man that hes tafted of many afflictiones, and I wote not who croffes me! But be it Papift or Atheist, Feb. 1613. Bishop or Minifter, I will lay over all my vengeance where it belongs. As to my prayer, in the end of my laft Letter to his Ma., I heare, be Mr Peter Ewart, that I was quarrellit, as if I had prayed for reconciliatione in that particular. Indeed, if it had been foe conceaved, I might have been justly quarrelled. But the Lord knowes the contrary is moft true. I had no more mind of that Treafone, at that time, nor the bairne that is yett unborne. As to the reft of faults yee my make in my other Letters, they are but bairnly: For fuppofe I wrotte unto yow with my own subscribing hand, yet it is not worthie to present his Ma. I waill1 the beft hand that I can gett, and for the omiffione of my fubfcriptione, what marvell? Seeing I wrott not the body. And yet the writter therof constantly affirmes that I fubfcrivit, whilkes makes me to think that ye have not receaved my closed Letter to his Ma., but the copie therof, which I directed to your felfe to be perused, and not to be presented, except ye knew it would not offend. I pray you, coufine, if ye delight in my conversatione, lett the effect declare it. Lett me find the fruit therof; and if yee be not able, lett me be in no war cafe nor I am in, be your deid; for that were needleffe. Suppose ye have gotten new friends, men I grant that are more able to perfit you in your outward estate, yett I will looke that ye will observe a Chriftian duty towards me. So wishing yow well in the Lord, I take my leave, and refts

Your moft loving coufine to his power, in God,

INVERNESS, the 10 of February 1613.

ROBERT BRUCE.

No. XIX.

COLLECTION OF ADDITIONAL ORIGINAL LETTERS AND MISCELLANEOUS
DOCUMENTS ILLUSTRATIVE OF GOWRIE'S CONSPIRACY.

(1.) LETTER, George Nicolson, Queen Elizabeth's Ambaffador in Scotland,
to Sir Robert Cecil, Secretary of State.

It may please your honor,

THIS daye morninge, at 9 howers at that tyde, the K.[ing] wrote to the Chancellor, Secretary, Aug. 1600. and others, and to some of the Kirk; and word came hither in this maner, and the L.[ord] Secretary told me, That yesterday th' Erle of Gowry fent the Mr his brother, Mr Alex' Riven, to the K.[ing] hunting in Fawkland Parke; fhewing the K. [ing] that where, for his adoies, he had muche troubles to git treafor, &c. his brother th' Erle had founde in an old towre, in his house at St Johnston's [Perth] a great treafor, to helpe the K.[ing's] turne; wth weh, he faide, his brother wolde faine have the K. [ing] to go to fee quietly, that day. Whereon, after the K.[ing] had hunted a while, and taken a drink, he tooke freshe horfe and difcharged his company (to wit), the D. [uke] and Erle of Marr then in company with him, taking onely a few wth him; yet the D.[uke] rode, and the Erle of Marr followed, and the K.[ing] met by the way the L.[ord] of Inchchaffray, who alfo rode wth him to St Johnfton's; where the K.[ing] cominge, th' Erle meting him, caryed him into his house, and gave him a good dynner; and after went to dynner wth the D.[uke] and his company. The Mr, in the meane tyme of their dining, perfwaded the K.[ing] to go wth him quietly to fee it; as the K.[ing,] difcharginge his company to follow, went with the Mr from ftaithe to staithe, and chamber to chamber, locking ftill the doors behinde him, untill he came to a chamber where a man was, wch the K.[ing] thought had ben the man had kept the treafor. There the M1 cleked hold on the K.[ing] and drew his dagger, fayeing he had killed his father, and he wolde kill him! The K.[ing,] wth good wordes

1 Select, choose. The Original is in the State Paper-Office, London.-—See Chalmers' Life of Ruddiman, p. 443.
VOL. II.
2 R

