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<O DATE 1590-1598> 
<M MEDIUM MS> 
<D CSC> 
<V PROSE> 
<T HISTORY> 
<G X> 
<F X> 
<W WRITTEN> 
<X MALE> 
<Y X> 
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<S SAMPLE X> 
 
[^MOYSIE, DAVID. 
MEMOIRS OF THE AFFAIRS OF SCOTLAND, 1577-1603.
ED. J. DENNISTOUN. BANNATYNE CLUB AND MAITLAND CLUB.
EDINBURGH 1830.

SAMPLE 1: PP. 85.1-104.29
SAMPLE 2: PP. 129.7-139.26^]

<S SAMPLE 1>
<P 85>
   Vpone the feird day of November, Mr Alexander Lyndsay        #
brother to 
the erle of Crafurde wes maid lord of Spynie, and with him sir  #
George 
Home and sir James Sandilandis knichtit. 
   In the begining of December, newis come out of France that   #
the 
King had wyn Torbet againe, and pat all to the aidge of the     #
suorde;
and that he had teane the feildis, and that vij=m= gentlemen    #
voluntaris 
come in vpone thair awin chairgis, and myndit to fecht the      #
diuk of 
Parmay befoir his away going; and the Bastillyee of Pareis wes  #
mannit 
be certane tounsemen, quho called (\Viva la Roy\) .
   Ane great controuersie fell out about this tyme, betuix      #
certane of 
the erle of Huntleis freindis and the Grantis; quhairvpone      #
forces wer 
reased vpone ather sydis: and the erles of Atholl and Murray    #
with the 
laird of Grant being in Tarnuay, the erle of Huntlie come to    #
beseadge 
the house, quhaire thear wes sundrie of the Gordouns slayne,    #
namlie 
ane Johne Gordoun, schot in at the movthe throw the craig and   #
died. 
They wer all chairged afoir the secreit counsall. Lykas, about  #
the end 
of December, they wer all compellit to find cautioun for        #
keiping the 
Kingis pace, and not inuading of utheris. Bot the erle of       #
Huntlie,
now being reconciled with the chanceller, had great court, and  #
all doune 
at his plesour. 
   Great inquisitioun at this tyme for witches. Lykas Barbara   #
Neapper 
and Evphane M'Kallian and Agnes Sampson, wemen of guid          #
reputatioun 
afoir, wer teane as witches, with sundrie utheris baithe men    #
and 
weemen. Sampsoun wes brunt, and died weill; the rest wes        #
keipit. 
Amangis the rest, ane Ritchie Grahame accusit of witchcraft     #
confest 
many poyntis, and declaired that the erle of Bothuell wes ane   #
treffecker 
with him and utheris, anent the conspyring of the Kingis dead. 
Quhairvpone the erle Bothuell, being send for and accusit,      #
being ane 
great poynt of treasoun, wes committed to waird within the      #
castle of
Edinburgh, and werie straitlie keipit. 
<P 86>
   In the beginning of Merche 1591, theare come in a great man  #
out 
of Irland, to tak vp men aganis the Queine of Ingland, namit    #
Bryanne 
Arroyk; quho remayning about ten or tuelf weikis in Glasgow,    #
at last 
wes committed to waird within the castle of the samyn; and      #
theirefter 
transported be the pryour of Blantyre and the laird of          #
Carmichell to 
Carleill toun, quhairfra he wes caried to the Queine and        #
delyverit in 
hir handis, to the great greife of many and slaunder of the     #
countrie, 
besyd the skaithe the merchandis of the west had that           #
trauelled to Irland. 
Vpone the xvj or xvij day of the said monethe, suir word come   #
that the 
Chairterhous wes wyn be the King of France, quhairin the haill  #
ritches 
of Pareise wes put in keiping. Vpone the xvij day of Junij      #
1591, the 
King maid his generall reuocatioun at Falkland. 
   Vpone the xxij day of the said monethe of Junij, the erle    #
Bothwele 
brak ward out of the castle of Edinburgh at twa houris in the   #
morning, 
be the conuoy of Gilbert Lauder quho went with him. The King    #
being 
in Tullibardin come immediatly to Edinburgh, and socht for ane  #
force 
to persev him at Kelso. The erle of Bothuell come to the        #
Nether bow
and cryed in, desyring ony man to bid the chanceller come and   #
tak him, 
and he wald give ony man a croune; and that samyn nicht sovpit  #
in 
Leithe, quhair the erle of Home joynit with him; and the erles  #
of 
Mortoun, Errole, maister of Glamis and vtheris wer his          #
fauoreitis. 
Quhairvpone the chanceller being affrayed, he sent for the      #
King, quho
come to Edinburgh in all heast. And his Majestie beand be the   #
way in 
Westerweymis, the erle of Merschell come to him, quhom he wold  #
not 
heir, bot committed him in waird. The samyn erle wes brocht     #
before 
the counsell, accusit and committed to waird within the castle  #
of Edinburgh;
schortly therefter fred. 
   Vpone the penult of Julij, the King wreyt for the nobillety  #
and 
barronis in all heast. The lord of Spynie past to Angus for     #
taking of 
the maister of Glamis, bot come back without him. Quho          #
therefter wes 
<P 87>
committed to waird in Blacknes, and releivit within a schort    #
space, 
and wardit beyound Die. The lord Home wes commandit out of the 
countrey, and the laird Balcleuche lykwayis past of the         #
countrey with 
licence.
   Vpone the xxvij day of December  1591, be a conspiracie the  #
abbay 
of Halyroudhouse wes supprysit. The erle of Bothuell, laird of  #
Spot,
laird of Nethrie, Archibald Douglas sone to William erle of     #
Mortoun, 
and Mr John Colwill with thair associatis, to the number of     #
fourtie or 
fiftie personis, enterit in at a stable dur besyd the east      #
geavill of the 
treatour toure, quhilk wes called the diukes stable, within     #
the quhilk 
thaire wes a trape and ane entres priuielie maid, quhilk past   #
in to the 
plaice. And hafing entered therin, they first bereft the        #
portour of the 
keyis, and then past to the chancelleris chalmer dur; they vp   #
the 
samyn; he being forsein be the kry of ane boy that theare wes   #
ane 
tumult of men in the close, he withdrew him selff and sum       #
vtheris 
within his inner chalmer, quhilk hes ane narow entrie, at       #
quhilk the 
saidis conspiratouris strak with foir halmeris and schot        #
pistoletis. Theare
wes sum schotis of muscatis schot out againe; sum of thame wer  #
hurt, 
and for fear to be trappit past to the Quenis chalmer dur,      #
quhilk they 
brak vp, and wer put from it till they gead that samyn way      #
they come:
and in that meane tyme, John Schaw maister stabler wes slayne   #
vpone 
the morne, and vther morne folowing, theare wes aucht of the    #
samyn 
personis teane, and hanged without assyse foranent the Abbay    #
yet. 
   The diuk of Lennox wes suspect of this purpois, be ressoun   #
that ane 
of his seruandis William Steuart wes at the deid doing, and     #
fugitiue 
with the rest. Certane of his Majesteis awin seruandis wer      #
suspectit, 
specially Robert Land and Mr James Durhame of Duntarvie, quho   #
wer 
apprehendit and committed to waird vpone the iiij of Januar.    #
Lykwayis 
John Nesmyt wes accusit, quho wes committed to waird within     #
the 
castell of Edinburgh, and fund heirefter to have bein the       #
speciall plotter 
<P 88>
and devyser of that bussines; his lyfe wes speared, bot him     #
selffe
banischit. 
   About the xx day of Januar, word come that the erle of       #
Bothuel with
a great cumpany wes in the west pairtes, myndit to pas to       #
Spayne. The 
diuk of Lennox and the erle of Huntlie war sent with            #
commissioun to
tak the said erle; he narovly escapit thair handis and past to  #
Buit, or
sum vther ile therabout. And they, remaining their aucht or     #
ten dayis 
vpon a chack, wer compellit to returne home as they come as     #
feild, 
except that they brocht in the scheref of Buit with thame,      #
quho maid 
his awin pairt good. And then some of the said gaird wer send   #
for to 
tak John Smollert, as suspect to have bein vpone this           #
conspiracie; and 
the said John being brocht afoir the counsall, he wes           #
examinat, and 
keipit a certane spaice. In lykmaner sir James Sandelands and   #
the 
scheref of Buite war send, with commissioun to searche and      #
seik the 
said erle of Bothuell. 
