto thame uther weaponis, sum continewallie cast staneis, sum careit chymnayis of burnyng fyre, sum brocht tymmer and uther impedimentis of wecht, quhilk with great violence thay threw over the wall upoun oure men, bot especiallie quhen thay began to turne backis. Now, albeit in all this we acknawlege the secreit wark of God, quha by sick meanis wald beat doun alsweill the pryde of Ingland as of Scotland, yitt neather aucht the febilnes nor falsett of man to be excusit, neather yitt the cruelty of the adversareis be conceilit. The Quene Regent satt all the tyme of the assault (quhilk was baith terribill and lang) upon the foir-wall of the Castell of Edinburgh; and quhen sche perceivit the overthraw of us, and that the ensenyeis of the Frenche war agane displayit upoun the wallis, sche gaif ane gawfe of lauchter, and said, "Now will I go to the Messe, and prayse God for that quhilk my eyes have sene!" And sa was Freir Black[154] reddy for that purpose, quhom sche hir self a little of befoir had deprehendit with his harlott in the chapell: But huredome and idolatrye aggre weill togidder, and that oure Courte can witnesse this day, 16 Maij 1566.[155]

[151] As mentioned by Knox, _supra_, page 31, Sir James Crofts was
captain of the Town and Castle of Berwick, and warden of East Marches.
"He had," says Sir Walter Scott, "a good military reputation; having
governed Ireland, and defended Haddington (in 1547) against the French
and the Scotch. He was attainted by Queen Mary, but restored by Queen
Elizabeth, and made Governor of Berwick; an office which he enjoyed at
the date of these letters." (State Papers, vol. i. p. 387.) But
Crofts, for his conduct at this time, was impeached by the Duke of
Norfolk, and removed from his office as Governor, which was conferred
on Lord Gray. He afterwards became Comptroller of the Household, and
died in 1595.

[152] In MS. 1566, "of the assault it was easy."

[153] The interview of Crofts with the Queen Regent that Knox alludes
to, took place on the 6th April 1560, during the skirmish at
Restalrig. "In this meantyme (says Bishop Lesley) the Lord Gray, and
Sir George Hawart, and Sir James Croftis to the Castell of Edinburgh,
to speik with the Quein to this effect (viz. the cause of the coming
of the army, &c.); quha had long conference with hir upoun the blok
hous at the uter yeit of the saide Castell, the same day, during the
tyme of the scarmishe," &c. (Hist. p. 283.) See also the Historie of
the Estate of Scotland, in the Wodrow Miscellany, vol. i. p. 82.

[154] Some notices of this Frier Black will be given in the Appendix.

[155] This date, like that on the margin at page 65, is in the same
hand with the MS., and serves to show that this portion of the volume
was written or transcribed in May 1566. In MS. G. the date, by
mistake, is May 1560.

[Sidenote: THE INUMANITIE OF THE MERCYLES FRENCHE.]

[Sidenote: THE QUENE REGENTIS CREWELL HART.]

The Frenche, prowd of the victorie, strypeit naikit all the slayne, and laid thair deid[156] carcassis befoir the hot sune alang thair wall, quhair thay sufferit thame to lye ma dayis nor ane: unto the quhilk, quhen the Quene Regent luikit, for myrth sche happit and said, "Yonder are the fairest tapestrie that ever I saw: I wald that the haill feyldis that is betwix this place and yon, war strowit with the same stuiffe." This fact was sene of all, and hir wordis war hard of sum, and mislykeit of many. Against the quhilk Johnne Knox spak oppinlie in pulpeit, and baldlie affirmeit, "That God sould reveange that contumelye done to his image, not onlie in the furiouse and godless souldiaris, bot evin in sick as rejoysit thairat." And the verray experience declairit, that he was nott deceavit; for within few dayis thair efter, (yea sum say that same day,) began hir bellie and lothsome leggis to swell, and sa continewit, till that God did execute his judgementis upoun hir, as efter we sall heir.

[156] In MS. G, "dead" is omitted.

