THE NAMES AND TIMES OF CERTEINE CHANCELLORS OF SCOTLAND, GATHERED OUT OF
THE HISTORIES OF THAT NATION.
WILLIAM WOOD bishop of Dunblaine was chancellor to William king of Scots, which
William Wood.
began his reigne in the yeare of Christ one thousand one hundred eightie and fiue, as some
haue (but Lesleus lib. 6. pag. 226. giueth it to the yeare of our Lord God one thousand one
hundred and three score, whose account herein is false) and continued in that office at the
time of the death of the said William, which fell in the yeere of our redemption one thousand
two hundred and foureteene. After whose death he was by Alexander the second confirmed
in the same place of chancellor.
Iohn Lion chancelior of Scotland (in the time of Robert the second of that name, and
Iohn Lion.
the first of the house of the Stewards which ware the crowne) was chancellor of Scotland,
who being in great fauor with the said Robert the second, maried the ladie Elisabeth daughter
vnto the said king, with whome he had in franke mariage diuerse possessions called Glames,
whereby he was called lord of Glames; of which Lion is that surname descended, who in
memorie of that marriage beare in their armes the lions and lillies with the tresse in such
forme as the king of Scotland beareth the same, except that their lions be placed in a blacke
field, as Holinshed hath noted. Which Lion being chancellor was slaine in the yeare of our
Lord one thousand three hundred and eightie, being about the tenth yeare of the same Robert the second, who after banished the earle of Crawford.
Gilbert Grenlaw bishop of Aberden, being chancellor about the yeare that the word
Gilbert Grenlaw.
became flesh, one thousand foure hundred and eleuen in the vacancie of the kingdome, vnder
duke Mordacke, betweene the death of Robert the second (which fell in the yeare of Christ
one thousand foure hundred and six, and the beginning of the reigne of lames the first, in
the yeare of our Lord God one thousand foure hundred twentie and six) was sent ambassador into France with other noblemen of Scotland, touching which, thus writeth Lesleus lib. 7.
pag. 270. "Mortuo interea Roberto Scotiæ gubernatore, filius eius Mordacus regni
procurator designatur. A quo Carolus septimus Francorum rex (in patris quoque locum
suffectus) per legatos auxilium contra Anglos postulat. Assensus ille est, & eosdem duces
(quos paulò ante in Franciam in copijs traiecisse commemorauimus) cum valido militum
manu Gallo subsidio remisit. Cum eis quoque Gilbertus Grenlau episcopus Aberdonensis,
vir magnæ inter regni primores singularem ob prudentiam auctoritatis, qui cancellariatus magistratum magna gessit dexteritate, in Galliam mittitur legatus, qui regem Carolum consolaretur, & certiorem faceret eos, qui Galliam aduenerant, & totius Scotiæ incolas, adeò in eius
fide & amore perstare, vt se atque bona omnia, pro illius Francorúmque salute tribuere ex
animo, sunt parati: ídque rei exitus probabit." After which ambassage in France this
Gilbert liued not verie long, for Henrie Lichton, who came shortlie in his place of the bishoprike, was with other sent ambassador into England, to fetch home Iames the first, and
to inuest him in the crowne of Scotland.
William Creichton knight, whom Lesleus termeth the wisest man that euer Scotland saw,
William Creichton.
being chancellor to Iames the first, was (in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred
thirtie and three, about the ninth yeare of the same king lames) with the earle of Angus,
and Adam Hepborne of Hales, sent to the castle of Dunbar, with letters signed with the
kings hand, directed to the keepers of the castle to deliuer the same to the bringers thereof:
which the keepers of that castle durst not disobeie, but permitted them to enter accordinglie.
