MALCOLME.
KING DAUID being dead & buried (as is before said) Malcolme nephue to him by his son
Henrie succéeded in the estate. He was but 13 yéeres of age, when he began his reigne;
but yet his modestie and vertuous conditions were such, that all men conceiued a good hope
that he would prooue a right noble and woorthie prince. He was nourished and brought vp
The educatiō of king Malcolme.
in such vertue, euen from his infancie, that deliting in chast conuersation and cleannesse of
bodie and mind, he liued single all the daies of his life, and without mariage: wherefore he
was surnamed Malcolme the maid. About the time of his entring into the possession of the
crowne, there was a great derth through all the bounds of Scotland. And soone after
A dearth.
followed a sore death both amongst men and beasts, though it was not perceiued that the disease
A death not contagious.
whereof they died was anie thing contagious.
Hereof did one Somerleid the thane of Argile take occasion to attempt an higher enterprise
Somerleid thane of Argile goeth about to make himselfe king.
than stood with the basenesse of his linage and estate: for considering that the halfe of the
realme was consumed by mortalitie, and the other halfe néere hand famished through lacke of
food, he thought it an easie matter for him, now whilest the king was vnder yéeres of ripe
discretion, to vsurpe the gouernance of the realme into his owne hands, and so assembling togither an
huge companie of such as in hope of preie lightlie consented to his opinion, hée came forwards,
to make as it were a full conquest, sleaing and spoiling all such in his way as went about to
Somerleids crueltie.
Gilcrist sent with an armie against Somerleid.
resist him. But his presumptuous enterprise was shortlie repressed: for Gilcrist earle of
Angus lieutenant of the kings armie, raised to resist Somerleids attempts, incountred with him
in battell, & slue 2000 of his men. Somerleid hauing receiued this ouerthrow, and escaping
from the field, fled into Ireland, and so saued his life.
Henrie the second of that name king of England, hearing that Malcolme had thus subdued
his domesticall enimies, feared least he being imboldened therewith, should now attempt somewhat against the Englishmen; and therefore by counsell of his nobles, he sent an herald vnto
king Malcolme, commanding him to come vp to London, there to doo his homage vnto him,
K. Malcolme summoned to doo homage.
for the lands of Cumberland, Northumberland, and Huntington, in maner and forme as his
grandfather king Dauid had before doone vnto his predecessor Henrie the first, with certificat,
that if he failed, he would take from him all the said lands. King Malcolme obeied this commandement of king Henrie: but yet vnder condition (as the Scotish writers affirme) that it
should in no maner wise preiudice the franchises and liberties of the Scotish kingdome. At
K. Malcolme goeth with king Henrie into France.
the same time king Henrie had warres against Lewes the sixt, king of France, and so passing
ouer into that realme, constreined king Malcolme to go with him in that iornie against his will,
notwithstanding that he had a safe conduct fréelie to come and go. In this voiage king Henrie
did much hurt to the Frenchmen, and at length besieged the citie of Tholouse.
Tholouse besieged.
King Henries meaning.
In all which enterprises he had Malcolme present with him, to the end that Malcolme
might incurre such hatred and displeasure of the Frenchmen, that therby the bond betwixt
them and the Scots might finallie be dissolued. But in the end king Henrie hauing lost diuers of his noble men by sicknesse, returned into England, and then licenced king Malcolme
to returne home into Scotland; who at his comming home, sent the bishop of Murrey, and
one of his secretaries vnto the sée of Rome, as ambassadors vnto the pope, which as then hight
Ambassadors sent to Rome.
Eugenius the third of that name, to recognise the obedience which he owght to the Romane sée. Shortlie after also, there was a parlement holden at Scone, where king Malcolme
A parlement at Scone.
