<B SOFF1>
<Q SC1 XX CORO ANGUS>
<N DOUGLAS CORR>
<A EARL OF ANGUS>
<C SC1>
<O DATE 1515-1521>
<M MEDIUM MS>
<D CSC>
<V PROSE>
<T LET NON-PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U NET ROYAL>
<E DIST UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I FORMAL>
<Z X>
<S SAMPLE X>

[^FRASER, SIR WILLIAM.
THE DOUGLAS BOOK. 4 VOLS. CORRESPONDENCE (VOL. IV) EDITED
BY THE AUTHOR.
EDINBURGH 1885. (SAMPLES 1-2).

THE SCOTTISH CORRESPONDENCE OF MARY OF LORRAINE, 1542-1560.
ED. ANNIE I. CAMERON.
SCOTTISH HISTORY SOCIETY, THIRD SERIES, 10.
EDINBURGH 1927. (SAMPLES 3-9).

SAMPLE 1:  PP. 67.24-68.8 (ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ANGUS)
           PP. 75.28-76.36
           PP. 77.27-79.8
SAMPLE 2:  PP. 68.9-72.32 (GAVIN DOUGLAS)
           PP. 75.1-75.27
SAMPLE 3A: PP. 114-117 (PATRICK BOTHWELL)
           PP. 189-190
           PP. 191-191
           PP. 204-206
           PP. 207-207
           PP. 271-272
           PP. 284-284
           PP. 303-303
           PP. 319-320
           PP. 362-363
           PP. 368-369
           PP. 440-440
SAMPLE 3B: PP. 272-272 (PATRICK BOTHWELL)
SAMPLE 4A: PP. 84-85 (GEORGE DOUGLAS)
           PP. 88-89
           PP. 94-95
           PP. 104-105
           PP. 108-113
           PP. 338-339
SAMPLE 4B: PP. 21-22 (GEORGE DOUGLAS)
SAMPLE 4C: PP. 89-92 (GEORGE DOUGLAS)
SAMPLE 5A: PP. 95-97  (ALEXANDER GORDON)
           PP. 102-104
           PP. 224-225
           PP. 227-231
           PP. 239-240
           PP. 269-269
           PP. 286-291
           PP. 311-315
           PP. 317-317
           PP. 385-386
SAMPLE 5B: PP. 213-214 (ALEXANDER GORDON)
           PP. 315-316 
SAMPLE 6A: PP. 6-6 (ROBERT MAXWELL)
           PP. 50-52
           PP. 53-53
           PP. 73-74
           PP. 344-345
           PP. 349-351
SAMPLE 6B: PP. 133-134 (ROBERT MAXWELL)
SAMPLE 7:  PP. 119-120 (HENRY METHVEN)
           PP. 132-133
           PP. 134-136
           PP. 138-139
           PP. 208-211
           PP. 234-235
           PP. 237-239
           PP. 240-243
           PP. 244-245
           PP. 248-251
           PP. 274-274
           PP. 317-318
           PP. 437-438
SAMPLE 8A: PP. 35-36 (ADAM OTTERBURN)
           PP. 47-48
           PP. 57-58
           PP. 59-59
           PP. 75-76
           PP. 92-94
           PP. 169-169
           PP. 170-177
           PP. 179-182
           PP. 183-189
SAMPLE 8B: PP. 53-55 (ADAM OTTERBURN)
           PP. 190-190
           PP. 192-194
SAMPLE 8C: PP. 161-162
SAMPLE 9:  PP. 20-21 (WOMEN)
           PP. 46-47
           PP. 130-131
           PP. 148-150
           PP. 157-158
           PP. 280-281
           PP. 291-292
           PP. 295-297
           PP. 341-342
           PP. 369-370
           PP. 393-395
           PP. 437-437
           PP. 438-439^]


<S SAMPLE 1>
<P 67>
[} [\57.\] }]
[} [\ARCHIBALD, SIXTH EARL OF ANGUS, 
TO KING HENRY THE EIGHTH, EDINBURGH, 29TH OCTOBER 
(CIRCA 1515).\] }]

