Posted by Prospero Santacroce Publicola. on June 27, 2004 at 11:22:07:
Prospero Santacroce Publicola, (Rome 1513-1589) apostolical nuncio, cardinal (1564),administrator of Arles in 1566-1574, Bishop of Albano (1589); he wrote De civilibus Galliae
dissensionibus in 1562.
LIBER DECIMUSQUINTUS.THE FIFTEENTH BOOK: THE King dying in the flower of his age rather of grief than any disease, the tumults of
the former times were rather hush?d asleep than compos?d, to that wise men foresaw so great a tempest impending over Scotland as they had never heard of the like in ancient records, nor had themselves seen any like. The King had not so much as ordered his own domestick affairs, but had left a daughter, born about 8 days
before his death, heiress to the crown. As for those of the Nobility who had born any sway,either they were kill?d in battel or else were banish?d or taken prisoners by the enemy. And if they had been at home, yet by reason of private animosities or of dissension on the account of religion, which were stifled out of fear during the King?s life, but, now that restraint being
taken off, were likely to break forth, they were at discord amongst themselves, so that they were not likely to act like sober men. And besides, they had war abroad against a most puissant King,and how he would use his victory every one spoke severally according to his hope or fear. He that was the second heir and next to the crown, as he was not commonly reported to have much of virtue even for the management of his private life, so he was as little noted for counsel or valour to manage a kingdom. As for the Cardinal, he, thinking that in these publick calamities he
might have an opportunity to greaten himself, that he might shew himself somebody both to his order and also to the French faction, undertook an attempt both bold and impudent. For he hired Henry Balfore, a mercenary priest, to suborn a false will of the Kings wherein he himself was nominated to the supream authority with three of the potentest of the Nobility to be his
Assessors. He conceived an hope that his project would succeed from the disposition of the Earl of Arran, which was not turbulent, but rather inclinable to quietness and rest. And besides, he was near of kin to him, for he was son to the Cardinal?s aunt. And further, he was one of those three persons who was assum?d into a partnership in the government. Moreover, the
opportunity to invade the supream power seem?d to require haste, that he might prevent [anticipate] the return of the prisoners, and of those that were banished, out of England, that so they might have no hand in conferring of his honour upon him, for he was afraid of their power and popularity; neither did he doubt but that their minds were alienated from him upon the score
of a different religion.
2. That was the cause that presently after the King?s death he published the edict concerning the chusing of four Governours for the kingdom. He also bribed some of the Nobles by promises and gifts to ingage them to his faction, and especially the Queen, who was somewhat disaffected to the adverse party. But Hamilton, the head of the contrary faction, was a man not ambitious, but rather willing to live in quiet (as was offer?d him), if his kindred would have suffer?d him. But they, studying their own humour and interest rather than his honour, night and day puffed up the mind of the young gentleman with strange hopes, and advised him by no means to let slip so fair an opportunity put in to his hands, for they had rather have things all in a combustion than to live in a fix?d and private condition of life. And besides, the hatred of the
Cardinal got them some friends, and the indignity of their bondage under a mercenary priest. They had also some appearance of hope, which, tho uncertain in it self, yet was not inefficacious
to stir up mens endeavours, that seeing Hamilton was the next heir, many of them entertained such thoughts as these, that a female so few days old, and which was the only person betwixt
him and the crown, might meet with many mischances, either casually or by the fraud of her supervisors, before she came to be marriageable. Thus they laid the foundation of the greatness
of the Hamilton?s for a long time after, yet so that it seemed most adviseable to them not to neglect the advantage with the present state of things did offer, and thus to cherish an hope of the
future advancement of the Hamilton?s; and if that hope did deceive them, yet it would not be difficult for them to regain the favour, or at least the pardon, of a new princess, who in the
beginning of her reign would study to win the respects of all men.