After this, in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred thirtie and fiue, and the
eleuenth of the same king, he was sent ambassador into Denmarke, where he concluded a
sound peace betweene the nations of Denmarke and Scotland; which good seruice being
well weied, he was after the death of lames the first, and in the entrance of Iames the second
into the gouernment of Scotland, in the yeare of Christ 1436, confirmed in his office of
chancellorship, besides which he had the gouernment of the kings person, and of the castle
of Edenburgh committed to his charge. Then by reason of contention which fell betweene
sir Alexander Leuingston the gouernour of the realme and this chancellor, they fell to parts
taking in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred thirtie and seuen, whereby insued
much mischeefe and bloudshed in the realme (as alwaies by my obseruation I haue found to
happen during the minoritie and the insufficiencie of kings) at what time the queene taking part with the gouernor against the chancellor, found means by subtiltie to get the king
into hir possession out of the hands of the chancellor, after that she had handsomlie trussed
vp the king in a troonke like a fardell full of apparell, wherevpon the gouernor besieged
the chancellor in the castle of Edenburgh, but in the end they agreed that Creichton should
still keepe the castle of Edenburgh and his office of chancellor.
That doone, in the yeare one thousand foure hundred thirtie and nine, and the third yeare
of lames the second, the chancellor obteined to haue the queene Dowager, and hir husband
Iames Steward lord of Lorne released out of the prison of Sterling, whither they were committed by the gouernor. Which doone the chancellor keeping in mind the deceit of the
queene, in ouerreaching him, by getting the king out of his possession, and seeing the
gouernor to take the whole authoritie on him at his pleasure, did so worke that he found
meanes, that he onlie accompanied with foure and twentie persons, did againe get the king
(as he was one morning hunting in Sterling parke) into his possession, whom he carried
with him into the castle of Edenburgh, wherewith the gouernor was greeuouslie displeased,
but not able to remedie the same, there was an agreement made betweene the chancellor
and him, that the king should remaine in the custodie of the chancellor, and the gouernor
continue his office in administrating the affaires of the realme. Wherevpon in the yeare of
Christ one thousand foure hundred and fortie, and the fourth yeare of lames the second,
the gouernor and the chancellor assemble a councell of the nobilitie at Edenburgh. In the
yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred fortie and foure, being the eight of the same
lames the second, both the gouernor and the chancellor (at the persuasion of William earle
Dowglas) were remooued from their offices by the king, who being now about fourteene
yeres old, had taken the absolute gouernment of the kingdome vpon him: besides which
they were also put from the councell, their friends were banished the court, and they were
summoned to appeare before the king, which they refused, not as giltie in conscience, but
as fearing the crueltie of their enimies, wherevpon they were proclaimed rebels and put to
the horne, which occasioned William Dowglasse the chancellors great enimie to gather a
power and spoile the lands of this William Creichton, for requitall wherof, Creichton gathered a like power, entred the land of Dowglasse, and spoiled the same all that he could,
which thing adding further heat to the Dowglasse, caused him to procure the king in the
yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred fortie and fiue, being the ninth yeare of the kings
reigne, to demand of Creichton the deliuerie of the castles of Edenburgh and of Creichton,
which he denieng to doo vntill the king came to full age, had all his goods confscat, hauing
therein no iniurie doone vnto him, for as saith Lesleus: "Primus omnium sanciuerat
Lesleus lib. 8. pag. 297.