K. Malcolme reprooued by his nobles.
K. Malcolmes excuse.
was sore rebuked by his lords, in that he had borne through his owne follie, armor against the
Frenchmen their old confederate friends and ancient alies: but king Malcolme excused the
matter with humble woords, saieng he came vnwarilie into king Henries hands, and therefore
might not choose but accomplish his will and pleasure at that time; so that hée supposed verelie the French king would take no great displeasure with his dooings, when he once vnderstood the truth of the matter.
King Henrie hauing perfect vnderstanding of this grudge betwixt the Scotish lords and
their king, thought to renew the same with more displeasure, and therevpon sent for king
Malcolme to come vnto Yorke, to a parlement which he held there, where at his comming he
K. Malcome goeth to Yorke.
was burdened with a right grieuous complaint surmized against him by king Henrie, for that
he should reueale vnto the Frenchmen all the secrets of the English armie, when he was with
him in France, at the aboue remembred iournie, alledging the same to be sufficient matter, for
the which he ought to forfeit all the lands which hée held of the crowne of England, as Cumberland, Northumberland, and Huntington. And though king Malcolme by manie
Fond dealing and not likelie to be true.
Sentence giuen against K. Malcolme at Yorke.
substantiall reasons declared those allegations to be vntrue and vniustlie forged, yet by king Henries
earnest inforcing of the matter, sentence was giuen against him, by the generall consent of all the
estates there in that parlement assembled. And moreouer, to bring king Malcolme in
further displeasure with the nobles, king Henrie gaue notice vnto them, before king
Malcolme returned backe into his countrie, how he had of his owne accord renounced
all his claime, right, title, and interest, which he had to the foresaid lands, supposing by this
means to make king Malcolme farre more odious to all his lieges and subiects, than euer he
was before.
Malcolme therefore, vpon his returne into his countrie, not vnderstanding anie thing of
that subtill contriued policie and slanderous report, was besieged within the castell of Bertha
K. Malcolme is besieged.
by the thane of Ernedaie, and diuerse others. But after it was knowne how euill king
Malcolme had been vsed, and most vntrulie slandered, they desired pardon of their offense, as induced thereto by vntrue reports, which once being granted, they brake vp their siege, and euer
after continuéd in faithfull allegiance like true and most obedient subiects. But king Malcolme
sore mooued for that he was thus iniuriouslie handled by king Henrie, first desiring restitution to be made of all such things as had béene wrongfullie taken from him, and so deteined
by th' Englishmen, proclamed open warres against them. At length, after sundrie harmes
Open warres proclamed against the Englishmen.
A conclusion of agréement.
doone, as well on the one part as the other, they came to a communication in a certeine appointed place, not far from Carleill, where (to be briefe) it was finallie concluded, that K.
Malcolme should receiue againe Cumberland and Huntington: but for Northumberland, he
should make a plaine release thereof vnto king Henrie, and to his successors for euer.
For the which agréement he ran so farre into the hatred of his people, that he might neuer
K. Malcolme hated of his people.
Feare of outward enimies causeth quietnesse at home.
after find means to win their fauor againe; but doubting least if they should stirre anie rebellion against him, they might become an easie preie vnto the Englishmen, they remained
quiet for a time. Howbeit shortlie after, there arose another péece of trouble, though lesse
in outward apperance, by reason of the small power remaining in the author, yet dangerous
inough, considering it was within the realme it selfe. One Angus as then the thane of
Angus the thane of Galloway raiseth a commotion: vpon what occasion writers make not anie mention.
Galloway, perceiuing he might not by secret practise atchiue his purposed intent (whatsoeuer the
same was) determined by open force to assaie what luckie succes fortune would send him;
hoping that those which through feare sate as yet still, would assist him in all his attempts, so
soone as they saw anie commotion raised by him to occasion them thereto. Herevpon he assembled togither a great companie: but before he could worke anie notable feat, to make anie account of, Gilcrist earle of Angus (whose faithfull valiancie was before manifestlie approoued
Angus discomfited by Gilcrist.