   Vpone the vij day of Februar or therby, the erle of          #
Huntlie, with 
sex or sevin scoir of his freindis, past out of the Kingis      #
house, and maid
thame to giang to ane horse rease at Leithe; bot quhen they     #
wer theare, 
hafing the executioun of a blouddie conspiracie in thaire       #
hairte, they 
past to the Queinis ferrie, quhair they had causit stay the     #
passing over of 
all boittis, and past toward the plaice of Donnybirsell besyd   #
Aberdour, 
perteining to vmquhill James erle of Murray. Quhilk being the   #
duelling 
house of his mother, and he brocht to the samyn be the lord
Vchiltrie, vpone his Majesteis promeis to ressave him in his    #
hienes 
fauour, for any occasioun of hafing to doe with the erle of     #
Bothuell, 
and vpone his Majesteis promeis to aggrie him the  erle of      #
Huntlie and 
the chanceller Mettland, sua vpone his Majesteis desyre and     #
command 
foirsaid, the said lord Vchiltrie wreyt for him; quheare        #
[{vpone{] he 
come to Donnybirsell, quhaire he wes slayne. 
   That samyn nicht that he wes slayne, efter his Majesteis     #
come in fra 
<P 89>
the hunting, to his ludging in Nithreis wynde in Nicoll         #
Eduardis house, 
quhair he ludgit at that tyme; the lord Vchiltrie, hearing the  #
bruit 
quhairof he had no certantie, being accumpained at the tyme     #
with 
fourtie of fiftie horsse of his awin, be ressoun of his         #
deadlie feadis that 
he stood vnder, past thame all in armes, and maid thame         #
selffes radie to 
giang over to Dunnibirsell to sie the maner: lykas the erle of  #
Mortoun 
promisit to send sum of his men with him also. Quhairof the     #
King 
being informed, send for the said lord Vchiltrie with all       #
diligence to 
come vnto him, and in the meanetyme causit cloise the portis,   #
and geve 
command to the bailyeis to stay all his horsses within thaire   #
steables. 
Lykas at his coming to his Majestie, eftir long conference his  #
Majestie 
discharged him in ony soirt to steir that nicht, or to ryd by   #
his knavledge.
The said lord efter sum speiches to his Majestie reteired to    #
his 
awin ludging. And vpone the morne therefter, quhaire the said   #
erle 
of Huntley with his bloudie menzie maist tressonablie reased    #
fyre, brunt 
the house of Donnybrisell, and maist vnvorthelie and            #
schamefullie murdreist
and slew the said vmquhill erle of Murray, being the lustiest   #
youthe, 
the first noble man of the Kingis bloode, and one of the        #
peiris of the 
countrey, to the great regrait and lamentatioun of the haill    #
pepill. And 
slew with him the scheref of Murray, and hurt thrie of four     #
vtheris his 
seruandis; tuik some of his seruandis also, and returnit        #
peceablie back 
fra that execrable murthour, to the toun of Innerkeathing,      #
quhaire they 
remanit all that nicht. The bloodie traitouris awowit that      #
they had the 
Kingis commissioun to this purpois, quhilk his Majestie denyed. #
In the 
meanetyme of theare staying in Innerkeathing that nicht, the    #
said erle
Huntlie send over Gordoun of Buckie to tell the King the        #
newis; 
quha wes haldin at the Kingis yet, and depairted to his         #
ludging. 
Quhairof knavledge comming to the lord Vchiltrie, and sum of    #
the diuk 
of Lennoxis seruandis, and erle of Maris, he went and focht     #
him warie 
diligentlie in the Cannogeat; and hearing that he had teane     #
horse at a 
<P 90>
backsyde and ridden away, the said lord Vchiltrie sent for his  #
horsse
with all diligence, and folowit efter him; bot he eschappit     #
werie narroulie,
and come agayne to the erle of Huntlie in Innerkeathing, quhair 
he being at his denner rease thairfra, and slipped away         #
without paying
of his lawing. 
    Vpone the nynt day of Februar, the dead bodeis of the erle  #
of Murray 
and scheref of Murray wer brocht over the waiter to Leithe be   #
the lady
Doun his mother, quha myndit vpone the morne therefter to       #
present 
thame to the King; quhairof his Majestie being forseine, he     #
past out to
the hunting, and commandit the bailyeis of Leithe to arreast    #
the dead 
bodeis in theare ludging quhair they wer, and suffer thame not  #
to be 
transported quhill they knew mair of his Majesteis mynd. Many   #
noblemen
wer wreyttin for, bot nane come except the lord of Hammiltoun, 
quha went out that samyn day with his Majestie to the hunting.  #
Captane
Gordoun and his man wes brocht over lykwayis, with the dead 
corpis. Theare wes ane warrand procurit be the lord of Spynie,  #
till 
have teane captane Gordoun out of Leithe to the castle of       #
Edinburgh, 
to have eschewit the present tryell of law; quhairof the lord   #
Vchiltrie 
being informit, tuik horse, and his seruandis with him to the   #
number 
of xxx or xl gentlemen weill horsit in thair armour, and        #
folowit furthe 
efter the King to the hunting. Quhaire he come vnto the King    #
vpone 
the northe syde of Corstorphin craiges beyound Cravmound,       #
quhaire his 
Majestie wes takin a drink, lichted, and stayed his horse at    #
the hill fute, 
and come to his Majestie, and schew him that he wes informit    #
that 
theare wes ane warrand procurit to carie captane Gordoun to     #
the castle
of Edinburgh, quhilk wald he ane henderance to his tryell in    #
law, and 
the assyse and all vtheris thingis maid rady; declairing to     #
his Majestie 
how far this murthour tuitched his hienes, quhairof he besocht  #
him most 
humblie to considder, and quhat great wrong he had ressavit     #
heirin his 
Majestie best knew; quha causit him wreyt for the said erle     #
and the 
<P 91>
chanceller Maitland. Vpone the said lord Vchiltrie his earnest  #
desyre, 
his Majestie granted him a warrand to present the said captane  #
Gordoun 
and his man to the tryell of ane assyse that samyn day; quhilk  #
with all 
diligence the said lord did performe, and the said captane wes  #
beheadit, 
and his man hanged, quho wer baithe at the said murthour.
   Proclamatiounis wes maid the tent day of the said monethe,   #
to all 
noblemen, barronis and vtheris within a great number of         #
scherefdomes, 
to ryse in armes with tuentie dayis loading, and mak forduard   #
with the 
Kingis Majestie, [{the{] tent day of Merche nixt, for pursuit   #
of the erle 
of Huntlie, and the committeris of the lait tressonable fact    #
within the 
palace of Halyroudhous, efter the King and Quenis Majesteis     #
had remanit
a certane tyme in Edinburgh, and the King and chaunceller wes 
murmured aganis be the commoun pepill, for not haffing sick     #
regaird 
to the punischment of that murthour as become. The Kingis       #
Majestie, 
the chanceller and court tuik jorney about the end of the said  #
monethe 
of Februar to Linlithgow, quhair his Majestie remanit a         #
certane tyme. 
They past fra that to Glasgow and Dumbartane, quhaire calling   #
befoir 
thame and thair counsell sum of the resetteris of the erle      #
Bothuell, 
laitlie in these pairtis about Dumbartane, they wardit the      #
laird of Foulwood
and his wyfe, with sum vtheris; and hafing taried a certane     #
tyme, 
in theare backcomming from Dumbartane, in the toun of Glasgow   #
(as 
all the countrie thocht purposlie, and as it appeared to        #
eschew the exclamatioun
of the pepill,) they returnit to Linlithgow. At the Kingis 
being in Dumbartane, the maister of Elphinstoun wes send to     #
him in 
commissoun be the erle of Huntlie, quho, in the said erles      #
name, offerit 
him and his companie to a tryell for the said murthour, ather   #
befoir his 
Majestie and his counsell, or the justice generall and his      #
deputis; thinking
that a commissioun, quhilk he purchest of his Majestie for the  #
persuite
of sick as assisted the erle of Bothuell, sould bein a          #
sufficient warrand
for the slauchter of the erle Murray. Alwayis it wes thocht     #
meit
<P 92>
heirvpone, that the erle of Huntlie sould be chairged to        #
compeir befoir
the King and counsell at a day, that his compearance to abyd    #
tryell
micht be maid suir, albeet nothing wes les meanit then wer      #
that he 
sould bein therby indengerit or trubled. The chairge being      #
direct out,
it wes thocht meit that he sould [{not{] be sufferit to come    #
in his Majesteis
presence, for the bruites cause, and for eschewing of forder    #
mislyking
of the pepill; bot befoir the day of compearance to [{be{]      #
committed 
in waird for his tryell. And sua the said erle, comming         #
forduard 
in armis to keip the day, accumpanied with sevin or aucht=c=    #
men, wes 
chairged be the way in the toun of St Johnstoun, to enter his   #
persone
in waird in the castle of Blacknes, and his freindis in the     #
castle of Edinburgh.
