The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part C.: From Henry VII. to Mary — David Hume — John Shaqi
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part C.: From Henry VII. to Mary
David Hume · en
The earl of Kildare was deputy of Ireland, under the duke of Richmond,
the king’s natural son, who bore the title of lieutenant; and as
Kildare was accused of some violences against the family of Ossory, his
hereditary enemies, he was summoned to answer for his conduct. He left
his authority in the hands of his son, who, hearing that his father was
thrown into prison, and was in danger of his life, immediately took up
arms, and joining himself to Oneale, Ocarrol, and other Irish nobility,
committed many ravages, murdered Allen, archbishop of Dublin, and laid
siege to that city. Kildare meanwhile died in prison; and his son,
persevering in his revolt, made applications to the emperor, who
promised him assistance. The king was obliged to send over some forces
to Ireland, which so harassed the rebels, that this young nobleman,
finding the emperor backward in fulfilling his promises, was reduced to
the necessity of surrendering himself prisoner to Lord Leonard Gray,
the new deputy, brother to the marquis of Dorset. He was carried over to
England, together with his five uncles; and after trial and conviction,
they were all brought to public justice; though two of the uncles, in
order to save the family, had pretended to join the king’s party.
The earl of Angus had acquired the entire ascendant in Scotland; and
having gotten possession of the king’s person then in early youth, he
was able, by means of that advantage, and by employing the power of
his own family, to retain the reins of government. The queen dowager,
however, his consort, bred him great disturbance. For having separated
herself from him on account of some jealousies and disgusts, and having
procured a divorce, she had married another man of quality, of the name
of Stuart; and she joined all the discontented nobility who opposed
Angus’s authority. James himself was dissatisfied with the slavery to
which he was reduced, and by secret correspondence he incited first
Walter Scot, then the earl of Lenox, to attempt by force of arms the
freeing him from the hands of Angus. Both enterprises failed of success:
but James, impatient of restraint, found means at last of escape *ing
to Stirling, where his mother then resided; and having summoned all the
nobility to attend him, he overturned the authority of the Douglases,
and obliged Angus and his brother to fly into England, where they were
protected by Henry. The king of Scotland, being now arrived at years of
majority, took the government into his own hands; and employed him self
with great spirit and valor in repressing those feuds, ravages, and
disorders, which, though they disturbed the course of public justice,
served to support the martial spirit of the Scots, and contributed
by that means to maintain national independency. He was desirous of
renewing the ancient league with the French nation; but finding Francis
in close union with England, and on that account somewhat cold in