bilitie and ane great part
of the noble men assisted to his opinion. Upon the other side, Sir
Alexander Livingstoun bearing the authoritie committed to him by
consent of the nobilitie, as said is, contained another faction, to
whose opinion the Queen mother with many of the nobility very trewly
assisted. So the principals of both the factions caused proclaime
lettres at mercat crosses and principal villages of the realm that
all men should obey conforme to the aforesaid letters sent forth by
them, under the pain of death. To the which no man knew to whom he
should obey or to whose letters he should be obedient unto. And also
great trouble appeared in this realm, because there was no man to
defend the burghs, priests, and poor men and labourers hauntind to
their leisum (lawful) business either private or public. These men
because of these enormities might not travel for thieves and
brigands and such like: all other weak and decrepit persons who was
unable to defend themselves, or yet to get food and sustentation to
themselves, were most cruelly vexed in such troublous times. For
when any passed to seek redress at the Chancellor of such injuries
and troubles sustained by them, the thieves and brigands, feigning
themselves to be of another faction, would burn their house and
carry their whole goods and gear away before ever they returned
again. And the same mischief befell those that went to complain to
the Governor of the oppression done to them. Some other good men
moved upon consideration and pitie of their present calamities
tholed (endured) many such injuries, and contained themselves at
home and sought no redresse. In the midst of these things and
troubles, all things being out of order, Queen-Mother began to find
out ane moyane (a means) how she should diminish the Chancellor's
power and augment the Governor's power, whose authority she
assisted."

The position of Queen Jane in the circumstances in which her husband
left her, a woman still young, with a band of small children, and no
authority in the turbulent and distracted country, is as painful a one
as could well be imagined. Her English blood would be against her, and
even her beauty, so celebrated by her chivalrous husband, and which
would no doubt increase the immediate impulse of suitors, in that
much-marrying age, towards the beautiful widow w