3.4. The testimoniall left by the bishop of Rosse with the duke of Bauier.

The testimoniall left by the bishop of Rosse with the duke of Bauier.

_NOs Iohannes Lesleus, Dei gratia, epis|copus Rossensis, & administrator Mora|uiae, &c: testamur hoc scripto palàm & apud omnes hoc inspecturos, aut lec|turos. Cùm in hisce periculosis & mo|tuum plenissimis temporibus omn [...]bus sacri imperij principibus & magistratibus prospectio incumbat, ne imper [...]um aut eius membra aliquid detrimenti accipiant, neque per praetereuntes & redeuntes ex externis nationibus, calidas negationes, ad turban|dam pacem publicam, aut noxias dissentiones sub quouis pretextu tractari, strui aut seminari inter or|dines & membra imperij sinant aut patiantur; prae|cipuè cùm nunc exempla in vicinis locis extãt, quàm facilè aliquid strui & seminari possit. Ita factum est, vt illustrissimus princeps Georgius, Iohannes comes Palatinus Rheni, dux Bauariae, comésque Veldent|ziae, &c: motus praecedentibus & alijs rationibus, in absentia, per suos capitaneos & ministros, in suo ter|ritorio Lutzelsteinensi, & vrbe Palatinopoli, nos cum nostris retineri mandauerit. Quam causam & mandatum retentionis imperato [...]i, antequam exe|queretur significauit. Post factam retentionem, cel|situdo eius certior facta de literis imperatoris nobis communicatis de Spira, vbi mandatum dederat, protestatione ibi aliqua habita, festinanter huc ap|pulit: praesertim etiam simul cum literis imperat [...]|ris, aliquae copiae instructionis & memoralium eiu [...] celsitudini missae fuerat, vnde aucta suspicio, aliquid nos ad extirpandam religionem tentare: & cùm mentio aliqua extirpandae religionis hi [...]ce verbis facta fuerit, nimirùm, vt extirpata haeresi, religio reuiuiscat, & simul cum procuratione Scoticorum monasteriorum, quorum Palatini aliquot possident, aliquid moturos in Germania putauerit, praesertim cùm plurimos catholicae religionis principes & episcopos in itinere cum literis credentalibus à papa salutauerimus, & inuiserimus. Ad quam suspicionem amouendam & purificandam, cum celsitudo eius aduenit, lectione aliquarum copiarum conati sumus celsitudini eius satisfacere. Etsi tamen aliquid scru|puli de extirpanda religione ac opinio de aliquibus negotijs quae vrgerem remaneret, quae pacem pub|licam [...] in religione, quàm politicis perturbare, & suspicionem principibus Augustanae confessionis mouere, non minùs quàm ipsius celsitudini possent. Nihilominùs celsitudo eius, magis alijs rationibus, quàm praecedentibus suspicionibus imminentium periculorum non diutiùs nos detenturos conclusit. Ea tamen conditione, vt promitteremus nos con|tra patria in causa religionis per viam armorũ, aut structione dissentionum, aliquid nunquam tentatu|ros, sicut & alibi, sed quod exhortationibus pijs & doctrina f [...]cere possimus, liberam relinquere con|scientiam. Secundò, quod polliceamur more solito, pro nostro, nostrarúmque familiarum nomine, ne per nos neque per alios, vlla via & ratione quae no|minari possit, illam detentionem vindicatam fore. Quare consideratione habita periculorum & motu|um, quae passim (potissimum verò in locis vicinis) cernuntur, sacro imperio, optima ratione metuen|dum & vigilandum, maximè verò in extremis im|perij limitibus & terminis. Ideò ab illustrissima eius celsitudine ratione publicorum decretorum, & arc|tissimae inter ordines cõiunctionis, hanc circũspecti|onem & detentionem nostram non iniquo animo ferimus, neque pro iniuri [...] accepimus: cùm prae|sert [...]m eius celsitudo, non modò liberaliter nos ha|buerit, sed absque omni rerum nostrarum iactura, alijsque dispendijs, nos liberos fecerit, & gratios [...] splendido equitum comitatu in maiorem securi|tatem deduci iusserit. Idcircò sanctè pollicemur, (decreto Constantiensis concilij, quo diuersis à Ro|mana religione hominibus fidem datam seruan|dam haud esse, sancitum fuisse dicitur, hoc ipso scrip|to & optimo modo renuntiantes) nos nostro, nostra|rúmque familiarum nomine, iam neque per nos, ne|que per alios, vlla vi, vel ratione, recta aut obliqua, qua eius celsitudinem, aut eius famulos aut subditos EEBO page image 425 & ditiones hanc retentionem persequi vel vindi [...]are velle. Et ad maiorem huius scripti & promissi corro|borationem propria manu signauimus, & [...]igillo nostro appresso confirmauimus. Actum & datum Luzelsteni 28 Decemb [...]is: anno Domini 1578.