3. Whilst things were at this pass in Scotland, the King of England, out of his extraordinary joy for so unexpected a victory, sent for the chief of the Scotish prisoners up to London, where after they had been imprison?d in the Tower two days, on St. Thomas Day, which was the 20th of December, they were brought all through the City where it was the longest, as if they were to be shown as a publick spectacle to the people, and coming to Whitehal, the King?s court, they
were sharply reprov?d by the Chancellor as violators of the league; and after he had made a large discourse concerning the goodness and clemency of his King, who had remitted much of that rigour of justice he might have used towards them, they were distributed into several families, as to a larger prison. There were seven of the Nobility and twenty four of the gentry besides. But when the news came three days after that the King of Scots was dead, and had left one only daughter his heiress, Henry thought it a fit opportunity to conciliate and unite the minds both of Scots and English in a band of concord, by espousing his son to their Queen. Upon this,
he recalled the prisoners to Court and imployed some fit persons to feel their pulses in the case, where, being kindly entertained and promising to afford their assistance towards the match as far as they might without any detriment to the publick or their own dishonour, on the first of January at the beginning of the year 1543 they were all released and sent back towards Scotland. When they came to Newcastle and had given hostages to Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, as
to other matters they were free, and so returned home. There returned also with them the Douglas?s, two brothers being restored to their country, now fifteen years after their
banishment.
4. They were all received with the gratulation of the major part of the people. The Cardinal, who saw that this storm gathered against him, as making no doubt but the prisoners and the exiles would be both his contrariants in the Parliament, had taken care to be chosen Regent before their coming, but he injoy?d not that honour long, for within a few days, his fraud in counterfeiting the King?s will and testament being discovered, he was thrown out of his place,
and James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, made Regent. That which occasioned his setting up was because some were willing to curry favour with him as the next heir of the crown. Others foresaw so long before the cruelty of the Cardinal in matters of religion, and therefore provided against it by lessening his power. Their fear was increas?d upon this ground, that there was
found amongst the King?s papers after his death a list wherein the names of above 300 of the Nobility were contained as criminals, and, amongst them, he now chosen Regent was first to have been questioned. Whereupon, his election was very grateful to the most, because it seem?d the most probable medium to ease the grievances of many and to curb the pride of the priests. Besides, he himself did willingly read the books that contained controversies about religion, and the quietness and retirement of his former life, far remote from Court-ambition, made many hope that he would be sober and moderate in his government. Besides, being out of the magistracy, he had not yet discovered any unactiveness or sluggishness of mind. In a Parliament which was held in May, Sir Ralph Sadler came embassador from England in order to a marriage and setling a peace. Some of the Nobility he put in mind of their promise; others,
as report goes, he tempted with mony. The Queen, Cardinal, and the whole faction of priests were not only against this peace, but, by disturbing some Members and Counsellors and corrupting others, they would not suffer it so much as to be put to the vote, so that by the general consent of almost the whole Parliament the Cardinal was confin?d to his chamber till the question was put. When he was removed out of the way, the agreement was easily made as to
the Queen?s marriage, and other articles and hostages were promised to Henry to ratify the agreement. The Cardinal, at the instance of the Queen-Mother, was kept in a loose kind of custody by Seton, so was persuaded for a certain sum of mony a while after to let him go.
