‘... there being upon the coast of Zetland about the number of 250
Fleming busses at the herring-fishing, attended with nine waughters ...
there cam upon them fourteen great Biscayen Spanish ships, in whilk
there were 4000 soldiers, with ane great sum of money for the payment
of the Spanish army in Germany; whilk ships, being bound for Dunkirk,
cam that north way for their safest passage, till keep themselves free
from the harm of Flemish or English ships. But, approaching to the
said coast, they set upon the Hollanders, and, sinking three of the
waughters, the haill busses took the flight, some till little creeks
in Zetland, where the Spaniard did sink a number of their busses, and
taking their master, did put the rest of their company to the edge of
the sword, with some also of the country people, inhabitants thereof,
resisting their tyranny.’
The Privy Council, duly apprised of these outrages on the 13th of the
month, were taking measures for their correction, when, on the 16th,
‘there arase a great fray in the town of Edinburgh, for, the busses
having left the waughters combating with the Dunkirkers, and having
fled away therefrae, there cam of them the number of threescore all
together in form of ane half-moon, up the Firth of Forth; where, at
the first perceiving afar off of such a number of ships in the form
foresaid, as if they had been in battle or onset thereof, the haill
people thought they had been ane army of Spaniards and Dunkirkers
assuredly. Whereupon the Privy Council caused mak a proclamation,
that all manner of men, offensive and defensive, under the pain of
death, should all in arms to the sea-shore, upon the first touk of the
drum. All this day, the Lords of Council held their council at Leith,
where also David Aikenhead, provost of Edinburgh, with some of the
bailies and council thereof, attended the event of the said ships,
till advertise the people of the town what they sould do thereanent.
About eight hours at night, by command of the Privy Council, the
cannons were trailed down with furnishing thereto from the Castle of
Edinburgh till Leith, and the town of Edinburgh were put in arms under
ten handseignies, every man better resolved than another to abide the
worst till death, or they to put the enemies to destruction.... About
ten hours at night certain word cam, by two boats that was sent from
Leith, to the effect that they were our friends and only a number of
busses fled from the tyranny of the Dunkirkers ... and then the cannons
were trailed back again to the Castle, and the people were commanded to
their rest.’--_Jo. H._
[Sidenote: 1627.