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

Oct. 1600.

Jan. 1603.

The Master of Gray hath had long conference with Queen Anne; fince which time his style is heaved up cothurno altiore, as Cicero faid of Anthony. Divers of Gowrie's nearest and dearest friends have fecret accefs to perfons of great quality. They keep old iffues open, and feed spleen against all those that are employed and trusted 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 Cecil

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 such 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 bishopes: 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 coutry is in very good quiet; which courfe I will endeavour to continue in the town, to my utmost. But fuch are the contentions of the Council heer, that unless 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 bines. It greifis me mekil, in my paffing throuche Ingland, the los he hes, for the laik of sum (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 practises 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 shortly gif better prouf nor he has zit doon. I wret to 30w afor, tuichin Mester Dauid Foulis. Let him mak

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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.' 1 Interlined.

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3ou 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 3 ou and Sir Thomas Erfkyne, I remain zour maist loving coufing,

FROM CALYS, our first of Januar (16031).

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.

To my Lord, MY LORD OF KINLOS.

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

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

and my onlie confort wnder God,

6

4

3

IT WILL pleis 30wr Maieftie, (albeit ower bauld) all kynd of dewtie commandis me to wifite 30wr Maieftie with thir few lynnis, fen I hawe owermekill mater for me. It will pleis 30wr Maieftie to caufe ftay pe paffing of the executioun of Scone, that it pafs nocht conforme to 30wr Maiefteis laft Gift: ffor, S', I protest affor5 God, fic as is prowydit pairtą mereitis nocht at 30wr Maiefteis hand :6 And, Sr, fen I hawe thair awin hand wret, for my Warrand, Ï can do na lefs 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 style, saying in pair Letter, direct frome Reftowne' to Scotland, in þe Pakald be post, quhilk wes pe tyme I wes at 30wr Maieftie. 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, Sr, 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', skarce, 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 pat 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 þair language mett me, that thay tuik it on pair confcience 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 sustenit, pir fywe zeiris bygane; quhat be the infamows lybellis, and speeches of thay tratowris fawouraris. Thus taking my leif, on my kneis, craifand at pe 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

To pe moft 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. 24 Hereawa,"
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.
2 S

VOL. II.

Jul. 1608.

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

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 Sr 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 spokin 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 zour Mateis service, bothe in word and deid; quhairof I will be glaid content to be cenfuret, be my gritteft 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 3 our Matie wold advyfe with some 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 your Maieftie, to be my freind, in absence; feing all the rest of the Scottis Counfall that come with 3our Maieftie wer preferrit to placeis of credit (bot I): Of quhome I reffaueit verrie fair promeiffis, nocht only to remember zour 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 3our Maiefteis hand, and reffaueit verie guid wordis and fair promeiffis, that yee wold nocht onlie remember 3our 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 fchortlie 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 Counfall, wes nothing bot diffimulatioune; and speciallie of thame pat I truftit maift into; ffor be sum fpeicheis that he haid hard, he feirit pat pei fould rather kyth my vnfreindis, and that 3our Matie wes informeit be fic as wer about 3ou, that I haid fent Andro Henderfone to beg fumthing fra 3 our Matie that I could nocht mak fute for my felf: And quhateuir 3our Matie haid grantit to gif to him, zour Matie wes informeit, he haid tranffactit with me for pe fame; and I wald gett pe fame to my self. Thir fpeicheis beand reportit, be fum 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 aduerteisment; 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 haid refuiset to pas his Gift, in respect 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 he poffeffes prefentlie; quhilk wes thocht, be maney of pe cuntrie, mair nor he meretit; zit, in refpect 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 þat I haue, in theis pairtis. Bot 5our 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.

very wyfe, and he hes loft ane guid pairt of pe witt quhilk he haid; for it appeiris he is nocht his awin Jul. 1608? man; for the quhilk I ame maift forey: And I will neuer tak me to him, for ony thing that can be reportit of me to 3our Matie; and in the awin tyme, 3our Matie will knaw how this comeis, fra quhome and how this pure man hes bene abufeit. Alwayis, I man leave this and all my vther actionis, bothe in word and deid, to 3our Mateis gratious confideratioune, fra the first tyme I haid pe honour to serve 3our Matie, quhilk is threttie tua zeiris fence; and I neuer haid caus to weyrie; ffor 3our Matie hes nocht onlie honorit me, bot gevin me all I haue in the world, and brocht me vp fra nothing; and if I fould prove vngratte and wnthankfull to fa gratious a maifter, I mereit punesment aboue all tratouris in the world. Sa wiffing 3our Matie all happines, withe pe contenewance of 3our Mateis guid helthe, I reft zour Mateis humill and obedient fervitour,