He come to his waird, and enterit therin, bot his freindis past
back, and dissobeyit the chairge. Efter he had remanit a fyve   #
or sex
dayis in wairde, he geve in ane bill to the counsell, and       #
desyrit to be 
fred, vpone cautioun that he sould compeir vpone the thrid day  #
of the 
nixt justice air within the schyre quhair he duelt, or sooner   #
vpone xv
dayis warning, and vnderly the law for the said murthour:       #
quhilk, efter 
sum circumstances vsit, wes granted be the King and maist       #
pairt of the 
counsell, and his releif put in the Kingis awin handis; and     #
sua wes fred
quyetlie be his Majestie, and past therfra to the castell of    #
Fyndheavin, 
quhair he remanit in cumpanie with the erle of Crafurde a       #
certane 
tyme; and therefter wes fred simpliciter, or vpone cautioun     #
never fund, 
as I hard. The lord Vchiltrie, seing how thir maiteris wer      #
handlit, 
and how the reuendge of this murthour be law wes neglectit,     #
quhairvpone
he had stayed all this tyme, and that his Majestie had promisit
vnto him to folow furthe that maiter he law in all rigour; he,  #
seing no
appearance therof, passes over the water to the erle of         #
Atholl, the erle 
of Montroise, M'Kuntosche, Grant, the laird of Weymis of that   #
ilk,
with the haill barronis apperteaning and depending vpone the    #
house of 
Atholl, and causses set doun a band in wreyt, oblissand thame   #
to concur 
<P 93>
and goe forduard at all occasionis quhen they sould be          #
requyrit, or that 
occasioun sould offer, for the reuendge of that murthour:       #
lykas he red 
throw all his freindis vpone the southe syde of Forthe, and     #
causit thame 
to subscryve the said band. Quhairof the King hearing be        #
informatioun 
of chanceller Maitland, and his instigatioun movit his          #
Majestie to send
for the said lord Vchiltrie, and to inquyre for the said band.  #
The lord
Vchiltrie affermit and confest his trauelling and obteaning of  #
the samyn 
band, alledging that he had great ressoun so to doe, for he     #
saw no vther 
appearance of reuendge to come; afferming oppinlie to his       #
Majestie at 
all tymes, that he wald embrace and refuse no freindschip that  #
wald
assist and tak pairt in the reuendge of that murthour. 
   The Kingis Majestie remaining in Merche at Linlithgow, the   #
nobilletie
and estaitis wer wreyttin for to ane conuentioun, the xx day    #
of 
Apryle befoir the parliament, quhilk wes continowit to the      #
xxiiij day
of Maij thairefter. For eschewing and schuilting this           #
conuentioun, the 
Kingis Majestie ten or xij dayis befoir tuik jorney out of      #
Edinburgh 
vpone the suddand toward Dundie, quhair he hard that the erle   #
Bothuell 
wes schipped at Bruchtie, and passing thairfra to Kaithnes. At  #
that 
tyme he remanit viij or ix dayis in Dundie, quhaire he vsit a   #
tryell of 
sum personis that had ressavit the erle of Bothuell; and        #
thairefter past 
to Perthe, quhaire the erle of Atholl wes desyred to compeir    #
afoir his 
Majestie and counsell, to ansuer for the reset of the erle      #
Bothuell in 
his boundis and countrie. The maister of Gray [{wes{]  chairged #
for this 
samyn reset, quho wes fugitiue. The erle of Atholl  being       #
sumquhat 
slaw in his incomming, proclamatiounis wer direct to mak        #
forduard 
vpone him, bot the erle of Mar perceaving the extreametie,      #
purchest 
a commissoun to him selfe and the lord of Tullibardin, to pas   #
for Atholl
and bring him in, quho did the samyn, bot Athol come            # 
substantiuflie
accumpanied. And remaining quhill the day of the conuentioun    #
wes
expyred at St Johnstoun, his Majestie come to Falkland. quhaire #
resolutioun
<P 94>
wes teane that the conuentioun and parliament sould bathe hald 
forduard, the conuentioun the xxiiij day of Maij, and the       #
parliament 
within v or vj dayis thairefter; quhairvpone the nobilletie     #
and estaitis 
wer wrettin for of new to that effect. And thairefter the King  #
come 
over at Erlsferrie to Fentoun; and remayning theare about       #
thrie or 
four dayis come to Dalkeithe, furthe of the quhilk he come the  #
xxiiij
of Maij 1592 to Edinburgh, for halding of the conuentioun and   #
parliament. 
   At this same tyme word come of the King of France wictorie   #
over 
the prince of Parmey: and how he had teane flicht, and wes      #
defeat. 
   It wes thocht meit that, at the beginning of the             #
conuentioun and 
parliament, they sould cheise the lordis of artickelis, vpone   #
the xxix
day of Maij in the tolbuithe of Edinburgh. Theare repaired to   #
the 
samyn the duik of Lennox, erle of Anguse, Mortoun, with         #
vtheris diverse 
erles and lordis. Theare wes a new counsall chosen the same     #
tyme. 
The proces of forfaltour wes led aganis the erle Bothuell,      #
laird of Spot,
laird of Samuelstoun, Nithre, William Steuart sumtyme           #
constable of 
Dumbartane, Patrik Comming, with certane utheris partakeris     #
with 
the erle Bothuell. Sundrie guid actis maid in favouris of the   #
ministrie, 
and vtheris of the temporall estait; I remit thame to the buik. 
   The King and Queinis Majestie remaining in Falkland in       #
Junij 1592,
vpone the xxviij day betuix ane and twa in the nicht, the said  #
erle 
Bothuell hafing conspyred the apprehensioun of the Kingis       #
persone that 
nycht, accumpanied with iij=c= personis, and persevit the       # 
palace thairof fra 
that tyme to vij houris in the morning; bot the King with       #
these about 
him, being for seine and advertisit be the watche, withdrew     #
himselff to 
the tour of Falkland, quhilk they had furnischit with wiveris,  #
and schot 
furthe, and keipit the samyn without hurt. And sua said erle    #
depairted
with his companie west fra the said palace, about vij houris    #
in 
the morning, bot his Majestie not being any number, and his     #
horsses 
<P 95>
teane be Bothuell, he left of the foloving of thame. The        #
gentlemen 
and haill inhabitantis of Fyffe come fast in hearing of this,   #
and that 
Bothuell wes fled: theare come also Perthe, Dundie, Covpar,     #
with 
sundry vtheris burrowis, to the number of iij=m= personis or    #
thairby, or 
sex houris at ewin. His Majestie tuik purpois that same nicht,  #
to pas at 
aucht houris at ewin to Brunteland, and vpone the morne come    #
over 
to Halyroudhouse, quhaire his Majestie remainit a certane       #
spaice.
   The erle of Angus wes command forduardd to that              #
conspiracie, bot 
suerued and stayed at Merkinsche; quhairvpone he wes chargit    #
to compeir
befoir the King and counsall. The laird of Balweirie and        #
Ardrie 
joynit thameselffes with Bothuell. 
   The lairdis of Burley and Logie, delaitted to [{have{] had   #
intelligence
with the erle Bothuell, wer takin and apprehendit be the diuk   #
of Lennox,
the ix day of August 1592, and committed to ward within         #
Dalkeithe;
quhaire being examinat they baithe confest the same. Burley
gat his lyfe for telling the treuthe, bot Logie, being a great  #
courtiour 
with the King, and dealler with the erle Bothuell, in           #
Bothuellis interpryse 
quhilk sould bein done at Dalkeithe, to wit, that they sould    #
come 
in at the back yet throw the yeard, and gottin the King in      #
thair 
handis, the said laird of Logie wes ordeanit to be tryed be     #
ane assyse, 
and execut to the dead. Bot the same nycht that he wes          #
examinat, he 
escapit out be the meanis of a gentlevoman quhom he loved, a    #
Dence, 
quho conuoyed him out of his keiperis handis throw the Queinis  #
chalmer, 
quhaire his Majestie and the Queine wer lyand in thair beddis,  #
till a 
wyndow in the backsyde of the plaice, quhair he gead doun       #
vpone a 
tow; and schot thrie pistoletis in takin of his onloyping,      #
quhaire sum 
of his seruandis with the laird of Nithrie wer awating him. 
   Vpone the xv day of August 1592, the lord of Spynie wes      #
accusit of 
the reset and intercommuning with the erle Bothuell, be         #
crovnall 
Steuart befoir the King and counsall. Quhilk being denyed,      #
efter mony 
<P 96>
attestatiounis and offer of the combat, the said crownnar       #
offerrit to 
prove, be witnesse and sundrie vtheris circumstances, vpone     #
the xxix
day of the samyn monethe, assienit to that effect. The lord     #
Spynie 
wes committed to ward in Sterling castle, and the crounar in    #
Blacknes in 
the meantym, quhair he had beine of befoir, as suspect giltie   #
of Falkland 
read. The day hafing come, the crovnar refusit to vse ony       #
witnesses or 
circumstances, alledging that it mycht be preiudiciall to the   #
cause, for 
they mycht be slayne or subornit, and declaired that he wald    #
vse his 
witnesse at the day of tryell; quhilk the counsell thocht       #
expedient, and 
set a day to that effect, the xij of September nixt, and in     #
the meanetyme 
wardit. Vpone the v of September, Airdrie and captane           #
Hackertoun,
associates of the erle Bothuell, wer bathe teane in Leithe be   #
the maister 
of Glamis  and sir James Sandelandis. 