5. When peace seemed thus to be setled to the great advantage of both kingdoms after so great a fear of an imminent war, every body thought it would be a lasting one, and therefore the merchants, who for some years before had been hindred from trading, went thick and threefold to sea, and laded very many ships with the best commodities they could procure for the time allotted them so to do. Edinburgh sent out twelve ships; other cities of that circuit (which is the richest part of Scotland) rigg?d out ships, each according to their respective abilities. This fleet, in confidence of the peace with England, some of them drew nearer the shores than they needed to have done, and when the wind was calm there they lay at anchor. Others entred into the ports, open to the injuries of the English if any tumult of war should arise. About the same time, John Hamilton, Abbat of Pasley, and David Painter returned out of France. These men now
cast off the vizard wherewith before they had disguised themselves for many years and returned to their true manners, for, as if they had been educated, not in the school of piety, but of profaneness, they were the ring-leaders at Court to all manner of flagitiousness. The Cardinal, being restor?d to his liberty unexpectedly, being also of a proud disposition which was aggravated by the affront he had receiv?d and by the ignominy accruing on the detection of his fraud, sought out all occasions whatsoever to disturb this concord. First of all, he communicated the matter to the Queen Dowager, and they both took it in great indignation that the Douglasses (who for the many benefits they had received from the English must needs be their fast friends)should immediately, after so many years banishment, be admitted into the Parliament-House to debate the weightiest affairs of the kingdom. Besides, they all jointly feared a change of the
establish?d religion, the consequent whereof must needs be a breach of the league with France. Hereupon the Cardinal, by the consent of the Queen, summon?d a convocation of priests and extorted from them a great sum of mony, as fearing the universal ruin of the whole Papal Church. Part of this mony was paid to some of the Nobles of the adverse party, and many large promises were made them besides to persuade them not to gave any hostages to the English; and as for those who were newly return?d from their imprisonment and had left their children or kindred as hostages for their return, he desired them not to prefer those (otherwise dear) pledges before the laws, the publick safety, and their ancient religion, whose preservation was turn?d upon this hinge alone, and that they would not run willingly into a perpetual bondage.
6. Besides, he caused the ecclesiasticks to carry it proudly and disrespectfully towards the
English embassador, insomuch that the very rabble did reproach and abuse his retinue, and what
he said or did was all taken in the worst sense. But the embassador resolv?d to bear all affronts
and to tide it out till the day for delivering the hostages did approach, so that he might give no
occasion of a rupture on his part. And when the day was come he went to the Regent and
complained of affronts which had been offered, not so much to himself, as to his King whom he
represented, and how that the law of nations was violated thereby; and moreover, he desired
him to give hostages according to the tenor of the league newly made, that so the amity might be
kept sacred and inviolate to the mutual advantage of both nations. The Regent, as to the affronts
offered, excused himself, and said he was sorry for them, and that he would speedily search into
the matter so that the punishment of such petulant offenders should be a sufficient testimony of
the love and veneration he had for the English nation. But as to the hostages, he answered that he
could not obtain them with the good will of the States, neither was he able to compel them
without publick consent. For the government which he bore was such that he received as much
law as he gave, and therefore all his measures were disturb?d by the great sedition which, he
saw, the Cardinal had raised; that he was, as it were, carried down in the stream of popular
fury, and could scarce maintain his own station and dignity. The new hostages being thus
deny?d, there was another thing as weighty as that which fell under debate, and that was
concerning the Nobles lately taken prisoners of war, who upon their releasement had given
hostages and made solemn asseverations that, if there were not a peace concluded, as Henry
desired, upon just and fair terms, they would surrender themselves prisoners again. As for them,
the Cardinal?s faction and the rest of the ecclesiastical order dealt with them, partly by reasons
and partly by examples, not to prefer their estates, kindred, children, or any other thing which
might be dear to them before the love of their country. And moreover he threatned them with
auxiliaries from France, and that all Europe did conspire for the defence of their ancient rites
and religion; and if they acted contrary, they would betray their country, and thereby the ruin of
their ancient families would be imminent and at hand. They also desired them in so dangerous a
time not to forsake their country, for if that were safe they might hope for more kindred and
children, but if that were overthrown then all was gone. Moreover, they discoursed much
concerning the inexpiable hatred betwixt the nations, and of the cruelty of the King into whose
hands they were to come, thus blending truths and falshoods together. Moreover, they alleged the
decree of the Council of Constance, that all pacts, contracts, promises, and oaths made with
hereticks ought to be rescinded and made void.
