betwixt east and west Kinghorn, in the 37th year of his reign, and was buried at Dumfermling. After the death of Alexander the Third, which was in the year of the world 5255, and in the year of Christ 1285, there were six regents appointed to rule Scotland: For the south-side of Firth were appointed Robert, the Bishop of Glasgow, John Cummin, and John, the great steward of Scotland. For the north-side of Firth, Mac-duffe, Earl of Fife, John Cummin, Earl of Buchan, and William Fraser, Archbishop of St. Andrews; who ruled the land about the space of seven years, until the controversy was decided betwixt John Baliol, and Robert Bruce, grandfather to Robert Bruce, the King of Scotland, come of the two eldest daughters of David Earl of Huntingdon; for Henry Hastings, who married the youngest daughter, put not in his suit with the rest, and therefore there is little spoken of him. XCVI. John Baliol was preferred to Robert Bruce, to be King of Scotland, by Edward the First, sirnamed Long-shanks, King of England, who was chosen to be judge of the controversy, upon a condition, that he should acknowledge him as superior; which condition, like an unworthy man, he received. He began his reign in the year of the world 5263, and in the year of Christ 1293. He was a vain-glorious man, little respecting the weal of his country. He had not reigned fully four years, when he was expelled by the said Edward, and, leaving Scotland, departed into the parts of France, where he died long thereafter in exile. And so Scotland was without a king and government, the space of nine years; during which space, the said Edward the First, Long-shanks, cruelly oppressed the land, destroyed the whole ancient monuments of the kingdom, and shed much innocent blood. XCVII. Robert Bruce began to reign, in the year of the world 5276, and in the year of Christ 1306; a valiant, good, and wise king. In the beginning of his reign, he was subject to great misery and affliction, being oppressed by England; but at length, having vanquished Edward the Second of Caernarvon, at the field of Bannocksburn, by the help of God he delivered his own country of Scotland from the slavery of England; yea, and set it at full liberty, expelling, even by force of arms, the English nation quite out of the land. He married first Isabel, daughter unto the Earl of Mar, who bare unto him a comely daughter, called Margery, wife unto Walter the Great Steward of Scotland; of whose happy race is ruling, this day, not only in Scotland, but also over whole Britain, Ireland, &c. as ye shall hear, God willing, anon in its own place. Now, after the death of King Robert the Bruce's first wife, Isabel, the Earl of Mar's daughter, as is said, he married another of the same name, Isabel, who was the only daughter and heretrix unto Haynerus de Bure, Earl of Ultonia, or Ulster, in Ireland; and she bare unto him one goodly son and two daughters, to wit, David the Second, Margaret the Countess of Southerland, and her youngest daughter, Maud, who died in her childhood. This good King, after he had reigned 24 years, ended his toilsome days at Cardross, and was honourably buried at Dumfermling with great solemnity. XCVIII. David, the second Bruce, succeeded unto his father, in the year of the world 5300, and in the year of our redemption 1330. He was a good prince, and subject unto very much affliction in his youth; for, first, after the death of Thomas Ranulph, his regent, he was forced to flee into France, even for safeguard of his life; and after certain years, returning homewards to Scotland, was taken prisoner at the battle of Durham by the Englishmen, and holden almost twelve years' captive in England; but at length, as God would, he was restored to his free liberty: and he married, first, Jane, daughter unto Edward the Second, King of fair England; and after her death, he married Margaret Logy, daughter unto Sir John Logy, Knight; and yet he died without any succession, in the 40th year of his reign, at Edinburgh, and was buried at Holy-Rood-House. XCIX. Edward Baliol, son to John Baliol, usurped the crown of Scotland, being assisted by Edward the Third, King of England, in the year of the world 5302, and in the year of Christ 1332; but hẻ was expelled at length by David the Second's regents, and David the Second established king. C. Robert the Second, sirnamed Blear-eye, the first of the Stewards, son to Sir Walter Steward and Margery Bruce, King Robert Bruce's daughter, succeeded to his mother's brother, in the year of the world 5341, and in the year of Christ 1371. A good and a peaceable prince. He married first Eupheme, daughter to Hugh, Earl of Ross; who bare unto him David, Earl of Strathern; Walter, Earl of Athol; and Alexander, Earl of Buchan, Lord Barwynoch: and after her decease (even for the affection which he bare unto his children, which he had begotten before he was first married) he married Elisabeth Mure, daughter unto Sir Adam Mure, a worthy knight; who (aforetimes) had borne unto him John, who thereafter was called Robert the Third, Earl of Carrick: Robert, Earl of Fyfe and Monteith; and Eupheme, wife to James, Earl of Douglas. But at length this good prince behoved to go the way of all flesh; and, when he had reigned happily about 19 years, he departed this life in peace, at DunDonalde, and was solemnly buried at Scone. CI. Robert the Third, sirnamed John Earnyear, succeeded unto his father, in the year of the world 5360, and in the year of our blessed Saviour Christ Jesus 1390. He was a quiet and peaceable prince, and took to wife Annabel Drummond, daughter unto the Laird of Stob-hall, who bare unto him David the Prince, Duke of Rothesay, that died in prison, of very extreme famine, at Falkland; and James the First, taken captive in his voyage to France, and detained a captive, against all equity,-almost the space of 18 years in England. He died of displeasure at Rothesay, when he heard of the death of his own son, and captivity of the other. He was buried at Paisley, in the 16th year of his reign. Then Robert, Earl of Fyfe and Monteith, began to govern the kingdom of Scotland, in the year of the world 5376, and in the year' of Christ 1406; and he died in the 14th year of his government, James the First being yet holden captive in England. Murdo