History of the house and race of Douglas and Angus

203 history or THE
the only wise men? Were there no more wise men in the
country? Then if they were wise, were they good also? were
they just? were they sober, modest, and moderate? For with-
out these virtues, their wisdom was not good, but dangerous,
and even ill; chiefly when it is joined with power, and is in
authority. And I pray you, what hath their wisdom been?
or wherein did they show it under the late King? they tell
not; and I believe, if it be tried, it shall be found that which
made him to have so short a life, that gave occasion to his
enemies to take courage against him, was their seeking of their
own particular advancement, with offence, and vexing of the
nobility, without regarding the King's good, or the good of
the country: and it must needs be so, if it were the same wis-
dom they show now after the King's death. Therefore if we
shall speak in right terms of that matter, we shall say that
Alexander Livingston and William Crichton, both small
barons only, and not of the ancient blood of the nobility, new
men bent to seek their own profit only, without regard to any
other duty, had misgoverned the state, and got the guiding of
the late King, and drawn such a faction, that Douglas being
absent in France, they had got all into their hands; Living-
ston being made governor, and Crichton chancellor, who
is the fir>:t chancellor that we read of in our chronicles.
The Earl Douglas took such indignation at this, esteeming
it disgraceful to the whole nobility, and more especially to
himself, that finding he could not bow his heart to acknow-
ledge such men, and yet not willing to oppose or impugn
them who were cloathed with authority, which would move
war and trouble in the country, he chobe, as the calmest and
best course, to withdraw himself, and not to meddle with
any public business, or to take any care or share in ruling tho
country, which he left to them to whom it was committed?
and to such as had taken it upon them: with this resolution
he returned home to his own house, without further troub-
ling of them. Bitt that he might keep them from infringing
Ids liberties, and privileges granted to the House of Douglas
of old by former Kings, for their good services, he command-