of the Earl of Lennox.
In the beginning of the winter the Earl of Lennox came to Scotland, sent from France in hatred of the Governor, whom the King, by the Cardinal's advice, promised to pronounce bastard, and so make the said Earl Governor. The Cardinal further put the Earl in vain hope that the Queen Dowager would marry him. He brought with him some money, and more he afterwards received from the hands of La Broche. But, at length, perceiving himself frustrated of all expectation that he had either from the King of France, or yet from the promise of the Cardinal, he concluded to seek the favour of England, and began to draw a faction against the Governor.
In hatred of the other's inconstancy, many favoured him in the beginning. At Yule there assembled in the town of Ayr, the Earls of Angus, Glencairn, and Cassillis, the Lords Maxwell and Somerville, the Laird of Drumlanrig, and the Sheriff of Ayr, with all the force that they and the Lords that remained constant to England might make. After Yule they came to Leith. The Governor and Cardinal, with their forces, kept Edinburgh, for they were slackly pursued. Men excused the Earl of Lennox in this matter, and laid the blame upon some that had no good will towards the regiment of the Stuarts. However it was, the said Earl of Lennox was disappointed of his purpose, and narrowly escaped; and first got himself to Glasgow, and after that to Dumbarton. Sir George Douglas was delivered to be kept as pledge. The Earl his brother was taken at the siege of Glasgow in the following Lent. It was bruited that both the brethren and others with them would have lost their heads if, by the providence of God, the English army had not arrived sooner.
Cardinal Beaton stirs up Strife betwixt his Enemies.
After the Cardinal had got the Governor wholly under his control, and had obtained his desires concerning a part of his enemies, he began to practise that such as he feared and therefore hated should be set by the ears, one against another. In that, thought the carnal man, stood his greatest security. The Lord Ruthven he hated, by reason of his knowledge of God's Word: the Lord Gray he feared, because at that time he sought the company of such as professed godliness, and bare small favour to the Cardinal. Now the worldly-wise man reasoned thus: "If I can put enmity betwixt those two, I shall be quit of a great number of unfriends; for the most part of the country will either assist the one or the other; and, otherwise occupied, they will not watch for my displeasure." Without long process, he found the necessary means; for he laboured with John Charteris, a man of stout courage and many friends, to accept the provostship of Perth, which he purchased[54] to him by donation of the Governor, with a charge to the said town to obey him as their lawful provost. Thereat, not only the said Lord Ruthven, but also the town was offended. These gave a negative answer, alleging that such intrusion of men into office was hurtful to their privilege and freedom. This granted unto them free election of their provost from year to year, at a certain time appointed, and this they could not or would not prevent.[55]
The said John, offended hereat, said that he would occupy that office by force, if they would not give it unto him of benevolence; and so departed, and communicated the matter with the Lord Gray, with Norman Leslie, and with other friends. These he easily persuaded to assist him in that pursuit, because he appeared to have the Governor's right, and had not only a charge to the town, but also had purchased letters empowering him to besiege it and to take it by strong hand, if any resistance were made unto him. These letters made many favour his action. The other party made for defence, and the Master of Ruthven (the Lord that afterwards departed to England) undertook the maintenance of the town, having in his company the Laird of Moncrieffe, and other neighbouring friends.
The Fight for the Provostship of Perth.
The said John made frack for the pursuit; and upon the Magdalene's day, in the morning, anno 1543, approached with his forces, the Lord Gray taking upon him the principal charge. Norman Leslie, with his friends, should have come by ship, with munition and ordnance, and they were in readiness. But because the tide served not soon, the other, thinking himself of sufficient force for all that were in the town, entered by the bridge. They found no resistance until the foremost were well within the Fish Gate, when the Master of Ruthven, with his company, stoutly rencountered them, and so rudely repulsed them that such as were behind gave back. The place of the retreat was so strait, that men durst not fight, and could not flee at their pleasure, for Lord Gray and his friends were upon the bridge. The slaughter was great; for there fell by the edge of the sword threescore men. The Cardinal had rather that the unhap had fallen on the other side; but, howsoever it was, he thought that such trouble was for his comfort and advantage. The knowledge of this came unto the ears of the party that had received the discomfiture, and was unto them no small grief. Many of them had entered into that action for his pleasure, and thought they should have had his fortification and assistance. Finding themselves frustrated, they began to look more narrowly to themselves, and did not so much attend upon the Cardinal's devotion, as they had been wont to do. Thus was a new jealousy engendered amongst them; for whosoever would not play to him the good valet was reputed amongst his enemies.
Treachery of the Cardinal.
The Cardinal drew the Governor to Dundee; for he understood that the Earl of Rothes and Master Henry Balnaves were with the Lord Gray in the Castle of Huntly. The Governor sent command to the said Earl and Lord, with the foresaid Master Henry, to come unto him to Dundee, and appointed the next day, at ten o'clock forenoon. This hour they decreed to keep; and for that purpose assembled their folks at Balgavie. They were more than three hundred men, and the Cardinal, informed of their number, thought it not good that they should join with the town, for he feared his own estate; and so he persuaded the Governor to pass forth from Dundee before nine o'clock, and to take the straight road to Perth. The Lords, perceiving this, began to fear that they were come to pursue them, and so put themselves in order and array, and marched forward of purpose to have bidden[56] the uttermost.
The crafty fox, foreseeing that his security stood not in fighting, ran to his last refuge, that is, to manifest treason; and consultation was taken as to how the force of the others might be broken. And at the first, the Laird of Grange and the Provost of St. Andrews, knowing nothing of treason, were sent to ask, "Why they molested my Lord Governor in his journey?" Thereto they answered that "nothing was less their intention; for they had come at his Grace's commandment, to keep the hour in Dundee appointed by him. When they saw this prevented, and knew the Cardinal to be their unfriend, they could not but suspect their coming forth of the town contrary to previous arrangement. They had therefore put themselves in order, not to invade, but to defend in case they were invaded." This answer being reported, there was sent to them the Archbishop of St. Andrews, Master David Panter, and the Lairds of Buccleuch and Coldinknowes, to desire certain of the other company to talk with them. This was easily obtained, for they suspected no treason. After long communication, it was demanded whether the Earl and Lord and Master Henry foresaid would not be content to talk with the Governor, provided that the Cardinal and his company were off the ground? They answered that the Governor might command them in all things lawful, but that they had no will to be at the Cardinal's mercy. Fair enough promises were made for their security. Then the Cardinal and his band were commanded to depart; and, according to the purpose taken, he did so.
The Governor remained, and another with him; and, without company, the said Earl, Lord, and Master Henry came to him. After many fair words given unto them all, protesting that he would have them agreed with the Cardinal, and that he would have Master Henry Balnaves the worker and instrument thereof, he drew them forward with him towards Perth, whither the Cardinal had ridden. When it was too late, they began to suspect, and desired to have returned to their folk. But it was answered, "They should send back from the town, but they must needs go forward with my Lord Governor." And so, partly by flattery and partly by force, they were compelled to obey. As soon as ever they were within the town they were apprehended, and upon the morn all three were sent to Black Ness. There they remained so long as it pleased the Cardinal's graceless Grace, and that was until bond of manrent[57] and of service set some of them at liberty. Thus the Cardinal with his craft prevailed on every side; so that the Scots proverb was true in him, "So long runs the fox, as he foot has."
The Persecution
