Page images
PDF
EPUB

Aug. 1600.

Sept. 1600.

Oct. 1600.

(7.) EXTRACTS from LETTERS, Rowland Whyte, Efquire, to Sir Robert
Sydney,
(i.)

(Aug. 16.) THE King of Scots had lately like to have bene murthired. Young Goory (the Erle
of Gooryes brother, whom the King restored to his honour and liuing, and bestowed on them both,
great gifts and advancements) told the King in fecrett, that in the Caftell, which he kept vnder the
King, he found a great chest buried, of that waight which cold not choose but be treasure. He wold
not presume to open yt, but in his Majesties prefence; and therfore besought him to take the paines to
goe
himself and fee yt
brooke open: Which the King did, leauing his traine below in a base-court,
and went alone with young Goorey vp the stairs, and from chamber to chamber, which Goorey locked
as be went, till he had brought the King where he had apointed. And then he told the King that
the time was come which he had long wished for, to be revenged vpon him for his father's death:
That he had traind him to that place to kill him, which inftantly he wold doe; and drew out his dag-
ger to haue stabd him. But the King catcht him by the hand, and defyred hym to heare hym fpeake.
Then fayd, that when his father was put to death, he was but an infant; and therefore, cold not be
acceffory to his death. That during his Minority, many thinges were comitted, by the Regents of his
Kingdom, which he was forry for; which appeared by the great fauors he had bestowed vpon him and
his brother. Bot all wold not ferue; for he strugeld to stabb him; and the King, in defence of his
liffe, fhewed a great resolution and courage; which young Goorey perceuing, called to a fervant of his
own, who was a partner in this Confpiracy; but he stoode ftill, and fwore he had neither hand nor
hart to kill his anointed King; and tooke part with the King, who had time then to put his head out
of a window, and cryed Treason!' and called for speedy help! Then his traine went vp the ftaires,
where they found the Earle Goorey, and some others, with weapons, to refift them; but they made
way, with the death of the Earle of Goorey and his companions, and fo rescued the King, and before
his face flue the young Goorey.-LONDON, Saturday the 16 of Auguft, 1600. By post.

[ocr errors]

(ii.)

(Aug. 26.)-HERE is one Hamelton come from the King of Scots, to refide here as his Agent, and to deliuer to the Queen the maner of the Confpiracie against his Master.-STRAND, (London,) this 26 of Auguft, 1600,

(iii.)

(Sept. 12.)-ONE PRESTON, Capten of the King of Scots Foote-gard, a very proper and difcret Gentleman, was with the Queen, fent from his Master, to deliuer more matter discouered of the Treasonr intended against his Maieftie by the Earle Gowrey and his Complices.-STRAND-BRIDGE, this Satur day, the 12 of Septemb. 1600.

(iv.)

(Oct. 3.)-SIR HARRY BRUNCKAR is returned out of Scotland; and from the Kings own mouth, receues the maner of the Confpiracy against hym; which is as yt is fett down in the printed booke I fent you the laft week. The K. hath knighted all his fervants that affifted hym out of that perrill. Some difpleasure the King conceaues against the Minifters; for that they wold not, in the pulpitt, preach against the horiblenes of the fact.-STRAND, Friday night, late, the 3 of October, 1600.

1 This gentleman was employed by Sir Robert Sydney to solicit his affairs at the Court of England, and to relate to him all that took place; for which he received a salary. His Letters are minute and valuable, as they contain much private information not elsewhere to be found. 2 Lord Governor of Flushing, afterwards Lord Chamberlain to King James. He was brother of the celebrated Sir Philip Sydney. See Sydney State Papers, or Collins's Letters and Memorials of State, Lond. 1746. Folio. Vol. II. p. 211. 3 The Master of Gowry, Mr Alexander Ruthven.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

I LANDIT that fame nicht I left you laft, at eicht houris, and ves in danger amongst the craiges, and never in my lyf fo feik. Heir I met vt Thomas Hendryfone of Edinb: He hes no newes, faue of Th' Earle of Gouryes death. He tellis it in the fame forte as ye haue hard it. Ther is execute Mr Th: Cranstoun and George Craigingelt, v fevin honeft men of St Jhonftoun. They ar executed, for that they ver fund to be in armes befor the reft. His man, who ves v him, is bootit, M' Villiam Rynd; and hes deponit no thing, faue that my Lord ftudiit Magik in Italie and France, and had fprittis. His chamberlane, vho fhould haue flaine the King, is yet keipit. M' Patrik Gallouay hes preatchit all this in the pulpit of Edinb., bothe of the Magic and Treafoun; bot all vho ar dead, confeffit no thing. The King, efter the preatching, fueir folemnelly, that all ves treu he hed preatchit, by his faluation and condemnation. The reft of the Ministers ves preaffit to subscryue that it ves treu; bot they refufit: Yet they grantit to thank God for his Maties delyuerance: And so they ar banifit. Richart Preftoun is at Loundoun; bot as yet I knou not vhat they fay to him. From Londoun fhall heir all. And I remaine your louing freind and coufing, GRAY. DOVER, 28 Sept. 1600.

ye

I forgot, amongft vther thingis that Mr Gallouay preatchit that Th' Earle of Goury ves a deafler betuene the Pope and the Kingis Mate: Bot the reft of the Minifters vill not beleue him.

(9) EXTRACT from LETTER, Mr Winwood to Secretary Cecil,3
Paris, May 17, 1601.

THE Ambaffador of Scotland hath been advertised of a dangerous practice againft THE Scots May, 1601. KING: That lately, one called Glarnet hath been sent out of Scotland, with Letters to BOTHWELL, to haften home with diligence, where he fhall find fufficient affiftance. The principal person who employed this perfon is THE QUEEN OF SCOTLAND; and Letters have been intercepted out of Scotland, from Mr Gray, that the death of GOWRIE fhould fhortly be revenged.1

(10.) EXTRACT from LETTER, Lord Henry Howard (afterwards Earl of Northampton) to Edward Bruce, (Lord Kinlofs.5)

[Without date, but previous to Aug. 24, 1602.]

OUT of the Archduke's Camp, one of her Majesty's greatest commanders heth been advertised, that Aug. 1602 ? a fire will break out in Scotland, before it be long; which makes Cecil to fear, knowing in what flate King James ftands with England at this day, that other trains, made under ground by fecret pioneers, within the body of that state itself, may break out when it is leaft looked for. Add hereunto, the gallant maintenance of Gowrie's fon, fo near Scotland, and with so great thews; though no man knows from whence, befide Sir John Cary, who is holden to be very inward in that courfe, as certain gen1 From the original in the Advocate's Library. The envelope is lost, and no trace remains in any other Letters in the same valuable Collection. It does not appear whether this Letter is from Patrick, sixth Lord Gray, or his son, the well-known intriguing Patrick, Master of Gray, who acted so base and treacherous a part in England, during the latter part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and the earlier portion of King James VI. The families of Ruthven and Gray were nearly related by intermarriage. 2 Andrew Henderson. 3 Winwood's Memorials, I. 326. See also Pinkerton's Dissertation, (appended to Laing's Scotland, (First Edit.) 1800, Vol. I. p. 534, &c.) who strongly asserts the Queen's participation in schemes against her husband. The inferences he draws from the alleged intrigues of Queen Anne are quite fanciful; and the hypothesis he then maintained, in regard to the Conspiracy, quite untenable. Laing discarded Pinkerton's Dissertation from the subsequent editions of his History. 4 See Notice prefixed to the case of Francis Mowbray, Jan. 31, 1603, &c. 5 From Cecil's Secret Correspondence with King James VI, edited by Lord Hailes; who has purposely modernized the style. Cecil employed Howard, and the King Bruce, as the medium of correspondence. 6 Patrick Ruthven, the son of Wil

liam Earl of Gowrie, whose daughter, as has been remarked before, was married to Sir Anth. Vandyke. It was he who
wrote the admirable Letter to the Earl of Northumberland, published in the Cabala, (Scrinia Sacra, 4to. Lond.
1654, p. 106.) which shews talents of no ordinary description.
7 See Extracts of his Letters to Cecil, (5.)
p. 316.

Aug. 1602? tlemen in the North, making feveral collections of tokens visible, and words let fall, have advertised their own conceits, in confequence, with those other fears which have been formerly advertised.

Oct. 1600.

Jan. 1603.

The Master of Gray hath bad long conference with Queen Anne; fince which time his ftyle is heaved up cothurno altiore, as Cicero faid of Anthony. Divers of Gowrie's nearest and dearest friends have secret access to perfons of great quality. They keep old iffues open, and feed spleen against all those that are employed and trufted in the courses of the present ftate; which the King's wisdom tempereth.