Whiterne a place of sanctuarie.
in the suppression of Somerleids rebellion) discomfited his power, in thrée sundrie bickerings,
& chased Angus himselfe into Whiterne, where is a place of sanctuarie priuiledged for the safegard of all offendors that flie thereto for succor in the honor of saint Ninian.
Malcolme then, for that he durst not breake the franchises of that place, set a band of men
Angus besieged in Whiterne.
of warre round about it, to watch that he should by no means escape awaie; so that at length
wearied as it had bene with long siege, he yéelded himselfe to the king, who taking his sonne
Angus yéeldeth himselfe to the king.
to pledge for his good abearing in time to come, licenced him to go whither it should please
him: but the most part of his lands and liuings were confiscat to the kings vse. Wherevpon
when he saw he might not mainteine his estate as he had doone before, he became a canon in
Angus became a canon.
Holie rood house, and there ended his life (as it is reported.) It was not long after the pacifieng of this trouble, but that a new rebelion was raised: for the Murrey land men, by the
A rebellion mooued by the Murreis.
Gildo captein of the rebels.
The crueltie of the rebels.
prouocation of their capteine called Gildo, wasted with fire and sword the countries of Rosse,
Bowgewall, or Bougdale, Mar, Gareoch, Buchquhane, and the Mernes, in more cruell sort
than anie forreine & most barbarous nation would haue doone; insomuch that when the king
sent diuers of his seruants vnto them to vnderstand the cause of their rebellious dooings, they
slue those messengers, contrarie to the law of nations.
To punish such iniurious attempts, the abouenamed Gilcrist was sent with an armie into
Gilcrist discomfited by the Murreis.
Murrey land: but the rebels nothing discouraged with the knowledge of his approoued prowesse,
met him in the field, and put him to flight. Héerevpon the king himselfe, supposing that his
presence was néedfull to incourage his people after this ouerthrow, came with a farre greater
power than he had sent foorth before, with displaied banner, ouer the riuer of Speie, néere to
the mouth whereof he fought with the enimies, and in the end (after sore and long fight continued with great slaughter and bloudshed) he gaue them the ouerthrow, and in reuenge of their
The Murreies are ouerthrowen.
cruelties shewed in time of this their rebellion, and to giue example to all other his subiects that
should go about to attempt the like, he commanded that none of those of Murrey land should
be saued (women, children, and aged persons onelie excepted) but that all the residue of that
generation shuld passe by the edge of the sword. Thus the Murrey land men being destroied
according to his commandement thorough all parts of the realme, he appointed other people to
inhabit their roomes, that the countrie should not lie wast without habitation.
In this meane time, Somerleid the thane of Argile, who (as ye haue heard) was fled ouer
The Murreies destroied.
into Ireland, vpon trust of the hatred into the which Malcolme was run, with the most part of
all his nobles and commons, through this slaughter of his people, and namelie of them of Murrey land, he thought to assaie fortunes chance once againe, and so therevpon returned with
Somerleid returneth into Scotland.
Somerleid vanquished at Renfrow.
Somerleid is hanged.
certeine Kernes and naked men into Scotland. But this last enterprise of his came to a more
vnluckie end than the first, for being vanquished in battell at Renfrow, he lost the most part
of all his men, and was taken prisoner himselfe, and after hanged on a gibbet, by commandement of the king, according to that he had iustlie merited. Malcolme hauing thus subdued
his aduersaries, and being now in rest and quiet, he set his mind wholie to gouerne his realme
in vpright iustice, and hauing two sisters mariable, he coopled the elder named Margaret
King Malcolmes sisters maried.
with Conon duke of Britaine, and the yoonger called Adhama he maried with Florens earle of
Holland.