Iohannes Lesleus episcopus Rossensis & administrator ecclesiae Mora|uensis.

This Lesle being yet liuing, and (as I vnder|stand) in great credit in France, possessing the place of the chancellor of Lions, is descended of an anci|ent familie, as one whose ancestors and name hath both inioied honorable titles in descent, and great places of gouernement in the common-wealth of Scotland. For when Edgar the sonne of Edward the outlaw and kinsman to Edward the Confessor king of England was vexed with vniust war, first by Harold king of England the son of Goodwine, & then by the Norman bastard surnamed the Con|queror, which slue Harold and obteined the crowne of England; Edgar did priuilie take shipping with his mother Agatha, and his two sisters, to the end, that being now out of all hope euer to obteine the kingdom of England, they might direct their course and saile againe into Hungarie, from whense they came. But it happened by diuine prouidence, that being on the sea, they were grieuouslie molested with vehement winds, which forciblie made them forsake their appointed course, and draue them into the mouth of the riuer of Forth or Frith, whose lan|ding place is yet to be séene, & at this daie called S. Margarets hauen (after the name of hir which was sister to this Edgar & called Margaret) whome Mal|colme king of Scots (for the rare parts both of bo|die & mind wherwith [...]he was woonderfully indued) did after take to wife, & solemnlie crowned to the great comfort of the whole kingdome. Upon which déed William the Conqueror being more gréeuou|s [...]ie mooued than he was before, banished all the friends of Edgar out of England. By occasion whereof, Lindseie, Uaus, Ramseie, Louell, and di|uerse other men of great nobilitie came then first into Scotland to craue aid of king Malcolme; which persons being liberallie indued with rich possessions by the same Malcolme; their posteritie doo at this daie in our age flourish with great honor. Besides which also, at this time there came out of Hungarie with Agatha before touched diuerse other persons of account, as Crichton, Fodringham, Giffert, Man|lis, Brothike, and others; amongst whome Bartho|lomew Lesle descended of noble parentage, and of great valor of mind, did with the rest appeare verie famous, whose sharpe wit, and excellencie of know|ledge (ioined with a sound and strong bodie) when Malcolme the king of Scots did behold, he vsed his helpe in the defense of the castell of Edenburgh, and in all other weightie affaires which concerned the warres.

Out of this familie of the Lesles haue sproong and flourished manie worthie persons, valiantlie re|sisting and subduing their enimies. And amongst those, one Walter Lesle earle of Rosse, who after|ward purchased such singular commendation for valor and wisedome shewed in manie battels of the emperor Lewes the second, & Charles the fourth, a|gainst the Saracens, Vt (one of their owne name now a bishop of Rosse in his historie of Scotland saieth) à quodam animi generoso impetu, quo hostes [...] lib. [...]. [...]ag. 211. frãgere, & sub iugũ fortiter mittere solebat, generosi equitis cognomentum sit consecutus: eiusdem stir|pis comes Rothesius, multique alij barones & equi| [...]s Leslei cognominati (quos Malcolmus primùm ac alij deinde reges multis amplisque agris, in Fifa, Augu [...], Gourea, & Gareocha, alijsque prouincijs munificè cumulabant) magnae [...]odie nobilitatis vir|tutisque commendatione i [...] Scotia vigent. Of whose line and name at this daie (as is before said) conti|nuing in great honor, the earle of Rothos now liuing called Lesle dwelleth in Fife, and married the daughter of the earle of Gowrie or Gowrike, the same earle of Rothos being a person no lesse wise and honorable, than descended of ancient and honorable ancestors. But leauing that fam [...]ie, let vs returne from whense we haue digressed.