(11.) LETTER, Lord Willoughby, Queen Elizabeth's Governor of Berwick, to Sir Robert Cecil2

SIR, I RECEIVED your packet to Mr Hudson, the 18th of this month; and another to Mr Ralph Gray, this morning; both which I have dispatched accordingly, but fuch is the negligence of the posts, that the packetts are 7 or 8 dayes in coming. For occurens yt is uncertain, whether the convention hold; but the King is refolved to have bifhopes: The Marquis of Huntley have reconciled the King and Queen. The Erle of Mar is retired to Stirling; who hath very dishonorably suggested [to] the King, that I was privy to the practice of the Earl of Goury: his reason to induce him to helieve yt was, because I gave the faid Earle kind entertainment, at his being at London. Other newes hear is none, but that the contry is in very good quiet; which course I will endeavour to continue in the town, to my utmoft. But fuch are the contentions of the Council heer, that unlefs Sr Will. Bowes had carried himself very difcreetly, and I myself presently prevented yt, they had quarrelled in my bed-chamber, being at Council. Thus, not willing to trouble you any further, I reft Yors faithfully affured to doe you service,

Berwick, this 21 October 1600.

P. WYLLOUGHBY.

(12.) LETTER, Sir James Coluill of Eaft Wemyss to Sir Edward Bruce, Lord Kinlofs.3

COUSING,

EFTER my hartly commendation, I culd not omit thir feu lynis, that ze may knaw of my profperus ariuel to this toun; defyring 3ou to haue my maist humble feruice recommendit to his hines. It greifis me mekil, in my paffing throuche Ingland, the los he hes, for the laik of fum (refident1) honest man, in quhom hartlie his M. might confyd; and fik as interly low him, micht affur them felfis. For, to be plain, I dout vtheris, for caufis I vil not vret., I pray the Lord grant him that grace, that he may fauour them quha louis him aboue al. I dout not bot, or now, ze haue refauit my Letter from Londoun, defyring ernestly to knaw the fucces of that maiter aganis his M. I hoip, vithe the grace of God, to discouer mair in that, nor his M. hes zit hard; as alfo, in findrie vther practifes aganis him, at my firft cumming. I man zit erneftly request zou to remember my coufing Capitane Coluill to his M., quha hes lofit al his esperance, for his M. feruice; and hopis he fhal fhortly gif better prouf nor he has zit doon. I wret to 30w afor, tuichin Mester Dauid Foulis. Let him mak

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

1 It appears, from the Letters of Nicolson to Cecil, preserved in the Paper Office, that Beatrix Ruthven, sister of Gowrie, was privately admitted into the presence of Queen Anne of Denmark.—Hailes. 2 The Original is in the State Paper-Office, London. 3 From the Original, preserved in the Advocates' Library, Edin. (Denmylne Collections, A. 1. 34.) Colvill was then serving with reputation in the armies of Henry IV. of France. He was created Lord Colvill of Culross, Apr. 25, 1604. It is proper to mention, that his first wife was Isobel Ruthven, second daughter of Patrick Lord Ruthven, and sister of William, first Earl of Gowrie. His second wife, Helen Shaw, was widow of Robert Mowbray younger of Barnbougle. This connexion with the family of Gowrie, may account for the reliance placed in his information; but no farther trace is to be found of the matter, in any collection to which the Editor has had access. In an interleaved copy of Lord Cromarty's account of the Conspiracy, Lord Hailes remarks, there was another Colvill at Paris, then a spie of E. Essex (perhaps his cousing Capitan Coluile.)' Earl Bothwell was also then in France.' 4 Interlined.

zou priué to the maiter, for the man is content, and defyris only the furtie of convoy. Al vther Jan. 1603. thingis, to neu occation; and my hartly commendationis to your brother: Praying 3ou, that this may ferue 3ou and Sir Thomas Erfkyne, I remain 3our maist loving coufing,

FROM CALYS, our firft of Januar (16031).

Το

JAMES COLUILL of Eft Weimes. THER vas neuer fo mayny paffageris heir a vay. I pray the Lord it be for gud: Bot hes M. hes gret caus to luik to him felf.

my Lord, MY LORD of Kinlos.

