The Holinshed Project

Holinshed Project Home

The Texts
1587

Previous | Next

1.4. Iames the fift, king of Scotland, to Immanuell the woorthie king of Portingale.

Iames the fift, king of Scotland, to Immanuell the woorthie king of Portingale.

_Woorthie king, friend, and deere coo|sine, certeine yeares past, a Sco|tish ship laden with merchandize, & loosing from the port of Sluis in Flanders, was inuaded by two armed ships, gouerned by Portingals; whereof, the one was called Iohn Uasque, and the other Iohn Pret. Which ship (after cer|teine of hir merchants slaine, manie wounded, manie taken prisoners, and the rest cast into a fisher-bote to be set on land at the next shore) was by them caried into Portingale: all which was doone in the sight of the rest of the Lusitan ships, which at the same time did also loose out of that hauen to passe into Portingale. The full trueth whereof, Charles the duke of Bur|gognie, and earle of Flanders, vnderstan|ding (and mooued not so much for the singu|lar iniurie doone to the Scots, as by the breach of the priuilege, & right of his har|borows) did signifie the same (knowne, and found by order of iudgement) to the king of Portingale, admonishing him, that vn|lesse he tooke order for such wicked deeds, and for the restitution of the hurt and losse: that he would indeuor, that all the Por|tingals (which frequented the marts of Flanders) should by sentence of iudge|ment, satisfie all the damages which the Scots had susteined. But the vntimelie death (of that iust and valiant man) did frustrat all his determination.

The king also our grandfather (when he had by his letters complained of that iniurie to the king of Portingale, and had not much profited) gaue foorth letters of marque, that is, he gaue authoritie to Iohn & Robert Barton, brothers & heires to that Iohn, which was maister of that ship so caried away, to recouer so much of the Lusitans. Before the execution wher|of, my grandfather died: after which (my father being yet verie yoong) the whole state of the realme did suppose it best to al|ter nothing in forren causes, vntill he came to full age. At time (being of suffici|ent yeares) he did forbeare to grant the vse of the said letter of marque, till he had first consulted with the king of Portingale thereabouts. Wherevpon (dispatching an ambassador vnto him) our father also died (before we could againe heare anie answer from thence) leauing me a child not past three yeeres old. For which cause, the gouernor of the kingdome iudged it best (during our minoritie) to defer these letters of marque, vntill we came to riper yeares; which was doone, not without great griefe and complaint of those mise|rable and poore men.

Wherevpon, we also for these last two yeares (being now growen to riper age) are mooued aswell to prouide, that other merchants which in that ship of Iulian, haue lost their goods and kinred, as also to permit the heirs of the said Iohn Barton (by way of letter of marque before gran|ted) to haue power giuen them, onelie to take so much recompense of the Portin|gals. Whereof yet, we thought it meet, that they should not vse any of them, vntill we had first (by this Snadone our esquier) laid before your maiestie the whole order of the matter, which is the iudiciall know|ledge of the pirasie, the value of the losse, and the cause of our long silence, assuredlie hoping that you will not doo anie thing, in respect of your humanitie and vprightnes, but that which shall be good and iust. The which, if you deeme is yet to be deferred; we require your woorthinesse to consider, that we cannot forsake our subiects, afflic|ted with so great iniuries, whome here|after we refer to the law of all nations, for recouerie of their goods taken away, which thing ought not to seeme to anie man (by anie meanes) to be the violating of friendship, league, or consanguinitie, wherewith we haue beene linked. Where|fore, when that same shall happen, we de|sire your excellencie to take the same in good part (most woorthie coosine and confe|derat king) to whom I wish long and hap|pie life. From Edenburgh, the day before the Ides of Aprill, in the yeare, 1540.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 The king about this time gaue liberall posses|sions Fr. Thin. Lesleus lib. 8. pag. 353. to Robert Borthwike, a notable artificer for making of field péeces and other guns; for the which liberalitie, he should make certeine great peeces in the castell of Edenburgh, whereof there are manie yet to be séene in Scotland, with this superscription:

Machina sum Scoto Borthuik fabricata Roberto.)
This summer the king went in pilgrimage vnto The king went on pil|grimage. saint Duthois in Rosse, and the quéene remaining at Holie rood house, was brought to bed of a prince, the twentie day of October, the which the third day after was baptised and named Arthur. Two great A ship with munition. ships came foorth of France to the king, fraught 1510. with guns, speares, and all other kind of munition for warre. Alexander, bastard sonne to the king, The archbi|shop of saint Andrews. newlie made archbishop of saint Andrews, who had béene long in Germanie student there in the schooles with that famous clearke Erasmus Roterodamus, and had profited verie well, came from Flanders by sea into Scotland, and was ioifullie receiued, be|cause he had bestowed his time so well in vertues and learning.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 The lord of Fast castell came ouer with him; who The lord of Fast castell went into Turkie. had trauelled through a great part of christendome: and moreouer passing into Turkie, came to the em|perour EEBO page image 294 of Turkie at the citie of Caire, who reteined him in seruice, and gaue him good interteinement, so that he remained with him, till he heard that the li|uing of Fast castell was fallen to him by lawfull succession; notwithstanding that when he departed out of Scotland, th [...] were eight seuer all persons before him to succeed one after another, which in the meane time were all deceassed. The 14 of Iulie, Prince Ar|thur decessed. Arthur prince of Scotland and the Iles, departed this life in the castell of Edenburgh. Two scorpions were found, the one quicke, and the other dead, in the Two scorpi|ons found in Scotland. orchard of the castell of Cragmiller, which thing was reputed for a maruellous great woonder, that anie should be séene within the Ile of Britaine. In the moneth of September, an vniuersall sickenesse Stoope gal|lant a sicknes. reigned through all Scotland, whereof manie died. It was verie contagious, and they called it Stoope gallant.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 There came also a passing faire woman into Scotland about the same time, naming hir selfe Ka|tharine Gordon, wife to Perkin Warbecke, that had named himselfe duke of Yorke, but at length being brought to the king, she confessed what shée w [...], and so auoided the realme. In which meane while, the ladie Katharine Gordon hir selfe re|mained in England, and had right good mainte|nance, Katharine Gordon. so that she liued there verie well and hono|rablie manie yéeres after. Furthermore, the king vpon the eighth day of Nouember comming The Trum|brls with o|ther are taken by the king. from Edenburgh to the water of Rule, tooke diuers misgouerned persons, & brought them to Iedworth, where the principall of the Trumbtls, with naked swords in their hands, and withs about their necks met him, putting themselues in the kings mer|cie, which were sent to sundrie places to be kept in ward, with diuers other of those countrimen, where|by the marches were more quiet afterwards: and from thence the king passed to saint Iohns towne, where iustice were holden the residue of the winter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 The next yéere in the beginning of Maie, the quéene went from Dunfermling toward saint Du|thois 1 [...]11. in Rosse, and was all the way right honorablie vsed and interteined. About the tenth of Iulie, she re|turned An ambassage from the king of England. to Edenburgh, where she found the lord Da|cres, and sir Robert Drurie knight come thither as ambassadors from the king of England hir brother, who were honorablie receiued. In the yéere next in|suing, in Iune, Andrew Barton being on the seas to 1511. Lesle. 1512. meet the Portingals (against whom he had a letter of marque) sir Edmund Haward lord admerall of England, and the lord Thomas Haward, sonne and heire vnto the earle of Surrey, were appointed by the king of England to go likewise to sea with cer|teine ships, and met with the said Andrew as he returned homewards néere to the Downes, hauing with him onelie one ship and one barke.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 The Englishmen at the first made signe vnto the Scots as though they ment none euill, saue onelie to salute them as friends; but getting within them, they set vpon them right fiercelie, and the Scots for a while did as valiantlie defend themselues, so that Two ships taken by the Englishmen. manie were slaine on both sides: but in the end the Englishmen got the vpper hand, wounded Andrew Barton the chiefe capteine of the Scots, that he died of the hurts that he there receiued, and the ship called the Unicorne, and the barke called Iennie Peruine, were both taken, with all the Scotishmen that remained aliue in the same, which were had to London, and staied as prisoners in the bishop of Yorke his house for a time, and after sent home into Scotland. King Iames was sore offended with this matter, and therevpon sent an herald with letters, requiring redresse for the slaughter of his people, and restitution of his ships, sith otherwise it might séeme to giue occasion of breach of the peace. But the king of England denied, that the slaughter of a pirat (as he tooke Andrew Barton to be) ought to breake anie bond of peace, yet neuerthelesse he promised to send commissioners to the borders, that should intreat of that matter, and other enormities chanced betweene the two realmes.

Fr. Thin. Buchanan. lib. 12. About this time was Alexander Hume the on|lie gouernor of all the marches of Scotland (which before were accustomed to be diuided into thrée parts) deerelie beloued to king Iames, being a man of a fiercer disposition than was conuensent for the profit of the common-wealth. This man promised to the king (troubled with the cares of warre, and care|full to wipe awaie the reproch of late receiued by the English) that shortlie he and his folowers with their kindred and aliances, would so bring the matter a|bout, that the English should as greatlie lament for their losses, as they had now conceiued ioies of their victories. To the performance whereof, he gathered thrée thousand souldiers, wherewith he entered Eng|land, and there spoiled seuen townes before anie suc|cour might come to rescue them: but as he returned backe laden with booties of all kinds, his men (being accustomed to pilfries and robberies) impatient of delaie, presentlie diuided the preie in the host, euerie one departing home to his owne as it was néerest vnto him. Yet Alexander did not disperse such as he might kéepe togither: but assembling as manie of them as would tarie, with a small companie abode the end of all things, alwaies hauing an eie to sée if anie pursute were made after them. But when he perceiued no bodie to follow, and that there was no doubt of danger (passing the time more careles than before) he fell vnwares into the hands of thrée hun|dred English laid in wait for him, who (taking the opportunitie of the time) did set vpon him and his, and (driuing them into extreme feare) they killed and put to flight all such as they incountered. In which tumult diuers of the Scots were slaine, and two hundred taken, of whome George Hume, brother of the said Alexander (exchanged for Comarch, Heron, and Foord, taken prisoners, and long reteined in Scotland for reuenge of the death of Robert Car) was one, and the chiefest, whereby he departed quiet|lie into Scotland.)