Creichtonus, vt qui regi castrum aliquod postulanti restiterit, violatæ maiestatis arcessatur,
cuius ille legis pœnam primus subijt," as did he which deuised Phalaris bull. But after when
the king had besieged Edenburgh castle nine moneths, Creichton being therein, the same
was deliuered with condition, that Creichton should still remaine chancellor, which obteined,
he neuer after delt in the affairs of the commonwelth, whereby growing again into the
kings fauour, he was with others in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred fortie
& six, being the tenth of Iames the second, sent ambassador to the duke of Gelderland to
obteine Marie the dukes daughter to wife for the king, which he brought to passe. All
which notwithstanding in the yeare following he fell againe into the princes disgrace, and
was by parlement holden in the yere of Christ one thousand foure hundred fortie and seuen,
forfaited, for that his seruants would not deliuer Creichtons house or castle to the king, as
before you haue heard. But after as it seemeth, such is the mutahilitie of fortune, he returned into the kings grace, for which in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred
and fiftie, he was by the earle Dowglasse (supposing him to be the cause that the king
misliked the earle) assaulted one morning as he was comming out of the castle of Edenburgh, from which although wounded, he escaped vnto his castle of Creichton, where in
short space after he assembled a power, recouered Edenburgh from the Dowglasse, and had
destroied the earle at that present, if he had not shifted awaie more speedilie: who being
thus dishonorablie chased from Edenburgh, drew the erle of Crawford and Rosse to ioine
with him against Creichton, but he little esteeming thereof and requiting good for euill, did
in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred fiftie and three, or a thousand foure hundred fiftie and foure as some haue, procure a pardon for the earle of Crawford, greeuouslie
fallen into the kings displeasure. In which yeare also the king calling a parlement at Edenburgh, the earldome of Murreie was giuen to sir Iames Creichton, or rather restored to him,
from whom it had beene wrongfullie taken by the iniust sentence of William earle of Dowglasse, who had procured it to be assigned to his brother Archibald Dowglasse, although
the right remained in the same sir Iames Creichton. But yet when the same sir Iames
could not keepe that earledome without the enuie of diuers persons, he surrendred the same
into the kings hands. Beside all which at this parlement was George Creichton created earle
of Cathnesse, which I thought good to note in this place, because it touched the name of
Creichton, whereof I doo now intreat by reason of this chancellor.
Andrew Steward lord of Anandale was chancellor of Scotland in the yere of Christ one
Andrew Steward.
thousand foure hundred three score and eight, being about the eight yeare of the reigne of
king Iames the third, & was sent with others into Norweie to conclude a mariage with the
king of Denmarke, betweene his daughter Margaret & the king of Scots, which ladie he
brought with him into Scotland in Iulie, at what time they were married accordinglie. Some
yeares after which, that is about the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred foure score
and two, and the two and twentith of Iames the third, when Alexander Steward Duke of
Albanie with the duke of Glocester were come vnto Rastalrig with the English power, this
man amongst others, was sent to the English campe to treat with the two dukes, with
whom in the end an agréement was made. By which the duke of Albanie, before fled out
of Scotland, was restored home, and had both honors and offices bestowed on him; who
with this chancellor & other noble men had the gouernment of the kingdome for a certeine
space: during which time, this duke the chancellor and others, going to visit the queene at
Sterling, the duke by the queenes persuasion without knowledge of the other, went to
Edenburgh, and by force restored the king to libertie, before taken and kept in hold by
some of the nobilitie, which being knowne to the chancellor and the other lords at Sterling,
they fled to their owne countries.
Iames Beton archbishop of Glascow was chancellor in the yeare of Christ one thousand
Iames Beton.
fiue hundred & thirteene, being the first yeare of king Iames the fift. This man being of
great wisdome, was appointed amongst others to assist the quéene in the gouernment of the
realme, wherevnto she was for a time aduanced: but the woman not induring to be directed
by others, taking quarell against the bishop, did immediatlie after the mariage, performed
the sixt of August, in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred and fouretéene, betwéene
hir and Archibald Dowglasse earle of Angus (which this bishop incountred as much as he
could) take the great seale from the said bishop of Glascow, at saint Iohns towne, whervpon
the bishop got him to Edenburgh, and assisted with manie lords, kept the quéene and hir
husband out of that towne, whereby great dissention and part taking was raised amongst
the nobilitie of the realme. But as I gather, peace being made betwéene them, he was
againe made chancellor. After this, in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred and
fiftéene, he commeth with the earle of Arrane, who submitteth himselfe to the gouernor.