7. The greatest part of those who were concerned in this matter were willing to hearken to
any colourable pretence for their fault, only there was one of them who for no pecuniary
consideration could be persuaded, no, nor by any threats deterred, from keeping his word, and
that was Gilbert Kennedy, Earl of Cassils. He had left two brothers hostages in England, and he
openly profess?d that neither for fear nor favour he would redeem his own life with the loss of
his brothers, but whatever came of it he would surrender himself back a prisoner, and so,
against the will of many, he undertook his journy straight to London. Henry very much
commended the resolute faithfulness of the young man, and, to the intent that all might know he
had an esteem for vertue, he richly rewarded him and sent him back with his two brothers into
Scotland. But Henry?s mind was not more pacified towards Gilbert than his anger was
implacable against the rest of the Scots, and thereupon he laid an embargo upon the Scots ships
in all English ports and harbours, of which there were a great number, as I said before, and so
presently denounced war. His threatnings were great, as against the violators, not only of
leagues, but even of the laws of nations. And yet, though Scotland stood in so dangerous a state,
the memory of alliances, the common love to their country, and the respect of the publick safety
were so far laid aside that the brands of sedition were kindled more fiercely than ever. For the
faction of the Cardinal and of the Queen Dowager, who were all for the French, sent over
ambassadors thither to tell them that, unless they sent in assistance, the matter was upon the very
point that England and Scotland would make a coalition into one government; and how such a
conjunction would concern France, the experience of former ages had shewn. But they made it
their chief request to the French that they would send back Matthew Stuart, Earl of Lennox, into
his own country, who did not only emulate [rival] the family of the Hamiltons, but was also their
deadly enemie, being they had slain his father at Linlithgoe. This young man was greatly
beloved, not only for his extraordinary beauty and stately garb in the very flower of his youth,
but chiefly upon the account of the memory of his father, who was so popular a man, and also
because he was a single man, and the extinction of such a noble family, now reduced to a few,
was in great hazard; besides, he had many clanships at home, and had also affinity with many
other great families. Furthermore, the former King had design?d him to be his next heir and
successor if he himself died without issue male, and he would have confirmed that his intention
by a decree of the States (who have the sovereign power to order such publick affairs) if his life
had been prolonged.
8. Yea, there were some flatterers which did elevate his generous mind, already rais?d up
with the expectation of great things but not so well fortified against fraudulent adulation, to
larger hopes. For, besides the supreme rule for about twenty years and the domination over his
old enemies, they promised him that he should marry the Queen Dowager. And if the young
Queen, who had the name only of supreme governess, should miscarry, then, without doubt, he
would be the next King; and not only so, but also the lawful heir of James Hamilton lately
deceased, seeing the Regent was a bastard, and was so far from any just expectation of the
kingdom that he could not lawfully claim the inheritance of his own family. Besides, they urged
the promises of the French King, who gave hopes of great assistance in due time. When the
plain-hearted and credulous young man was this persuaded, he provided for his voyage into
Scotland. Hamilton was not ignorant of any of these things, and to the intent that he might gain an
accession of strength to his own party, by the advice of those friends whom he most trusted, he
resolved to take away the young Queen from Linlithgo, where she yet was under the power of
her mother; for if once he got her, then not only the shadow of the royal name, which is an
attractive thing amongst the vulgar, would be of his side, but also he should have the power to
bestow her in marriage, and so make himelf arbiter of the kingdom to transfer it whithersoever
he pleased. Which if he could obtain, then the King of England might be persuaded, if need
were, to join with him. This design was much approved. But, as is usual in civil discords, there
are spies on both sides, who, being informed thereof, acquainted the Cardinal therewith. He,
gathering together some of the Nobility whom he had corrupted with mony, came to Linlithgo,
and, to the great burden of the inhabitants, staid there some days as a guard to the Queen. In the
mean time, Lennox arrived out of France and was kindly received by the Regent, each of them
dissembling their hate. Then he went to Linlithgo. There he addressed the Cardinal, and then
went to his own house, where, in a meeting of friends, he discours?d at large why he came
over, at whose command, by whom sent for, and upon what hopes; that he was promised not
only the chief magistracy, but also that the heads of the faction, with the Queen Dowager?s
consent, had assured him that he should marry her; and that, in order to the effecting thereof, the
King of France had encouraged him to expect aid and and assistance from thence.
