ying his son Edward to the
heiress of that kingdom.[**] [18]

* See note R, at the end of the volume.

** Stowe, p. 584. Herbert. Burnet. Buchanan.

He called together the Scottish nobles who were his prisoners and after
reproaching them, in severe terms, for their pretended breach of treaty,
he began to soften his tone, and proposed to them this expedient, by
which, he hoped, those disorders so prejudicial to both states, would
for the future be prevented. He offered to bestow on them their liberty
without ransom; and only required of them engagements to favor the
marriage of the prince of Wales with their young mistress. They were
easily prevailed on to give their assent to a proposal which seemed so
natural and so advantageous to both kingdoms; and being conducted to
Newcastle, they delivered to the duke of Norfolk hostages for their
return, in case the intended nuptials were not completed; and they
thence proceeded to Scotland, where they found affairs in some
confusion.

The pope, observing his authority in Scotland to be in danger from the
spreading of the new opinions, had bestowed on Beaton, the primate, the
dignity of cardinal, in order to confer more influence upon him; and
that prelate had long been regarded as prime minister to James, and
as the head of that party which defended the ancient privileges and
property of the ecclesiastics. Upon the death of his master, this man,
apprehensive of the consequences both to his party and to himself,
endeavored to keep possession of power; and for that purpose he is
accused of executing a deed which required a high degree of temerity.
He forged, it is said, a will for the king, appointing himself and three
noblemen more regents of the kingdom during the minority of the infant
princess:[*] at least,--for historians are not well agreed in the
circumstances of the fact,--he had read to James a paper of that import,
to which that monarch, during the delirium which preceded his death, had
given an imperfect assent and approbation.[**] By virtue of this will,
Beaton had put himself in possession of the government; and having
united his interests with those of the queen dowager, he obtained the
consent of the convention of states, and excluded the pretensions of the
earl of Arran.

* Sadler's Letters, p. 161. Spotswood, p. 71. Buchanan, lib.
xv.

** John Knox, Hist. of the Reformation.

James, earl of Arran, of the name of Hamilton, was next