These things thus depending, and the king and the deposed quéenes faction contending still to sup|port their parts, the matter did dailie more and more grow to great slaughters: which being well percei|ued by forreine nations (pitieng the present calami|ties, and seeking to prouide to staie the following dis|sention of that countrie which was like to be at hand vpon these ciuill and vnnaturall warres, if better or|der were not taken therefore) the quéene of Eng|land The quéene of England & the French king fend am|bassadors into Scotland. as the kings next and louing neighbour, and the French king also the confederat of Scotland, sent their ambassadors into the realme, to sée what quali|fication might be had in these troublesome and dan|gerous times of the kings minoritie; hoping either to set a finall end to these inconueniences, or at least to mitigate and staie that furie, that it should not at that present, or during the kings minoritie passe anie further. For the accomplishment whereof, sir Wil|liam Drurie knight, and Thomas Randolph esquier, were sent from the queene of England: and mon|sieur de Croque, who had also béene ambassador out of France into Scotland before that time, was now againe sent thither from the French king.

These much about one time arriuing in Scot|land, and ioining togither concerning the execution of their ambassage, dealt so effectuallie therein, that in the end they concluded an abstinence of warre to be had betweene the parties of the king and quéenes An abstinence of warre for a [...]e. faction, from that time which was about the first of August, to continue vntill the first of December fol|lowing: and so brought both the parties in conclu|sion to relie and abide the full determination of all quarels to be set downe by the queene of England, and the French king. Which being done the ambassa|dors returned home, monsieur Corque into France, Sir William Drurie and maister Ran|dolph go into Scotland. and sir William Drurie and maister Randolph into England.

In October following died the earle of Marre, regent of Scotland, of a lingering sicknesse (as some affirme) but Lesleus saith lib. 10. pag. vltima, that morte repentina concidit) being buried in Allowaie a place of his owne, situat foure miles from Ster|ling, to whom in the erledome succéeded Iohn erle of The death of the earle of Marre. Marre, who after fled into England, as in this follo|wing discourse shall appeare. Which Iohn Areskine earle of Marre the regent did marrie Annable Murrie daughter to the lard of Tullebarton, by whom he had issue this Iohn, which succeeded him in the earledome of Marre (as is before said) and one daughter which was married to Archibald Dow|glasse now earle of Angus: but she died without is|sue. Of which decessed Areskine earle of Marre, Bu|chanan composed these verses commendatorie, ex|pressing the nature, vertues, qualities, and valour of the said earle in this forme and maner following: