Without delay, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, a new Council was convened, a Council, we mean, of the abusers of the King. There accusation was laid against the most part of the nobility. Some were heretics, some favourers of England, some friends to the Douglases, and so could there be none faithful to the King, in their opinion. The Cardinal and the priests cast faggots in the fire with all their force. Finding the King wholly given over to their devotion, they delivered unto him a scroll containing the names of such as they, in their inquisition, deemed heretics. For this was the order of justice kept by these holy fathers in damning innocent men. Whosoever would delate any one of heresy was heard; no respect or consideration was taken as to what mind the delater bare to the person delated. Whosoever were produced as witnesses were admitted, however suspicious and infamous they were. If two or three had proven any point that by their law was holden heresy, the delated person was a heretic. There remained no more to be done but to fix a day for his condemnation, and for the execution of their corrupt sentence. The world may this day consider what man could be innocent where such judges were party. True it is that by false judgment and false witnesses innocents have been oppressed from the beginning. But never gat the Devil his freedom to shed innocent blood except in the kingdom of Antichrist, "that the innocent should die, and neither know accuser nor yet the witnesses that testified against him." But how shall the Antichrist be known, if he be not contrarious to God the Father and His Son, Christ Jesus, in law, life, and doctrine. But this we omit.
"An Answer worthy of a Prince."
The Cardinal and prelates had once before presented the same scroll unto the King, at the time of his return from the circumnavigation of the Isles. But then it was refused by the prudent and stout counsel of the Laird of Grange, who opened clearly to the King the practice[35] of the prelates, and the danger that might ensue. The King, being out of his passion, was tractable, and after consideration gave answer in the Palace of Holyroodhouse to the Cardinal and prelates, when they had uttered their malice and shown what profit might arise to the crown if he would follow their counsel. "Pack you, Jesuits; get you to your charges, reform your own lives, and be not instruments of discord betwixt my nobility and me; or else, I avow to God, I shall reform you, not by imprisonment, as the King of Denmark does, nor yet by hanging and heading, as the King of England does, but I shall reform you by sharp whingers[36] if ever I hear such motion of you again." The prelates, dashed and astonished by this answer, had ceased for a season to attempt, by rigour against the nobility, to pursue their schemes any further.
Solway Moss: how it began.
But now, being informed of all proceedings by their pensioners, Oliver Sinclair, Ross, Laird of Craigie, and others who were faithful to them in all things, they concluded to hazard once again their former suit. This was no sooner proposed than it was accepted, with no small regret made by the King's own mouth that he had so long despised their counsel; "For," said he, "now I plainly see your words to be true. The nobility desire neither my honour nor continuance; they would not ride a mile for my pleasure to follow my enemies. Will ye therefore find me the means whereby I may have a raid made into England, without their knowledge and consent—a raid that may be known as my own raid—and I shall bind me to your counsel for ever." There concurred together Ahab and his false prophets; there were congratulations and clapping of hands; there were promises of diligence, closeness, and felicity.
Finally, conclusion was taken that the west border of England, which was most empty of men and garrisons, should be invaded; the King's own banner should be there; Oliver, the great minion, should be general lieutenant; but no man should be privy of the enterprise, except the council that was then present, until the very day and execution thereof. The Bishops gladly took the charge of that raid. Letters were sent to such as they would charge to meet the King, on a day and at a place appointed. The Cardinal was directed to go with the Earl of Arran to Haddington, to make a show against the east border, when the others were in readiness to invade the west. And thus neither counsel, practice, closeness, nor diligence lacked to set forward that enterprise. And, among these consulters, there was no doubt of a good success. So was the scroll thankfully received by the King himself, and put into his own pocket, where it remained to the day of his death, and then was found. In it were contained the names of more than a hundred landed men, besides others of meaner degree. Amongst these, the Lord Hamilton himself, then second person of the realm, was delated.
It was bruited that this raid was devised by the Lord Maxwell; but we have no certainty thereof. The night before the day appointed for the enterprise, the King was found at Lochmaben. To him came companies from all quarters, as they were appointed, no man knowing of another. No general proclamation had been made; all had been summoned by privy letters. Nor did the multitude know anything of the purpose until after midnight, when the trumpet blew, and all men were commanded to march forward, and to follow the King, who was supposed to be with the host. Guides were appointed to conduct them towards England, and these did so both faithfully and closely.
Upon the point of day, they approached to the enemies' ground; and passed the water without any great resistance made unto them. The foray went forward, fires rose, and herschip[37] might have been seen on every side. The unprepared people were altogether amazed; for, bright day appearing, they saw an army of ten thousand men, and their corn and houses upon every side sending flames of fire unto the heaven. To them it was more than a wonder that such a multitude could have been assembled and convoyed, without knowledge thereof coming to their wardens. They looked not for support, and so at the first they utterly despaired. Yet began they to assemble together, ten in one company, twenty in another; and, as the fray proceeded, their troops increased, but to no number; for Carlisle, fearing to have been assaulted, suffered no man to issue from the gates. Thus the greatest number that ever appeared or approached before the discomfiture, did not exceed three or four hundred men; and yet they made hot skirmishing, for, on their own ground, they were more expert in such feats.
About ten o'clock, when fires had been kindled and almost slokened[38] on every side, Oliver thought it time to show his glory. Incontinently,[39] the King's banner was displayed; Oliver was lifted up on spears upon men's shoulders, and there, with sound of trumpet, he was proclaimed general lieutenant, and all men were commanded to obey him, as the King's own person, under all highest pains. The Lord Maxwell, Warden, to whom properly appertained the regiment, in absence of the King, was present; he heard and saw all, but thought more than he spake. There were also present the Earls Glencairn and Cassillis, with the Lord Fleming, and many other Lords, Barons, and gentlemen of Lothian, Fife, Angus, and Mearns.