   In the meanetyme the chanceller fled of court, and durst     #
not remayne 
thairat be ressone of the illwill [{of{] the diuk of Lennox.    #
The erle of 
Ergyle, erle of Mar, maister of Glamis remanit about his        #
Majestie at 
Dalkeithe. The diuk quarrellit the chanceller for vsing sum     #
tanting 
wordis. The court at this tyme beguid to mislyk the chanceller  #
and 
Lyndsais that buir court of befoir. 
   It wes aggreet betuix [{the diuk{] and Sesfuird, that Patrik #
Murray 
seruand to the King sould leid the teindis; sa the diuk         #
returnit. They 
had ane vther purpoise, to wit the taking and bringing in of    #
Fernihearst, 
Hunthill, and certane vtheris bordourmen, suspect of the reset  #
of the 
erle of Bothuell; bot not finding the tyme fit, and hearing     #
that they 
wer gathered, they left, and returnit home. The purpois of the  #
vplifting
of the teindis of Kelso and Sprouistoun wes refusit be all men. 
Then the Kingis Majestie pressed the lord Ochiltrie thairwith,  #
quho 
freelie vndertuik the samyn; quhairvpone theare fiftie horsmen 
<P 97>
givin him in pay, quhom the said lord payed monethlie, with     #
the said 
rent of Sprovstoun and Kelso, during all the tyme of his        #
theare being. 
His Majestie lykwayis wes informed that Boduell had ane that    #
conyeed
fals conyee, in the house of Row in Liddisdeall: vpone the      #
quhilk informatioun,
his Majestie wreyt to the lord Vchiltrie, desyring him to go 
to the said house, and to bring sick men to his Majestie as he  #
fand 
theare, togither with all sick instrumentis as could be their   #
had for 
conyeing, with pover to rease the haill countrie gif neid war.  #
Quhairvpone
immediatelie the said lord Vchiltrie gatherd to the number of 
sevin or aucht scoir horsse, all in armour, weill horsit, and   #
red first to 
Jedburghe, quhair they stayed that nicht, and refreschit him    #
selff and 
his companie; and Ferniheast his brother in law sent with him   #
thriescoir
horsse vpone the morne at nicht, red to the house of the Row    #
at 
Liddisdeall, and theare tuik the twa men out of the             #
house besyde the 
toure, and thairefter strouk vp the duris of the toure, and     #
broclit the 
ironnis that prented the conyie, with all the instrumentis,     #
togither with 
ane number of xxx s. peices to the King, quhilk wer counyied    #
theare, 
and delyverit the same to his Majestie in the Abbay. The fals   #
conyier 
wes gone in Ingland, and wes not to be had; to seik metle to    #
counyie 
moir, as wes reported. 
   Vpone the tuelt day of September, prefixit to my lord Spyny  #
to abyd
assyse for the  treasoun quhairof Crounar Steuart accusit him,  #
the maiter 
wes continowit, and nothing doune till the xiiij day, quhilk    #
wes also 
continowit, and his Majestie promitted to have the witnesse     #
rady aganis 
the  thrid of October. At this tyme a rayd wes proclamit to be  #
at 
Jedburghe, the xxv of September, for taking of the border       #
barronis 
resetteris of Bothuell, to the quhilk ane great number of       #
scherefdomes 
wes warnit. The saidis personis being chairged to compeir       #
dissobeyit, 
and past to the horne. The erle of Bothuell come to Haick,      #
accumpanied 
with thrie or four hundreth brokin men of the Grahames of Ask.
<P 98>
and vtheris, to meit the King of purpois command to Jedburghe:  #
and 
the King wes stayed hearing heirof, because they repared not sa #
soone 
as they wer warnit to the King. 
   In the meanetyme Ferniehearst come in to Dalkeathe to the    #
King 
vpone his knees, and cravit pardoun. He gat sick ansuer as he   #
luikit 
not for; alwayis it wes deliberat that his lyfe and landis      #
sould be saife: 
quho come in thairefter, wes wardit in the castle of            #
Edinburgh, and 
the provest and bailyeis of Jedburghe beyound Forthe. 
   Thairefter his Majestie lifted ane hoist of twa or thrie     #
thovsand men, 
and come to Jedburghe, quhair his Majestie held court vpone     #
the malefactouris
and resetteris of the erle Bothuell, quhair he coost doun       #
certane 
of thair housses. The diuk at this tyme was maid keippar of     #
Liddisdeal, 
and provest of Jedburghe, and in November thairefter, sundrie   #
of 
the outlawis come in, and offerit thame selffis in will. 
   Immediatlie heirefter the erle of Atholl past to Tarnoway,   #
accumpanied
with sundrie of his freindis, viz. the lord Vchiltrie, Louit,
M'Kuntosche, and quhat they with many vtheris could mak, of     #
intentioun
to be reuendgit of the erle of Huntlie for the murthour of the  #
erle 
of Murray: lykas M'Kunthosche vpone Straboggie land slew a      #
great 
number thairefter. The King, for pacefeing this purpois, sent   #
the erle 
of angus as leiftennent to the northe, vpone the [{xij{] day of #
November
1592; and according to the Kingis directioun, causit bathe the  #
parteis 
subscryve ane assurance, bot of theare awin forme. They wer     #
baithe 
commandit away; the one pairtie to Dunkeld, the vther to        #
Aberdein, 
to sunder the pairteis. Bot immediatlie thairefter, theare wes  #
slauchter 
maid be Allane M'Kildowie vpone M'Intosche men and frendis,     #
and 
great hearschip. 
   Vpone the thrid day of December 1592, captane James Steuart  #
was 
brocht in to the Kingis Majestie, be his cheife my lord         #
Vchiltrie, quho 
wes as that tyme in great credit with the King, be ressoune of  #
sundrie 
<P 99>
guid proufes of seruice his Majestie had of him fra tyme to     #
tyme of
befoir, and speciallie aganis the erle Bothuell; and gat        #
presence of the
Kingis Majestie and wes weill ressavit, efter he had bein sevin #
yeiris or
therby from court, evir sen the read of Sterling. Quhairat the  #
ministeris
cryed out and fand falt, because he had schewin him selfe hard  #
to the
ministeris quhen he wes in court, and wes the persever of the   #
erle of
Mortoun at the King and counsallis command, according to a      #
warrand
granted theranent, as lykwayis of the erle of Govreis dead. The #
said
lord Vchiltrie brocht him againe to the Kingis Majestie, quhom  #
with
he spak therefter, and then past to the west countrie with the  #
said lord
Vchiltrie, quhair he had interteined him in his house therefter #
thrie
yeiris, till the day of his deathe, quhilk wes the [^BLANCO^]   #
day of the 
yeir of God [^BLANCO^]. Quho wes werie foully slayne be James   #
Douglas
of Torthoreall, of quhom he luikit for no herme: as it wes      #
constantlie
reportit, he was stirred vp be sum about the King, fearing his  #
incomming,
bot chieflie remembring that he wes persever of the erle of     #
Mortoun,
quhilk he did at the Kingis command and counsalis. He wes
slayne command to Vchiltrie from Haselsyde: quhaire of the lord
Vchiltrie, being in court with the King informit his Majestie;  #
the
quhilk his hienes wes heichlie offendit at, and promisit to had #
hand, and
sie that maiter repaired with all rigor, according to justice.  #
Quhairvpone
the lord Vchiltrie folowit furth that maiter befoir the         #
iustice, and gat
him to the horne for non compearance, and vsit all the meanis   #
he could
to have had the reuendge of that bloude.
   About the beginning of Januar 1592, theare wes ane Mr George
Ker, brother to the lord Nevbotle, apprehendit in Cumray ile,   #
as ane
traffickin papist; and letters of the Peapis and King of        #
Spanyis gottin
in ane sark sleive of ane marineris; and he and they brocht to  #
Edinburgh.  
Theare wer also apprehendit with him certane wreytis and
missives, direct from the erles of Angus, Huntlie, Erroll and   #
sundrie
<P 100>
vtheris, with blank letters subscryvit be thame, discovering    #
theirin ane 
conspiracie aganis relligioun, the King and thair natiue        #
countrie. 
   The erle of Angus, comming accidently to Edinburgh, wes      #
teane and 
apprehendit be the secreat counsall, and toun therof, and put   #
in the 
castell in waird. The King hearing heirof come to Edinburgh in  #
all 
heast from Sterling, quhair he send  for ane great number of    #
the nobilletie
to tak ordour with this maiter. 