(12.) LETTER, Andro Henderfoun of Latoun, Chamberlain of Scone, to King James VI, informing his Majefty of certain conduct of David Lord Scone, &c.3

MAIST nobill, gratious, hie, renownit, deir Sowerane,

and my onlie confort wnder God,

[ocr errors]

IT WILL pleis 30wr Maiestie, (albeit ower bauld) all kynd of dewtie commandis me to wifite 30wr Jul. 1608. Maieftie with thir few lynnis, fen I hawe owermekill mater for me. It will pleis 30wr Maieftie to cause stay pe paffing of the executioun of Scone, that it pass nocht conforme to 30wr Maiefteis laft Gift: ffor, S', I protest affor5 God, fic as is prowydit pairto mereitis nocht at 30wr Maiefteis hand :6 And, Sr, fen I hawe thair awin hand wret, for my Warrand, I can do na less nor mak 30wr Maiestie frequent thairwith, quhilk 3our Maieftie fall fie, or ellis lat me nocht hawe that grace to fie 30wr Maiefteis face. S', thay hawe gevin 30wr Maieftie ane werie improper ftyle, faying in pair Letter, direct frome Reftowne' to Scotland, in pe Pakald be poft, quhilk wes pe tyme I wes at 30wr Maiestie. The wordis of pe Letter ar pir; gowr Maiefties promifes ar bot diffimulatioune;' and that 30wr Maieftie is bot lyke thais that ar about 30wr Maieftie.' Sr, quhen as thay wrait fwa, iudge quhat thair speeches wilbe amongis pair familiares! And my pairt of pe Letter is, S', that I'mereit rather hanging nor ony wther rewaird!' S', this is bot ane pairt of pe Letter. S', quhen this Letter wes red in Scotland, it wes na fmall reioyfing to pe Ruthuenis; ffor in guid faith, S', fkarce, quhen thai hard thais newis, that pe twa pairt of pe calfay culd content pame for pryde; as fum of pair awin name quha wret pe Letter had experience of. Sr, pleis your Maieftie, feing (prayfit be God) thair is appearance of forder licht of þat Treffoun, Sr, for Goddis cause, lat it be exactlie tryit; ffor in guid faith, S', be all thay traitowris fauowraris, 30wr Maieftie is callit pe Murtherar!' And my parte, ‘ane manefuorne knaiffe !' S', thair is twa in particular, quhilk in guid faith 30wr Maieftie is obliffit to, wiz. Schir Jhone Moncreif and pe Laird of Bogie; ffor in guid faith, I cum newer in pe pairt, bot pair language mett me, that thay tuik it on pair conscience that quhilk I deponit aganis thay tratowris wes pe treuth. I pray God, gif 30wr Maieftie knew pe hundreth part of pe greifis I haif fuftenit, pir fywe zeiris bygane; quhat be the infamows lybellis, and speeches of thay tratowris fawouraris. Thus taking my leif, on my kneis, craifand at þe Almichtie, to 30wr Maieftie, pe Quene and Prince graces, with all the reft of 30wr Maiefteis royall pofteritie, mony guid and ioyfull dayes, with a happie and ioyfull refurrectioune. zowr Maiefties moft humbill and daylie oratour, ANDRO HENDERSOUN of Latoune.

[This Letter bears no date, but probably in July, 1608.]

8

2' Hereawa,'

To pe most nobill, gratiows, and hie renownit Pryns, KING JAMES of Britaine, ffrance and Yreland.
1 The date may be fixed to be 1603, as mention is made of the Duke of Savoy's attempt on Geneva.
in these parts. 3 From Collection of Autographs, formed by Sir James Balfour of Denmylne and Kinnaird, Bart. Lion
King at Arms, preserved in the Adv. Library, Edinburgh. 4 This word had been originally left blank. The person
whom Henderson employed to transcribe the Letter was probably kept in ignorance of the fact. Henderson inserts
'Scone' in his own hand. 5 Before. 6 Sir David Murray of Gospertie, created Lord Scone, and afterwards Vis-
count Stormont. He obtained the barony of Ruthven, and the lands attached to the Abbacy of Scone, of which the
Earl of Gowrie was Commendator.
7 Royston, one of the royal residences in England.
8 This proves
the Letter to have been written previous to the Examinations, at least, before the Trial of George Sprot.
VOL. II.
2 S

Jul. 1608? (13.) Letter, David LORD SCONE to KING JAMES VI., exculpating himSelf and his nephew from the charges brought against them by ANDRO HENDERSONE.1

