Genealogy of the family of Forbes

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The field of bat tie of Pinkie (or of Musselburgh, as tlie English
term it) is very easily observed from the high road to London,
The Scotch army was in Musselburgh and Inveresk, and along
the Esk — the English were ranged behind the rising ground to
be seen to the south east, now arable land, but then covered
with whins ; from the descent of this eminence, the English ar-
tillery annoyed the Scotch so much in their posts, that they
rushed forward to attack it ; but before they had gained the
eminence, they were attacked and overwhelmed by the cavalry,
which charged to full advantage down the gradual descent, and
threw them back upon the line of the Esk : this line was forced
by the sudden advance of the whole English army, and the Scotch
being broken and divided, the most dreadful carnage ensued for
many miles, and till night put an end to it. Sir Ralph Sadler
had great credit for his command of the English light horse on
this occasion. Sir Ralph had been on a visit to the Queen
Dowager of Scotland at Lithgow, a short time before ; and as
reports had been spread that the infant. Queen Mary, was sickly,
she shewed her to him naked in her cradle ; in the sequel. Sir
Ralph had the charge of Queen Mary, a short time before her
trial and execution, and incurred the displeasure of Elizabeth,
for his indulgence of his charge in hunting and hawking. Had
he not been indulgent to the Queen, what opinion must we
have formed of his heart?
It is no ways wonderful that Henry did not succeed in his at-
tempt to obtain the subjection of Scotland, by the possession of
the Infant Queen. The Queen Dowager Mary of Guise, na-
turally inclined to France, where her family was already power-
ful ; and the Clergy was of course hostile to an alliance with a
Prince excommunicated, and who had destroyed the Roman
supremacy. The nobles and men of property saw nothing but
provincial degradation in an union with so near and potent k
Prince, and afterwards shewed the extent of their jealousy, by
denying the marital sovereignty to Francis II. The King of
England was too mighty to be very liberal in bribery, and relied
too much on his power over the prisoners made at Solway, t6
exert himself in other quarters with successful energy.
The Poets of the times give very lively accounts of the 4th
and 5th James's. John BiUes' Ct/ie fool of James IV -J jokes