   And then sir Dauid Grahame of Fentrie and Mr George Ker wes 
brocht from Sterling, to the tolbuithe of Edinburgh. It wes     #
thocht 
meit, because of Mr George Keris denyell, that he sould be      #
butted, and 
the justice clerk and Mr William Hairte, being bosted be his    #
freindis, 
durst not doe the same, vntill the tyme his Majestie taking     #
the maiter 
hiechly, wold have the same donne. And efter the secund streak  #
he 
cryed for mercie, and confest all, and declaired that the       #
blankis subscryvit
be the erles of Huntlie, Angus, Arrol, Auchindovne [{and{] sir 
James Chisholme, sould bein caried to Spayne; and that ane Mr   #
William
Crichtoun of [^BLANCO^] a Jesuite sould filled thame as he      #
thocht
guid to the King of Spayne. The commissioun wes that xxx=m= men 
sould land out of Spayne at the west seas, and he connoyed to   #
the noble 
men theare adherentis in at Carlelle, and sua furthe to         #
Ingland, and 
that fyve thovsand Spayneyeardis sould be left in Scotland,     #
quhilkis, 
with assistance of the nobilletie, sould proclame libertie of   #
conscience. 
In respect of Mr Georges declaratioun of the treuthe, the King  #
granted 
him his lyfe. The laird of Fentrie deponit the samyn, and       #
therfoir 
wes execut. 
   About the first day of  Februar 1592, the erle of Angus      #
brak ward 
within the castle of Edinburgh, and past north over to the      #
rest of his 
adhearentis. Theare wes a read proclamit toward the northe      #
immediatly 
heirefter. His Majestie tuik jorney be Sterling and Perthe,     #
and 
wes in Aberdeen the xxij of the said monethe. The rebelis wer   #
not 
<P 101>
seine, bot fugitiue to Caitnese. The haill countrie men wer     #
called in;
the blankis and vtheris schawin; and a declaratioun maid of     #
his Majesteis
comming in these pairtes. Cautioun wes fund of the barronis     #
for 
the Kingis peace, rysing and concurring with him quhen he       #
pleasit, and 
for all obedience. And a generall band subscryvit be the King,  #
his 
nobilletie and barronis, for strait persuit of the erles and    #
vther foloveris 
with all rigor. The erle of Atholl wes maid commissioner        #
within the 
boundis of Elgin, Forres, Nairne, Nes, Cromartie and all        #
beyound Spay;
the erle of Merschell from the north waiter to Spay.
   At this tyme come in ane Inglische ambassadour namit the     #
lord 
Barroche. The commissioun wes, that, seing the King of Spayne   #
had 
teane vp banner aganis Ingland and Scotland for professioun of  #
the 
treuthe, it wald please his Majestie to denunce wear with him;  #
nixt that 
these that wer of the lait conspiracie mycht be folowit with    #
all rigor;
thridlie, that the league of amitie betuix the twa realmes      #
mycht be 
reiterat. 
   To the quhilkis ansuer wes maid be sir Robert Melvill of     #
Murdocairnie
knicht thesaurer deput: To the first, that no occasioun of      #
wear 
wes offerrit, be reasone that the haill subiectis of this       #
realme had frie
passadge and tread within Spayne; and incaice he meanit to      #
persev 
Ingland be landing of his men heir, he wald give pledges that   #
theare 
sould be no skeath donne: calling to mynd that theare wer many  #
fair 
offeris maid of befoir to the King at thair last strait, bot    #
never a vord
keipit. It wes ansuerit to the secound, that his Majestie,      #
being a frie
prince, wald tak na directioun from the Queine of Ingland to    #
vse or 
not vse his subiectis. And to the thrid, that theare wes no     #
break and 
therfoir na reneving. 
   About the xj of Apryle 1593, the embassadour departed        #
homeward. 
It wes then concludit that sir Robert Melvill sould be send     #
embassadour;
with a full resoluing ansuer to Ingland. 
<P 102>
   At this tyme the diuk and lord of Spynie wes aggreet, and    #
he with 
his brother put in thair owin plaices. Vpone the xxviij of      #
Apryle, 
the Kingis Majestie, alledging he wes to hunt, read quicklie    #
out of 
Haddingtoun to Leidingtoun to the  chanceller, dynit with him,  #
and 
conferred long, quhairat the counsall wes agast. 
   Vpone the nynt of Junij 1593, for Robert Melvill wes sent    #
in Ingland,
with ane full resolutioun to the Queine, and for ressaving the  #
Kingis 
annuell he had yeirlie out of Ingland.  The ministrie cryed     #
alwayis out, 
and wer offendit at the ladie Huntlieis being in the Abbay,     #
hir husband 
being ane of the speciall conspiratouris: at last the Kingis    #
Majestie 
movit heir with, and at the desyre of Mr Bowes embassadour,     #
pat hir 
away. 
   The parliament began vpone the xiiij day of Julij 1593. The  #
diuk 
of Lennox buir the croun, the erle of Ergyle the sceptour, and  #
erle of 
Mortoun the suord. The lordis of the articklis electit. Vpone   #
the 
xxj day of Julij, the King red againe to the tolbuithe. The     #
erle of 
Atholl being in the toun wald not ryd, because his Majestie     #
wald not 
condiscend to the erle of Huntleis forfaltour; nor yit the      #
lord Hamiltoun,
being their also. And his Majestie caused mak offeris to be     #
gevin 
in in the erle of Huntleis name and the conspiratouris, for     #
satisfactioun
of his Majestie and the kirk. This parliament wes litle thocht  #
of, because
the erles wer not forfalted; it wes maid a current parliament,
and continowit to November nixt. In the meanetyme ane great 
number of personis wer slayne in Sanquhaire, and theare         #
bloudie sarkis 
brocht to the King. 
   Vpone the xxiiij day of Julij 1593, the erle Bothuell and    #
mr John 
Coluill, quho had bein thrie yeiris banischt, come in,          #
accompanied with 
the erle of Atholl, the lord Forbes, the lord Vchiltrie (quho   #
joynit 
with thame for reuendge, and vpone promeis to assist the        #
reuendge of 
the erle of Murrayis slauchter) to the number of twa or thrie   #
hundreth 
<P 103>
men, to the abbay of Halyroudhouse; quhaire it wes reported     #
that the 
said erle and Mr John war brocht in be the lady Atholl, at the  #
back 
yet of the said abbay, betuix aucht and nine houris in the      #
morning; and 
at the Kingis rysing, entered in his chalmer, quhaire his       #
Majestie being 
putting on his clothes, the said erle and Mr John fell doun on  #
thaire knees, 
and geve theare suordis vpone the grund, craving mercie and     #
pardoun 
moist humblie, quhilk his Majestie yeildit to. There wes vpone  #
this 
practize the diuk of Lennox, the erle of Atholl, the lordis     #
Vchiltrie, 
Forbes and Spynie, with sundrie vtheris bandit to the samyn     #
purpois
with the erle Bothuell. Theare wes ane great tumult in          #
Edinburgh 
for this. They come all doun in armis, and cryed to vnderstand  #
the 
Kingis mynd, quho cryed out, and sayd that he wes not captiue,  #
bot 
weill, incaice that quhilk wes promisit be thame sould be       #
keiped; and 
commandit thame all to the Abbay kirk yeard, to stay theare     #
quhill he 
cald for thame; and immediatly thairefter sent for the          #
provest and 
bailyeis, and commandit thame to dissolue and goe homeward; he  #
hovpit
all sould be weill.
   Schortlie heirefter the erle of Mar, maister of Glamis,      #
priour of 
Blantyre, with sundrie vtheris, reteired thame selfes as        #
malecontentis of 
the toun. It wes thocht meit that Bothuell sould reteir him of  #
the toun,
quhill he wer tryed of the cryme of witchcraft layd to his      #
charge; and the 
tent of August set for that effect. The King red immediatlie    #
thairefter 
to Falkland, accumpained with the diuk, the lord Vchiltrie and  #
Spynie, 
and returnit to Edinburgh to the tent day of August appoynted   #
as said 
is. At quhilk day the erle of Bothuell wes put to the           #
knavledge of ane
assyse, and purged be thame all in ane voce. Immediatlie        #
heirefter the 
King being bound to Falkland wes stayed be the lordis, quhill   #
it wes 
agreet that his Majestie sould pas as a frie prince quhaire he  #
plesit, and 
that the erle of Bothuell nor none of his confederatis sould    #
come neir 
him without his licence; and sicklyk that the chanceller, the   #
erle of 
<P 104>
Mar and thair confederatis sould not repair to court, quhill    #
the parliament 
appoynted the tent day of November. So as his Majestie          #
depairted 
weill content, promitting be his oathe and handwreyt to         #
restoir the erle 
of Bothuell to his landis, and all his confederatis. 