The defait receavit, it was fully perswadit to the Queen Regent and hir factioun, that the Seige wald ryse, and that the Ingliss army wald depairt: and sua began the Papistis wondrouslie to brag; and yitt God did frustratt thair expectation; for the army concludit[157] to remane till new adverteisment came fra the Quene in Counsall.

[157] In MS. G, "determined."

[Sidenote: THE COMFORTABLE LETTER OF THE DUICK OF NORTHFOLK.]

The Duck of Northfolk, quha than lay at Berwick, commandit the Lord Gray to continew the seige, and promeisit "That he sould not laick men sa lang as ony war to be had betwix Trent and Tweid, for sa far was he lieutennent." He farther promeisit his awin presens, in caise he sould be requyreit; and for assurance thairof, he send his awin palzeounis,[158] sic as seldome befoir had bene sene in Scotland, with his officiaris and provisioun. And with expeditioun war send twa thousand fresche men, quhairby the campe, greitlie confortit, began to forgett the former disconfiture, and to sustene the daylie skyrmissing as thay did befoir; in the quhilk the Frenche, efter the day of the assault, did ever resaif the hurt and the repulse, as the slauchter of many that came to the cockill-raik[159] did witnesse. The greatest damage that ather Ingliss or Scottis receavit efter that day, was the slauchter of twa gentilmen, the ane Master of Househald to my Lord James, Robert Colvene of Cleysche,[160] ane man stowt, modest, and wise; quha was schot in the thigh with ane falcone or haquebute of crock, and depairtit the miserie of this lyfe within twa houris efter. The uther was Alexander Lockart, brother to the Laird of Barr,[161] quha raschelie discovering him selff in the trynschis, was schot in the heid, and immediatlie thairefter depairtit this lyff.

[158] In MS. G, "paviliounes;" in Vautr. edit., "pallions."

[159] In MS. G, "the Cole-raik;" Vautr. edit. follows the text.

[160] Robert Colville of Cleish, has already been mentioned, in a Note
to vol. i. p. 348. The property of Cleish, in the parish of that name,
Kinross-shire, had belonged to William Meldrum of Cleish and Binns,
whom Sir David Lyndesay has celebrated in his well-known poem, "The
History of Squyer Meldrum." There is every reason to believe that this
Robert Colville was the person who detected the imposture of the
pretended miracle of restoring sight to a blind person at
Loretto.--See Row's History, Wodrow Society edition, pp. 449-455. He
was Master of the Household to Lord James Stewart, Prior of St.
Andrews.

[161] This was probably Alexander Lockhart, styled Burgess of Ayr, who
was convicted for an unlawful convocation of the lieges within the
borough of Ayr, 19th January 1539-40. He had a charter of the lands of
Quhitstanes, in that County, in 1547. His brother, John Lockhart of
Bar, is elsewhere mentioned by Knox.

Quhill the seige thus continewit, ane suddane fyre chanceit in Leith, quhilk devourit many housses and mekill victuall; and sa began God to fecht for us, as the Lord Erskin in plane wordis said to the Quene Regent: "Madam, (quod he,) I can se na mair, but seing that men may not expell injust possessouris furth of this land, God him self will do it; for yon fyre is nocht kindellit be man." Quhilk words offendit the Quene Regent not a littill; quhais seiknes daylie increassing, greit craft sche usit that Monsieur D'Osell mycht have bene permitit to have spokin with hir; belyke sche wald have biddin him fairweill (for auld familiaritie was greit); bot that denyit, sche wrait as it [had] bene to hir chyrurgian and apothecar, schawing hir seiknes, and requyreing sum droggis. The letter being presentit to the Lord Gray, he espyit the craft; for few lyneis being writtin above and sa mekill quhyte paper left, he said, "Drogis ar aboundand and freschear in Edinburgh than thay can be in Leith: thair lurkis heir sum uther misterie." And sa he began to try; and be halding the paper to the fyre, he persavit sum writting [to] appeir, and sa began he to reid. Bot quhat it was, na uther man can tell; for immediatelie he brunt the bill, and said to the messinger, "Albeit I have bene hir Secretary, yitt tell hir I sall keip hir counsall. But say to hir, Sik wairis will nocht sell till a new marcatt."

[Sidenote: THE DEATH OF THE QUENE REGENT.]