Shortlie following, the gouernor gaue to this archbishop of Glascow the abbeie of Arbroth,
assigning to the earle of Murreie a large pension out of the same, which bishop being thus
in fauor with the gouernor, was (in the yere of Christ one thousand fiue hundred and seuenteene in Maie, when the gouernor went into France) appointed, amongst others, to haue
the rule of the realme vntill his returne. Two yeares after which, the nobilitie being diuided
about the quarell of the earle of Angus & Arrane, this bishop in the yeare of Christ one
thousand fiue hundred and ninetéene, being then also chancellor, with other noble men of
the realme, kept the towne of Glascow; but after that, this chancellor who would not come
to Edenburgh, the king of England and of France their ambassadors came to Sterling, where
a peace was proclamed amongst the nobilitie.
But what can long continue in one staie, or what peace will be long imbraced amongst
ambitious minds? sith in the yeare following, being the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue
hundred and twentie, the noble men fell againe to factions: for when diuerse of the peeres
were come to Edenburgh to aid the earle of Angus against the earle of Arrane (this chancellor remaining then in the towne) they pursued the earle and chancellor so hotlie, that they
were both constreined to forsake the towne, and to flie through the north Loch, about the
thirtith daie of Aprill. But as the euents of quarels be doubtfull, now vp now downe, so
this archbishop not long after this disgrace, recouered breath, and in Nouember following,
did accompanie the regent come out of France to Edenburgh, where was a parlement holden,
to summon the earle of Angus to appeare; but he refusing, it was agréed that the earle
should passe into England there to remaine.
The bishop thus hauing the better of his enimies, Andrew Forman bishop of S. Andrews
died, in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred twentie and two, being about the ninth yeare
of Iames the first, by occasion whereof, this chancellor Iames Beton bishop of Glascow was
aduanced to that sée, and further made abbat of Dumfermling. Vpon which new honor,
in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred twentie and foure, he was appointed one
of the gouernors of the realme by parlement: but he not possessing this honor anie long
time, the earle of Angus (who had gotten the king into his vsurped gouernment, and denied
the deliuerie of the king, being sent for by this bishop and the other nobilitie) sent to the
chancellor for the great seale, which was deliuered to the messengers: vpon which, this
bishop not forgetting the same, hastened the sentence of diuorce sued before him, betwéene
the quéene and the earle of Angus. Whereof the earle, to reuenge the same, did with the
king, in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred twentie and six, séeke for the quéene
and the bishop of saint Andrews: but because they were kept secretlie in their friends
houses (so that they could not be heard of) he spoiled the abbeie of Dumfermling, and
the castell of saint Andrews, taking awaie all that the archbishop had. Notwithstanding
which, the archbishop kéeping in fauor with the old quéene and the yoong king, did in
the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred twentie and nine, and the sixtéenth yeare of
Iames the fift, christen Iames the kings sonne borne at saint Andrews, and not long after,
surrendered his soule to God in the said yeare one thousand fiue hundred thirtie and nine:
of whome it shall not gréeue me to set downe what Lesleus hath written, which though it
be some what long, yet because it is necessarie, I had rather set downe the plaine words of
the author, than by abridging of them into our toong, to depriue the author of his due by his
owne stile: thus therefore he writeth.
"Iacobus Betonius archiepiscopus Santandreapolitanus, qui maximis reipublicæ honoribus
Lesleus lib. 9. pag. 450.