The bishop of Rosse being departed from the duke of Bauier (as before you haue heard) in the yeare following, which was the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred thrée score and nineteene, Amies Steward the lord of Obignie in France, being of the house of the Stewards, and sonne to Iohn the eldest brother of Matthew Leneux, some|time The lord of Obig [...]e made earle of Leneux. regent of Scotland, buried at Sterling, as is before touched, did come into Scotland, was by the king most honorablie receiued, and aduanced to further honor. For the king taking from Robert Steward (whom the last yeare he had created earle of Leneux) the title of that earledome of Leneux, he now inuested this lord of Obignie with the same, and created him earle of Leneux, thereby more firmelie to bind the lord of Obignie in France to be faithfull vnto him in Scotland. And least he should séeme by taking the earledome from Robert Robert Ste|ward made erle of March. Steward to haue wronged him, the king for recom|pense thereof, bestoweth vpon the said Robert Ste|ward as honorable a title and earldome as the same was, for he inuested the same Robert with the earle|dome of March. Not long after which the king erec|ting the same earledome of Leneux vnto a duke|dome, he did bestow that honor of duke vpon the said lord of Obignie, & created him duke of Leneux, which title at this daie, his sonne being a towardlie yoong gentleman dooth most honorablie possesse, he being the onlie person in that countrie which dooth in this our age inioie that title of duke, being such an honor as was but latelie begun amongst them, and neuer verie plentifull in that region: for the same hath not yet as I for this present suppose norished at anie one time (when that title was ri [...]est amongst them) thrée persons adorned with that stile. Now touching the matter of their first creation and conti|nuance, I thinke it not vnfit to saie somwhat in this place.

The first creation of dukes in that countrie was The first [...] of dukes in Scotland. vsed by Robert the third of that name, whose right name being Iohn, was after turned vnto Robert, for doubt of euill successe to grow to the kingdome by a gouernor so called. For thus write the Scots as Lesleus hath deliuered with these spéeches: Verùm Lesleus lib. 7. pag. 264. quum ipsi nobiles [...]rbitrarẽtur nomini inesse nescio quid ominis infausti, quòd reges Franciae & Angliae, To which king Iohn of England and France, he might also haue added one of his own countrie of Scotland Iohn Balioll the king, who was as infor|tunate in his gouernment as anie of the other. hoc nomine consignati, bello prehenderẽtur, muta|to nomine Robertum vt patrem [...]um appellari de|creuerũt. Quae illorum [...]iue in nominis obseruatione superstitio, [...]iue in regis conseruatione diligentia, ma|ioris mali regi iam impendentis augurium quod|dam mihi videtur. Nam non multo post ex equo illi decidenti, omnia membra ita contusa fuerunt, vt (quòd regnandi molestias ac labores nullo modo poterat pati) Roberti comiti Fifensi fratri suo regni gubernationé dedere cogeretur. Which Iohn as be|fore is said, hauing now obteined a new name, was the first which brought a new title of honor into his kingdome: for he created Dauid his eldest sonne duke of Rothseie, and his brother Robert (whom he had made protector of the kingdome) duke of Alba|ni [...], as is set downe by the same Lesleus in these EEBO page image 426 words: Tertio plus minus anno (which was about Lesleus lib. 7. pag. 263. the yeare of our redemption one thousand thrée hun|dred foure score and thirtéene) concilio ex omni or|dinuni genere Perthihabito, post alias res pro reg|ni cõmodo sapienter actas, rex Dauidem filium su|um titulo ducis Rothsaiae, & Robertum fratrem suum quem regno administrando praefecerat, ducis Alba|nij honore ornabat: qui duo primi fuerunt in Scotia his titulis illustrati. Thus much he, proouing that it is not aboue one hundred foure score and thirteene yeares since that title came first into Scotland. Wherby it appereth that England since the conquest hauing dukes erected by king Edward the third, who in the yeare of Christ one thousand three hundred thirtie & seuen, made his eldest sonne duke of Corn|wall, hath had dukes about two hundred fortie & nine yeres past, being fiftie and six yere before they had a|nie in Scotland. And as those two before named were the first which were inuested with the honor of duke in Scotland, so after the death of the same king which fell in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred and six, in the Interregnum or vacancie of the kingdome (which continued eightéene yeares Lesleus lib. 7. pag. 268. from the said yere of Christ one thousand foure hun|dred and six, vntill the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred twentie and foure) in which Iames the first hauing béene trained vp in England obtei|ned the crowne, and vnder the protectorship of Mor|dacke (the sonne of the foresaid Robert the first duke of Albanie) to whom the gouernment of the realme of Scotland was committed after the death of the said Robert the third.