SCHIR, Pleissit zoure guyd grace to wit, that I haue comonit    #
with zour seruitour, 
Edward Cuyk, and vndirstand his credence at lenth; and in guyd  #
faith my
mynd was set to the fulfilling of the samen or euyr I knew zour #
mynd, lyk as I 
was greitly indettit therto, and now aldyrmaist be caus that I  #
se zour guyd
grace traistyd me. And, schir, I promyt fathfully to fulfill    #
the samyn, and haue
send my traist seruitour, Dauyd Menzeys, with my haill mynd,    #
instrukit lyck as
zour seruitour Edward Cuyk and the said Dauid knawis. And to    #
the fulfilling
<P 68>
of the said credence, zour guyd grace fulfilling the samyn to   #
me that the said
Edwart haue promyttit one zour behalfe, I oblis me, be this my  #
vriting, to keip
and fulfill, vndir the seill of my armys, subscrivit with my    #
hand; and forther, 
at zour guyd grace will geve credence to the berer. Schir,      #
pleisit zour guyd 
grace to pass to London, or quhare ze pleis, and tak na thocht  #
of thys mater, for
it sall be endit at zour dissyir. Vrittin at Edinburgh, the     #
xxix day of October.
   Zoure
   Erl of Angus.

<P 75>
[} [\64.\] }]
[} [\ARCHIBALD, SIXTH EARL OF ANGUS, TO KING HENRY EIGHTH,
DALKEITH 19TH OCTOBER (1519).\] }]

MAIST excellennt, maist hie, and maist michty Prince, in the    #
maist humyll and 
lawlye manere, I recommend my service unto zoure maist redowtit #
gude grace,
quhom plesit knaw laitlye is cumin in this realme ane venerable #
 religious fader,
freir Henry Chardworth, minister generall of the freris minoris #
callit observante,
<P 76>
within zoure realme of Ingland, directe fra zoure hyenes towart #
the Qwenis grace,
zour deirest sister, my souerane lady, quhilk has sa wele and   #
wiselye convoyit
and performyt the mater quhairfor he was sent, that hir hyenes  #
is full hartlye
applesit to resort and remane with me, hir husband and          #
servitour, according and
conforme to all ressoun and lawis, baith of God and haly kirk.  #
Maist excellennt 
and redoutit prince, it lyis not in my little possibilite to    #
rendir thankis unto
zoure maist nobill hyenes, that has intendit and procurit sa    #
excedand wiselye
this my pure causs, quhilk elikewiss is Goddis causs, and alsua #
the honour and 
weillfare of youre deirest sister, the Qwenys grace forsaid,    #
and with that richt
weiray acceptable till every wele myndit personage of gude zele #
within this
realme. Quhairfor, besyde the rewarde of God, quhilk I doute    #
nocht bot zoure
grace sall ressaif for sa meritable labour, I sall endevour and #
abandoune
perpetually my pure service in every behalf and sort to me      #
possible, unto zoure
maist nobill excellence, abuse all uther prince or creature     #
levand, myne allegeance
to oure souerane lord, zoure deirest nevo, alanerlye exceppit;  #
and salbe all tymes
reddy eftir my pure power, allthocht it war sua that zoure      #
hienes commandit me
furthwith to pas one fute to Jerusalem, and fecht with the      #
Turkis to the dede for
zoure causs. And I beseke the eternall God to graunt me that    #
grace that I may
doo sum poynt that may be plesand or acceptable unto zoure      #
hyenes or I pas of
this warld. Alsua, maist excellent, maist hye, and maist mychty #
prince, plesit
zoure grace understand that my brothir germane, George Douglas, #
has bene twa
zheris bypast and mair in France, at the commande of our        #
governour Duke of 
Albany, to his hevy cost, and to na plessur nothir to him nor   #
his frendis, and is
haldin thare but ony causs or offence, as is notourlye knawin   #
to all this realme.
Besekand thairfor zoure maist noble excellence, that it wald    #
pleiss the samyn 
to send zoure gracious letters alswele to the king thare in     #
France as to our
said governour, to the effecte that my said brothir may be      #
deliverit and send
hayme in this realme, and quhat service or uther thing that I   #
or ony me belangis,
eftir oure pure poweris may doo, acceptable to zoure hyenes, we #
ar and sall
remane all tymes under the obeysance of zoure grace, as said    #
is; and thus, maist
excellent, maist hye, and maist mychty prince, the Eternall and #
Allmychty God
preserve zoure maist noble Maieste in lang prosperite and ...   #
At Dalketh, the
xix day of October, subscrivit with the hand of
   Your humble servytour, Erl of Angus.
To the maist excellennt, maist hye, and maist mychty Prince,    #
the King of
Inglandes maist ryal gude grace.
<P 77>
[} [\66.\] }]
[} [\ARCHIBALD, SIXTH EARL OF ANGUS, TO CARDINAL WOLSEY,
KIRK OF STYLE, 13TH DECEMBER (1521).\] }]