summaque gloria apud nos quàm diutissimè floruerat, ætate iam grandior, naturæ concedebat,
ac in æde sancti Andreæ tumulo honorificè tegebatur. Hic antistes quosdam, quos egregiè
charos habuit, viuus constituebat, vt in beneficia sibi mortuo sufficeretur. In episcopatum
autem Santandreapolitanum, ac in abbathiam Arbrothensem, vir summa prudentia, & animi
magnitudine præstans Dauid Betonius cardinalis, eius ex fratre nepos, in abbathiam verò Dumfirmlingensem Georgius Dureus, in alia denique alij: quam illius voluntatem rex non impediuit, quo minis illi, quos archiepiscopus ante obitum constituerat, beneficijs liberè frue,
rentur: ne cuius viui mentem semper laudaret, euis mortui voluntatem malitiosè videretur
rescidisse. Hic archiepiscopus præcipuum illius collegij quod nouum Santandreapoli dicitur,
partim suo sumptu excitauit, ac maximam pecuniæ vim qua reliqua pars inchoata perpoliretur,
testato reliquit: verùm pecunia illa in alios vsus postea traducta, collegij ius (ne quid acriùs
dicam) perierat." Thus much Lesle, and thus much I, touching this chancellor, spoken of
also in my treatise of the archbishops of sant Andrews.
Gawen Dunbar archbishop of Glascow, and the kings schoolemaister, was chancellor as
appeareth by Lesleus lib. 9. pag. 399. who in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred twentie and two, writeth: "Non multo post Andreas Formannus episcopus Santandreapolitanus vitâ cessit, huius quàm primu honore ac titulo insigniebatur Iacobus Betonus
archiepiscopus Glascuensis, qui quidem archiepiscopatus omniu summa voluntate cessit præstatissimo cuidam viro Gawino Dunbarro; cui quòd recoditæ eruditionis, sinceræ vitæ consilijque grauissimi laudibus præstiterit, regis tenella ætas moribus doctrinàque informanda
credebatur, quem intimis sensibus ita dilexit rex, vt sui intimi concilii socium, regníque cancellarium postea illum coaptauerat."
Dauid Beton (the brothers sonne of Iames Beton deceased archbishop of saint Andrews)
was chancellor of Scotland, who being abbat of Arbroth, was with others sent ambassador
into France in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred thirtie and foure, being the
one and twentith yeare of the gouernment of Iames the fift, for to procure the earle of Vandosmes sister in mariage for the king; but the same tooke not effect, because the king going
in person into France liked hir not. About thrée yeares after, which was in the yeare of
Christ one thousand fiue hundred thirtie and seuen, and the foure and twentith yeare of
Iames the fift, this Dauid was aduanced to the honor of a cardinall, of which title I doo not
at this time remember, that euer I haue read anie other to haue inioied but Walter Wardlaw,
of whome Onuphrius thus writeth: "Walterus episcopus Glascuensis presbyter cardinalis
Two cardinals onelie in Scotland.
creatus, anno Domini 1383, 10 kalend. Ianua. 6 pontificatus Clemētis 7, obijt inter annum
1400, & 1409," whome the Scotish histories make cardinall somewhat before in the yeare
one thousand three hundred fourscore and two, about the eleuenth yeare of Robert the second (at what time with others he was sent to Charles king of France as ambassador to renew
the league betweene France & Scotland) by Paul the third, then pope of Rome, to whom
also the king of France gaue in commendam the bishoprike of Miropen: of the making of
which Beton cardinall, thus the same Onuphrius writeth: "Dauid de sancto Andrea Scotus
episcopus Miropiensis presbyter cardinalis tituli sancti Stephani in Cælio monte creatus, anno
Domini, 1538, 13 kalend. Ianuar. per Paulum tertiū, anno pontificatus 13." In which
words Onuphrius, and Lesleus following him, refer the creation of this cardinall vnto the
yeare one thousand fiue hundred thirtie and eight, though others attribute it to the yeare
one thousand fiue hundred thirtie and seuen. In which yeare one thousand fiue hundred
thirtie and eight, he was with others sent ambassador into France after the death of the
quéene, to procure Marie of Lorreine widow duchesse of Longuile, and daughter to the duke
of Guise, to be giuen to king Iames in mariage; which matter he brought to his desired
effect.
