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marks. Gloucester, who well perceived that the Scots granted more to his
demands, for relief of their own necessities, than to gratify him, or the king,
his brother, " lyke a wyse counseyler took his advantage when it was offered;
" and, especiallie, because these thynges made for his long desyred purpose (u)"
The subtilty of Albany, at the end of all those treacherous transactions, over-
reached the cunning of Gloucester, and the artifice of Edward. He had con-
tracted to deliver to the English king, on his being restored, Annandale, and Loch-
maben castle; but, as he regained those important possessions as his own property,
by his pardon and indemnity, he retained them, and relinquished Berwick.
Yet, Gloucester, who knew the character of Albany, somewhat over-reached his
artful coadjutor. When he perceived the cold reception of Albany at Edin-
burgh, the condition of the king, the spirit of the country ; when, he reflected
that by restoring so unprincipled a politician to a situation from which he could
embarass his brother's government, he naturally concluded that, when he him-
self should acquire the English crown, which was even then within his grasp,
he would find Albany, if he were king, with his ability, enterprise, and knavery,
a most dangerous neighbour. By thus investigating the true motives of all
those insidious parties, we see distinctly the reason why James III., who had
been virtually dethroned and actually imprisoned by the treasonous sedition of
Angus, was permitted to retain his tarnished diadem (x).
The unhappy king still remained in Edinburgh castle. Yet, as Albany
was restored, Angus rewarded, and the ministers of state performed, in the
king's name, their usual functions at Edinburgh, the king was virtually free.
But he was to be relieved at length from durance, by a ceremony which
degraded him and elevated his brother. Albany, with the provost and citizens
(u) Hall. Habington. Hist., 202, had remarked, when Gloucester set out for Scotland, how he had
then fixed his eyes on the English crown, " and began, like a cunning physician, to examine the state
of the king's body, which, though apparently strong, he observed had evil symptoms of death in him,
being overgrown with fat, and both in his diet and lust subject to disorder."
(x) During those negotiations for the restoration of Albany, Angus, conscious that he had com-
mitted murder and treason, appeared not on the disgraceful scene, while he saw from his conceal-
ment his associate Albany regain his old pre-eminence. On the 11th April 1481, he had been
appointed, by the weakness of James and the intrigue of Albany, to be warden of the east
marches. Parl. Rec., 267. After his horrible sedition at Lauder, in July 1482, he was appointed,
by the influence of Albany, the warden of the west marches, on the 6th of August 1482. Crau-
ford's Officers of State, 54, who quotes the charter in the public archives. In this manner,
then, did this most insidious statesman obtain the command of the whole intrigue, management,
and power of the borders. Yet what all those artful men thus obtained were gained from the losses
of the nation.
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