KING JAMES III
King James III (10 July 1451/May 1452 – 11 June 1488) During the first part of this reign, Kennedy, Bishop of St. Andrews , had the chief part in the government. He died in 1466, and on his death the Boyds got hold of the King and of the chief power. These Boyds were originally simple lairds, but they strengthened themselves by bonds with more powerful families, won the King's favour and finally got possession of his person, by making him come with them, partly by persuasion, partly by force, from Stirling to Edinburgh . They then obtained [Pg 76] an act of the Estates declaring that this step had been taken with the full consent and good pleasure of the King. The Lord Boyd was appointed guardian of his person and of the royal strongholds, his son Thomas was created Earl of Arran , and with the earldom the King's sister Mary was given him in marriage. For many years the rent of th...