Steward succeeded to his father, Robert, Earl of Fyfe, in the government of Scotland, in the year of the world 5390, and in the year of our blessed Redeemer 1420; and ruled four years, James the First still continuing a captive in England. But the father, and his son Walter thereafter, were both exccuted, even by the said James the First, for oppression of the subjects. CII. James the First began for to reign in the year of the world 5394, and in the year of Christ 1424. He was a good, learned, virtuous, and a just King. He married Jane, daughter unto John Duke of Somerset, and Marquis of Dorset, son to John of Gaunt, the third son to the victorious King of England, Edward the Third; and she bare to him only one son, and six daughters; to wit, James the Second; Margaret, wife to Lewis, the eleventh of that name, the dauphin of France, and thereafter king; Elisabeth, the Duchess of Brittany; Jane, Countess of Huntley; Eleanor, Duchess of Austria; Mary, wife to the Lord of Camp-Vere; and Annabella, who was yet but young. This good prince was slain traiterously (alas!) at Perth, by Walter, Earl of Athol, and Robert Graham, together with their factious confederates, in the 31st year of his reign, if we count from the death of his father; and in the 13th year of his reign, if we count from his happy deliverance out of England. He was buried at the Charter-house of Perth, the which he indeed had builded. CIII. James the Second succeeded to his father, in the year of the world 5407, and in the year of Christ 1437. A prince greatly subject to troubles in his youth. He married Mary, daughter to Arnold, Duke of Geldre, sister's daughter to Charles, sirnamed Audax, the last Duke of Burgundy, &c. And she bare unto him three sons, to wit, James the Third, John, Earl of Mar, and Alexander, Duke of Albany. Moreover, she bare a daughter unto him, called Mary, who was first married unto Thomas Boyde, Earl of Arran; and, after his decease, unto James Hamilton, of Cadsow. And the king was slain at the siege of Roxburgh, in the 24th year of his reign. year of CIV. James the Third succeeded unto his father, in the the world 5430, and in the year of our redemption 1460. A prince corrupted by wicked courtiers, God knows. He married Margaret, daughter unto Christianus the First, sirnamed Dives (that is to say, Rich), King of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. And when he had reigned 29 years, he was slain at the field and battle of BannockBurn, and princely buried at Cambus-Kenneth. CV. James the Fourth succeeded to his father in the year of the world 5459, and in the year of Christ 1489. A very noble and courageous king. He married, first Margaret, eldest daughter to Henry the Seventh, Earl of Richmond, and thereafter King of fair England. And, after her decease, he married Elisabeth, daughter unto Edward the Fourth, King of England. In whose two persons, the two houses of Lancaster and York were united, and the bloody civil wars of England finished. This good prince was slain at Flowdon, by England, in the 25th year of his reign. The battle of Flowdon-Field. CVI. James the Fifth succeeded to his father, in the year of the world 5484, and in the year of Christ 1514. A just prince, and severe. First, he married Magdalene, daughter to Francis the First, King of France; but she died very shortly thereafter, without any succession. Then he married Mary of Lorrain, Duchess of Longueville, daughter unto Claud, Duke of Guise. He died at Falkland, in the 29th year of his reign, and was buried at Holy-Rood-House. CVII. Mary succeeded unto her Father, James the Fifth, in the year of the world 5513, and in the year of our blessed Lord 1543. A princess virtuously inclined. She first married Francis the Second, Dauphin of France, and thereafter King; and, after his decease, returning home to Scotland a widow, she married Henry Steward, Duke of Albany, &c. Lord Darnley, son to Matthew, Earl of Lenox, a comely prince, and pro-nephew to Henry the Second, King of England, unto whom she bare James the Sixth. But (alas!) after 18 years captivity, she was put to death in England, in the year of Christ 1586, the 8th day of February, and lieth now intombed at West minster. CVIII. James the Sixth succeeded unto his mother, in the year of the world 5537, and in the year of Christ 1567. A very good, godly, peaceable, wise, and learned prince, as, indeed, his sundry works, which are already gone forth in print, in sundry languages, even to the view of the whole world, to the great comfort of us, his loving subjects, and all others, who truly profess the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to the terror of Hereticks, Atheists, and Papists, can testify. He married Anna, daughter to Frederick the Second, King of Denmark, &c. and to Sophia, Ulricus, the Duke of Mechlenburg's daughter, who bare unto him Henry Frederick, the prince who died in the prime of his youth; Elisabeth, wife to the Prince Palatine of the Rhine, &c. and Charles, our hopeful prince, now about the age of 23 years. The said James the Sixth, even through God's providence, and righteous succession, is now presently King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, whom we beseech even the God of Heaven, upon the knees of our loyal hearts, to continue his days longer than long amongst us; yea, that his happy posterity remain still to govern over ours, to the farther advancement of God's glory, and the comfort of his elect, even for ever and ever, Amen. From Aberdeen, 1623, Jan. 30. Henry the Eighth's reign abounded with poetical productions, published in loose sheets, and other forms in small pamphlets, amongst which writers John Skelton was one of the most remarkable; and, though he is deservedly commended for his other works, yet the most comical of all his pamphlets is this of Elynovr Rvmmin, the famous ale-wife of England, &c. containing two sheets and an half in quarto, with the picture in the title-page, and the like on the last page, representing an old ill-favoured woman, holding in her hand a pot of ale, and underwritten with these verses: When Skelton wore the lawrell crowne, To all tapsters and tiplers, And all ale-house vitlers, Inne-keepers, and cookes, Scant measure will draw, Of his full quart a penny, |