9. They all assented to his speech and advised him not to be wanting to the occasion that so
freely had offer?d it self. And thus with above four thousand men he came to the Queen.
Hamilton, who had levied and mustered his men, and with his kinsmen about him, was resolved
to issue out of Edinburgh and break thorow to the Queen, now perceiving that his forces were
too weak, by the advice of his friends, and out of his own disposition also, which was
inclinable to peace, began to treat of an accommodation. Whereupon some prudent persons were
chosen on both sides, who met at the town of Liston, almost in the middle way between
Edinburgh and Linlithgo, and an agreement was made betwixt them on these terms: that the
Queen should be removed to Sterlin, and that four of the prime Nobility, who had engaged
themselves in neither faction, should be chosen out to inspect her education. And those were
William Graham, John Erskin, John Lindsy,and William Levingston, eminent persons and all
heads of illustrious families. They, by the consent of both parties, took the Queen and entred
upon the road leading to Sterlin, whilst Lennox stood in arms with his men till they had
travell?d far enough to be out of any danger from the contrary faction. And not long after
having performed the accustomed ceremonies, she took on her the ensigns of majesty and began
her reign at Sterlin August. 21. The Regent, perceiving that the favour of the vulgar, by reason of
his inconstancie, was alienated from him, and that his forces were inferiour to those of the
contrary faction, began to entertain private conferences with them under-hand; and indeed the
Cardinal, who was kin to him by the mothers side, intended only to frighten him so he might
bring him over to his party, rather than to subdue him by force of arms, so that, having weakened
him before by taking off part of the Nobility from him by his largesses, and thereby rendered him
cheaper and of less repute amongst the English, he now, by the intervention of his familiar
friends who had more regard to mony than love to truth, compell?d him to an unjust
combination, and, persuading him to come to Sterlin, there caused him to recant and change his
opinion concerning all the controverted points of religion, not openly, that the infamy of the fact
might be lessened amongst the vulgar, but in a convent of the Franciscans in the presence of the
Queen Dowager and the chief Nobles of the Court. And for fear of a suit, which the Cardinal
threatned to commence against him for his whole estate, he was so obsequious that he put
himself wholly under his influences, insomuch that he only retained the shadowy name of a
Regent.
10. And by this means the Cardinal obtained without envy what he had coveted by his
suborned will, even to enjoy the advantage of the whole government, and that by the
mean-spiritedness of the Regent and the avarice of his kindred. There seemed but one thing
wanting to establish his power, and that was the removal of Lennox, who was a great block in
the way of his designs. At last, the Queen Dowager and Cardinal fixed upon this project, that,
till an answer came from France, she should hold the young man?s mind in suspence, giving
him some hopes of marrying her. And they had written honourably of Lennox to the French King,
as indeed they could do no other, for, next to God, they were indebted to him for restoring them
to the liberty they enjoyed. But withal they desired him that, seeing matters were now quieted in
Scotland by that King?s liberality and assistance, that he would be pleased to maintain the
courtesy he had done them, and to confirm the peace which he had afforded, by calling Lennox
back again. For without that things would never long continue in peace, but one or other of the
factions must be destroyed. Thus they undermined Lennox privately, but in publick he was
entertained with various divertisements by the Queen and Cardinal, insomuch that the Court
loosed the reins to luxury and lasciviousness and was wholly given up to plays and feastings.
