every Repose and shall cause the Strangers to pay more than the custom is and that way shall save our own charges And accordingly the next day they went to put it in execution but I could not forbear laughing in my mind having understood so much French as to know what they were aiming at wherewith I acquainted the young Spaniard and so we were upon our guard yet the two Scotch men would not consent that I should pay for my self hoping that way to beguile the Bishop but the Spaniard and I wrote up every days accompt By the way riding thorough a Wood the two French men lighted off their Horses and drew out their Swords having appointed other two to meet them But beholding our countenance and seeing that we were making for our defence they made a Sport of it alledging that they had done it to try if we would be afraid in case we should be assaulted by the way But these two Rogues that met us left us at the next Lodging and when we came to Paris the two Scotch men never obtained payment of the Bishop for that they had disbursed because of their intended fraud We were 13 days in riding betwixt Brest and Paris where we arrived in the Moneth of April Within a Moneth after our arrival at Paris the Bishop of Valence was sent to Rome and because he took Post he left me behind him having Tabled me in a very good Ordinary and agreed with Masters to teach me the French Tongue and to Dance Fence and play upon the Lute I know not why he did not present me to the Queen as he had engaged albeit afterward he said that he was minded to make me his Heir The cause why he was at this time sent to Rome was this Pope Paul the Third had exchanged some Lands belonging to the Church for Parma and Placentia two Towns appertaining formerly to the Dutchy of Milan and gave them to his Son Piere Luis Farnes who married his eldest Son Octavio to the Bastard Daughter of the Emperour Charles the Fifth The said Piere Luis being murthered for his detestable Vices the next Pope Julius pretended to bring again the said two Towns to the Church in stead of the Church Lands that had been exchanged for them compelling the Duke Octavio finding himself unable to withstand the Popes forces to put the said Towns into the King of France his custody for he was in as great fear of the Emperour his Father-in-Law who had gotten possession of the Dukedom of Millan And for that effect he sent his Brother the Duke of Casters to France to whom King Henry of France gave his Bastard Daughter in marriage The King of France being as earnest to have an Estate in Italy as the Emperour was to hinder him from it by reason of Millan and Naples to which the King claimed a right though the Emperour had them in possession Therefore so soon as he did see the French Garrison within the Town of Parma he took part with the Pope Which made the K. of France endeavour to make a Peace with K. Edward VI. of England by the means of the Duke of Northumberland who had a strict Friendship with France having a hidden mark of his own that he shot at as his Proceedings afterward declared The Peace with England being concluded that King Edward should marry Elizabeth Eldest Daughter to Henry the Second of France and that he should give his consent that the Queen of Scotland who was betrothed to him should be married with Francis Dauphin of France in which Peace Scotland was also comprehended The Bishop of Valence was sent to Rome to endeavour to obliege the Pope to desert the Emperour but he returned without obtaining success in his Expedition which was the cause that the dealing betwixt the King of France and Oneel in Ireland ceased And in the mean time the King of France emits a Proclamation forbidding his Subjects to send to Rome for any Bulls or Confirmation of Benefices which together with the agreement with England put the Pope in great fear that France would become Protestants in despight as Henry the Eighth had lately done before He was the more confirmed in this opinion because an Army was shortly after made ready to pass into Germany to the aid of the Protestant Princes where King Henry himself did in person lead thousand men For then many of the Germans were become Protestants occasioned at first by the insolent avarice of the Pope and the shameless proceedings of his selling of Pardons and by the zeal and boldness of Martin Luther who being persecuted was maintained and assisted by the good Duke Frederick of Saxony the Landgrave of Hesse and other Princes of the Empire Whereupon the Emperour Charles the Fifth took occasion under pretext of maintaining the Catholick Roman Religion to pretend to bring the Empire and all the Dominions thereof as Patrimony to him and his posterity And therefore abandoned his Son-in-Law the Duke Octavio to the Popes discretion for to obtain the greater assistance from him against the Germans Which design the Emperor had once brought near to pass For after that he had vanquished the Protestants in Battle and taken Prisoner Duke John Frederick he passed thorough the most part of the Provinces and Free Towns of Dutchland and took from them their Liberties placing Officers at his pleasure and receiving from them of Gifts and Ransoms Sixteen hundred thousand Crowns and Five hundred Piece of Artillery Yet he doubted the Landgrave who was a valiant Prince and chanced to be absent from the said Battle therefore he dealt with Duke Maurice Godson to the said Landgrave to persuade his Godfather to come in under assurance and promise which the Emperour broke retaining the said Landgrave captive upon the subtlety of a Syllable This Duke Maurice was Cousin to the Captive Duke of Saxony and had obtained the Electorat of Saxony which the Emperour took from his Cousin and gave to him Whereupon he as a fine Courtier assisted the Emperour helping him greatly in his Victories against his Country and Friends for his own promotion But when the Landgrave called him Shelm Pultroon Traitor and deceiver of him whose Daughter he had married he made earnest suit to the Emperour for the Liberty of his Godfather though in vain The Emperour alledging no promise to have been broken to the said Landgrave causing the Letter of Promise and Pacification to be read in his presence in the Dutch Tongue wherein was a written word which admitted of two divers interpretations to wit this word Enig was interpreted by the Emperour Perpetual and by the Landgrave and Duke Maurice it was taken for Null or Nane But they could not help themselves for the Landgrave was two years so straitly kept by the Spaniards that oft in the night they held a light Candle to his face to be assured that he was sleeping and vexed him so that through despight he would spit in their faces
regarded my Princess her Interest then mine own I should have accepted the large offers made me by the Earl of Bothwel when he desired me to subscribe with the rest of his flatterers that Paper wherein they declared it was her Majesties interest to Marry the said Earl but I chose rather to lay my self open to his hatred and revenge whereby I was afterward in peril of my life and tell her Majesty that those who had so advised her were betrayers of her honour for their own selfish ends seeing her marrying a Man commonly judged her Husbands murtherer would leave a Tash upon her name and give too much ground of jealousie that she had consented to that foul deed I wanted not fair offers from Randolph and Killegrew Residents here from the Court of England if I would have in so far complied with their designs as not to have divulged what I perceived to be their drifts which I could not conceal finding them so destructive to the Kingdom I had the fair occasion of making a large fortune to my self if I would have gone along with the Earl of Arran by Counselling the King's Majesty to follow his violent advices but finding them so far contrary to his interest I did think my self ingaged to warn his Majesty that he was a dangerous man who gave him such advices that if he followed the same he would run himself upon inevitable Precipices that his Majesty's hearkening to the Duke of Lennox and him the one a Papist the other a wicked and ungodly man would breed jealousies in his Subjects minds which might produce dangerous effects This freedom and many times the like I took which though his Majesty accepted in good part yet I thereby contracted me store of Enemies But it was always my Principle rather to hazard my self by plain speech when 't was necessary than to expose my Master to danger by silence or base flattery And though the Common Practice which I mention'd e're while may seem to thrive best in some Courts for a time yet under Grave and Wise Princes and at long-run the honest Maximes will prove most acceptable and safe Therefore I willingly opened these things to thee that thou mayst as well know what is usually done as what ought to be There is a certain discretion to be used that is free both from Sawcyness and Assentation and a man may many times if he skill it aright give his Prince good Counsel contrary to his inclinations yet without incurring his displeasure This thou oughtest to study if ever thou be called to publique Affairs and though thou mayst bend with the necessity of some Accidents and yield to the times in some things though not going just so as thou would have matters to go and humour the Prince in an ordinary business to gain opportunity of doing greater good to him and thy Country at a more lucky Season yet be sure that thou never Engage in any Disloyalty Cruelty or Wickedness nor suffer any thing to pass that thou seest will tend to his Ruine or grand Prejudice without noticing it to him in some humble manner and though for that time it be dis-relishing or slighted yet when he sees the Effects follow that thou admonishedst him of he will love thee the better and rather hearken to honest Advice for time future And withal thou wilt obtain the Favour and Blessing of Almighty God whom thou must at all times endeavour faithfully and uprightly to serve if ever thou expectest Bliss in this or the other World To whose Gracious Providence I Commit thee with the hearty well Wishes and Benison of Thy Dearly Loving Father IAMES MELUIL MELVILS MEMOIRS In reference to MARY Queen of SCOTS AND JAMES VI. KIng Henry VIII of England being discontent with the Pope for refusing to grant the Divorce from his wife Queen Katharine of Castile For revenge he looked through his fingers at the Preachers of the Reformed Religion who had studied in dutch-Dutch-land under Martin Luther and were lately come to England In process of time the hatred betwixt the King and the Pope came to so great a length that he proclaimed himself Head of the Kirk of England and discharged S. Peters Pennies to be paid from that time forth with a strict command to all his Subjects no manner of way to acknowledge the Pope He obtained the said Divorce from his own Clergy marrying another which occasioned to him the hatred of the Pope Emperour and King of Spain and all their Assistants He again desiring to strengthen himself at home conjecturing the probability of a Combination against him found it his Interest to entertain a strict Amity with James V. of Scotland his Nephew For he was determined to Unite this whole Ifle in one Religion and in one Empire failing of Heirs male procreate of his own body Having then but one Daughter called Mary with the divorced Queen which Daughter he declared to be a Bastard Upon which consideration Ambassadors are sent thither inviting that King to a Conference at York whither Henry offered to come and meet him Alledging by such an Interview matters might be more effectually condescended upon conducing for the mutual Interests of both Kingdoms then could be expected from the endeavours of Ambassadors to be imployed in that Affair King James having seriously considered the Overture and advised thereabout with his Council upon their deliberation and advice returns his resolution to attend his Uncle Time and Place appointed With which answer the Ambassadors highly satisfied return to their Master who rejoiced exceedingly at so happy a Success of that matter Whereupon great preparations are made at York for the Entertainment of his Nephew with the greater Solemnity The Clergy of Scotland sworn Clients to the Pope having had several Consultations hereanent were alarm'd with this Proposal and the Accompt they had of the Kings resolution to comply therewith through an apprehension that the Uncles persuasion might oblige the Nephew to trace his Footsteps in overturning Popery in Scotland as he had done in England They therefore resolve to use the utmost of their endeavours for preventing the said intended Interview They addressed themselves to such as were Minions for the time who had most of his Majestiesear These they corrupted with large Bribes to dissuade the King therefrom There having joined with such of the Clergy who were most in favour with the King used many persuasions telling him how King James I. was reteined in England Of the old League with France That upon this consideration it would be prejudicial to his Interest to keep that Meeting seeing the French would not take it well neither the Emperour who was highly incensed against Henry They told him of the Popes interdicting him and what a great Heresie was lately risen up there and had infected not only the greatest part of the Kingdom but the King himself And also that many of the Nobility and Gentry of Scotland were likewise Favourers of the said
Heresies and that it was fit that timously he should prevent the spreading thereof seeing the same would contribute much for his advantage while he might enrich himself by their Estates the names of whom they gave up in a sheet of Paper Which the King put in his Pocket thinking it a very profitable Proposition and therefore with all diligence to be executed The Laird of Grange had been lately made Treasurer and was in great favour with the King He had not yet discovered himself to be a Favourer of the Evangel but the King esteemed him true and desirous to advance his profit and very secret therefore he thought fit to make him privy to this profitable Overture He shewed unto him the written Roll of the Noblemen and Barons names who were given up to be burnt for Heresie telling him what great advantage he would make thereby Whereat the Laird of Grange began to smile and the King to enquire whereat he did laugh The Treasurer desired liberty from his Majesty to tell him the truth Whereat the King drew out his Sword saying merrily to him I shall slay thee if thou speak against my profit Then he put up his Sword commanding him to shew him what reasons he could alledge against the Prelats Proposition The Treasurer declared what troubles his Majesty had been tossed in during his Minority for the Government first between the Queen his Mother and the Lords then betwixt divers Factions of the Lords How that he had been couped from hand to hand sometimes kept against his will as Captive sometimes besieged sometimes brought to battle against his will by the Duglasses to fight against the Earl of Lenox and his best Friends who were slain coming to relieve him the Prelates being Partners for their ambition sometimes with one Faction sometimes with another And how that they could never agree among themselves nor let his Majesty take rest until the Duke of Albany was chosen Governour and brought out of France who had enough to do also For he would have fain done pleasure to France and raised a great many Scotchmen to enter into England who were making Wars in France but he got a rebuke when he when he was at the Border for they would march no further Alledging that the King was but young and Sister Son to King Henry That they saw no reason to enter into War with England to endanger their King and Country to serve France being the King his Father had to no purpose lost his life in their quarrel having entered into England with an Army against his good Brother whereby the whole Country was endangered After that this Duke retired himself your Majesty took the Government in your own hands at the Age of 13 years Yet they clapped again about you and kept you two years as captive And now you are but lately come to your liberty and your Country is not yet so well setled as were needful Albeit your Majesty hath done very much in so short space as to settle the Highland Islands and the Borders It were a dangerous thing if your Nobility should get intelligence that such greedy Fetches should be put in your head under pretext of Heresie to spoil them of their Lives Lands and Goods Wherein you may endanger your own Estate at the instance of these whose Estates are in peril who would hazard you and yours to save their own The Prelates I mean who fear that your Majesty at the example of the King of England of Denmark and several Princes of the Empire will make the like reformation among them Therefore they have no will of your familiarity with the King of England nor that your Estate should be so setled that your Majesty might put order to the abuses of the Kirk Did not one of your Predecessors called S. David give the most part of the Patrimony of the Crown to the Kirk erecting the same into Bishopricks and rich Abbacies Whereby your Majesty is presently so poor and the Prelates so rich so prodigal so proud that they will suffer nothing to be done without them And are also so sworn to the Pope of Rome when they get their Benefices confirmed that they ought not to be credited in any thing that toucheth the Popes Profit or Preferment The Venetians the wisest people in Europe will not suffer any Prelate albeit he be a born man of the Town to abide or stand in their Council-house when they are at Council because they know them to be so strictly sworn to the Pope Then he declared the gross abuses of the Roman Kirk and the ungodly lives of the Scots Prelates which the King and whole Country might see Therefore saith he if your Majesty would be well and be rich you may justly take home again to the profit of the Crown all vacan Benefices by little and little as they may fall by decease of every Prelate He told his Majesty anent his promise to the Ambassador of England there would come great trouble and Wars if it were not kept For King Henry VIII was a couragious Prince and high conceited and appeared to have for the Time an upright meaning his occasions pressing him thereto Having so great turns in hand and so many enemies without succession saving the foresaid Daughter Being corpulent and fat there was small hopes of his having any heirs That therefore it was his interest to be in a good understanding with him being his eldest Sisters Son nearest of blood and ablest to maintain and unite the whole Isle of Britain As for the retaining King James I. in England that was a far different case it was not the like time he was not the Kings Sisters Son nor his apparent heir And what hard success the King his Father had for making War against the King of England his good Brother was too manifestly felt by the whole Subjects And little better to be looked for in case a new unnecessary War be made for your Majesties staying away from the intended Meeting at York The King took such delight in this language that he determined to follow the advice given therein And at his first meeting with the Prelates who had then very great rule in the Country he could not contain himself any longer when they came hoping to see their Plots put in execution After many sore reproofs that they should have advised him to use such cruelty upon so many Noble men and Barons to the peril of his own Estate Wherefore said he gave my Predecessors so many Lands and Rents to the Kirk Was it to maintain Haulks Dogs and Whores to a number of idle Priests The King of England burns the King of Denmark beheads you I shall stick you with this Whingar And therewith he drew out his Dagger and they fled from his presence in great fear The King resolved fully to keep his promise with his Uncle the King of England thinking it both his honour and advancement so to do The Prelates of
Field-pieces were taken and many Spaniards made Prisoners Therefore we called it a won Battle and marched forward possessing the ground where the Fight was and set down our Camp the same night hard beside the Emperours Who seemed not that he had lost any thing but remained stedfastly within his Trenches All that night the Army for the most part was upon the Watch and the next day the Armies looked peaceably one upon another For we would not hazard to charge them within their Foot and they staid for twelve thousand fresh men that were coming to their aid But in the Evening they discharged all their Cannons which overthrew part of our Tents and we again discharged all our Cannon at them and did laugh to see the bullets light and rebound among them Yet the same night without Trumpet or beating of Drum we raised our whole Army and retired home to our own Town of Montreal and left Renty unwon alledging that we had won a battle which was better and that we wanted Horse-meat in the beginning of Winter But the Emperour suffered us patiently to pass away not appearing to understand that he knew any thing of our retreat being content that he had preserved Renty from being taken After this the Emperour being aged and finding himself vexed with the Gout and Gravel he thought fit to leave the World and retire himself to a Monastery of Monks in Spain But first he made means with the Princes of the Empire to elect his Son Philip to be Emperour which they altogether refused thinking him too mighty and the more in a capacity to subdue their Liberties as his Father had attempted to do before But they were content to chuse his Brother Ferdinand who was King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria which Dominions lay nearest the Turks The said Ferdinand having also some Lands in Hungary would be compelled to de fend his own Lands and that way would be content with less Contribution from the Estates of the Empire He gave over to his Son Philip his other Kingdoms and Dominions that he had in Spain Italy and the Low Countries And for the establishing his said Sons Estate he drew on a Treaty of Truce for the space of five years with France Which was agreed upon and sworn between the Parties But the said Truce was soon broken at the persuasion of Pope Paul the Fourth who intending to bring back again to the Church some Church Lands that his Predecessors had disposed to their Friends As the common custom of Popes is the one Pope dispones to his Bastards or Nephews the next Pope revokes the Lands pretending the same to be for the good of the Church and gives them again to his Kindred and Friends But those who had the Lands that Pope Paul the Fourth claimed were a great Clan in Italy called Collonois who were dependers upon the King of Spain and were under his Protection and would not grant to give over any of their Possessions unto the Pope neither for his Cursing Threatning or Bragging but stood in their own defence Whereof the Pope impatient put on by two of his Nephews sent the one of them to France called the Cardinal Caraff. The said Legat had born before him a Hat upon the point of a Sword both Hat and Sword to be presented to the King of France The Sword as an assured token of Victory and the Hat as a token of triumph requiring the King as eldest Son of the Catholick Church of Rome to send an Army to Italy to help the Popes Holiness to recover again to the Kirk such Lands as were wrongfully with-holden from the same by the said race of the Collonois And for to take away all scrupulosity from the Kings Conscience by reason of his Oath and Sacrament at the closing up of the Truce with the King of Spain he the said Cardinal as Legat from Gods Vicar having power would give him full absolution he having power to bind and loose Alledging moreover that in doing so dutiful an Office for the Kirk the King should reap a great advantage to himself seeing he might thereby be put in possession of the Kingdom of Naples by the Forces of the Pope Who should join with the Kings Army after he had helped the Kirk to recover her Lands from them who were maintained in the possession thereof by his Competitor the King of Spain The Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorrain his Brother imbraced this Proposition very earnestly For the Duke expected to be made Vice-Roy of Naples whereby he might the more easily sometime make his Brother Pope But the old Constable my Master was utterly against the breaking of the Peace Yet the two ambitious Brothers prevailed persuading the King that as the Constables age required rest so the King being in the flower of his years ought not to let slip so fair an occasion to recover again the Kingdom of Naples to the Crown of France Thus a great Army was prepared and sent into Italy under the Conduct of the Duke of Guise and likewise the Kings Lieutenant in Piccardy entered in upon the King of Spains Dominions with Fire and Sword so unexpected by those of the Low Countries that some of the French Light-horsemen entered upon Horseback within one of their Kirks upon a Sunday and snatched the Chalice out of the Priests hands when he was mumbling his Mass. The King of Spain took this breach of the Peace heavily to heart and both assisted the Collonois against the Popes Forces more earnestly than he would have done and also prepared a great Army against the next Spring to invade the Frontiers of Piccardy in France In the mean time that the Duke of Guise with his French Army was in Italy the Pope took occasion hastily to compound with the Collonois who finding themselves like to be straitned before the King of Spains Forces could be ready to support them gave the Pope part of his desire he securing to them the rest But the Duke of Guise judged himself greatly disgraced by the Popes guile and disappointed as to the expectations he had of the preferment to the Kingdom of Naples when he understood that the Pope was agreed without him and that in stead of concurring and helping him to conquer the Kingdom of Naples according to his engagement he plainly refused pretending that the Winter was near at hand and that it was by far more fitting that all Christian Princes were agreed among themselves to make War against the Great Turk So that all the favour the Duke of Guise had by undertaking this Journey into Italy was to get a Kiss of the Popes Foot which occasioned great anger in the King of France both at the one and the other Then for the space of two Moneths every man at the Court of France had liberty to speak ill of the Pope who at that instant agreed with the King of Spain by the mediation of that same Cardinal Caraff who had
in Scotland seeing small probability of advantage and greater appearance of troubles and disorders then I could ever imagine to find at my home-coming And I was somewhat loath to lose the occasion and offers of great preserment that had been made to me in France and other parts But I found the Queen my Sovereign so urgent and of her self well inclined and indued with so many Princely vertues that I could not find in my heart to leave her requiring so earnestly my help and assistance to draw the hearts of her Subjects to her which were alienated upon account of difference in Religion I knew she stood in need to gain friends and that it was much her interest to keep correspondence with the Queen of England so that I resolved rather to serve her my native Queen for little profit then any other Prince in Europe for great advantage I found her naturally more liberal then her Revenues allowed her For she not only setled upon me in pensions one thousand Marks yearly out of her Revenues in France but she also offered me the heritage of her Lands in Aghtermughtie which I refused to accept alledging I could better want it then she Though another hearing of so liberal an offer a little after sought and obtained it Thus I was ingaged to resolve to wait upon her commands and to lay aside all hope of any other preserment in France and other Countries albeit for the time I had no heritage but my service So within a few weeks I was dispatched to England with these following Instructions out of the Queens own mouth to deal with the Queen of England with the Spanish Ambassadour and with my Lady Margaret Douglass and with sundry friends she had in England of different opinions The general Instructions were written with the Secretary Lidingtoun's own hand subscribed by her Majesty as follows Instructions to our familiar Servitor James Melvil presently directed to our dearest Sister the Queen of England Given at Edinbrugh the 28 th of September 1564. IN the first after that you have presented our Letters and our commendations in most hearty manner you shall declare unto our good Sister That having been upon my progress towards the Northmost parts of our Realm this two months during which time we have had neither Letter nor other Advertisement from our good Sister Therefore for continuation of the mutual Intelligence betwixt us by all good Offices of amity we resolved to direct you towards her to visit her on our behalf to inform her of our health and good estate that at your return you may be able to report the like of her unto us she being the person in the World to whom next our self we wish most good luck and prosperity Item That by Letters of my Lord Robert to Lidingtoun as also of her Secretary to Our Brother Murray and to Lidingtoun We have perceived that Our said good Sister finds some fault with Our Letters written to her in answer of hers in the Earl of Lennox's matter as if We had taken her motion therein in evil part We are most sorry that Our Letters have been so interpreted for of a truth We had no other meaning of her in that matter then that her Advertisement came from a friendly mind and was both worthy of thanks and to be answered with the like good will as We believe We did in Our Letter albeit We remember not presently the very words or substance thereof For We use not to reserve any Copy of Our familiar Letters written with Our own hand whereof We now repent because of that Letter For if We had any Copy thereof We might now clear Our selves of that doubt viz. What words therein could give her ground of offence Therefore you shall pray her in Our Name to let you see in that Letter what words they are which have offended her that you thereupon declaring my meaning may put her out of any such suspicion It is true at the receipt of the Letter We were somewhat offended and judged We had good cause seeing it appeared that Our Nobility were grieved with Our License granted to the Earl of Lennox that his coming was like to disturb the peace and quiet of Our Realm Our Brother and Lidingtoun shew unto Us that they perceived by their Secretaries Letters that they were also thought partakers in this matter and that they mistaking also his coming desired the stay thereof to be procured by these undecent means Though they protested the contrary unto Us and indeed We have better proof of their fidelity toward Us then that We can suspect any such double dealing from their hands they being so far obliged to Us and so much intrusted by us We thought Our selves little indebted to that person whosoever he was that made such report of Our Subjects that they would make known their grievances to any other then Our selves These and the like considerations moved Us to great choller which probably might have occasioned Us to write the more freely and that We were not curious to cover Our passions writing to her with whom We esteemed Our Selves so familiar that We had ground to believe she would take all in good part that proceeded from Us especially what was no ways designed for her offence Therefore you shall pray her to put away all such opinions if she hath conceived any and if there be any word in Our Letter having two senses so that any one may be misconstrued and so give to her occasion of offence intreat that she will rather interpret the same to the gentlest signification and not take it in the worst sense And then I doubt not but the whole Letter shall appear to her as it was by Us conceived and directed that is from one dear friend to another We have further hereupon imparted Our mind to you by mouth which you may enlarge as occasion requires You may desire her to give you an answer conform to the substance of Lidingtoun's Letters written to my Lord Robert and Mr. Cicil. Especially concerning the drawing on another meeting of Men of credit fully instructed with both Our minds and to deal so plainly and frankly as all suspicion may have an end You must also inform your self diligently concerning the proceedings and intentions of this present Parliament of all such as can give you any knowledg therein for what cause it is called what is to be treated in it how longit will fit Endeavour to inform your self if any thing touching Us will be therein handled You may say to that Queen as out of your own head that your Mistress expects that she will suffer nothing to be treated therein that may directly or indirectly tend to Our prejudice We not being by her forewarned thereof She knows that as well Our self as our Ministers whom We have at any time directed to these parts have ever depended upon her only advice and followed the same in all points And seeing the special matter
this she might perchance do better at another time I answered that it was only the consideration of her interest that made me appear so concerned Many Noblemen being banished and so near as New-castle having many other Noblemen at home of their kindred and friends so malecontent as I knew them to be for the time made me fear some attempt towards an alteration For I told her I had heard dark speeches that we should hear news e're the Parliament was ended Her Majesty answered that she likewise wanted not advertisements of the like rumours but that our Countrey-men were talkative I vsed the same freedom with Rixio for then he and I were under great friendship But he evidenced a disdain at all danger and despised counsel so that I was compelled to say I feared over late Repentance You have heard that Sir Nicholas Throgmorton was one of the two English Ambassadours who were sent hither to stay the marriage and to make many promises in his Mistresses Name to so many as would resist the same which promises were afterward denied by the Queen of England and by Mr. Randolph But Sir Nicholas Throgmorton stood neither in awe of Queen or Council to declare the verity that he had made such promises to them in her Name whereof the Councellors and craftiest Courtiers thought strange and were resolving to punish him for avowing the same promise to be made in his Mistresses Name had not he wisely and circumspectly obtained an Act of Council for his Warrant which he offered to produce And the said Sir Nicholas was so angry that he had been made an instrument to deceive the Scots banished Lords that he advised them to sue humbly for pardon at their own Queens hand and to ingage never again to offend her for satisfaction of any Prince alive And because as they were then stated they had no interest he penned a perswasive Letter and sent unto her Majesty as followeth YOur Majesty hath in England many friends of all degrees who favour your Title but for divers respects Some for very Conscience sake being perswaded that in Law your Right is best some for the good opinion they have conceived by the honourable report they have heard of your vertues and liberality the consideration whereof ingageth them to esteem your Majesty most worthy to Govern some for factions who favour your Religion some for the ill will they bear to your competitour seeing their own danger if Lady Kátharine should come in that place Of these some are Papists some Protestants and yet however they differ among themselves in Religion or other particulars they are both of one mind for the advancement of your Title Your Majesty hath also divers Enemies for various respects not unlike to the other whose study hath always been and will be unless they be made friends to hinder any thing that may tend to your advantage In one point all concur both Friends and Enemies yea the whole People that they are most desirous to have the Succession of the Crown declared and assured that they may be at a certainty only the Queen her self is of a contrary opinion and would be glad the matter should always be in suspence Your un-friends have done what they could to take the advantage of the time to your prejudice And for that end pressed the holding of the Parliament which was before continued till October last Knowing assuredly that if the Parliament held the Succession of the Crown would be called in question And