594 



SCOTLAND. 



History, rity or local usage; sheriffs and justices of the peace 

 v*-y^ were therefore ordered to hold courts at stated times, 

 for the strict administration of the laws. A stimulus 

 was given to agriculture, by an extension of the act of 

 1457, by which the vassal was exempted from military 

 service, and was only bound to pay a rent in money or 

 grain, with some agricultural services to his lord. 



The increasing intercourse between Scotland and 

 the continent suggested the necfssity of creating a 

 navy. James applied to the king of France for ship- 

 builders and timber, and an enormous vessel was con- 

 structed, 240 feet in length, and 36 in breadth, called 

 the Great Michael. The art of printing was also about 

 this period introduced into Scotland. 



A.D. 1509. The death of Henry the Seventh was an inauspicious 

 event to Scotland, and opened a new and great series of 

 affairs, which produced many disastrous events. Henry 

 the Eighth reserved his father's political maxims with 

 regard to Scotland. James, regardless of Henry's al- 

 liance, concluded a treaty with France, engaging to 

 co-operate with that power against all her enemies. 

 Meanwhile, Henry passed over to France with a 

 powerful army; and a Scottish fleet, with 3000 troops 

 on board, was dispatched to the aid of France. A re- 

 monstrance was at the same time sent to Henry, de- 

 nouncing war, in the event of his refusing to suspend 

 his operations, and James summoned the whole army 

 of his kingdom to meet him at the Burrowmuir, near 

 Edinburgh, with provisions for forty days, and with a 

 numerous army entered England. 



A.D. 1513. To oppose him, the earl of Surrey collected an army 



of 30,000 men, and sent a herald with a challenge of- 



Battleof fering the Scots battle. James rashly accepted the 



Floddeu. challenge, and both armies advanced to the combat, 



and at four in the afternoon the action commenced, 



and after a severe contest the Scots were utterly routed. 



Sept. 9th. Above 5000 men fell on each side. The English lost 



few persons of rank, while the Scots had to deplore the 



Death of ^ ate f their king and the flower of their nobility. 



James IV. Such was the fatal battle of Flodden. The body of the 



and acces- king was identified on the field of battle, and conveyed 



sion of in a leaden coffin to London. James was slain in the 



James V. f or ty,first year of his age, and the twenty-sixth of his 



reign. 



A.D. 1513. James the Fifth, his successor, was only eighteen 

 months old ; the principal nobility were slain or made 

 prisoners ; France, being the theatre of war, could af- 

 ford no aid. It was doubtful whether Henry would 

 regard the slender tie of consanguinity, or might be 

 tempted rather to wrest the kingdom from his nephew. 

 Though he forbore to follow the example of Edward, 

 he pursued a policy more refined' and effective, deter- 

 mining to divide and thwart the Scottish government, 

 and virtually direct its operations to his own advantage. 

 Since the interference of Edward the First, the Scots 

 had attached their interests to those of France ; but 

 the establishment of an English party in Scotland, ren- 

 dered that kingdom a scene of domestic discord and 

 intrigue until its union with England. A national 

 council, consisting chiefly of the dignified clergy, met 

 at Perth soon after the arrival of the fatal news from 

 England ; and the queen, as Regent, assumed the reins 

 of government. After the battle of Flodden, the war 

 continued between the English and the Scottish bor- 

 derers. An embassy was sent by the Scots to Den- 

 A.D.15U. mark, to solicit a supply of troops and ammunition. 

 Little attention was given to their representations, and 

 intestine strife continued to agitate and perplex the 

 government. The English were informed of every 



material transaction, and neglected not to avail them- History. 

 selves of their advantage. "\^>^^ 



The Earl of Crawford was appointed to superintend 

 the administration of justice on the north side of the 

 Forth, and Lord Home on the south. John, Duke of 

 Albany, was invited to assist or supersede the queen 

 in the government, and a temporary regency, includ- 

 ing the queen, was appointed ; but her marriage with 

 the Earl of Angus eventually undermined her ambi- 

 tious schemes. The nobility became disaffected to her 

 authority, and the office of chancellor was conferred 

 upon her personal enemy, James Beaton, archbishop of 

 Glasgow. 



Scotland was at this time in a state of anarchy, and 

 to such a degree had the public disorder increased, that 

 it became unsafe to travel without armed attendants. 

 Albany's arrival wa? daily expected, and it was hoped 

 that his authority would control the public disorder. 

 He arrived at Dumbarton with a fleet la,den with am- 

 munition and warlike stores. 



A parliament was assembled at Edinburgh, whkh 

 restored the forfeited estates and honours of his family, 

 and his regency was to continue until the king should 

 attain his eighteenth year. The influence of England 

 was successively exerted in disturbing the regent's au- 

 thority, and inflaming the mutual jealousies of the dis- 

 affected peers. A mandate from Albany directed the 

 local authorities to revive the laws of James the Fourth, 

 and to govern by them ; but in this salutary policy he 

 was opposed. Four lords were appointed by the par- 

 liament to have the charge of the royal infants, and to 

 be wholly independent of the queen. The peers ac- 

 cordingly repaired to the castle of Edinburgh, whither 

 she had retired. Upon their approach the gates were 

 thrown open, and the queen commanded them to ex- 

 plain the purport of their visit, which they had no 

 sooner done, than she exclaimed, " Drop the port- 

 cullis." The queen meanwhile escaped with her in- 

 fant sons to the castle of Stirling, whither she was pur- 

 sued by Albany with 7000 men. By the command of 

 his mother, the infant king delivered to the regent the 

 keys of the fortress. The princes were then consigned 

 to the charge of the Earl Marischal, and the Lords 

 Borthwick and Fleming. Angus and Home fled to 

 their estates in the south. The queen soon followed 

 them; and Albany summoned the loyal barons to meet 

 him near Edinburgh, to pursue the fugitives, and to 

 repel theirmeditated incursionsinto the kingdom; while 

 the fugitive lords entered into a solemn engagement 

 with Angus to deliver the princes from the regent's 

 power, and to assist each other in overturning his au- 

 thority. 



The death of the royal infant, the Duke of Ross, 

 which happened at this time under very suspicious cir- 

 cumstances, excited much odium against Albany, who 

 was indirectly accused as the cause of his death. 



Angus and Home, despairing of subverting the go- 

 vernment of Albany by force, returned into Scotland, 

 and retired quietly to their estates ; and the queen re- 

 paired to London, where she was kindly received by 

 her brother. Although Henry concluded a truce with A.D. 1516. 

 Scotland, he was so dissatisfied with Albany, that he 

 dispatched a letter to the Scottish parliament, demand- 

 ing his dismission from the office of regent. A spirited 

 reply was returned ; and the Earl of Home being sus- 

 pected of abetting the existing disorders was seized, 

 the regent now requested permission to visit France, 

 for the ostensible purpose of seeing his family, 

 which was gcanted. But he appointed d'Arcy, a- 