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 The French king and the duke of Gelderland, The king of France requi|red aid against England. perceiuing that the king of England was minded through procurement of the pope & others, to make them wartes, either of them sent ambassadors into Scotland vnto king Iames, requiring his assistance against England: but king Iames minding to King Iames persuadeth to peace. mainteine peace and concord betwixt the parties, sent an ambassador vnto the king of England, desi|ring him in brotherlie and most louing wise to liue in peace and quietnesse, and not to make anie wars against his confederat friends, offering himselfe to agrée and compound anie difference that was fallen betwixt the king of England and the said princes. The king of England, who had alreadie sent aid vn|to the ladie regent of the low countries against the duke of Gelderland, made such faire answer here|vnto as he thought stood with reason, and so dispat|ched the ambassadour backe againe to his maister, without anie more adoo in that matter, about the which he came for that time.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Fr. Thin. Lesleus. lib. 8. pag. 356. Much about these daies, there was called a pro|uinciall synod of bishops, abbats, and other religious persons at Edenburgh, in the monasterie of the Do|minicke friers, Baiomanie the popes legat being present. In which by the common voice of them all (although against the will of manie of them) it was ordeined that benefices or priests liuings (whose reue|nues did yéerly excéed the value of 40 pounds) should EEBO page image 295 pay a pension of the tenth to the pope; and should giue to the king (when he required) such summes as he liked to demand: which vnto this day is called the Baiomane monie or tax.] Iohn lord Gordon, sonne and heire to Alexander Gordon erle of Huntleie, re|turned The kings bastard maried. out of France, and was maried vnto the kings bastard daughter, in Nouember following, in this present were 1512, of whome the house of Huntleie is descended.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shortlie after came the bishop of Murrey home, hauing béene at Rome, in France, and England, The bishop of Murrey came home. bringing with him from the pope, and the kings of France and England, manie good and pleasant let|ters: and with him came a clearke of Spaine in am|bassage vnto the king. This yéere the eleuenth day of Aprill, the quéene was deliuered of a yoong prince A yong prince borne in Scotland. in the palace of L [...]thgo, who was shortlie after baptised, and named Iames the fift prince of Scot|land, and of the Iles, that after succéeded his father in the kingdome. The lord Dacres, and doctor West came in ambassage from the king of England, and Monsieur de la Mot came with letters also from the French king, to persuade king Iames to make The French king sent to persuade the king of Scots to warre. warre against England, promising him monie, mu|nition, and all other necessarie prouisions of warre. In his waie as he passed the seas towards Scot|land, he had drowned thrée English ships, & brought seuen awaie with him vnto Lieth for prises, in the which were but thrée Englishmen left aliue. Shortlie after, maister Iames Ogiluie abbat of Driburgh came foorth of France with letters of the like effect. After this Robert Barton went to the sea, and in Iulie brought into Scotland 14 prises of English Fourtéene prises of Englishmen taken. men which he had taken.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 About this season, the lord of Drumweidie was slaine in Edenburgh by two persons, which tooke san|ctuarie in Holie rood house, and so escaped. Iohn erle of Atholl deceassed the ninetéenth of September, & Lion Harold king of armes deceassed the first of O|ctober. Great misrule was exercised on the borders Misrule exer|cised. in this season, and therefore the king assembled the lords in Edenburgh for reformation thereof; and while they were there, the quéene was brought to bed The quéene brought to bed of a child. 1513. Lesle. The league renewed with France. of a child, which died shortlie after it was christened. There came a great ship into Scotland, which the king of France had sent vnto the king, laden with artillerie, powder, and wines, & then was the league and band renewed betwixt Scotland and France. The same ship landed at Blacknesse the ninetéenth of Nouember. King Iames sent a purseuant called Purseuants sent into England and France. Unicorne into France, and another into England called Ilaie, which Ilaie required a safe conduct for an ambassador to be sent from the king his maister vnto the king of England: but this would not be granted.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 Upon the said Ilaies returne, Monsieur de la Mot was sent backe into France, and with him sir Walter Ogiluie, and a messenger whome the pope had sent into Scotland. On the sixtéenth of March 1513. Lesle. Doctor West sent into Scotland ambassador. next insuing, doctor West came as ambassador into Scotland from the king of England, appointing that certeine commissioners should meet on the bor|ders for redresse of all quarrels betwixt the two realmes, in the moneth of Iune next insuing. And this appointment was kept, but no good could be doone, as after shall appeere. The king sent Fornian bishop of Murrey into France, to signifie vnto the 1513 French king the message of the said doctor West, and other things. In the moneth of Maie, there came certeine ships out of Denmarke laden with guns, Munition for warre sent out of Denmarke. powder, armor, & other kind of munition. Also Mon|sieur de la Mot landed in the west part of Scotland the sixtéenth of Maie, with foure ships fraught with wine and flower, and returned againe the nineteenth Prouision sent out of France. of the same moneth.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 The great Odonell of Ireland came to king Odonell pro|fred friendship vnto king Iames. Iames at Edenburgh, the first of Iune, offering his friendship and seruice to him before all other prin|ces, and speciallie against the king of England; wher|vpon he was thankfullie receiued, honorablie inter|teined, & richlie rewarded. And so the band of friend|ship being with him concluded, he returned into his countrie. The king prepared a great nauie of ships, the principall whereof were the Michaell, Margaret, and Iames. They made saile towards the sea the twentie seuenth of Iulie; and the king sailed in the A nauie sent. Michaell himselfe, till they were past the Iland of Maie, Iames Gordon son to George earle of Hunt|leie being one of the capteins of the same ship.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The commissioners met on the borders in Iune, Commissio|ners met at the borders. according to the appointment: but because the Eng|lishmen would not consent to make anie redresse or restitution, till the fiftéenth of October next, thin|king by that delaie and continuance of time, they The English men protract the time. should vnderstand the state of their kings procée|dings in France, and in the meane time reteine in their hands the Scotishmens goods which they had ta|ken both by sea and land (as the Scotish writers af|firme) the king of Scots being thereof aduertised, sent Lion king of armes vnto king Henrie then li|eng at siege before Terwine, with letters of com|plaint, A king of armes sent vnto K. Hen|rie of Eng|land. commanding him that if king Henrie refu|sed to accomplish the contents of his said letters, he should denounce warre vnto him. Wherevpon Lion arriuing in the English armie with his cote of arms on his backe, about the middest of August, desired to speake with the king, and was within a short space by Garter chiefe king at arms of England brought to the kings presence, hauing his nobles and coun|cellors about him, where, with due reuerence, & some good woords first vttered, he deliuered his letters, the tenor whereof insueth.

Previous | Next