Historical and genealogical memoirs of the House of Hamilton

OF THE HOUSE OF HAMILTON. 89
to come before him and plead his cause ; which was acceded to, and an duke of cha-
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order sent for his liberation. On hearing of this, the Treasurer and his '
colleagues, dreading the effects of Sir James's vengeance, immediately set
out for Falkland, and, in addition to the charges already preferred against
that favourite, accused him of keeping up a correspondence and conspir-
ing with the banished Earl of Angus, against the King's government and
person ; and concluded by representing, that his Majesty, by pardoning
offences of such magnitude, was endangering his own and the public
safety.
Impressed by the weight of these representations, James returned with-
out delay to Edinburgh, and, notwithstanding the powerful intercession
made in his behalf, he brought his late favourite to trial in the Tolbooth.
The jury, composed of barons and landed gentlemen, some of whom, it
is said, were his personal enemies, brought him in guilty, and he was con-
demned to death. He was beheaded and quartered, and his lands and
possessions were confiscated and annexed to the crown. Thus fell Sir
James Hamilton of Finnart, a man whose character has been variously
represented. That he was brave, generous, munificent, a sincere and
trusty friend, will readily be admitted. It will, at the same time, be dif-
ficult to conceal that he was tinctured with some of the vices of the age.
His downfal was the cause of much wonder at the time, or, as Pitscottie
expresses it, " quhairof the countrie marvelled meikle, that sik ane man,
of so grett credence, was so suddenlie put down, by ony man's expecta-
tiounes."
The great body of the nobility, perceiving every thing at court ruled 1542.
by favourites and a few of the clergy, withdrew in disgust to their estates,
and left the field to this faction, who, to suit their own purposes, instigated
their master to invade England, — certainly the most rash and impolitic
measure of his whole reign. The result of this ill-fated expedition
is well known. Oliver Sinclair, a younger son of the house of Roslin, a
court minion, was appointed general ; and the Scots, disdaining to be
commanded by one whose only recommendation was the favour of his
sovereign, allowed themselves to be routed at Solway by a few English
horsemen. King James never recovered from its disastrous effects ; even
the birth of a daughter, afterwards the unfortunate Queen Mary, only
added to his despondency and grief, and he died at Falkland on the 13th
December 1542.