_A Band of Friendship_--a sort of modification of the old bonds of
manred--was formed by the Earl of Eglintoun, the Earl of Glencairn,
Lord Boyd, the respective eldest sons of these nobles, Sir Matthew
Campbell of Loudon, and Wallace of Craigie, for the repressing of
diverse troubles in the country, and with a view to their greater
efficiency in the king’s service. They bound themselves, upon
their faith and honours, ‘the holy evangel touched, to tak true,
faithful, plain, and aefald part all together, as weel by way of law
as deed, pursuit as defence, ... in all actions, causes, quarrels,
controversies, and debates, movit or to be movit by or against us
... against whatsomever person or persons, the king’s majesty alane
excepted.’ It was also concluded ‘that all castles, houses, strengths
perteining to us sall be ready and patent to ilk ane of us, as the
occasion may require.’ Then came a remarkable clause--‘Gif it sall
happen, as God forbid, ony different, slaughter, bluid, or other
inconvenient, to fall out amangs us, our friends, servants, or
dependers, the same, of whatsomever wecht or quality it sall be of,
sall be remitted to the decision and judgment of the remanent of us,
wha sall have power to judge and decern thereintill, whase sentence and
decreet baith the parties sall bide at, fulfil, and observe without
reclamation, and sall be as valid and effectual in all respects, and
have as full execution, as the same had been given and pronounced after
cognition in the cause, by the Lords of Session, Justice-general of
Scotland, or ony other judge ordinar within this realm.’[101]
* * * * *
[Sidenote: JULY.]
In the parliament held at this time, Lord Home was restored from
the forfeiture passed against his father in consequence of his
adherence to the queen’s party. David Home of Godscroft represents
this as being mainly brought about by the intervention of Sir
George Home of Wedderburn with the Earl of Morton; and according to
Godscroft’s narration, it was against the will and judgment of Morton
that Wedderburn’s end was gained. The affair stands out in strong
illustration of the principle of clanship and kindred as affecting
even Lowland bosoms in that age. Morton freely told Wedderburn that
‘he thought it not his best course; “For,” said he, “you never got any
good of that house, and if it were once taken out of the way, you are
next--and it may be you will get small thanks for your pains.”
[Sidenote: 1578.]
‘Sir George answered, that “the Lord Home _was his chief_, and he could
not see his house ruined. If they were unkind, that would be their own
fault. This he thought himself bound to do. And, for his own part,
whatsoever their carriage were to him, he would do his duty to them.
_If his chief should turn him out at the fore door, he would come in
again at the back door._”
“Well,” says Morton, “if you be so minded, it shall be so. I can do no
more but tell you my opinion.” And so [he] consented to do it.’[102]
Sir George Home of Wedderburn was son and successor of the Merse
gentleman described under 1574, and a sketch of him, drawn by the
perhaps partial hand of his brother, David of Godscroft, is well worthy
of preservation. He was now twenty-eight years of age; he had been
trained to pious habits by his parents, and completed his education at
the Regent’s court, in company with the young Earl of Angus. He knew
Latin and French thoroughly, had studied logic, and acquired such an
extensive knowledge of geography, that, ‘though he had never been out
of his own country, he could dispute with any one who had travelled in
France or elsewhere. He learned the use of the triangle in measuring
heights, without any teaching, or ever having read of it; so that he
may be said to have invented it.
‘He was diligent in reading the sacred Scriptures, and not to little
purpose. He was assiduous in settling controverted points, and at
table, or over a bottle, he either asked other people’s opinions,
or freely gave his own.... He did read a great deal when his public
and private business allowed him. He likewise wrote meditations
upon the Revelations, the soul, love of God, &c. He also gave some
application to law, and even to physic.... As to his body, he was
well-proportioned; his countenance was lovely and modest, and his
limbs handsome and of great strength. He was polite and unaffected in
his manners. He sung after the manner of the court. He likewise sang
Psaltery to his own playing on the harp. He also sometimes danced.
He was very keen for hare-hunting, and delighted much in hawks,
particularly that kind that have a small body and large wings, called
_marlins_. With these he caught both partridges and muirfowl. He was so
much given to diversion that he built a hunting-house, which he called
_Handaxewood_, in the hills of Lammermuir, in which he might divert
himself in the night-time. He first delighted most in those hawks
called _falcons_; but, wearying of them, he took to the other kind,
called _tercels_, which he used even in his old age.
[Sidenote: 1578.]
‘He rode skilfully, and sometimes applied himself to the breaking of
the fiercest horses. He was skilful in the bow beyond most men of
his time. He was able to endure cold, hunger, thirst, fatigue, and
watching.... He was moderate both in his eating and drinking, which
was in those days scarce any praise, temperance being then frequent,
though it is now very rare.’
Being, while at court in his youth, stinted of money by a step-mother,
he had to avoid cards and dice, and restrict himself to tennis. He was
forced by the same cause to restrain the affection he began to feel for
the sister of Angus, who, by and by, was married to Lord Maxwell, ‘not
at all agreeable to her own inclination, but by the express command of
the Regent, who would not neglect this opportunity.’ Having succeeded
to his estate, ‘his first care was to restore his family to its ancient
splendour and fulness, from which it had fallen by the sordidness
of his step-mother. Therefore he always went with a great number of
attendants, kept a great family, about eighteen horsemen, each of whom
had two horses. He was likewise attended by his vassals in Kimmerghame,
which was a village at no great distance. They were about twelve in
number, and had generally been made use of by his predecessors in
services of this kind. They never took greater care of their fields
than of their horses, and never ceased accustoming and perfecting
themselves in the use of arms. They seldom employed themselves in the
country work, and never made use of their horses for that purpose, and
they were so swift and beautiful that they might even have contended
with those of their master’s domestics. They were always ready at
command on every emergency to be led or sent where he pleased. Thus,
he was always guarded with twenty or thirty horsemen, all brave and
warlike, in order that he might be more respected. Nor was he mistaken
in his opinion; it procured him such great fame and authority both with
his friends and others, it so much checked his rivals, that they all
yielded to him in the beginning, nor ever dared to oppose any of his
attempts.
[Sidenote: 1578.]
‘Nor did he acquire less glory in the care he took of his sisters,
which was crowned with success. The remembrance of the best of mothers,
their own goodness and beauty, procured them his love. Chance assisted
the care he had, advantageously to dispose of Isobel, the eldest. John
Haldane of Gleneagles, who having come to the Earl of Morton, who
was then governor, to transact and agree with him about the ward and
marriage of his lands, Morton answered he had given all right he had
to it to Isobel, Wedderburn’s sister, and he might go and take her and
it together. There were, along with Haldane, his uncles, Richard and
Robert, and David Erskine, abbot of Dryburgh. They, without delay,
come to Wedderburn, where they see, converse with, and please the
young lady, who had before been known to them by report only; they
treat and agree with the brother, and the marriage-day is set. He had
resolved that she should be dismissed as honourably as possible. For
that purpose, there was a most splendid apparatus and entertainment,
which was made up by the bride’s direction, and it greatly added to
the fame of her prudence, as few had ever seen so grand and genteel a
marriage-feast, and all who were present never failed to give it the
greatest commendations.’
* * * * *
[Sidenote: SEP. 11.]
An attempt was made by proclamation to raise the value of the coin,
thirty-shilling pieces being ordained to pass for 32s. 8d., and twenty,
ten, and five shilling pieces in proportion, refusal of the coin at
the exalted rates being threatened with capital punishment. ‘This
was altogether mislikit by the common people, and specially by the
inhabitants of Edinburgh.’--_Moy._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 1578-9.