After this, there was a councell holden at Scone of all the Scotish nobilitie, where when
A parlement at Scone.
they were assembled togither in the councell-chamber, Arnold archbishop of saint Andrewes
stood vp, and by a verie pithie oration, tooke vpon him to aduise the king to change his
The oration of Arnold bishop of saint Andrewes.
purpose touching his vow, which (as appéered) he had made to liue chast. He declared vnto him
by manie weightie reasons, that it was not onlie necessarie for him and his realme, that he
should take a wife (by whome he might raise vp séed to succéed him in the possession of the
crowne) but also that he might not choose a more perfect state of life (considering the office
wherein he was placed) than matrimonie, being instituted, not by this law-maker or that, but
Matrimonie instituted by God.
The pleasure of mariage.
The commodities by a wife.
by God himselfe, who in no one of all his ordinances might erre or be deceiued. Againe for
pleasure, he affirmed how nothing could be more delectable to him, than to haue a woorthie
ladie to his bedfellow, with whome he might conferre all the conceits of his hart, both of griefe
and gladnesse, she being a comfort vnto him as well in weale as in wo, an helpe both in sicknesse & health, redie to asswage anger, and to aduance mirth, also to refresh the spirits being
wearied or in anie wise faint through studious trauell and care of mind.
Then shewed he what an aid children were vnto their parents, namelie to kings, how in
Children an aid.
peace they might gouerne vnder them, to the great commoditie of the common-wealth, and in
warre supplie their roomes as lieutenants in defense of their countries, to the no small terror
of the enimies. Wherefore sith men are not borne onelie for their owne weale, but also for
Men not borne for themselues.
the profit of their friends, and commoditie of their countrie; it could not be chosen, but that
he ought to persuade with himselfe to alter his purposed intention, concerning the obseruance
of chastitie, and to take a wife to the great ioy and comfort of his subiects, sith it was
Commendable before God and man.
commendable both before God and man, and so necessarie withall and profitable, as nothing might be
more. But these and manie other most weightie reasons could nothing mooue his constant
K. Malcolme might not be persuaded to take a wife.
mind, hauing euen from his tender yéeres afflanced his virginitie vnto Christ, trusting that
God would so prouide, that the realme should not be destitute of conuenient heires, when the
time came that it should please his diuine maiestie to take him hence to his mercie from
amongst his subiects. Thus brake vp that councell without anie effect of the purpose for the
which it was called.
Shortlie after it chanced that king Malcolme fell sicke, continuing so a long time, by reason
whereof he sought meanes to conclude a peace with Henrie king of England; which being
A peace concluded with England.
The Abbeie of saint Andrewes builded.
brought to passe, he set woorkemen in hand to laie the foundation of saint Rewles abbeie,
which afterwards bare the name of saint Andrewes. When he had finished this house, being
a goodlie péece of woorke, and verie costlie, as may appéere at this day by the view thereof, he
assigned foorth certeine rents for the sustentation of the canons, whome he placed there of the
order of saint Augustine, not so largelie as serued for the maintenance of superfluous cheere,
Superfluous rents of abbeies, prouocations to inordinate lusts.
but yet sufficient for their necessarie finding: by reason whereof, the canons of that abbeie
liued in those daies in most feruent deuotion, hauing no prouocations at all to inordinate lusts
and sensuall pleasures; but onelie giuen to diuine contemplation, without respect to auarice,
or inlarging the possessions and reuenues of their house. He founded also the abbeie of
The abbeie of Couper founded.
The death of king Malcolme.
A comet.
Couper of the Cisteaux order, and indowed it with manie faire lands and wealthie possessions.
Finallie, being vexed with long infirmitie, he departed out of this life at Iedburgh the 12 yeere
of his reigne. A certeine comet or blasing starre appéered 14 daies togither before his death,
with long beames verie terrible to behold. His bodie was buried at Dunfermling, after the
incarnation 1185 yéeres. In the daies of this Malcolme, Roger archbishop of Yorke,
1185.
Roger archbishop of Yorke the popes legat.
constituted the popes legat, could not be suffered to enter into Scotland, bicause he was a man
highlie defamed for his couetous practising to inrich himselfe by vnlawfull meanes.
