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The Life of King James IV (Part Two)

© Simon Hill

James IV concentrated his challenge to the power of the nobles on the North and West of Scotland. In the parliament of May 1493 the Lord of the Isles forfeited his lands and they were annexed to the crown. James then toured the area with the aim of asserting royal authority. He also established a naval force in the Clyde estuary, which could be used for the ‘daunting of the Isles’. The young King soon gained control of Islay and Tiree and those who refused to take an oath of loyalty were executed. The king installed his own agents, giving them almost limitless powers in the Isles, they were charged with keeping the peace and collecting the taxes and rents due to the crown. Naval artillery was employed to capture the last resisting strongholds and the next in line to be the Lord of the Isles, Donald Dubh, was captured in 1507 and imprisoned in Stirling Castle. James immediately appointed sheriffs to enforce his rule and replace the Celtic laws, which were still operating, with the king’s law. James’ authority was maintained through his agents, mostly Campbells and Gordons, this authority was not seriously challenged again within his reign.

Meanwhile there was growing hostility between Scotland and England. A succession of truces did not prevent the unofficial warfare, especially pirates at sea. In March 1492 James secured a new Franco-Scottish alliance which threatened England. Despite the Anglo-French treaty agreed in November James continued to antagonise England and stir up unrest, perhaps with the aim of regaining Berwick (which had been a Scottish city but was at that time part of England). He supported the Duke of York’s claim to the English throne and used it as an excuse to invade England in September 1496. The English responded by invading Scotland in June the following year and this in turn led to James’ siege of Norham Castle. The Earl of Surrey was dispatched to deal with this Scottish threat and led an army North. When the English arrived James challenged the Earl to fight him, hand to hand combat, with the winner claiming Berwick. The Earl declined this offer and the Scots returned North, the terrible weather helping to cover their tracks and make pursuit impossible.

Henry VII was concerned; he wanted to conclude peace with James and was willing to make a significant offer in order to achieve this. A seven-year truce was agreed at Ayton in September 1497. James made a condition that Henry’s eldest daughter, Margaret Tudor, married him. Henry was unsurprisingly unenthusiastic but he relented, sending the young bride North with a large dowry. In August 1503 the marriage was solemnised in Holyrood Abbey. James had secured a future claim to the English throne for his bloodline, a claim which would pave the way for his descendant James IV of Scotland to become James I of Britain. James and Henry remained friendly and there was co-operation between Scotland and England until Henry’s death in 1509.

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