    Word come that the King of France wes turnit papist, and    #
then 
crounit at Pareise. 
   Theirefter at a conuentioun appoynted at Sterling, it wes    #
concludit 
and aggreet be the King and nobilletie, that seing his          #
Majestie wes not 
sufficientlie pleased to his honour, anent the erle of Bothuell #
for his 
double treasonis, theirfoir he and his foloveris sould come in  #
theare 
presence of new agayne, and crave pardoun on theare kneis,      #
quhilk 
sould be granted, and thairefter that he sould reteir him       #
selfe from 
court, to the tyme that the parliament sould hald, at quhilk    #
tyme he 
and his sould be restoired; and then that he sould goe of the   #
countrie, 
and remaine during his Majesties pleaseour. Quhairat the erle   #
of Mar, 
my lord Home, sir George Home, maister of Glamis, the pryour    #
of 
Blantyre and vtheris being glad, returnit to court, and war     #
weill acceptit 
of. Sir Robert Meluill and Mr Robert Bruce wer sent to the      #
erle 
Bothuell to signefie the conclusioun afoir said; quho           #
attending theare 
comming at Linlithgow acceptit werie gladlie heirof, and        #
promitted to 
performe the same to his Majesteis pleseour. And this being     #
declaired 
to the King be the afoirsaidis commissioneris, his Majestie     #
wes weill 
contented thairwith. Schortlie theirefter proclamatioun is      #
maid that 
Bothuell sould not come neir the court, within ten myles, etc.  #
And 
the state stoode sa at this tyme, that it wes feared that the   #
papist lordis
sould be ressavit in fauour againe: and on the vther syde, all  #
the ministry
fauored the erle Bothuell, thinking him moist meit to be a      #
chiftaine 
for the professouris, incaice they fand occasioun to come       #
aganis 
the papistes. 

<S SAMPLE 2>
<P 129>
   Sundrie conferences wer betuix his Majestie and the          #
ministrie anent 
the pollitick and externall gouernament of the kirk. Maiteris   #
thairof 
[{wer{] hardlie ressonit and stuckin at on ather sydes, quhill  #
at last, be 
the ministeris constant abyding at theare declinatour, and      #
that they wer 
onlie competent judges in thair doctrine delyverit in pulpit    #
(\in prima 
instancia\) , his Majestie wes heichlie exasperat thairat, and  #
at thear daylie 
declaming aganis his Majestie and his counsall, finding falt    #
withe his 
Hienes course in the fauour schewin to the papist erles,        #
speciallie Huntlie,
and impunging his Majesteis lawis, actis of parliament and      #
proclamationis,
maid anent thair restraynt from convocatioun of thame selfes, 
and with thame the noblemen and barronis of the countrey at     #
theare 
assembleis and vther tymes, without his Majesteis privetie and  #
licence, 
alledging the same to tend to a seditioun. Sum of the           #
ministrie, that 
wer commissioneris for the rest at Edinburgh for the tyme, wer  #
chairged 
and commandit to depairt of the toun. Sum also of the           #
tounsmen thocht 
maist familiar with the ministeris of Edinburgh, to the number  #
of xj or 
xij, wer chairged of the toun, and not to come within twa       #
myles thairto. 
   The ministrie of Edinburgh, incensit at his Majesteis sa     #
hard proceiding
as they thocht, geve out maist griuous and vnkouthe speiches 
againis the counsall; to wit, president, secretar, Mr Thomas    #
Hamiltoun
aduocat. Speciallie Mr Walter Balkanquholle ane of the          #
ministeris of 
Edinburgh, preaching in St Jeilis kirk the xvij day of          #
December 1596,
ane euill day for the toun of Edinburgh, maist griuouslie       #
exclamit aganis 
the saidis counselleris be theare names exprest, and aganis     #
his Majesteis 
<P 130>
course in fauouring of Huntlie, afferming thairby the kirk and  #
relligioun 
to be in denger, and exhorting his auditouris, lordis,          #
barronis, gentlemene,
burgesse and vtheris to repeare immediatlie to the Litle kirk, 
quhaire the lordis Lyndsay and Forbes, withe the lairdis of     #
Bargeany,
Blackwane, Duntreathe, Hatton, Faldounsyde, M'Kleane and        #
sundrie 
vtheris barronis, gentlemen and burgesses being convenit at     #
his desyre, 
ane exhortatioun wes maid be Mr Robert Bruce, ane vther of the  #
saidis 
ministeris, declairing to the pepill the denger quhairin the    #
kirk and 
relligioun stood, be the returne of the papist erles within     #
this realme, 
and the fauour schawin to thame; and thairvpone desyrit sick    #
as wer 
convenit theare to hald vp thair handis, and awow the defence   #
of the 
kirk and relligioun aganis quhatsoever. Quhilk being doune,     #
sum of 
the saidis noblemen and barronis, and sum of the ministrie wer  #
directed 
to the Tolbuithe, quhairin his Majestie wes for the tyme in     #
the ower 
house, with commissioun to desyre his Majestie, in respect of   #
the denger 
quhairin the professouris of Godis relligioun stood, to put     #
these counsellouris
from him quho geve him counsall to bring home they papiste 
erles, to the perelling of relligioun and his awin estaite.     #
Quhilk commissioun
being dischairged sum pairt to his Majestie, his Hienes, as 
the commissioneris and pepill murmurred, tuik not the same in   #
guid 
pairt, bot as ane miscontent, withdrew him selfe out of the     #
heiche house
doun to the laiche [{doun to the{] Tolbuithe, and theare        #
convenit sa mony 
togither of the counsell as wer present, to advyse vpone ane    #
ansuer. 
   And sua in this meanetyme, as his Majestie and lordis wes    #
sittand 
theare in counsell at the backcomming of the commissioneris     #
agane, ane 
fray arrease in the Tolbuithe being full of pepill, quhilk      #
proceidit vpone 
ane fray that first beguid in the Litle kirk, quhairin ane      #
cryed "The 
suord of Gidioun!" and some vtheris cryed " Armes! Armes!" And 
sua a great number of tounsmen, quhilkis wer thocht maist       #
zealous in 
relligioun, and hanted in the companie of the ministeris, pat   #
thame 
<P 131>
selfes in airmes, some in corsleatis and sum vther wayis.       #
Lykas the 
lord Lyndsay, lord Forbes and sum of the barronis conuenit in   #
the 
Litle kirk, and with the ministrie past forduard to the         #
Tolbuithe in ane 
great companie togither. And sua exclamationis passing throw    #
the 
haill toun, and all men making to armes, theare fell out ane    #
exceiding 
great tumult, to the terrour of his Majestie and all the        #
lordis and vtheris 
with his Hienes in the tolbuithe, bot speciallie the greatest   #
fear of the 
four lordis, quhilkis wes thocht to have beine slayne, to wit,  #
the president,
the secretar, Mr James Elphinstoun, the aduocat Mr Thomas 
Hamiltoun, and my lord of Menmure. Theare wes directit out      #
from 
his Majestie and counsall theare present, the erle of Mar and   #
the lord
Vchiltrie, to the lordis barronis and ministrie convenit in     #
the kirk yeard, 
to stay the tumult. They had great truble and bussines in       #
thaire outgoing,
be ressoun of the thronge of pepill; and at thaire comming to 
the kirkyeard on the back syde, quhaire the lordis, ministrie   #
and all wer 
conuenit, some wordis wer wissellit at the first betuix the     #
erle of Mar
and lord Lyndsay, quhilkis could not be quenched a long tyme,   #
quhill 
the lord Vchiltrie desyred the lord Lyndsay to have patience,   #
and heir 
the erle of Mar delyver his Majesteis commissioun, as it        #
become him 
weill to doe: Quhilk efter he did, he returnit with my lord     #
Vchiltrie to 
his Majestie and counsall, quho wer sittand expecting theare    #
back comming.
In this meanetyme the magistrates and honest men of the toun, 
ignorant of the maiter meanit, comming to speak his Majestie,   #
be his 
Hienes command stayed the tumult, and commandit all theare      #
nichbouris 
to theare ludgingis. And quhen the matter wes quyetted, and     #
that the 
lordis barronis and ministrie that wer convenit wer ordeanit    #
to come 
doun to his Majestie at efter noune, and so schaw theare        #
greifes, the 
quhilk they promisit to doe, his Majestie past doun the Hie     #
streit to the 
Abbay on fute. 
