James the Vth was honoured with no lefs than four Orders of Knighhood; that of the Garter, conferred on him by his Uncle Henry; that of the Golden Fleece by the Emperor; that of St. Michael, by the King of France; and that of St. Andrew, for Scotland. Notwithstanding his Majefty's Proceedings for the Good of his People, he perceived that 1529. fome of his Nobility feemed inclinable to revolt, and therefore committed feveral of them to Edinburgh Castle, till they gave Hostages to fecure the Borders against Invasions; and in June the King, attended by a confiderable Force, vifited the Frontiers, and executed Justice on all Thieves, Out-laws and Oppreffors of the Poor, that were brought before him, there being no lefs than 38 of the former hanged: But he brought the King of the Thieves back to Edinburgh, where he was executed for more publick Example. By thefe Proceedings the King greatly gained the Affection of his People; and, among other Honours he bestowed on some of his Subjects, he was pleased to confer that of Knighthood on Andrew Murray, Steward of Stratbern, who had attended him. *This Gentleman's Predeceffors fprung from the Duke of Athol's Family; but his Defcendants are, the prefent Right Hon. David Viscount Stormont; Baron of Balvaird and Scoon, and hereditary Keeper of that Palace; James, now Abroad; and the Hon. William Murray, Efq; who was of Chrift-church We College, Oxon, (founded by our We omitted to mention in the Year 1499, that Sir Patrick Hume was made Comptroller of * * From this Knight was defcended Sir Patrick Hume, of Polavarth, Bart. who in 1665 was Knight of the Shire for Berwick, and by his publick Behaviour in that Capacity falling under the Displeasure of the then Government, was banished, and, after many Difficulties, arriving in Holland, was there received with great Kindness by the Prince of Orange, whom he attended into England in 1688; and, being very inftrumental in bringing about the Revolution, and fettling the Crown on King William and Queen Mary, was by them made one of the Privy Council, created Lord Polwarth, and appointed Lord High Chancellor of Scotland. He had affigned him, an Orange proper, enfigned with an Imperial Crown, placed in a Surtout of his Arms, as a lafting Mark, in all Times coming, of his Majesty's royal Favour to the Family of Polwarth. In 1697 he was created Earl of Marchmont, &c. In 1698 was made Lord High Commiffioner to the Parliament of Scotland; and died 1724. This great Earl had feveral Sons and Daughters, his eldest Son Patrick was Lord Treasurer of Scotland in 1698, and died in 1708. Scot George Campbell, by whom he had Iffue at one Birth the prefent Earl of Marchmont, and the Hon. Alexander Hume Campbell, Efq; Member of the last and prefent Parliament for the Shire of Berwick, who was made Sollicitor General to his Royal Highnefs the Prince of Wales, the 1ft of Jan. 1741, and called within the Bar by Patent of Precedence in Eafter Term following. The Character of the laft Earl of Marchmont, and of his two Sons, (who are now fuch great Ornaments to their Country) already handed to the Publick,is as follows: "His Thoughts were bufy, his "Heart warm, his Soul tranf"ported with a Defire of ad"vancing the Caufe of his Coun"try: To this he exhorted his "Friends; to this he trained up his Children; to this he in"fluenced all whom his Auth●"rity or Perfuafions could move. "Thus lived, thus died this truly "virtuous, and therefore Great "Man: Nor were his Virtues "unrewarded by Providence, even in this Life: He faw "them defcend to his Children, "faw two Sons of uncommon Abi"lities, cultivating and improv ing thofe Abilities by uncom"mon Application, animating "them with the fame noble "Spirit, and directing them to "the fame generous Purposes, "as had infpired their Father in "the whole Courfe of his pub"lick Behaviour, from his op Alexander, the 2d Son, (the late Earl of Marchmont) being educated in the Profeffion of the Law, was in 1704 made one of the Lords of Seffion in Scotland: And afterwards ferved with great Honour in feveral Ambaffies A-"pofing the Jacobite Frenzy in broad, and died Feb. 27, 1739. His Lordship married Margaret, Daughter and Heirefs of Sir "his earliest Youth, to his op" "pofing the Whig Corruption in "the Decline of his Age." Scotland, and in great Favour with King James the IVth, of whom he obtained divers Lands in the Counties of Sterling and Perth, as that of the Barony of Polwarth had been obtained by his Father, who had given many signal Instances of his Valour, particularly at the Battle of Roxburg, when King James the IId was killed. James the 1530. In the Year 1530 the King* fixed the College of Justice at Edinburgh, which before was removed from Place to Place, by Circuits, in which Suits were peremptorily decided by Bailiffs, Sheriffs, and other Judges; but when any great Cause offered, it was adjudged by the King in Council, who gave free Audience to all his Subjects. The College confifted of 15 Judges in ordinary; eight spiritual Persons, of