There was an ancient feud between the families of Glammis and Crawford,
but as the present lords were on the same side in politics, it was felt
by both as inexpedient that any hostility should take place between
them. Moreover, it would have been highly indecent of Lord Glammis, who
was chancellor of the kingdom, to allow any demonstration of rancour to
come from his side. Nevertheless, a fatal collision took place between
these two nobles.
[Sidenote: 1577-8.]
About the dusk of a spring day, Lord Glammis was coming down from
Stirling Castle to his own house in the town, attended as usual
by some of his friends and followers, when, in a narrow lane, he
encountered the Earl of Crawford similarly attended. The two nobles
bade their respective followers give way to the other; and the order
was obeyed by all except the two last, who either wilfully or by
accident jostled each other, and then immediately drew their swords and
fell a-fighting. A skirmish then took place between the two parties, in
the course of which Lord Glammis, whose stature made him overtop the
company, was shot through the head with a pistol, and many were hurt on
both sides.
‘Lord Glammis was a learned, godly, and wise man. He sent to Beza
when the work of policy was in hands, and craved his judgment in
some questions of policy; whereupon Beza wrote the book _De Triplici
Episopatu_, Of the threefold bishopric, divine, human, and devilish,
and his answers to his questions. Mr Andrew Melville made this epigram
upon him after his death:
Tu Leo magne jaces inglorius: ergo, manebunt
Qualia fata canes? qualia fata sues?
Since lowly lies thou, noble lyon fine,
What sall betide, behind? the dogs and swine?--_Cal._
The respective friends of Glammis and Crawford fell into active
hostilities after this event, and Crawford was seized and thrown into
prison. Being really free from blame, and befriended by many of the
nobility, he was soon liberated, to the great joy of his own people.
The general joy diffused by this event exasperated Thomas Lyon, a
nephew of the deceased chancellor, insomuch that ‘Crawford all his life
was glad to stand in a soldier’s posture.’--_Jo. Hist._
Godscroft relates that the slaughter of Lord Glammis, which was
committed at five in the afternoon in Stirling, was ‘reported
punctually and perfectly in Edinburgh at six, being twenty-four
[Scotch] miles distant.’ He perhaps means to insinuate that the deed
was premeditated. Under November 1585 will be found another instance of
miraculous-looking quickness in the communication of intelligence.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 1578.