they thought the time served well for their purpose when there was division and trouble in your own Realm and no good understanding betwixt you and the Queen of England And her Subjects your friends for eschewing that inconvenience and winning of time to give your Majesty place to work and remove all impediments so far as wisdom may have found the means to drive it off till the next spring Now their advice is that in the mean time your Majesty indeavour by wisdom to assure your self of the whole Votes or at least of the best and most considerable of the Parliament when ever the matter shall be brought in question Which may be done by retaining the hearts of those you have gained already recovering of those who are brangled winning of the neutrals and so many of your adversaries as may be gained for it is not to be supposed that all can be won who are already so far addicted to the contrary Faction but when the cause of their aversion is removed the effect will cease Generally your Majesty will do well to forbear any act that will offend the whole people and use such means as will render your most acceptable to them Strangers are universally suspected to the whole people against which your Majesty hath in your marriage wisely â—â—â—â—ided by abstaining to match with a forreign Price So do they 〈…〉 your Majesty to abstain from any League or Confederacy with 〈…〉 forreign Prince that may offend England till you have first esâ—yed what you can purchase by the benevolence of the born Subjects thereof Not that they would desire your Majesty to forfeit your friendship with France and Spain but rather that you should wisely entertain them both to remain at your devotion in case afterward you have need of their favour Nevertheless it is their wish that the same may rather remain in general terms as heretofore then that you proceed to any special act which may offend England which you cannot with honour bring back again when you would As many of your adversaries as are addicted to the contrary Faction for hatred of your Religion may be gained when they see your Majesty continue in the temperance and moderation you have hitherto used within your own Realm in matters of Religion without innovation or alteration As many as by misreports have been carried to the contrary Faction may by true report be brought back again when they shall hear of your clemency used towards your own Subjects which vertue in Princes of all others most allures the hearts of people to favour even their common Enemies As many as can deal warily and discreetly with your friends of both the Religions and are only addicted for Conscience sake to my Lady Katharine being perswaded of the preference of your Title in Law may be gained to your Majesty by contrary perswasions and by adducing of such reasons and arguments as may be alledged for proof of your good cause whereof there are abundance to be had Some your Majesty will find in England who will hazard as far as they dare to serve your turn in this behalf But because it is so dangerous to Men to deal in and may endanger Lives and Lands if they be seen earnest medlers travelling in that point so as would be necessary it will require such instruments of your own when time comes who may boldly speak without danger and with whom the Subjects of England dare freely communicate their minds and enter into
the Queens Chamber had not her Majesty come betwixt and saved him but he fled the next day and tarried with the Earl of Athol As for me I was not oft at Court but now and then yet I chanced to be there at the marriage When I came that time to the Court I found my Lord Duke of Orkny sitting at his Supper who welcomed me saying I had been a great stranger desiring me to sit down and Sup with him the Earl of Huntly the Justice Clerk and divers others being sitting at Table with him I said I had already Supped then he called for a Cup of Wine and drank to me saying you had need grow fatter for says he the zeal of the Common-wealth hath eaten you up and made you lean I answered That every little member should serve for some use but that the care of the Common-wealth appertained most to him and the rest of the Nobility who should be as Fathers of the same I knew well says he he would find a pin for every bore Then he fell in discoursing with the Gentlewomen speaking such filthy language that they and I left him and went up to the Queen who expressed much satisfaction at my coming The marriage was made at the Palace in Halyrood-house after Sermon by Adam Bothwel Bishop of Orkny in the great Hall where the Council useth to sit according to the order of the Reformed Religion and not in the Chappel at the Mass as was the King's marriage After the marriage he who was Earl of Bothwel now Duke of Orkny was very earnest to get the Prince in his hands but my Lord of Mar who was a true Nobleman would not deliver him out of his custody alledging that he could not without consent of the three States Yet he was so frequently crost by such as had the Authority in their hands that he was thereby put to a great strait And after that he had made divers refusals among others he made his moan to me praying me to help to save the Prince out of his hands who had slain his Father and had already made his vaunt among his familiars that if he could get him once in his hands he should warrant him from revenging his Father's death I assured his Lordship he should want no assistance I was capable to give He desired to know if I could propose any outgate I answered That I was intimately acquainted with Sir James Balfour and that I knew how matters stood betwixt Bothwel and him namely there were some jealousies arisen betwixt them which I thought if rightly managed might be improved for the Prince's safety I also told him that the Earl intended to have the Castle out of his hands for the Earl and he had been great Companions and he was also very great with the Queen so that the custody of the Castle of Edinbrugh was committed to him But afterward he would not consent to be present nor take part with the murtherers of the King whereby he came in suspicion with the Earl of Bothwel who would no more credit him so that he would have had the Castle out of his hands to have committed the charge thereof to the Laird of Beenstoun I told his Lordship he might make this one of his excuses That he could not deliver the Prince till he should see a secure place to keep him in And upon the other hand when I returned to Edinbrugh I dealt with Sir James Balfour not to part with the Castle whereby he might be an instrument to save the Prince and the Queen who was so disdainfully handled and with such reproachful language that in presence of Arthur Aroskine I heard her ask for a knife to stab her self or else said she I shall drown my self Now says I to Sir James Balfour there is no security for you to be out of suspicion but to keep the Castle in your own hands and so to be the good instrument both of saving Queen and Prince and in assisting the Nobility who are about to Crown the Prince and to pursue the Earl of Bothwel for the King's murther I told him that unless he took part with them he would be holden as guilty of the said murther by reason of his long familiarity with the Earl of Bothwel That it was a happy thing for him that the said Earl was in suspicion of him assuring him that I had intelligence by one who was of the Earl of Bothwel's Councel to wit the Laird of Whitlaw Captain of the Castle of Dumbar that the Earl of Bothwel was determined to take the Castle of Edinbrugh from him and make the Laird of Beenstoun one Hepburn Captain thereof and then to put the Prince there in his keeping Sir James Balfour gave ear to my proposition and consented to help to pursue the murtherers upon condition that the Laird of Grange would ingage upon his honour to be his Protector in case afterward the Nobility should alter upon him for he and most of them had formerly run contrary courses so that he durst not credit them The Earl of Mar being hereof from me advertised by his Brother Alexander Areskine who was true and careful of the Prince's safety coming secretly to me at midnight for the days were dangerous for all honest Men. Now my Lord of Mar being continually required and threat'ned to deliver the Prince out of his hands at length granted only to drive off time upon condition that an honest responsible Nobleman should be made Captain of the Castle of Edinbrugh the only secure place of keeping the Prince in This answer was thought fit to asswage the present fury until the Nobility might convene to pursue the murtherers and to Crown the Prince as they had already concluded at a secret meeting among themselves which was not kept so private but that one of the said Lords gave advertisement thereof to the Earl of Bothwel how that they were minded to inviron the Palace of Halirood-house and therein to apprehend him Whereupon he forgot inquiring after the Prince being only now concerned how to save himself therefore he fled out of Edinbrugh to the Castle of Borthwick from that to the Castle of Dumbar taking always the Queen with him wherever he went All Scotland cryed out upon the foul murther of the King but few of them were careful how to revenge it till they were driven thereto by the crying out of all other Nations against all Scotishmen wherever they travelled either by Sea or Land Among other Princes the King of France sent hither to his Ambassadour Monsieur de Crook a grave aged discreet Gentleman advanced by the House of Guise a Letter therein expressing his wonder that such a foul murther being committed upon the person of a King so few honest Subjects were found to find fault with the same for less to seek after any tryal or see the same punished Whereupon the Lords who had the enterprise in hand were hasted forward to take Arms and in