which the most ancient is ftiled Prefident, and the other feven Laymen; befides four Counsellors extraordinary, renewable at the Prince's Pleasure. The Inftitu * After the Year 1530 King James lived pretty peaceably in his Kingdom for fome time; and, as he was disappointed of marrying his Uncle's Daughter, the Princess Mary, he failed into France, in the Year 1541, where he married Magdalen, King Francis's eldest Daughter, tho' greatly against the Liking of the King of England. With this Princess he returned to Scotland, but fhe lived only a few Weeks after her Arrival; for fhe died in July, greatly lamented by the King and the whole Nation. Next he demanded Mary of Guife in Marriage, which he obtained, and by this Queen he had a Daughter born, Dec. 8, 1543, five Days before his Death, who was chriftened Mary. The King's Death was thus Occafioned: He had raised an Army in order to make War with England, but in his March was deferted by his Nobility, who refufed to follow him. Upon this he quitted the Command of his Army, and conferred it on the Lord Maxwell; after which he retired over the Fief; gave himself over to Sorrow, but yet was contriving Ways to be revenged on his Nobility. When he heard that his Queen was delivered of a Daughter, his laft Words, according to Mr. Drummond, were, It would end as it begun the Crown came by a Woman, and it will with one go. Many Miferies approach this poor Kingdom; King Henry will get it by Arms or Marriage. After which he faid not many Words, but on the 13th of Dec. died, in the 33d Year of his Age, and 32d of his Reign; and the young Princess was immediately, upon her Father's Death, proclaimed Queen of Scotland. Mr. A 2 2 ; Inftitution of this Court was in Imitation of one at Paris, founded by Philip the VIIth, King of France, in the Year 1288; and was foon found of fo much Ufe, that the Pope himself confirmed it. Affairs of THE beginning of this Year Sir Thomas Bulleyn, who had married one of the Daugh1527. ters and Coheirs of Thomas Earl of Ormond, was created Earl of Ormond. Several Irish Potentates had for feveral Years received Penfions, on account of giving Protections to the King's Subjects, or at leaft fparing them from Plunder; but, though they punctually paid thefe Penfions, they were not always fecure; for fometimes their Effects were taken from them; which was looked upon fo very oppreffive, that firft they were discountenanced by an Act of Council; and afterwards an Act of Parliament paffed for extinguishing this Demand for ever, which from that Time has been difufed. This Mr. Drummond fays, King had an excellent Mind, and pity it was that it had not been carefully polished: However, he was fludious of all good Arts, naturally given to Poefy, as many of his Verfes yet extant testify; was a great Favourer of learned Men; the Poor loved him, and the Great feared him : Yet his burning alive the Lady Glames, beheading of the Master of Forbes, and after him Sir James Hamilton, turned many of his Nobles from him, and • made the Commons detract him; for, tho' they delight fometimes to have great Men made equal to them, when they find not evident Proofs for Execution, they abhor the Actors. Princes fhould remember, that as the People are their Subjects, fo are This Year the Sweating Sickness was fatal in Ireland, whereof feveral Irish Gentlemen 1528. died, and antong others the Lord Chancellor, who was fucceeded in his Office by the Archbishop of Dublin. Now the famous Emperor, Charles the Vth, took great Pains to ftir up the Earl of the Earl of 1529. Defmond to rebel, for which Purpose he fent an Ambaffador to him; but, before any Steps could be taken, the Earl died; fo that what the Emperor propofed came to nothing: Yet the Deputy, hearing what his Imperial Majefty was projecting in Ireland, fo carefully looked after the Government, that all Charles's future Schemes, to disturb the Peace of that Nation, proved ineffectual; and foon after, having Affairs of greater Moment to employ him, he gave over his Designs upon Ireland. King Henry about this Time was pleased to confer the Honour of Knighthood upon William Brabafon, Efq; and fome time afterwards made him Vicetreafurer of Ireland, which he held to his Death, and was for several Years one of the Lords Juftices thereof. This Year Sir William Skeffington, † Knt. was made Master of the Ordnance in Eng- 1530. land, and Lord Deputy of Ireland, who, by his good Government, contributed greatly towards reftoring the Peace of that Nation. He died in Dublin about the Year 1534, and was buried in St. Patrick's Church, though a Monument is erected to his Memory at Skeffington in Leicestershire, being the antient Seat of the Family. *From this Knight the Rt. Hon. Chambre Brabafon, Earl of Meath, is defcended; and of this Family is the present Right Hon. the Earl of Fingal, whofe great Ancestor married the Lady Sufan His Brabafon, Sister to the first Earl of Meath. The Right Hon. Clotworthy Skeffington, Viscount Mafareen, is defcended from this Knight. |