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D. SCONE. [THE envelope has not been preserved, but the letter is marked, at the top of the folding, L. Scone to the K. No date is noted.]

(14.) Letter, SIR ANDREW MORAY of Balvaird, to KING JAMES VI., defending himself against the accufations of ANDRO HENDERSOUN, Chamberlain of Scone!'

MAY IT PLEIS Jour sacred Maiestie,

I HAVE bein, be vertew of 30ur heichnes commandement, accufit be the Erle of Dumbar, as gif I had bein ane most ondewtifull subiect vnto 3our Maieftie, kything the malice of my hart by the vttering of onreverent fpeiches. gour Maiefteis informer is Androw Henderfoun, of quhom I will forbear to speak any thing, leaft I fould feim to haue no better defence nor2 the accufing of my accufer. The first point of my accufatioun is, that I haue callit 3our Maiefties promifis bot diffimulatiounis ; and quhatfoeuer may, by confequence, be inferrit vpon this point; for verificatioun quherof, he hes producit vnto the Erl of Dumbar, ane Letter, wrettin by me, from Roiftoun, the last of March, 1604, directit vnto my vncle, my Lord of Scone. The woordes are these. 'My Lord, Efter I had wrettin at lenth vnto your lo. with Maifter David Moray, I have tryit fum thinges, quherof my dewtie bindes me to aduertise zour lo. notwithstanding of that quhilk I wret to 30w in my laft Letter, that his Maiestie had faid vnto my self, concerning 30w; I fear it be al bot diffimulatioun.' Quhilk woordes, how far thay man be wreftit befoir they can prooue the thing alledgit, I am perfuadit that 3our Maiefteis felf, without any apologie of myne, will moft gratiouflie confider. Neuertheles, to the end 3our Maieftie may the moir cleirlie onderftand how far this malitious imputatioun diffagreis from my trew meaning, I will bot schortlie fay this meikill. That former Letter, quherof I maik mentioun, fent be Mr Dauid Moray, had in it tua pairts; the ffirft, was ane declaratioun, how 3our Maieftie had not only moft gratiouslie admittit me to 3our prefence, bot alfo gracit me with most fauorabill countenance; and mairouer moft bountifullie had givin commandement to gif me tua hundreth pund. The vther part was, that I had rememberit my vncle vnto findrie of zour Maiefties Counsell, and sum of 3our fauorites, from quhom I had resauit great proteftationes of affectioun vnto him, and as great promifis of friendschip, in his adoes. Bot befoir the wretting of this last Letter (quherof I am now accufit), I was certanlie informit, be fum of my vncles special freindes, that they from quhom I had refauit fairest woordes, wer his greatest enemies: Quhilk, mouit to call their promifis diffimulat. Sa that the fence of my woordes ar very cleir, after this maner; 'notwithstanding of that quhilk I wret in my last Letter, that zour Maieftie had said and done vnto my felf, get that quhilk I wret concerning my vncle I tuik it al to be bot diffimulatioun.' Gif my former Letter wer as weill to the foir, to be producit vnto 3our Maieftie, as this laft is, it wald maik this mater moft cleir. Bot as God fchal be my juft judge, I 1 From the Denmylne MS. Advocates' Library, Edinburgh. 3 Concerns.

2

Than.