sole management of Affairs And for this end they gave him bad advice and sinister informations against sundry of his best friends And being likewise Educated a Papist and suspected to be at the Duke of Guise's devotion and therefore a dangerous Man to be about his Majesty the whole Country was stirred up against him England by their Ambassadour helping to kindle the fire Mr. David Macgil and Mr. Henry Keer were his chief Councellors both wise enough for their own profit but careless of his standing and therefore not fit to counsel him who was his Majesty's greatest favourite At the instigation and mis-information of the Earl of Arran and his Lady he first did cast off his true friend the Master of Mar Captain of the Castle of Edinbrugh and after that Sir William Stuart Captain of Dumbartoun and then Alexander Clerk Provost of Edinbrugh and the Earl of Gaurie Treasurer The rest of the Nobility were also dissatisfied to see these two young Lords only in favour with the King finding that they both did aim at Noblemens lives for their Lands And albeit some of them misliked the Earl of Mortoun's proceedings yet they judged the taking of his life an hard preparative They likewise suspected Religion to be in hazard the one being a Papist and the other a scorner of all Religion They thought that from two such Counsellors no wholsome advice could proceed for the peace of the Country and the establishment of Religion Therefore a number of them consulted together to displace both the Duke and the Earl of Arran to send the one to France and to remove the other from Court In the mean time they resolved to throng themselves in about the King and to make a reformation of the abuses and to inviron his Majesty with their Forces so soon as he came to Dumfarmling whither he had appointed to come at his return out of Athol where he was for the time ahunting and to present to him this Supplication IT may appear strange to your Majesty that we your most humble and faithful Subjects are here convened beyond your expectation and without your knowledge but after your Majesty hath heard the urgent occasion that hath pressed us hereto your Majesty will not marvel at this our honest lawful and necessary enterprise Sir For the dutiful Reverence that we owe unto your Majesty and for that we abhor to attempt any thing that may seem displeasing to your Majesty we have for the space of two years suffered such false Accusations Calumnies Oppressions and Persecutions by means of the Duke of Lennox and him who is called Earl of Arran that the like Insolencies and Enormities were never heretofore born with in Scotland Which wrongs albeit they were most intolerable yet when they only touched us in particular we comported with them patiently ever attending when it should please your Majesty to give a remedy thereto But seeing the persons aforesaid have plainly designed to trouble the whole Body of the Common-Wealth as well the Ministers of the blessed Evangel as the true Professors thereof but in special that number of Noblemen Barrons Burgesses and Commonalty who did most worthily behave themselves in your Majesties Service during your youth whom principally and only they molest and against whom they use most extremity and rigour of Laws oft-times most sinistrously perverting the same for their destruction so that one part of these your best Subjects are Exiled another part Tormented and put to questions which they are not in Law obliged to answer and withal execute with partiality and injustice all your Laws And if any escape their barbarous fury they can have no access to your Majesty but are falsly calumniated and debarred from your presence and kept out of your favour Papists and most notable Murtherers are called home daily and restored to their former honours and heritages and oftimes highly rewarded with the Offices and Possessions of your most faithful Servants Finally your Estate Royal is not Governed by the Council of your Nobility as your most worthy Progenitors used to do but at the pleasure of the foresaid persons who enterprise nothing but as they are directed by the Bishops of Glascow and Ross your denounced Rebels having with them adjoyned in their ordinary Councels the Popes Nuntio with the Ambassador of Spain and such other of the Papists of France as endeavour to subvert the true Religion and to bring your Majesty in discredit with your Subjects They travel to cause you negotiate and traffick with your Mother without the advice of your Estates perswading your Majesty to be reconciled with her and to associate her conjunctly with you in the Authority-Royal meaning nothing other thereby but to Convict us of Usurpation and Treason And so having these your best Subjects out of the way who with the defence of your Authority maintained the true Religion as two things united and inseperable what else could have followed but the wrack and destruction of both For conclusion your whole native Country for which Sir you must give an account to the Eternal God as we must be answerable to your Majesty is so perturbed and altered and the true Religion the Commonwealth your Estate and Person are in no less danger then when you were delivered out of the hands of the cruel Murtherers of your Father who they were we will not insist on at this present Sir beholding these great dangers to be eminent and at hand without speedy help and perceiving your noble person in such hazard the preservation whereof is more precious to us then our own lives finding also no appearance that your Majesty was forewarned hereof but like to perish before you could see the peril we thought that we could not be answerable to our Eternal God neither faithful Subjects to your Majesty if according to our ability we prevented not this present distress preserving your Majesty from the same For this effect with all dutiful humility and obedience we your Majesties true Subjects are here convened desiring your Majesty in the name of God and for the love you bear to his true Religion to your Country and Commonwealth and as you would see the tranquillity of your own Estate to retire your self to some part of the Country where your Majesties person may be most safely preserved and your Nobility secured who are under hazard of Lands Life and Heritages And then your Majesty shall see the disloyalties falshoods and Treasons of the persons aforesaid evidently proved and declared to their faces to the glory of God advancement of his true Religion your Majesties preservation and honour and the deliverance of your troubled Commonweal and Country and to their perpetual ignominy and shame At this Highland hunting His Majesty was very meanly accompanied The Duke of Lennox tarried for the time at Dalkieth the new Earl of Arran was at Kinneel many of the Councel were appointed to hold Justice Airs in divers Shires of the Country I was ordained to
diligence and another from the Earl of Arran intreating me to accompany him from Kinneal to the Court But I went to His Majesty strait whither also the said Earl came that same night For he had procured liberty to return again to Court and remain about His Majesty At my coming to Sterling I had intelligence from a very sure hand That the said Lords were already at the entry of the Borders assisted by my Lord Hamiltoun my Lord Maxwel my Lord Bothwel my Lord Hume and sundry others who had not formerly joined with them Also the Earl of Athol the Laird of Tillibardine Buccleugh Cesfoord Coudingknows Drumlanrick and others who were in greatest credit about His Majesty were to join with them at their in-coming Whereof I advertised His Majesty and Colonel Stuart who undertook to ride unto the Borders and overthrow them before they were wholly Convened together which might very probably have been effectuated if the design had not been craftily disappointed by such as were about His Majesty who appeared to set forward the Colonel's enterprise to please His Majesty and to conquer credit saying They would write to Coudinknows Buccleugh Cesfoord and such others to assist him Whom they knew to be upon the contrary Faction already so that the design of scattering them was rendered by that Craft ineffectual And because I perceived the crasty intention and that they feared I would therewith acquaint His Majesty they caused His Majesty to send me a forged Errand to Dunkel that they might the better bring their purpose to pass without any contradiction The pretext of my Commission was to cause the Earl of Athol to stay at home and not to join with the Lords who were