PLEIS JOUR SACRED MATIE,

I wes conveynit heir, before my Lord of Dunbar, and confronted with Andro Henryfoine, wpoun fume wnreuerend speiches spoken be me of 3our Matie, quhilkis wer alluterly denyit, in the presence of S Alex' Hay, 3our Mateis fecretar, that euer he had spokin or wrettine any thing in my preiudice, ather to 3our Matie or ony vther man leiveand; quhilk, if I haid euer hard fpokin be ony vther man in the world, wnchallendgeit, I micht bein thocht the onlie wngrate and wnworthie man in the world: Bot I leave this to 3our Mateis gratious confideratione, what all my actiones hes bein in 3our Mateis fervice, bothe in word and deid; quhairof I will be glaid content to be cenfuret, be my grittest enemyis. Now, ST, to qualefie the informatioune of Andro Henryfonis, he hes produceit ane Lettre of my brother foneis, direct fra Ingland to me, about the space of four zeiris and ane half fence; at quhilk tyme, zour Matie will be remembrit, I maid eirneft fute, to haue haid the fauour to have remayneit with 3our Matie, and to haue haid fome place of credit thair; whereanent, it pleafit zour Matie to fay to me, that 3our Matie wold advyfe with fome of the Inglis Counfall, to gett fume place to me; and at my way-comeing fra 3our Matie, I delt with fik of 3our Maiefteis Counfall, as come vp with 3our Maieftie, to be my freind, in abfence; feing all the reft of the Scottis Counfall that come with our Maieftie wer preferrit to placeis of credit (bot I): Of quhome I reffaueit verrie fair promeiffis, nocht only to remember 3 our Maieftie, bot to be my particular freind. And my brotheris fone beand thair, vpone fome vther biffineffe of his awin with 3our Matie, I defyreit him to hald fic of the Counfall, as haid promefit to be my freindis, in remembrance; quhilk he did, according to my Directioune, and wrett heir to me to Scotland with Mr Dauid Murray, that he had kiffit zour Maiefteis hand, and reffaueit verie guid wordis and fair promeiffis, that yee wold nocht onlie remember 3 our Matie, and advyfe with pame on the meynis, how fome place micht be gottin to me. Quhilk Letter pat me in hop to beine fend for schortlie thairefter: And within fyf or fex dayis efter pe receitt of this Letter, my brotheris fone wrett to me ane vther Letter, produceit now be Andro Hendersone, wherein he affuiris me, he is certefeit, be sum speciall freindis of myne, that the fair promeiffis that wer maid be fum of pe Coun fall, wes nothing bot diffimulatioune; and speciallie of thame pat I truftit maist into; ffor be fum speicheis that he haid hard, he feirit þat þei fould rather kyth my vnfreindis, and that 3our Matie wes informeit be fic as wer about 5ou, that I haid sent Andro Hendersone to beg fumthing fra 3our Matie that I could nocht mak fute for my felf: And quhateuir 3our Matie haid grantit to gif to him, gour Matie wes informeit, he haid tranflactit with me for pe fame; and I wald gett pe fame to my felf. Thir fpeicheis beand reportit, be sum freind, to my brotheris fone, and he, feiring I micht be moveit fra the loue I buire to Andro Hendersone, to pas his Gift, quhilk 3our Matie haid grantit to him, and that the famin micht be layd to my chairge fum vther day; and out of the love my brotheris fone buire to me, he gave me this aduerteifment; and alfefone as this Letter came to my handis, I fent it to Andro Henderfone, to the effect that he fould tak na exceptionis of my guidwill, albeit I baid refuifet to pas his Gift, in refpect of the premiffis; bot I gaif him furetie that I wald deill with 3our Matie for ane benefit to him, quhilk I did; and obtenit of 3our Matie better nor Sevin hundrethe merkis be zeir, quhilk be poffeffes prefentlie ; quhilk wes thocht, be maney of pe cuntrie, mair nor he meretit; zit, in respect he did 3our Matie no evill, being quhair he micht haue done it (if God haid nocht bein zour Maiefteis better freind ;) and euer fence that tyme, I haue reteynit him in my service, and hes protectit him and euer fall; and he hes haid pe commandement of all pat I haue, in theis pairtis. Bot zour Matie will knaw, in the awin tyme, that pis is nocht come fra Andro Henryfone; for he wes neuer 1 From the original, in Sir James Balfour's MS. Collection, Adv. Library.

« PreviousContinue »