Norman Lesley, the eldest son of George Earl of Rothes, (see page 176,)
is first named in the Parliamentary proceedings against the murderers of
Cardinal Beaton; and a dagger, the sheath of silver richly chased, and
the handle of ivory, preserved at Leslie House, according to tradition,
was made use of by him on that occasion. Although he may be considered
as the leader in that enterprise, there is no evidence to shew that he
was actually one of the perpetrators. The cause of his hostility is said
to have thus originated. The lands of Easter Wemyss in Fife, became
annexed to the Crown by the forfeiture of Sir James Colville, (then
deceased,) 18th March 1541; and were given by James the Fifth to the
Rothes family. After the King's death, the forfeiture was reduced in
Parliament on the 12th December 1543, under the direction of Cardinal
Beaton; which so offended the Master of Rothes, that it is said to have
been the proximate cause of the Cardinal's murder.--(Senators of the
College of Justice, p. 25.)
After Lesley's forfeiture and imprisonment in France, he visited various
countries, and also returned to Scotland. On the 10th of May 1553, the
Lairds of Phillorth, Fyvie, Meldrum, and others, were summoned "to
underly the law for the resset of Normond Leslie."--(Treasurer's
Accounts.) His subsequent history is thus related by Spottiswood:--
"After his release from captivity he returned into Scotland, but fearing
the Governour he went into Denmark, where not finding that kind
reception he expected, he betook himself to England, and had an
honourable pension allowed him; which was thankfully answered during the
reign of Edward the Sixt. Queen Mary succeeding, he found not the like
favour, and thereupon went to France, where he had a company of men of
Armes given him, with which he served the French King in his warres
against the Emperour Charles the Fifth, and in pursuing the enemy whom
he had in chase, was wounded with the shot of a pistoll, whereof he died
the day after, at Montreul. He was a man of noble qualities, and full of
courage, but falling unfortunately in the slaughter of the Cardinal,
which he is said at his dying to have sore repented, he lost himself and
the expectation which was generally held of his worth."--(History, p.
90.)
It appears that Norman Lesley at the time he entered the service of the
King of France, had obtained absolution from the Court of Rome for his
share in the Cardinal's murder. A particular account of his death is
preserved by Sir James Melville, and may here be quoted:--
"Bot the King drew langis the frontiers toward a gret strenth callit
Renty, wher he planted his camp and beseigit the said strenth, quhilk I
hard the Constable promyse to delyuer vnto the K. before the end of
aucht dayes. Quhilk promyse was not keped, for themperour cam in persone
with his armye for the releif therof.... At quhilk tym Normond Lesly
maister of Rothes wan gret reputation. For with a thretty Scotis men he
raid up the bray vpon a faire grey gelding; he had aboue his corsellet
of blak veluet, his cot of armour with tua braid whyt croises, the ane
before and thother behind, with sleues of mailze, and a red knappisk
bonet vpon his head, wherby he was kend and sean a far aff be the
Constable, Duc of Augien and Prince of Conde. Wher with his thretty he
chargit vpon threscore of ther horsmen with culuerins, not folowed with
seuen of his nomber; wha in our sicht straik v of them fra ther horse
with his speir, before it brak; then he drew his swerd and ran in amang
them, not caring ther continuell schutting, to the admiration of the
behalders. He slew dyuers of them; at lenth when he saw a company of
speirmen comming doun against him, he gaif his horse the spurris, wha
carried him to the Constable and fell doun dead, for he had many
schotis: and worthy Normond was also schot in dyuers partis, wherof he
died xv dayes efter. He was first caried to the Kingis awin tent, wher
the Duc of Augyen and Prince of Conde told his Maiestie that Hector of
Troy was not mair vailzeand them the said Normond: whom the K. wald so
dressit with his awen serurgiens, and maid gret mean for him; sa did the
Constable and all the rest of the Princes. Bot na man maid mair dule nor
the Lard of Grange, wha cam to the camp the nyxt day efter, fra a quyet
raid wher he had been directed."--(Memoirs, p. 25, Bannatyne Club
edition, Edinb. 1827, 4to.)
* * * * *
Norman Lesley, Master of Rothes, married Issobel Lindesay, daughter of
John fifth Lord Lindesay of the Byres, but left no issue; and, as stated
in note 588, the title, on his father's death, in 1558, devolved on
Andrew, the son of a second marriage.
No. XII.