Historical and genealogical memoirs of the House of Hamilton

OF THE HOUSE OF HAMILTON.
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The King was at Hamilton, according to his usual custom, enjoying john, marquis.
the sports of the field, when he first received information that the lords '
had crossed the borders. Retiring immediately to Stirling, he issued a
proclamation, ordering all the lieges to meet him at Crawford Castle on
the 22d October ; but the English ambassador, by his intrigues at court,
prevented him from setting out on this expedition. At Linton, in
Tweeddale, the Earls of Angus and Mar met the Lords Bothwell, Hume,
Yester, Cessford, and Drumlanrig, with their friends and followers, after
which they proceeded to Hamilton, where the whole of the confederated
forces assembled. In a meeting of the leaders, they swore never to se-
parate, nor give over the prosecution of their enterprise, until they had
driven the upstart Arran from the councils of their Sovereign. They at
the same time issued a manifesto, declaring the causes of their confede-
ration, and advanced towards Stirling at the head of about ten thousand
men, and halted the first night at Falkirk. The next day the King tried Godscroft, 405.
to sow divisions amongst them by sending a message to the Earl of Both-
well, but without effect. Some hours after noon they advanced, and,
about the going down of the sun, halted at St Ninian's Chapel, within a
short distance of Stirling, and were seen from the castle walls by friends
and foes. They remained here all night, and, about the dawning of the
day, assembling without any noise, they advanced to assault the town.
Whilst two separate false attacks were made at the same moment of
time, the main body, with the banished lords at their head, entered the
town by the south side, and very soon carried it, little opposition having
been made, except by Colonel Stewart, who, finding himself unable to
maintain his ground, retired into the castle. His brother, the false Earl
of Arran, not thinking himself safe there, retreated to the bridge, of ibid. 406.
which he had secured the keys, and, locking it carefully behind him,
threw them into the Forth, and effected his escape.
The castle, invested on all sides, scarcely held out a day ; and to Sir
Lewis Bellenden, whom the King, who was willing to make every con-
cession, sent out to treat, the lords tendered their respectful submissions, Hoberuon, a . sos.
and requested to be admitted into the royal presence. James acceded
to their wishes, but previously stipulated that all feuds and differences
betwixt any of their number and the noblemen in his train should be
buried in oblivion. Being brought into the castle, and into the presence
chamber, they all made obeisance, and Lord John Hamilton, who, in