The day was spent in tiltings and such kind of man-like exercises, the nights in balls and
dancing. Lennox was inclinable by nature to these recreations, and was, besides, much
accustomed to them in the French Court. But now James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwel, started up as
his rival, and somewhat spurr?d up his mind, almost ready to languish. This James was
banished by King James the Fifth, but presently after his death he return?d home and aspired to
the marriage of the Queen by the same arts as Lennox did; and indeed, the indowments of nature
and fortune were very eminent in both of them, insomuch that they might be said to be rather like
than equal. Bothwel matched him in other things, but in these ludicrous combats and feats of
arms being inferiour to him, he left the Court and departed to his own house. Lennox, when his
rival was removed, thought now that all was secure on his part, and thereupon she earnestly
press?d that the promised made him by the Queen and Cardinal might be performed. But,
perceiving at last that he was fraudulently dealt with, and that Hamilton, his enemy, was
advanc?d by them to honour, authority, and the supreme power over mens lives and fortunes,
his youthful mind, which was not accustomed to ill arts, but judg?d all others like himself, was
so inflamed with anger that he brake forth into better expressions and solemnly swore that he
would suffer want, banishment, death, yea, anything whatsoever, than such an affront to go
unrevenged.
11. Hereupon he retired to Dunbarton, wholly bent on revenge, but as yet uncertain what course to take to accomplish it. There he received 30000 French crowns from the King of France (who had not yet certainly heard how affairs stood in Scotland) to enable him to strengthen his party. That mony did somewhat relieve his diseased mind because it gave him hope that he was not wholly forsaken by the French King. But, being commanded to distribute the mony by the advice of the Queen Dowager and the Cardinal, yet he distributed part of it to his own friends, and part he sent to the Queen. The Cardinal, who had already devoured all that prey in his hope, was grievously troubled not only at his disappointment and loss, but also at his(supposed) disgrace therein, and therefore he advised the Regent presently to levy an army and to march to Glasgow, not doubting by that he might there surprise Lennox, and thereupon he speedily levied 10000 men and above, all of his friends and vassals. that which much facilitated the compleating that number was the indignation of some the the Nobles, who at the beginning,out of love to religion and hatred of the Cardinal, had been the instruments to advance the Regent to that high honour. But now they had chang?d their former good-will into hatred because he had delivered up and, as much as in him lay, betrayed his best-deserving friends, with himself, into the servitude of their most cruel enemy, without so much as giving them any notice thereof. This frame of spirit made a new and scarce credible change in the Scotish affairs, so that, the strength of the parties being intire, only they were headed by other commanders. Hamilton and his kin joined themselves to the Queen Dowager and the Cardinal, but his former friends sided with Lennox. With those forces levied on a sudden, Lennox came to Leith, and sent some into Edinburgh to tell the Cardinal that he needed not to march to Glasgow to fight him, for he would give him opportunity so to do any day when he pleas?d, in the fields between Leith and Edinburgh.
12. The Cardinal, who had drawn the Regent to his party, imagined that the power of the adverse party was so weakned thereby that he hoped none durst look him in the face, now unexpectedly seeing himself challenged by a greater army than he had to defend him, in words did not refuse the combate, but only deferr?d the day of fight upon several pretences and interposals, well knowing that Lennox could not long keep an army together consisting of volunteers without pay or provision made for any long time. In the mean time, he endeavoured by intreaties and promises to work over the minds of those who were most inclinable to his party. Lennox, seeing that the design was to lengthen out the war, and by no means to hazard a fight, and being in no posture to begin a siege for want of conveniencies necessary thereto, and also perceiving that some of his men had secret conferences by night with the enemy, to deliver himself out of these straits (his friends, who had made secret provision for themselves, urging him also thereunto), was forced to capitulate with the Regent. And thereupon he we nt to Edinburgh to him, and they transacted matters some days together as if they had forgot their old hatred and animosity. At length, when he came to Lithlingo, Lennox was advised by his friends that some hidden mischief was brewing against him, so that in the night-time he went privily to Glasgow, and, having fortified the Bishop?s Castle with a garison and sufficiency of provisions, he went to Dunbarton. Therefore he received more certain information that the Douglasses and the Hamiltons were agreed. And, because some suspicions and relicks of old grudges were left betwixt the factions, George Douglas and Alexander Cuningham were given as hostages, the one for the father, the other for the brother, though this was one for a pretence