But to excuse their Treason, eight days before, they had presented an Absolution unto them, as sent from Rome, containing, after the aggravation of the crime, this clause, remittimus irremissibile, 1that is,2 We remit the crime that cannot be remitted: Which considered by the worst of the company that was in the Castle, answer was given, That the Governor and Council of the Realm had promised unto them a sufficient and assured absolution, which that appeareth not to be, and therefore they could not deliver the House, neither thought they that any reasonable man would require them so to do, considering that promise was not kept unto them. The next day after that the Galleys were arrived, they summoned the House: Which being denied (because they knew then no Magistrates in Scotland) they prepared for Siege; and first they began to assault by Sea, and shot two days; but thereof they neither got advantage nor honour, for they threw down the Slates of houses; but neither slue man, nor did harm to any wall. But the Castle handled them so,3 that Sancta Barbara (the Gunners goddess) helped them nothing, for they lost many of their Rowers, men chained in the Galleys, and some Soldiers both by Sea and Land. And farther, a Galley that approached nearer then the rest, was so beaten with the Cannon, and other Ordinance, that she was stricken under water, and almost drowned, and so she had been, had not the rest given her succour in time, and drawn her to the west Sands, without the sho• of the Castle, and afterward to Dundee; where they remained, till that the Governor, who then was at the Siege of Langhope, came unto them with the rest of the French Faction. The Siege by Sea and Land was laid about the Castle of S. Andrews the three and twentieth day of July: The Trenches were cast, Ordnance was planted upon the Abbey Church, and upon Saint Salvator's College (and yet was the Steeple thereof burnt) and some upon the street that leads to the Castle,4 which so annoyed the Castle, that neither could they keep their Block-house, the Sea Tower head, nor the west wall; for in all those places men were slain by great Ordnance: yea, they mounted the Ordnance so high upon the Abbey Church, that they might discover the ground of the court of the Castle in divers places.
But to excuse their Treason, eight dayes before, they had presented an Absolution unto them, as sent from Rome, containing, after the aggravation of the crime, this clause, remittimꝰ irremissibile, 1that is,2 We remit the crime that cannot be remitted: Which considered by the worst of the company that was in the Castle, answer was given, That the Governour and Councell of the Realme had promised unto them a sufficient and assured absolution, which that appeareth not to be, and therefore they could not deliver the House, neither thought they that any reasonable man would require them so to do, considering that promise was not kept unto them. The next day after that the Gallies were arrived, they summoned the House: Which being denied (because they knew then no Magistrates in Scotland) they prepared for Siege; and first they began to assault by Sea, and shot two days; but thereof they neither got advantage nor honour, for they threw down the Slates of houses; but neither slue man, nor did harme to any wall. But the Castle handled them so,3 that Sancta Barbara (the Gunners goddesse) helped them nothing, for they lost many of their Rowers, men chained in the Gallies, and some Souldiers both by Sea and Land. And farther, a Galley that approached neerer then the rest, was so beaten with the Cannon, and other Ordinance, that she was striken under water, and almost drowned, and so she had been, had not the rest given her succour in time, and drawn her to the west Sands, without the sho• of the Castle, and afterward to Dundie; where they remained, till that the Governour, who then was at the Siege of Langhope, came unto them with the rest of the French Faction. The Siege by Sea and Land was laid about the Castle of S. Andrews the three and twentieth day of Iuly: The Trenches were cast, Ordnance was planted upon the Abbey Church, and upon Saint Salvators Colledge (and yet was the Steeple thereof burnt) and some upon the street that leads to the Castle,4 which so annoyed the Castle, that neither could they keep their Block-house, the Sea Tower head, nor the west wall; for in all those places men were slain by great Ordnance: yea, they mounted the Ordnance so high upon the Abbey Church, that they might discover the ground of the court of the Castle in divers places.
- 1Note.
- 2The answer given to the Governor, when the Castle of S. Andrews was required to be delivered.The answer given to the Governour, when the Castle of S. Andrews was required to be delivered.
- 3The Gunners goddess.The Gunners goddesse.
- 4Commonly called, The old College.Commonly called, The old Colledge.