to come shortly to Sterling And by the way I was to deliver a Letter to the Baylies of St. Johnstoun to be upon their Guards and not to suffer any of the King's Enemies to come within their Town The Bayliffs inquired of me what if the Earl of Athol and Master of Gray would desire to come within their Town I said They might let themselves enter with Ten in Company but no more They alledged That their Letter specified not that I told them That was committed to me by mouth the Conclusion of my Letter willing them to credit me When I came to Dunkel I knew that the Earl of Athol would not stay for me who had a Thousand Men in readiness to take the Town of St. Johnstoun and to come thence to Sterling with the Master of Gray who was yet with him But however I told him that the Collonel Stuart was gone with Forces to defeat the Lords at their entry into the Country before they might be joined together And that therefore he would do well to lye at home till he might understand the issue of the said enterprise If that took effect it would be folly to him to march forward and if it did not succeed he might do as his heart served him He thought this Counsel good desiring me to write unto His Majesty for a License to him and his to remain at home which I did In the mean time the Master of Gray was sent for to Court the Ports of the Town of Pearth being refused to his Men who were come out of Angus to assist him At his returning to Court he was as great with His Majesty as ever he was remaining with him within the Castle of Sterling Where there were two Factions who discovered themselves so soon as they saw the Malecontents and banished Lords draw near unto the Town of Sterling Whither they came to the number of Three Thousand and entred unto the Town without stop His Majesty inclined most to the Faction who brought in the said Lords who advised His Majesty to send some down to the Town to Commune and Compound matters Which was at length Agreed upon and Concluded That His Majesty should remain in their hands that no rigour should be used to those who were about him So that those who were mediators appeared to be good Instruments and stayers of Blood-shed For Arran was escaped and fled at their first entry But Colonel Stuart only with Ten or Twelve gave them such a charge in the midst of the narrow part of the Town that a little more help might have put them in great disorder For the most part of their South-land Men were busie spoiling Horse and Goods The Lords when they came into His Majesty's presence fell down upon their knees humbly begging pardon Adding That the hard handling by Arran and other partial Persons about His Majesty had compelled them upon plain necessity and for their last refuge to take the boldness to come in Arms for the surety of their Lives and Lands being ever humbly minded to serve His Majesty and obey him The King again like a Prince full of Courage and Magnanimity spoke unto them pertly and boastingly as though he had been Victorious over them calling them Traitours and their enterprise plain Treason Yet said he in respect of your necessity and in hope of your good behaviour in time-coming he should remit their faults And the rather because they had used no vengeance nor cruelty at their in-coming In the mean time His Majesty committed and recommended the keeping of the Earls of Montrose and Crauford unto my Lord Hamiltoun And the keeping of Colonel Stuart unto my Lord Maxwel These three were for a time in some danger because they had too violently espoused Arran's interest The rest of His Majesty's Servants were over-lookt Sir Robert my Brother and his Son were both courteously used This moderate behaviour of the Lords conquered daily more and more favour from His Majesty They pressing him in nothing but by humble Intercession of such as formerly had his Ear. A Parliament was proclaimed at Lithgow for their restitution whither His Majesty was convoyed to pass his time at Hunting thereby to Recreat his Spirits Many Noblemen and others were written for to come unto the said Parliament Among the rest the Earl of Athol to whom I had been sent and with whom I was at the Lords coming to Sterling Where I was waiting upon an answer from His Majesty of the Letter which the Earl of Athol had desired me to write as said is When I came to kiss His Majesty's hand I was gladly made welcome His Majesty alledging That I was Corbie's Messenger I answered That my absence with the Earl of Athol had saved all my own Horse and the Town of St. Iohnstoun untaken and had kept the said Earl from assisting with the rest So that if those who had remained at Sterling with him had kept the South as well as I had done the North their Horse had been safe as well as mine was His Majesty said That God had turned all to the best For he had been before made believe that he would be in danger of his life in case these Noblemen had ever any more power about him And yet though
same night by the way was advertised by one of the Earl of Bothwel's company that he was already in Fiffe and would be in Falkland against Supper-time Upon which advertisement he sent his Gentleman called Robert Auflock to acquaint his Majesty therewith and to request him to enter within the Tower in due time When the said Robert declared the matter unto his Majesty they all laughed him to scorn calling him a fool The said Robert returning malecontent to be so mocked met the Earl of Bothwel and his Company upon the highth of the Lummonds when it was already dark night and turned incontinently as if he had been one of their Company He used great diligence to be first at his Majesty Entring within the Palace of Falkland he closed the Gates himself and cryed continually to cause his Majesty enter within the Tower who at length believed him and mocked him no more The Earl of Bothwel at his coming had Potards to break up Gates and Doors It was not without ground alledged That some of those who shot out of the Tower for his Majesties defence charged their Culverins with Paper But some of his Majesties Houshold Officers shot out Bullets which gave the Earl and his Company a great scare as also his being within the Tower before he was surprised And supposing that the Country would gather together the said Earl and his Company retired and fled none pursuing them Whereas a few might easily have overtaken and overthrown them That same night I lay in my Boots upon my Bed expecting word from Falkland where there was one left to be ready for that effect At whose back-coming I with other friends and neighbours did ride to Convene the Country about Coupar to have rescued his Majesty But the King immediately sent me advertisement that the Earl was fled yet he desired me to bring these forward whom he knew I would Convene for his relief as they did to the number of 3000 that afternoon Thus God miraculously delivered his Majesty as he had done divers times before About this time came to his Majesty an honest Gentleman from Ireland called who made offers of consequence to his Majesty Whereof the Queen of England was incontinently advertised and desired to require the said Gentleman to be delivered to her Which the most part of the Council councelled his Majesty to do But the Justice Clark my Borther and I were of a contrary opinion Which deed did great harm to the settlement of his Majesty's Affairs in England and Ireland This I speak with great regrate because it was so far against his Majesties own mind and yet he suffered it to be done because the chief Ring-leaders advised it who have been always won to the devotion of England Now the Prince being born at Sterling the day of in the year his Majesty thought fit to send Ambassadours to England Denmark France and Flanders to require their Ambassadours to be sent to the Baptism of the Prince his first-born Son The Council were commanded to nominate such as were meetest to be sent on that message as they did Yet some obtained that Commission who were very unmeet for that Errand as Sir William Keeth for he could neither speak Latine French nor Flemings The Laird of Easter Weems procured to carry the Commission to France and also to England because he was to go thither about his own Affairs being the King of France his Servant But Mr. Peter Young sped best who sent to Denmark and to the Dukes of Mecklburg and Brunswick for he got three fair chains But the King of France nor the Queen of England gave nothing which they would have been ingaged to do if Ambassadours had been sent to them express Neither sent the King any Ambassadours here at that time The Queen of England was once resolved to have done the same till she was advertised by her own Ambassadour in France that the King was resolved to send none Then very late she sent the Earl of Sussex to let us see that she would ever be a ready friend when France would refuse and lye back On the other part the Dukes of Mecklburg and Brunswick were discontent that they were so far slighted as not each of them to be thought worthy of an Express A special day was appointed for Solemnizing the said Baptism The Ambassadors of Denmark and Dutchland arrived almost together His Majesty had sent for me to be there at their coming to