    Theirefter the moveris of the tumult, convening thame       #
selfes togither 
<P 132>
in Mr Robert Bruces galrey in the back of the kirk at           #
efternoune the 
samyn day, maid choise of sum commissioneris, viz. the lord     #
Forbes, the 
laird of Bargeanie and laird of Blackwane, laird of             #
Faldounsyde with 
sum of the ministeris, quhilkis they send doune with sum        #
artickelis to 
his Majestie to be ansuerit. They held forduard the way,        #
quhill they 
come to the Abbay close about four houris at ewin. The Kingis   #
Majestie, 
being informed of theare commissioun and of theare comming, 
called the lord Vchiltrie, and directit him, as he wald doe     #
him maist 
acceptable seruice, to move and draw Bargaynie and Blackwane    #
fra 
that companie. Quhilk he did with all diligence, for these twa  #
men
wer his speciall freindis, and brocht theare be him vpone ane   #
day of 
law, for persuite of the lord Torthorell, for the slauchter of  #
his vmquhill 
vncle James Steuart sumtyme chanceller of Scotland. Sua efter   #
the 
said lord had teane twa out of that companie back to the toun   #
with 
him, the rest of the commissioneris, efter a litle              #
consultatioun and advysement
with thame selfes,  separat thame selfes, and ilk ane of thame 
past ane sundrie geat, leavand of thaire commissioun            #
vndischarged. The 
same nicht Barganie and Blackwane wer brocht in quyetlie to     #
his Majesteis 
chalmer, at ten houris at ewin, be the meanis of the lord
Vchiltrie, quho wer pardonit be his Majestie, and commandit to  #
ryd
home to theare awin housse. 
   Vpone the morne the noblemen and barronis in this quarrell   #
separat 
thame selfes and past hameward; some of thame wer called        #
thairefter 
befoir his Majestie, and committed to sundrie wardis, furthe    #
of the 
quhilk they wer be tyme releisit. Some of the inhabitantis of   #
Edinburgh,
thocht bussie on the calsay that day armit with corsletis, and  #
delaited
as pairtakeris of that tumult, being thocht a treasonable       #
conspiracie, 
(albeet never sa yit tryed out) wer straitlie put at, and for   #
non 
compearance some put to the horne and vtheris wardit, bot       #
finally all 
releiscit and put to libertie home againe. 
<P 133>
   The four ordinar ministeris of Edinburgh, viz. Mr Robert     #
Bruce,
Mr Walter Backanquhell, Mr William Watsone and Mr James         #
Balfoure,
being chairged to compeir afoir his Majestie and counsall, and  #
to 
be entered be the provest and bailyeis, they wer fugitiues and  #
denuncit
to the horne for non compearance. Quhilk passing over a long    #
tyme, 
and sum meanes being maid for restoiring the ministrie to       #
theare awin 
places, efter the samyn had waiked, and nather preching nor     #
prayeris 
vsit in the kirkis of Edinburgh for ane great spaice, it wes    #
dressit with 
great deficultie, his Majestie standing in werie hard termes    #
with the 
ministrie, that they sould be restoired to thair places.  And   #
for accomplesching
of that work, with the resolution of sum questionis             #
debeattable,
and thocht meit to be aggreed on betuix his Majestie and the    #
kirk, conuentioun
of the estaitis and generall assemblie wes appoynted and        #
haldin 
in Dundie, beginnand vpone the tent day of Maij 1597.
   In this foirsaid tyme, Mr John Welsche minister wes chargit  #
to compeir
befoir his Majestie and counsall, for sum speiches vttered be   #
him in 
a sermone maid in St Jeilis kirk in Edinburgh, within thrie or  #
four 
dayis efter that tumult, quhilk wes the xvij day of December,   #
and for 
non compearance wes lykwayis denuncit to the horne, and aganis  #
quhom 
his Majestie wes heichlie offendit. The lord Vchiltrie delt     #
werie earnestlie 
with his Majestie in his fauouris, and procurit his pace, gat   #
him 
relaxit and restoired to his awin plaice againe. 
   At this conuentioun appoynted the tent day of Maij 1597,     #
the four 
ordinar ministeris of Edinburgh compearit in presence of the    #
generall 
assemblie haldin theare, and geve vp theare offices, as it wer  #
at the 
apostles feit, affirming that they sould never serue quhill     #
the diuisioun 
of the congregatioun wer maid in aucht, and aucht ministeris    #
appoynted 
to serue the cure of the same. For that commissioun wes gevin   #
to 
certane of the ministrie theare, to sie that kirk of Edinburgh  #
planted, 
with the kirkis of St Androis, Dundie and utheris; as lykwayis  #
to sie 
<P 134>
ordour taking with a great dissastour fallin out amangis the    #
clergie of 
St Androis, quhilkis had devydit that haill cittie in           #
factionis; and a 
request wes maid be the assemblie to his Majestie to concur     #
with the 
saidis commissioneris for the better effectuatting of that      #
turne. His 
Majestie and the saidis commissioneris of the assemblie, with   #
sum of his 
Hienes counsall, immediatlie heirefter convenit at St Androis,  #
and displacit
fra seruice thear Mr Dauid Black and Mr Robert Wallace          #
ministeris;
as lykwayis, in schort tyme therefter, inioynit Mr Andro        #
Melwill 
and the rest of the doctouris to keip theare scoiles and        #
colledges, and 
medle with na assembleis or presbitereis therefter; and in end  #
maid 
choise and placit Mr George Gladsteanis minister theare,        #
thocht weill 
of and lykit be his Majestie and commissioneris of the kirk at  #
that tyme, 
and the haill honest citizenis of the cittie. Efter this the    #
four ordinar
ministeris of Edinburgh suitted to be reponit in theare awin    #
plaices, 
quhilk wes therefter granted. 
   At the said conuentioun quhilk endit the xvij day of Maij    #
1597, the 
artickles folowing wer concludit: first, That the money sould   #
be cryed 
to 1. s. the vnce; that no forrane gold nor siluer sould have   #
course, bot 
be vsit as bulyeoun to the counyiehouse; the counyeis of v      #
lib. peices of 
gold, and x.s. peices of siluer salbe continowit and struckin   #
without 
alteratioun; that na Inglische cleathe sould be brocht within   #
this realme;
that the woll transporting sould be restrainit; that bulyeoun   #
sould be 
brocht hame be the merchandis, conforme to the actis of         #
parliament;
that the customes salbe heichtit, conform to the actis of       #
parliament and 
practick of old; that customes salbe takin als weill of guidis  #
command 
within the realme, as transportit furthe therof, quhilk wes     #
thocht a 
noveltie. It wes concludit in the said assemblie, that erle     #
Huntlie, 
Angus, Errol sould be absoluit fra the excommunicatioun be      #
thair 
ordinar presbitreis. 
   Efter this immediatlie a parliament wes  proclamit to be     #
haldin at 
<P 135>
Edinburgh vpone the [^BLANCO^] day of [^BLANCO^] , quhilk wes   #
fencit and 
continowit to the [{iij{] day of [{November{] therefter. In     #
this tyme the 
saidis erles wer absoluit fra the sentence of excommunicatioun, #
and ressavit
to the societie of the kirk. 
    Immediatlie therefter his Majestie past about the [{ix{]    #
day of October 
toward Dumfreische, for repressing the insolencie of the        #
brokin men of 
the west bordour, of that resolutioun not to returne thairfra   #
quhill that 
turne wes effectuat; as in deid his Majestie did mikle to it.   #
In that 
tyme he hangit xiiij or xv lymmeris and notorius theifes, and   #
compellit 
the principalis of everie breanche of the surnames of           #
Johnstoun and 
Airmestrange, Beattisoun, Bell, Irwing and vtheris to enter     #
ane or twa 
of the moist notable malefactouris of evrie breanche, quhairof  #
theare 
wes xxxvj in number, as pledges that the haill skeathes and     #
reafes committed 
be thame or ony of theare particular brenche, sen the laird of 
Johnstounis acceptatioun of the wardeanrie, quhilk wes about    #
ane yeir 
and ane halfe befoir that tyme, sould be redrest, the pairteis  #
compleanand
betuix and the secund of Februar nixt therefter; and that they  #
and 
all thaires sould absteine fra sick insolencie and thift in     #
tyme comming, 
vnder the paine of hanging. Thir pledges being enterit wer      #
committed 
to waird in his Majesteis housse and strenthes, and for the     #
better effectuatting
of this conclusioun, and keiping of the countrie in obedience 
and guid ordour, his Majestie constitute theare presentlie      #
Andro lord
Vchiltrie leiftennent and wardin over that haill west merche,   #
and geve 
pover be commissioun to hald courtes of redres for tryell of    #
complayntis 
and satisfactioun of his Majesteis guid subiectis               #
compleaneris.  And for 
meiting with the opposit wardenis, making and ressaving of      #
redres, and 
also for suppressing of all forder insolenceis quhatsoever.     #
Quhilk commissoun
wes als lairge and ample as any quhatsumever ever granted 
to ony leiftennent heirtofoir. 
   This doune, his Majestie returnit from Drumfreische to       #
Edinburgh.