Aug. 1600. and meanes, fought to diswaid him; fayeing, he was younge when his father was executed, and dyvers others honeft men; that he was innocent thereof; had restored his brother, and for amends, made him greater then he was; that if he killed him, he could not eschape, nor be his heir: That he prefumed Mr Alexander had learned more divinity than to kill his Prince; affuringe him, and faithfully promising him, that if he wold leave of his enterprice, he wold forgive him, and kepe it fecrett, as a matter attempted upon heate and rasheness onely. That to these the M' replied, what was he preachinge? that should not helpe him; he should dye: And that therewith, he ftroke at the K.[ing,] the K.[ing] and he bothe going to the ground, that the M' called to the man there present to kill the K.[ing.] That the man answered, he had nether harte nor hand; and yet is a very curragiouse man. That the K.[ing] having no dagger, but in his hunting cloths wth his horne, yet defended himself from the M2; and in strugling, got to the windowe, where he cryed Treafon! wch Sr Thos Erfkin, John Ramfay, and Doctor Harris, hearing, ran up after the K.[ing], but found the doors fhut, as they could not paffe; yet John Ramfay, knowing another way, got up and in to the K.[ing,] who cryed to John he was flaine; whereon John out wth his rapier and killed the Mr. In this tyme, that th' Erle fhould tell the Duke, Marr, and the reft, that the K.[ing] was gone away, out at a back gate; that they ran out and Gowry wth him, and miffing him, that th' Erle faide, he wold go back and fee where the K.[ing] was. That he, wth 8 wth him, wth a steele bonnett and two rapiers, ran up the staires; that John Ramfay, meting them wth drawn fwordes, St Tho' Erfkin and Doctor Harris being then comed to John, after fondry strokes, in the end killed the Erle alfo; Sr Thomas being hurt, and Doctor Harris mutulate and wanting 2 fingers. That this ftir being, the townes men and Gowrie's frends, in evil appearance, faid, they wold have accompt where th' Erle was, or they wold pay the grene cotes! To pacifie wch the D. [uke] and Mar were fent to the Magiftrates; and fo quieted the matter, as the K.[ing] and his company gott away; the K.[ing] thanking God for his deliverance. And yesternight, knighted, as I heare, John Ramfay and Doctor Harris; but the Secretary told it not me.1

ter.

Upon thefe, Lettres comed from the Courte, The whole Council here convened; and in end, at one of the clock rofe, and came all to the market croffe, and there by found of trumpett intimated, but in bref, the happie efchape of the K.[ing] and their Act, that they made in Council, for the people to thank God for it; and in joy thereof, to ring bells and build bone fires. M' David Lindsay, standing with the Council on the Croffe, made a pithy and fhort Exhortation to the people, to prayfe God for. it; and therewth praied and praised God for the fame; the whole Council on their knees on the Croffe, and whole people in the ftretes, in like forte. The peces of the Castle also shotte in joy; the few bells yet ringing; the youthes of the towne gone out to fkirmifh for joye, and bone fires to be bilded at night: And the Council to go, this tyde, over to the K. [ing,] for further deliberation in this matThe K.[ing] at his retorne to Fawkland, prefentlie cause thrust out of the house, from the Q.[ueen,] Gowrie's two fifters in cheif credyt wth the Quene; and fwears to roote out that whole house and name. Upon the conveninge of the Council, the portes of the towne were shutt, for appre-, hendinge Gowrie's other brethren; and the lands are to be given to these new knights and others. This is the information and reporte comed yet hither, by the K.[ing's] command; wch fome yet doubted to be fully fo. What will follow, I remit to the fequell; being glad the K. [ing] is fafe, without hurte. Gowrie's Secretary is taken, and matters hope to be difcovered by him. Some false lyenge villains gave it out, I should have ben this day morne at Leith, by 3 of the clock, and should fay, being asked by one, that I was there attending strange newes from beyond the water. I tolde the Secretarie of it, that it was false, as God be thanked it is; and that if I were charged by any fuch devilish devices, I wold refuse no deboshed swinger or bloody villaine that should be fo fuborned to put doubt towards me; praying the Secretarie to remember it, and fay it for me, if he hard it. That your honor fees how the malicious here spite me; in what danger I live, and how fubject I am to all 1 Mr James Hamilton is this day gone to England.'

accufation here; and fome practifing knaves wold whisper it, that this plot should be drawne and Aug. 1600. divised in other parts, [Ingland.'] But thus much, for this tyme, in hafte, wth myne humble duty and fervice. I pray God preserve yo' hon. Edenburgh, the 6th of August, 1600.

I have no copie of this.

Yor honor's, &c. &c.

GEO. NICOLSON.?

(2.) EXTRACTS from LETTER, Sir Henry Neville to Mr Secretary Cecil Paris, 27th Feb. 1599-(1600.)

Right Honorable,

3

THE EARLE GOWRY, a nobleman of Scotland, who hath spent some time in these parts, is Feb. 1600. purposed to returne home through England; and defires to have the honor to kiffe her Majefties hands, as he paffeth. And because I know him well, and have had good communication with him, and therein found him to be of very good judgement, and exceedingly well affected both to the common caufe of Religion, and particularly to her Majestie, and that which may concerne her honor and service, I have thought good to recommend him especially, unto your honor; and to befeech you to be a meanes, that he may receave that honour and favour that he is worthy of; that fo he may depart, confirmed in that good devotion and refpect which he beares allready towards her Majeftie. If your honor please to conferre with him about these alterations feared in Scotland, I beleeve he will give you good satisfaction; and that you will finde him to be a man of whom there may be exceeding good ufe made. I have given him my paffport, to ferve him till he come to her Majefties Court, in as ample and favourable fort as I could. The reft I referre to your honor's good favour towards him; whereunto I humbly recommend him. And fo, &c.

THE Lord Hume purpofeth fhortly to returne likewife, as he telleth me, and hath already prayed my paffport, which I cannot deny him. But you will be pleased to have regard to fome of my former Letters.

(3.) EXTRACT from LETTER, Sir Henry Neville to Mr Winwood, London,

28th Aug. 1600.

Now to the occurrences of these parts, you shall understand, that the Erle Gowry, and a brother of Aug. 1600. his, have been lately flayne, in Scotland, in the Erle's own house, and in the King's prefence. They are charged to have conspired the King's death at that time, but God would not suffer them. They had prepared for it, to execute their deffeign, although they attempted it; and fo they fell into the pitt themselves had digged.

This is the relation fent hither of it; which, notwithstanding, is diverfely cenfured, according to men's divers affections. But howfoever, her Majeftie hath fent Sir Henry Bronkard thither, to congratulate the King's escape, and to doe fome other offices to him. There is also one Hambledoun come from thence, to refide here at leaft for fome tyme.

1 This word is interlined. 2 ‹ This must be allowed to be a very interesting letter; as it exhibits a striking picture of that singular transaction, at the moment, and of the manners of the times. In it we see, that the King had on a hunting-horn; that the King and his attendants wore grene cotes; and that the Earl of Gowrie's two sixters lived in the palace, at the moment of the conspiracy, and were in cheif credyt with the Quene. The foregoing dispatch of Nicolson proves very clearly, that Queen Elizabeth had no finger in that pye, particularly when Nicolson's declarations are coupled with the subjoined Letter, from Lord Willoughby.' (No. 8.)—Chalmers. 3 In these

and the following Extracts, it has been deemed unnecessary to give any thing farther than what relates to the Conspiracy. The above Letters to Cecil and Winwood, have been taken from that valuable and authentic Collection, Winwood's Memorials and Affairs of State, Vol. I. pp. 156, 249, and 274.

Nov. 1600. (4.) EXTRACT from LETTER, Sir Henry Neville to Mr Winwood, (in cipher,) London, 15th Nov. 1600.

Aug. 1600.

Sept. 1600.

OUT of 205 (Scotland) we hear there is no good agreement, but rather ane open diffidence between 165 (Counfail,) the King of Scots, and his wife; and many are of opinion that the discovery of fome affection between her and the Earle Gowry's brother, (who was killed with him) was the truest cause and motife of all that Tragedy.

(5.) EXTRACTS from LETTERS, Sir John Cary, (fon of Lord Hunfdon,) Governor of Berwick, to Sir Robert Cecil.

(i.)

(Aug. 10.) THE KING has made great fearch, and lays great wait for the two younger brothers, who, by great fortune, efcaped from the fchools; and not daring to tarry in Scotland, they are this day come into Berwick closely, in disguised apparel; and being brought to me, they only defire, that their lives may be fafe, and they may have a little overfight here, till the truth of their cause may be known: And the pitiful cafe of the old diftreffed good Counters hath made me, the willinglier, to give my confent, for their ftay here a while; till I may, by your honourable means, know the Queen's Majefty's pleasure, whether they shall ftay here, or go fome whither farther into the country; for they only defire the fafety of their lives; and the old Countess's cafe is pitiful and lamentable. I beseech your honour, let me know her Majefty's pleasure, with as much speed as may be; for that I would do nothing to offend her Majefty. The poor gentlemen ftole into the town this morning closely, and I could not well turn them out again; feeing they come for refuge, to fave their lives, till I know her Majefty's further pleasure therein.

(ii.)

(Aug. 24.)-UPON the receipt of your letter of the 16th Auguft, according to the contents thereof, I did fend for the tutor of the two gentlemen, the Earl of Gowrie's brothers; who, for my own part, I have not yet feen, fince their coming into the town, fo close have they kept themselves; as they have never yet stirred out of their chamber which they firft entered into, to look abroad. I conferred with their tutor, which might be the fecureft way, for their own fafety; advifing them, for their better fecurity, to go farther off from these bordering places, where the King might not fo eafily hear of them, and their being. I wished them to repair towards Richmond, or to Rippon, or to about Hull, or to fome other fuch inland towns, out of the way, where the King might not so easily have intelligence of them; and fo they to be freer from the danger of their countrymen, who are very converfant upon the street-ways. He liking very well hereof, yielded willingly thereto; defiring only, for that they came very meanly in, without either money, horfe, or apparel, to have three or four days refpite, that they might send to their friends for money and nags, and such other neceffaries as fhould be fit for their journey; then will they prefently depart, as fecret as may be ; and in the mean time, they shall remain very close, till their neceffaries be gotten, which will be within four days.

(iii.)

(Sept. 4.)-BEFORE this day, I could not by any means get the prefent Earl of Gowrie and his brother out of the town; for that they had fent to their mother for maintenance, and could not hear till now any thing from her; and now it falls out fo ill with them, as fhe hath fent them no manner of maintenance, hoping they should have ftaid here ftill; neither dares the truft many of her fervants. For if it fhould be known, that she did, any manner of way, either give them fuccour or maintenance,

1 These extracts were obtained by Lord Hailes from the Originals, in the Paper-Office, London. According to his plan, they are modernized.-Cecil's Secret Corresp. p. 161.

or any manner of help, she should prefently forfeit, and be thrown out of all that the bath. Such Sept. 1600. fecret fearch and privy fpial is there through the whole country for her and her fons, as no friend either dare or can travel between them; fuch privy fearch is laid for them in all places, as almost no man can travel, in their country, but he is fearched. And if I had fent them fooner away, I should but have sent them to very great danger, either of being killed or taken; for that they being very poor themselves, and having no friends, nor any acquaintance, could neither have told whither to have gone, or what to do. But, finding their neceffities, and their willingness to submit themselves to any appointment, and for that I would have them out of the town, before any fault were found, I have found means, that they are furnished with some money, and are ftolen privately out of the town. I have sent them, with a man of mine own, to Durham, where they shall be secretly for a twenty days, till their mother may take fome better order for their maintenance; and then they mean to travel to Cambridge, and there to ftudy for a time. They have none but themselves, and their schoolmafter with them. All the time of their being here, they were as in a prifon; for nobody ever saw them, neither did they ever ftir out of their chamber; fo as there can be no certainty known of their being here, but only upon miftruft; and as fecretly are they gone out of the town.

(iv.)

(Sept. 21.)—I HAVE even now presently received your letter of the 15th of this inftant, understanding thereby the Queen's Majefty's pleasure for the Earl of Gowrie's two brothers. All that hath been faid of them, touching their behaviour here in Berwick, is but furmifes and fuppofes, by the contrary party. For I will affure your honour, upon my faith, it could not have been better carried, nor closelier handled by any creatures living, than by them, during their being here. For myself did never fee them but once, and that was at midnight, only myfelf; and for any other, I know they kept themfelves close enough; for they durft do no otherwife, they were fo afraid of themselves. They went away as fecretly; and to Durham they went long fince, with an intent to pafs onward to Cambridge, as I did before fignify to your honour. So as what is now become of them, I know not, neither where they be; for fince their departure, I have not heard of them any thing; fo as I know not where to hear of them. Thus much I thought good with speed to certify you; that with speed there may be fome courfe taken for their dispatch, according to her Majesty's pleasure.

(6.) LETTER, King James VI. to Mr John Caldcleuch.1

TRUSTY frend, We greit zou hertlie weill. We have taiken occafioun heirby, richt erniftlie Aug. 1600. to will and defire zou, that ze faill not, all excuiffis fet a part, to be at Falkland, upoun Wedynfday at evin nixt, the twenty day of this inftant, for 3our beft advyfs and opinion to be had, anent the planting of Kirkis of Edinburgh; the forme and maner of the univerfall thankis and prayis that fall be gevin to God, in every Congregatioun and Kirk within this realme, for our miraculous delyverie of that treafonabill Confpiracy, intendit laitlie aganis us, at Sanct Johnftoun, be umquile Johne Erl of Gowrie, the Mr his brother, and thair affociattis; and for 3our advys to be gevin in fic uther, our great and wechtie effairis, as falbe particularly impairtit to 3ou at 3our coming: ffor the quilk, luiking precefly that nicht, that on the morne thaireftir, they materis may be handellit and put to ane point; We commit zou in Godis protectioun. From Halyruidhous, this xiij day of Auguft, 1600.

To our trufty frend, Mr Johne Caldcleuch, Minister of Newburgh.

JAMES R.

1 Wodrow's MSS. Advocates' Library, Vol. LXIX. Jac. V. 1. 12. It is proper to mention, that this seems to be one of the numerous circulars which were addressed to the Clergy, as may be seen from the preceding Extracts from the Lord High Treasurer's Books, No. VIII. See Note, p. 239. No doubt each Letter would vary from another in some minute particulars, and according to the favour the respective parties enjoyed at Court.