The next yeare after, being the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred thirtie and
mine, as you haue heard before, he was by his vncle Iames Beton archbishop of sainct Andrews, & abbat of Arbroth, appointed to succéed in the same bishops sée and abbeie, which
he inioied accordinglie: who aduanced with these dignities, did after the death of Iames the
fift, falling in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred fortie and two, labor by policies and other extraordinarie deuises to be gouernor of the realme, during the minoritie of
the yoong queene; but he was disappointed thereof by the nobilitie, who chose the earle
of Arrane to that function; by meanes whereof, there fell continuall dissentions betwéene
the nobilitie, which ended not vntill this cardinall was slaine as after it shall appeare. For
shortlie after in the said yeare one thousand fiue hundred fortie and two being committed to
ward (in the castle of Dalketh vnder the custodie of the lord Seton, smallie fauoring the
French faction) because he would haue persuaded the nobilitie to forsake the motion of the
K. of England, determining to marie his son prince Edward to the yoong quéene of Scots,
But the cardinall did not long remaine there; for by the gouernors appointment he was remoued to his owne castell of S. Andrews, hauing watch and ward about him, to see him
safelie kept, in which place also he did not long continue: for corrupting his keepers he
found meanes to escape; which doone, in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred fortie and
thrée, he came to the coronation of the yoong queene, and shortlie after persuaded the earle
of Arrane the gouernor to leaue the part of the king of England, and wholie to become
French.
Now at the coronation, the cardinall ordered all things, appointing euerie officer, and
growing into great credit, did in like sort at other times dispose of the common-wealth as
séemed best liking vnto him. Wherevpon, the earle of Leneux taking part with the English, opposed himselfe against the gouernor and the cardinall, whereby followed sharpe
warres, the cardinall still supporting and counselling the gouernor: which troubles being
somewhat abated, by reason the earle of Leneux was gone into England, the cardinall in
the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred fortie and foure, receiued the patriarch of
Ierusalem arriued in Scotland. In which meane time, there was great contention betwéene
the cardinall and the archbishop of Glascow, for bearing their crosses in the others iurisdiction: wherevpon they fell from words to swords, which the gouernor appeased: that doone,
the patriarch the popes legat comming to Rome, procured the legantine power to be granted
to this cardinall, which he long inioied not. For being greatlie enuied by reason of these
honors & some gréeuous facts, certeine persons in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred
fortie and six (after that he had burned George Wischart a learned man, condemned at saint
Andrews by an assemblie of bishops) did the thirtéenth daie of Maie (when they had
secretlie in the morning entered the castell of saint Andrews where the cardinall was)
expell the porters of the foresaid castell, the cardinals seruants, and slue the cardinall
naked as he came to méete them, whose death sir Iames Liermount prouost of saint Andrews
thought to haue staied by assembling a power therefore: but after that he saw the cardinals
dead bodie hanged out ouer the wals, he made no further attempt. The death of which
cardinall comming to the gouernors eares, he banished the author thereof, as writeth Lesleus
in these words: "Gubernator, quod nec cognato suo sanguinis coniunctio, nec cardinall
Lesleus lib. 10. pag. 482.
dignitas, nec cancellario maiestas ac domus propria, ad impiorum insidias effugendas quiequam profuerit, ægerrimè ferre. Consilio itaque Huntlei ac Argadij suasu indicto, in cædis
auctores capitis proscriptionisque sententia data est."