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Jul. 1608. haue fet doun vnto 3our Maieftie, most trewlie, beath the contents of the one, and my meaning in the vther. Then fallowis, in my Letter, I knew his Maieftie to be, as they ar that be about him; and I affuir 30w, ze haue na fauour of them that ar in greatest credit heir.' To this I anfuer, that I was neuer fic a fott to think that zour Maieftie was fo fimpill to be guidit be them that ar about 30w. I proteft, befoir God, that I had na fic meaning. I haue baith hard and sein to muche of 3our Maiefties wisdom and resolutioun to think fa vyld a thoght. Bot my meaning was, feing my vncle had no fauour of them that wer in greateft credit about 3our Maieftie, (the quhilk I was most certanlie mead to belieue,) therfoir I greatlie fearit that their hard informatioun might muif zour Maieftie agenft him, he not being prefent to answer for him self, and hauing about 3our Maieftie so many enemies.' Their reftis zet more in my Letter. I heir fay that their is ane turn past heir, in fauoures of Androw Henderfoun, into the quhilk zour lo. hes great neid to tak head to 3our proceding; for albeit his Maiestie hes past it vnto him, I fear it be rather to try how ze behaue 3our felf, nor for any good mynd they had to pleafour Androw Henderfoun.' Theis woordes I houp neid no apologie. Befoir God I had mynd of no thing concerning 3our Maieftie. I knaw, and that be experience, that al 3our Maiefteis grantes ar and haue bein euer most frie and abfolut. My only meaning was, of the advantage they that wer about 3 our Maieftie might maik of my vncles behaviour in this matter; ffor it was directlie said, be fum of them, that he wald content Androw Henderfoun with a smal pairt, and tak the rest to him felf. From this point, it will pleis 3our Maieftie to confider, that the grund of my accufatioune proceids, and not from that zeal and affectioun my accufer profeffis to bear vnto 3our Maieftie: or els he had communicat this vnto zour heichnes, at the first, and not keipit the fam befyds him thir four zeires and moir; and now at lenth reveilit it, be the inftigatioun of vther men, as him self pairtly confeffis. Their is no man could moir juftlie accufe me vpon this mater nor the Erl of Dumbar, gif his lo. had knawen my trew meaning; for it was his lo. of quhom I cheiflie meanit in my Letter: And I haue crauit his lo. most humblie pardoun, for that I was fa folische, vpon any informatioun, to belieue, that his lo. thoght vtherwayis nor he had said vnto my selff. Gif I durft baue prefumit, vithout 3our Maiefties leiue, I wald, with proftrating my felf at 3our Maiefties feit, be woord, and not be Letter, mead this my moft trew Declaratioun ; and vnto the tym 3our Maieftie grant me that libertie (quhilk be thir presents I most humblie beg at our gratious handes) my hart schal neuer be pertaker of any contentment; albeit my confcience bears me witnes, that I neuer fa mekill as thoght onreuerentlie of 3our Maieftie, 3et am I grevid aboue measur to think that any thing fould haue escapit my hand, quhilk, in the hardest construction, can be accoumptit for ondewtifulnes against 3our heichnes. Their is na thing in this warld can discontent me mair than to want 3our Maiefties fauour; bot to want it throch my awen just deferuing wer to me infupportabill. I wer to be accoumptit the most ingrate wrech that euer had lyf, gif euer I had fufferit any fuch thocht to haue had place within my mynd; confidering the manifold fauoures 3our Maieftie hes fchawen, baith to my felf and al my kynred. Their remains get the laft point of my Letter, into the quhilk I maik fum mentioun of my Lord Secretar. My fimpill meaning was, that his lo. at that tyme had not fa great fauour as he defyrit to haue had, of theis that wer in credit about 3our Maieftie. I will cease to trubill 3our Maieftie any moir, w' my idill woordes; not dowting bot zour Maieftie will, according to 3our accuftomit goodnes, confider that the affectioun I careit vnto my vncles weill, mead me the moir erneft in my Letter; and gif their be any woordes in it onadvyfit, or not weill chofin (as I do confes their is many) 3our Maieftie will imput them to want of witt and laik of difcretioun (quhilk euer accompaneis youth,) and not to malice, quhilk I proteft, in the prefence of God, is as far remouit from my hart, as it ftiks neir to their hart that does accuife me. Praying vnto the Eternall to grant vnto 3our Maieftie ane moist happie and profperous regne, ane bliffit and ane long lyff, I reft

gour Maiefties most humbill and moft obedient fubiect,

S. ANDROW MORAY

EDINBRUGHE, the 13 of July, 1608.

of Baluaird.

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