receive them and to entertain them But the Ambassadours of Mecklburg and Brunswick would not ride out of Leeth in company with the Danish Ambassadour when they were Convoyed up to Edinburgh but desired a Convoy apart A few days after them arrived the Ambassadours of the Estates of the Low-Countries to wit Monsieur de Broderod and Monsieur Fulk great Treasurer of Holland and Zeland who landed at New-haven where I was well accompanied to receive them having Horse and Footmantles in readiness to carry them up to Edinburgh to their Lodgings A little before the landing of the said Ambassadours the day of the Baptism was delayed because there was neither word of an Ambassadour from France or Ireland and the King's Chappel in the Castle of Sterling which was cast down to be built again in a better form was not yet compleated So that the Ambassadours were ordered to remain in Edinburgh till all might be put in good order Therefore his Majesty appointed the Master of his Houshold and my Lord Tungland my Brother together with me to entertain them upon his charges and also to bear them company After that they had tarried longer in Edinburgh there being no appearance of any Ambassadours from France or England we were commanded with some others of the Council to Convoy them to Sterling where his Majesty made his excuse that they were so long delayed at Edinburgh But they alledged they had great contentment in our company Which his Majesty forgot not to declare before the whole Council giving me thanks alledging that I had done him good Offices and this among the rest which he would never forget and that he had three other of my Bothers all fit for such matters and for forreign Affairs Now being in doubt of the English Ambassadour's the Ceremony was to be Solemnized without longer delay In the mean time there came word that the Earl of Sussex was upon his journey toward Scotland for the Queen his Mistress on whom the action stayed The day of the Solemnity there was great business for their Honours and Seats that being agreed there was an empty Chair set before the rest for the King of France his Ambassadour The order of the Banquet and Triumph I leave to others to set out When the Ambassadours had Audience of the Queens Majesty I was appointed to stand a little behind and next unto her Majesty To the English Danish and Dutch Ambassadours her Majesty made answer her self But though she could speak seemingly French yet she
rounded in my Ear to declare her answer to the Ambassadour of the States of Holland Then every one of them by order gave their Presents The Jewels of Perecious Stones the Queen received in her own hand and then delivered them unto me to put them again in their Cases and lay them upon a Table which was prepared in the mids of the Chamber to set them upon The Queen of England's had a great show being a fair Cupboard of Silver overguilt cunningly wrought and some Cups of massy Gold The Ambassadour of the States presented a Golden Box wherein was written in Parchment in Letters of Gold A gift of a yearly Pension to the Prince of five thousand _____ by year with great Cups of massy Gold two especially which were so weighty that it was all that I could lift them and set them down upon the said Table I leave it to others to set down the weight and value But I say these which were of Gold which should have been kept in store to posterity were soon melted and disposed But if they had been preserved as they ought to have been those who advised to break them would have wanted their part All these Ambassadours being dispatched and well rewarded those of Denmark were advised by John Lindsay of Monmuire to cause with all diligence send new Ambassadours to require the Contract of marriage made in Denmark to be fulfilled Alledging that the Chancellour who had made it had left out the Rents of the Abby of Dumfarmling fraudfully and had taken in fee to himself all the Lordship of Mussilburgh For this end two Ambassadours were sent from Denmark upon whom I was appointed to attend to see them well entertained As they were well instructed so they happened upon a meet time for the Chancellour was for the time decourted and my Brother was Ambassadour for his Majesty in England So the Chancellour was caused to renounce his part And because my Brother Sir Robert was absent young Sir Robert his Son and I obliged us that his part which was 13 Chalders of Victual should be also renounced at his return which was accordingly done His Majesty promised to him as much heritage in an other part in respect that his gift was obtained long before the Contract of marriage Divers others who had portions of these Lands were likewise compelled to renounce either voluntarily or by a new Law made for that effect FINIS AN Alphabetical Table OF THE Principal MATTER contained in this BOOK A ABot of Dumfarmling is sent by the King's Lords to meet the Earl of Lennox in his passage to England p. 106. His Message to the Queen and her Answer thereunto ibid. Hastens to the King at St. Andrews where he behaves himself with great dissimulation 135. Endeavours by Gold to curry favour with Colonel Stuart 137. Is after Imprisoned in Lockleven ibid. Admiral of France his death conspired by Captain Charry p. 38. but being discovered is killed by Monsieur Chattelier ibid. Ambassadors sent from Denmark three joined together in Commission to King James arrive in Scotland p. 162. Their Commission and Demands ill usage and delays visited by Mr. Wotton who was very kind to them ibid. Upon his instigation they inform his Majesty of Reflections upon their Master by his Subjects and of their rudeness p. 163. The Ambassadours slight the Earl of Arran having known him in Denmark but a private Soldier ibid. Are Banquetted in his Majesties name 165. Take leave of his Majesty 166. Part well satisfied after they had received their Presents on Ship-board from the hands of the Author James Melvil p. 167. Promising to be good instruments of Amity ibid. Ambassadours arrive in Scotland from several parts upon the birth of Prince Henry p. 202. Their several rich Presents to the Queen at that time p. 204. Are all dispatcht and well rewarded ibid. Areskine Alexander the Governour of King James during his Minority p. 125. Is made Master of Mar. p. 126. Arran Earl see James Stuart Athol Earl made Chancellour p. 126. Hath 1000 men ready to take St. Johnstoun but being dissuaded from it by the Author desires him to write to his Majesty for a License for him and his to remain at home p. 169. Which he did and procur'd for him ibid. Is written unto to come to the Parliament at Lithgow p. 170. Atry Lord Uncle to the Earl of Marshal nominated by the King's Council to go Ambassadour to Denmark with the Author to Treat about the King's Marriage p. 177. Comes to Court but finds the Council not so earnest as his Majesty p. 177 and 178. Returns home excusing himself as sickly and Aged p. 178. Aubonie Lord returns from France p. 127. Being the King's Favourite ibid. is made Lord Dalkieth and after Duke of Lennox 128. A short Character of him ibid. led by evil Counsel to dangerous courses p. 131. Understanding that his Majesty was in the hands of the other Lords he retires to Dumbartoun p. 132. Passeth through England to France p. 133. And dies shortly after ibid. B BAlfour Sir James Captain of Edinburgh Castle p. 81. delivers the Castle of Edinburgh to the Laird of Grange p. 90. Is taken out of his own House and committed by the Regent's order p. 100. Wins the Regent's familiars with Gold p. 102. Balnears Henry turns from the Protestant to the Popish Religion p. 7. And by the perswasion of Abbot Pally breaks the intended Match between Prince Edward and Mary Queen of Scots ibid. Barnbarrow Laird sent Ambassadour to Denmark upon the Author's refusal p. 176. Returns with his Fellow-Commissioner their Power being insufficient having no Commission to conclude ibid. Bassingtoun a Learned Scots-man and Travellour his Story concerning the Affairs of England and Scotland p. 92. Bastien a French-man at the Banquet after the Baptism of King James devised a Machine that gave great distate and disturbance p. 76 and 77. Beaton David Cardinal makes King James the Fifth's Will when dying which he dictated which was therefore annulled p. 6. is slain in his Castle at St. Andrews p. 7. by the complotting of Sir George Douglas c. ibid. Bedford Earl one of Queen Mary's surest Friends in England p. 76. Arrives in Scotland with several other Persons of Quality ibid. departs and they are all rewarded 77. desires the Author to beseech the Queen to entertain the King as formerly and not to slight him ibid. Bettancourt Master of the Houshold to the Queen Regent of Scotland brings instructions to destroy Hereticks p. 24. which she observes being menaced ibid. Bishop of St. Andrews designed Ambassadour for England p. 194. Disdained and dishonoured in England p. 150. The reason ibid. Is nominated to be sent Ambassadour to Denmark p. 176. Bishop Thomas a Scotsman sends a Letter from England to the Authour about the report of the Queen's marriage with her Husband's Murtherer together with his Character disswading her from it p. 79. Which he shew'd the Queen and was forced to