Historical and genealogical memoirs of the House of Hamilton

78 HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL MEMOIRS
james, he made overtures of reconciliation to the Earl of Arran. He offered him
a snare in the administration, and, at the same time, intimated that it was
the intention of James to declare Lennox heir to the crown, in prejudice
Godscroft, P . 254, of the rights of the family of Hamilton. Godscroft, the historian of the
ed. 1644. ° J
Douglasses, intimates that it was the intention of Lennox to ruin them
hoth, first by attacking Angus and then the Earl. It was probably the
knowledge of this that determined them to wave all political and family
differences, and, for mutual support, to embark in one common cause.
1526. As the Earl of Arran, agreeably to their plan of operations, was pre-
paring to advance to Edinburgh, he received information from Angus to
meet him at Linlithgow, whither he accordingly proceeded, at the head
of his kinsmen and followers. The Earl of Lennox, who was soon ap-
sept. 4. prised of this movement, set out from Stirling, with the intention of cut-
ting off the Hamiltons before they could be joined by the Earl of Angus ;
but the scouts of Arran, carrying notice of his approach, that nobleman
sent off an express to Edinburgh to hasten on Angus and his forces ; and,
in the meantime, took possession of the bridge over the Avon, about a
mile from the town, and stationed a strong party to defend it, while, with
the main body, he took post on a rising ground a short distance above,
and nearly opposite to the monastery of Emmanuel. He then sent some
gentlemen of his name to his nephew Lennox, for whom, notwithstanding
their family differences, he still retained a most lively affection, to dissuade
him from the prosecution of his enterprize, adding that, should he advance,
the Hamiltons must, much against their inclinations, oppose his progress.
Lennox, with great spirit, returned for answer, " that he was determined
to advance to Edinburgh in spite of all opposition." These gentlemen
had scarcely retired, when, dividing his army into three bodies, he gal-
lantly led them on to the attack. His vanguard, making too much haste,
disordered their ranks, and, having some eminences to ascend, were out
of breath before they came to close quarters with the Hamiltons, who,
with great coolness, stood their ground, and who now charged with such
furv, that they drove the assailants back with considerable loss upon their
second line ; and a detachment of the forces of Angus, running into the
field at this critical moment, seconded their efforts, and increased the con-
fusion and dismay amongst the troops of Lennox. The united forces, with-
out giving them time to recover, nc*w advanced upon the broken ranks of