Archibald Dowglasse was the first Scot which passing the seas, & seruing a strange prince, inioied anie such title of duke in anie forrein nation. For the Scots going then to aid the French against the English, the French king to honour the Scots and to bind them to be more faithfull vnto him, crea|ted Iohn Steward earle of Buquaine constable of France, & aduanced the said Archibald Dowglasse to the honor of the dukedome of Turone: but he did not long inioie that great title, being shortlie after slaine at the battell of Uernoile, in the yere of Christ one thousand foure hundred twentie and foure. In treting of which battell Bucchanan, whose name may rightlie be deduced from Buccavana, beyond all mo|destie and course of reason forgetting his calling, his learning and humanitie, hath spued out all his malice against the English nation, whereof I haue treated in my former additions to the historie of Scotland. Thus hauing somewhat digressed from the matter of later yeares, wherewith I ought to haue furnished my imperfect continuances of the annals of Scotland, I will returne to the lord of Obegnie, who was at this time created duke of Le|neux, and who occasioned me to make this discourse. Wherefore I will here set downe what Lesleus hath written of the first originall of that house in France, and of this duke of Leneux thus by the king newlie as before said created, the words of which Lesleus bishop of Rosse be these: Nouam quoque Scoto|rum equitum turmam Carolus 6 (king of France, which had the warres against the king of England, Lesleus lib. 7. pag 271. when the Scots were thus aduanced in the domini|ons of France, being meane betwéene the said yeares of Christ one thousand foure hundred and six, and one thousand foure hundred twentie and foure) paulo ante conscripsit, quae vulgò Scotorum arma|torum cohors dicebatur. Huius primus dux Rober|tus Stuartus ex Lenoxij comitis familia ortus, domi|no de Aubigne multisque alijs terris, muneribus, honoribus, & baleagijs cõmuni populi sermone di|ctis, a rege insignitus est. Quae omnia a Scotis eius|dem cognominis & prosapiae continuata, successio|nis serie per Barnardum nimirum celebrem militiae ducem, deinde per Robertum, denique Iohannem Stuartum comitis Lenoxij fratrem iam diu possessa, praeclarae nobilitatis ac indolis iuuenis, Iohãnis fili|us non paruam suorum virtutis spem de se excitans, etiam nunc hodie obtinet. Thus much Lesle. Be|side which that Lesleus hath set downe of the first lord of Obegnie in France, Paulus Iouius in his booke of Empresse written in Italian, hath not for|gotten to speake somewhat of him, where he setteth downe the deuise of his ensignes or armes in this sort translated by me into English.

There was (saith Iouius) amongst the French|men a man of knowne vertue or prowesse, & most famous capteine called Bern [...], Heberard Steward) borne of the bloud roiall of Scotland) being honored with the title of monsieur de Obegnie, who being of kin|red to Iames the fourth of that name, did beare for his deuise or ensigne, a field siluer, a ramping lion gewles, with a number of buckles thereabout; the which cote armour he did weare vpon his vpper garment, and likewise beare in his standard, with this posie, Distantia iungit: signifieng thereby, that he was the mean or buckle to hold and knit togither the king of Scots and the French king, with a iust counterpeise against the force of the king of Eng|land, naturall enimie to Scotland and France. Thus much Iouius, & thus much I of the duke of Le|neux lord of Obegnie in France. After which, sith I am now in discoursing of dukes of that countrie, and haue shewed when the first duke was made in Scotland, and who they were; I thinke it not vnfit for this place, to set downe a catalog of all such dukes of Scotland as haue come vnto my know|lege by search of histories, since the creation of the same first dukes, in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred and eightéene; which I will not re|fuse to doo in this place, following the same course which I haue obserued before in the historie of Eng|land, where I haue set downe all the dukes, since the first creation of anie duke in that countrie. Wherefore thus I enter into my dukes of Scot|land.