George Gordon earie of Huntleie, sonne of Iohn Gordon, being chancellor of Scotland,
George Gordon.
in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred fortie and seauen, falling about the fift
yeare of the reigne of Marie quéen of Scots, was taken prisoner by the English at Muskelborow field, who pirieng the miserie of diuerse of his countriemen, wounded and taken at
the same battell, did vndertake for their ransome; wherevpon they were permitted to depart,
and left to shift for themselues as well as they might. In the next yeare, which was the
yeare of Christ (as hath Lesleus one thousand fiue hundred fortie and eight) the protector
of Scotland sent Carnegie knight and senator to the protector of England, to ransome Huntleie, or at the least to obteine that his wife might come vnto him. Wherevpon the earle
was with his keepers permitted to come to Morphet, where expecting his wife, he thought
vpon his escape, and from thense after supper, deceiuing his warders, he fled by night into
Scotland, through the aid of one George Carre his déere friend, who prouided him speedie
horsses therefore. The earle being thus come into Scotland, was ioifullie interteined of the
quéene, the gouernor, and the other nobilitie; but chiefelie of his wife, whose earnest desire to sée him was the occasion of his escape. But as all ioie hath some hard hap for the
most part attending vpon the same; so this earle did after féele the force of like misfortune.
For about seuen yeares after, in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and
foure, he was againe committed to prison as after shall appeare. Before which, in the yeare
of Christ one thousand fiue hundred and fiftie, he with other noble men goeth into France
with the queene mother of Scotland; but before that iournie, whilest he was preparing for
the same, he commanded William Mackintosch chiefe of the Glenchattins to be executed
at Stratbolgie, for a priuie conspiracie made against him, being the kings lieutenant in the
north parts. Which thing raised a great commotion like to haue succéeded to great slaughters
(in that the earle of Cassels and manie others fauored Mackintosch) if the wisdome of the
quéene mother had not appeased the same.
After that the queene mother had bin in France, she in the same yeare of Christ one
thousand fiue hundred and fiftie, returned into Scotland through England: but the earle
Huntleie warilie fearing to fall into the dangers of the English (whome he thought would
not forget his escape from them) returned by sea into his owne countrie: after which, when
he had beene about foure yeares in Scotland, the quéene mother regent in the yeare of
Christ one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and foure, sent this earle Huntleie into Heitland to
take Iohn Mudriad: but returning without him, he was committed to prison in Edenburgh
the eleuenth of October: at what time the regent changed all the officers, tooke awaie the
great seale from this earle Huntleie the chancellor, and gaue it to monsieur Rubie a
Monsieur Rubie keeper of the great seale.
Frenchman, which monsieur Rubie thus made kéeper of the great seale in the said yeare of Christ
one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and foure, and the twelfth yeare of Marie queene of Scots,
had the vse of the same seale in the place of the earle Huntleie then chancellor in ward.
But the earle of Huntleie after being set at libertie, it seemeth that he was still chancellor.
For besides that Lesleus saith that he was restored to all his dignities (except the earldome
of Murreie, whereof he had a gift of inheritance, the earldome of Marre, the farmes of Orkeneie & Heitland, and the queenes land at Straitsdie, all which he gaue for his libertie) he
is also by the Scotish histories named still chancellor, in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue
hundred threescore and one, and the ninetéenth yeare of quéene Marie, being then by the
nobilitie amongst other, chosen to be of the priuie councell. Of whome before this also
Lesleus writeth, that in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and nine, the
quéene hauing receiued a bill of supplication from the protestants: "Illa hune protinus libellum supplicem per Huntleum regni cancellarium synodo exhibendum, vt de illis definiret
reddidit."
After this, in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred thrée score and two, in October being the twentith yeare of the same quéene, he was in the faction betwéene him and
others (for diuerse misdemeanors also, vpon his comming with an armie to Cornethie in
Mar) staine, and Iohn Gordon his sonne taken prisoner, brought to Aberdine, the nine and
twentith of October, and there beheaded. Now for the other chancellors which followed in
succession of time, because they fall yet fresh in memorie, and some mention is made of
them in this my continuation of these annals; I doo not intend to make anie double recitall
of them in that place, being a thing superfluous so to doo; & therefore, & because "Omne
nimium vertitur in vitium" (whereto the lawiers agrée saieng, that "Frustra fit per plura
quod fieri potest per pauciora") I will referre thée for the supplement of this title of the
chancellors, to the same continuation of my annals, there at thy pleasure to collect and dispose them, as best shall serue thine owne memorie or knowledge.
Wherefore leauing them, and returning to the consideration of other things, which following time hath begotten and brought foorth in Scotland: we saie, that as the quéene of
England had before time, after the taking of Sterling, sent maister Knolles into Scotland to
vnderstand the estate of these times: so in like sort the Scots with like congratulation, dispatched a messenger vnto the quéene of England, by whome she might haue knowledge of
such things as were after doone. For maister William Keith one of the chamber to the
king, was sent from the king of Scots to the quéene of England in the same moneth of
William Keith sent into England.
December, a little before Christmas with letters, who comming to the court then remaining
at Gréenewich, did there make deliuerie of the same letters. During whose abode here in
England, some of those which had before assisted the earles of Angus and Marre, against
such as séemed to nourish the king in the Romane religion, fell from their former opinion,
& either for loue to the same Romane religion, or for malice to other of the nobilitie, or for
a desire to be singular to themselues, imbraced the abolished doctrine of the pope, & set vp
the ceremonie of Italic. Amongst whome, one, not of the meanest, the lord Maxwell, who
The lord Maxwell beareth masse.
had maried the earle of Angus his sister, did in Ianuarie aduance the same, and heard masse
at Linclouden a mile from Dumfries, contrarie to the publike laws appointed in Scotland.
Wherof intelligence being brought vnto the king, he forthwith dispatched a messenger vnto
him, commanding him to surcease the same. But the lord Maxwell persisting in that his former action, was (in the end apprehended, and vpon the refusall of an oth touching the same,
according to the lawes of Scotland) committed to prison in Edenburgh, where he long remained.
These things thus doone in Scotland, the aforenamed maister Keith departed from London
Maister Randolph goeth into Scotland.
towards that countrie, about the foure and twentith of lanuarie, with answer that hir maiestie
of England would shortlie send an ambassador into Scotland, who should fullie satisfie the
king in all things, and further deliuer vnto him the full of hir maiesties determination.
Wherevpon Thomas Randolph esquier, a person who had manie times before executed that
function in those countries, and was well acquainted both with the state & maners of the people, was by the quéene of England dispatched into those parts; who being so authorised,
tooke his iourneie from London towards Scotland on the eight daie of Februarie. After
1586.
which, in Aprill following, maister Archibald Dowglasse (one that had beene sometime of
the session or parlement of Edenburgh) hauing remained some yeares here in England,
vpon displeasures which the king of Scots conceiued against him, did make his returne into
his owne countrie, where he behaued himselfe so wiselie, that he obteined great fauor after
his returne home. In this yeare, the presbyterie (as they had manie times doone before,
but especiallie in the yeare of Christ one thousand flue hundred fourescore and three, which
I thought to note in this place, because I would not often vse repetition of one thing doone
at seuerall times in so manie places) did excommunicat their metropolitan the archbishop of
S. Andrews, and the rest of the bishops also, because they would not in all their actions,
support and confirme the doctrine which the presbyterie had established. Which excommunication the presbyterie did the more boldlie, because they were supported by the assistance of the maister of Lindseie, a great enimie to this Patrike Adamson bishop of saint
Andrews.
But the king in the beginning did assist him against them, and the archbishop did in like
sort thunder an excommunication against them. Which diuision not being méete to be in
the cleargie, who ought to be (as the apostles were) of one hart, and of one mind, will in
the end as Christ saith, bring the same realme to confusion: for "Omne regnum in se
diuisum desolabitur:" which must néedes be, where euerie man will be a lord, & that the
inferior of the clergie will neither acknowledge nor obeie anie superiors. In which place,
sith I haue mentioned Patrike Adamson the archbishop of saint Andrews, because I shall
not haue occasion to speake anie more of him, I will here set downe a collection of all the
archbishops of that sée.