<P 136>
quheare the said parliament wes begun vpone the [{iij{] day     #
of [{November{] ,
and endit within aucht or nyne dayis thairefter. At the quhilk 
the saidis erles wer restored, baithe be reductioun of theare   #
forfaltouris,
and ane act of abolitioun granted in theare fauour. The         #
honouris wer 
borne the first day as folowis; the erle of Cassilis buire the  #
croune,
Sutherland the sceptour, and the erle of Mar the suord: the     #
secund day 
the erle Cassilis buir the croune to the Tolbuithe, the erle    #
of Keatnes
the sceptour, and the erle of Mar the suord: and in the doun    #
comming
from the Tolbuithe efter the restitutioun of the erles, the     #
erle of Agnus
buir the croune, the erle of Huntlie the sceptour, and the      #
erle of Mar 
the suord. Theare wes a taxatioun of twa hundrethe thovsand     #
merkes 
granted to the King be the estaites of parliament, for          #
directing embassadouris
in Ingland, France, Denmerk, Germanie and sundrie vtheris 
pairtes. Sundrie actis of parliament wer then concludit, the    #
particularis 
quhairof I remit to the parliament buik. 
   The lord Vchiltrie remanit leiftennent vpone the bordour     #
fyve or sex 
monethes at Dumfreische, halding courtis of redres, and         #
pacifeing the 
countrey; he hangit and slew thriescoir, with the moir of       #
notable thiefes. 
He geve sundrie decreitis, and in his tyme causit mak great     #
executioun
of the saidis decreitis; and keipit the countrey in great       #
quyetnes and 
guid ordour all this tyme. 
   About this tyme theare wes ane assemblie of the ministrie    #
haldin at 
Dundie, quhair his Majestlie being present vpone the [{xxvj{]   #
day of 
Merche 1598, quhair it wes proponit that bischopis sould have   #
woit in 
parliament, bot yit the maiter wes continowit. Sundrie greifes  #
wer 
given in be the foure ordinarie ministeris of Edinburgh, and    #
the presbitreis
thairof and thairabout, for that Mr Peter Ewet and Mr George 
Robertsoun wer admitted ministeris thear; yit all maiteris wer  #
weill 
aggreet. The maiter of the planting of the kirk of Edinburgh    #
wes long
dispute betuix his Majestie and Mr Robert Bruce, vpone  this    #
particular, 
<P 137>
that Mr Robert wald not ressave his admissioun to a particular  #
stoke be 
impositioun of handis and ordinatioun, without ane declaratour  #
givin 
[{to{] him be the commissioneris of assemblie, that he had      #
lauchfullie exercit
the office of ane pastour in the kirk of befoir; quhilk maiter  #
efter 
many trystes wes aggreet and packet vp. 
   At the dissoluing of the quhilk assemblie haldand at         #
Dundie, quhilk 
wes about the [^BLANCO^] day of [^BLANCO^] ,quhen his Majestie  #
wes in his 
returne to Edinburgh, the diuk of Holsten his Majesteis         #
guidbrother 
come throw Ingland in to Edinburgh, and wes convoyed the first  #
nicht 
to Halyroudhouse, quheare he wes ressavit gladlie, and vsit in  #
all sortis 
as a Prince. His Majestie heasted to Edinburgh to meit with     #
the said 
diuk, and at his thearecomming interteined him alwayis as       #
became; he 
maid progres out of Halyroudhouse ower the water of Forthe to   #
Rewinsheuche 
the  first nicht, fra that to Balcolmie, Pittinweem, St         #
Androis, 
Leucheris, Dundie, Foulis, St Johnstoun, Sterling, Linlithgow   #
and 
Edinburgh, quhaire he wes bancketted all the way. His Majestie 
bancketted him in Halyroudhous and Sterling mony a tyme, with   #
great 
drinking and pastymes, and with learge propynes. 
   In the end of Merche 1598, Mr Eduard Bruce commendatour of 
Kynlose wes directed in embassadge towardis the Queine of       #
Ingland, 
with a commissioun to excuse his Majestie of sum thingis        #
allegit spokin 
be his Hienes in parliament, anent hir proceiding in            #
nominatioun of the 
secund persone and great steuart, in his Majesteis preiudice    #
to the richt 
of the croune of Ingland, and to propone sum vtheris            #
particularis concerning
the estait of the twa bordouris and twa realmis. He returnit 
in Maij thairefter, with word that a peace wes concludit        #
betuix the King 
of Spayne and France, within the quhilk it wes craved that the  #
Queine 
of Ingland and the estaites of the Law countreis sould be       #
includit, if it 
pleased thame vpone sick conditionis. In this peace it wes      #
concludit
that the inquisitioun of Spayne and halye house sould be        #
dischargit, and 
<P 138>
not extendit to strangeris; that all forreneris mycht tread     #
theare at 
thear plesour without challenge; that Caleyse sould be          #
restoired to the 
King of France, vpone the xxiij day of Maij foirsaid. 
   Vpone the xxiiij day of Junij nixt, theare wes a             #
conuentioun appoynted
to hald at Edinburgh of the nobilletie and esteatis: at quhilk 
day theare wer present, the diuk of Lennox, lord Hamiltoun,     #
the erles 
of Angus, Erroll, Cassilis, Mar, Glencairne, Sutherland; the    #
lordis 
Settoun, Leivingstoun, Nevbotle, with sundrie vtheris.          #
Quheareat wes 
treatted the headis and artickelis folowing; for setting doune  #
a rent to 
his Majestie for the dischairge of his princelie effearis;      #
anent the electioun
of his defynit counsall remitted to the parliament; the         #
checker to 
sit anis in the yeir in Julij allenerlie; Mononday appoynted a  #
play day;
his Majestie passing to Kyntyre; the bischop of Glasgow         #
restoired;
anent the scherefis and horneris; the ordour alreadie set doun  #
to stand 
anent away taking of feadis; anent provisioun for armour, with  #
sundrie 
vtheris guid actis. 
   Immediatlie efter the dissoluing of the said conuentioun,    #
his Majestie 
past out of Edinburgh to Sterling, and from that to Falkland.   #
His
Majestie returnit againe to Edinburgh the xx day of Julij, for  #
ordour 
taking with the fead betuix the erle of Mar, lord Leivingstoun  #
and maister 
of Elphingstoun. About the tuentie of October, the gentlemen    #
interpryseris
to conqueis the Lewes past forduard in that woyadge. 
    Vpone the xxviij day of October, theare wes a conuentioun   #
of ane 
number of the nobilletie, quhairat the counyie als weill our    #
awin as 
forrene wes cryed doun, to the great hurt of the leidges; an    #
electioun 
of the counsall, and ane greatter number of the nobilletie      #
concludit to
be wreyttin for, agane the tent day of December nixt            #
thairefter at 
Edinburgh.
   At quhilk tyme they met, and treattit vpone the materis      #
folowing;
to wit, that theare sould be ane defynit counsell of xxxj       #
personis, quhairof
<P 139>
of xvj sould be noblemen, and the rest officiaris, barronis     #
and vtheris at 
his Majesteis nominatioun, quhilk sould sit in his Majesteis    #
palice vpone 
Tysday and Thursday weeklie at efternoune, and have a pover     #
and 
auctoritie to command, in quhatsoevir pairtes they sould        #
happin to resoirt,
his Majesteis subiectis makaris of conuocatioun, ryotis or      #
sick tumultis
in the countrey, [{and{] to commit in waird or syne as they     #
sould
think guid. They war first suorne, and with subscryving geve    #
theare 
oathes that they sould give his Majestie trew and faithfull     #
counsall in 
all his royall effearis, ather concerning himself or the weill  #
of the countrey.
The names war thir; the diuk of Lennox, the erles of Angus, 
Cassilis, Mar, Glencairne, Montroise quho wes maid president    #
of this 
counsell; the lordis Settoun, Flemyng, Leivingstoun,            #
Vchiltrie, Newbotle,
Fyvie; the thesaurer, secretar, comptroller, clerk of           #
register, 
aduocat, justice clerk, priuie seall, collectour elymoyinare,   #
commendatour 
of Kynlose, bischop of Dunkeld; the lairdis of Traquaire, sir 
George Home, Carmichell. Thir war present, and the rest         #
remitted
to his Majesteis nominatioun quhen his Hienes thocht guid. The  #
conyie 
wes ordeanit to be cryed vp againe in this maner folowing;      #
viz. the 
vnce of our awin frie fyne siluer to be at liij s. iiij d. and  #
the vnce of 
forrene siluer to be at 1 s., and the gold proportionallie      #
according to the 
spaices particularlie set doun; wapponschawingis wer appoynted  #
to be 
haldin vpone the first Monondayis of Maij, Junij, Julij; the    #
counsell 
wes ordeanit to tak ordour with the bordour maiteris,           #
scherefis, hornaris,
and sick vtheris thingis proponit at the conuentioun. Quhilkis  #
being 
endit, the counsall helde forduard, and began according to the  #
prescryvit 
ordour. 



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