JAMES III. (1451-88). King of Scotland from 1460 to 148S. He was the son of James IT. and Mary of Gelderland. On the death of his father, the Government appears to have been conducted by his mother, who was under the influence of Archbishop Kennedy. On the death of the latter, in 1466, the young King fell under the control of Lord Boyd and his family. In 1467 they had acquired influence so great that James gave his sister in marriage to Sir Thomas Boyd, son of Lord Robert. Sir Thomas being at the same time created Earl of Arran. On the King's marriage, however, in 1469, with Mar garet of Denmark, power changed hands; Lord Boyd was obliged to flee, and even Arran was driven into exile. Soon after this James seems to have fallen under the influence of favorites. Conspicuous among these was a man named Cochrane, an architect. Through his wiles the Duke of Albany, brother of James, was forced to flee from the Kingdom, having been charged with witchcraft while the Earl of Mar, also a brother of the King, was imprisoned on the same accusation, and probably put to death. The
banished Duke of Albany was, by some unknown means. restored to his brother's favor (1482). He did not long hold it, however. In 14S7 Mar garet of Denmark died. James's love of pur suits which for the age in which he lived were intellectual brought upon him the contempt of a warlike and barbarous nobility, on which the weakness of his moral character imposed no check. A conspiracy, the origin of which is obscure, ended in a. rebellion, having for its avowed object the dethronement of the King. Many of the peers. however, remained loyal, so that James was enabled to put himself at the head of a considerable force. But, mainly through the cowardice of the King, the royal army was defeated at Sauchie. June 11. 14SS. James es caped from the field : hut he was afterwards discovered by one of the rebels and murdered. Boece's Chronicle is the fullest account.