MY LORD, in my maist humyll maner, I recommend my lauchful      #
service to zoure
grace, quhom plesit understand I and utheris has presentlye     #
directe this berar.
<P 78>
my deirest uncle, my Lord Bischop of Dunkelde, towart the       #
Kingis grace zoure
soueraine, apponne certane necessare instructiounes, the        #
quhilkis I traist salbe acceptable 
baithe unto his hienes and zoure grace. Quhairfor, at the       #
uttermaist of my
powere, I beseyk zoure grace at my said uncle be thankfullie    #
ressavit, and to 
have gude and haisty expedicioune of his materis and            #
directiounes; and at zoure
grace plesit schew zou his gude lorde and ouris in that behalf, #
and to geif to him
na less credence in every thyng than to myself presentlie in    #
persoune, for it is na
lytill besynes causis him mak sik travale now at sik poynt of   #
necessite, quhen I 
and all his frendis in thir partis mycht sa evill waunt his     #
help and gude counsale.
Nevertheless, baith we and he, fullie assurit in zoure gudenes  #
and hys wisdome,
beleving fermlye that his passage towart the Kingis hyenes and  #
zoure grace mycht
avale gretumlye nocht alanerly to himself and us, bot alsua to  #
the weilfare of this
realme and surtye of the Kingis persoune my souerane, deirest   #
nevo to the Kingis
hienes zoure maister, has presentlye directit him fullye        #
instructit in that behalf
unto his Maiesty, as said is. Beseking zoure grace to tak gude  #
hede to the mater,
and quhat stede, plessour, or lauchfull service I may doo, or   #
procure to be done to 
zoure plessour in thir partis, I salbe glayd to fulfyll the     #
samyn at the commande
of zoure grace, as knawis oure Lord God, quha have zoure grace  #
in his blissit
keping eternalye. At Kyrk of Steyll, the xiij day of December.  #
Subscrivit
withe my hand.
   Zouris withe his lauchfull service,
   Archbald Erl of Anguss
To my Lord Cardinallis grace of Inglaund.

[} [\67.\] }]
[} [\ARCHIBALD, SIXTH EARL OF ANGUS, AND LORDS HOME AND
SOMERVILLE, TO KING HENRY EIGHTH, KIRK OF STYLE, 
14TH DECEMBER 1521.\] }]

PLESIT zoure grace, wee haif, be the avise and counsale als     #
wele of oure self as of
my Lord Dunkelde, has send unto zoure grace oure said Lord of   #
Dunkelde, to
sollist certane materis for the well and suretye of the King    #
oure souerane Lord,
be way of commissioune and instructioune. To quhom it will      #
pleiss zoure grace
to geif ferme credence als wele for us as we war present.       #
Beseking zoure grace
that wee may be adverteist of zoure plessour, in als convenient #
haist as may stand
<P 79>
withe zoure gracious plessour; in quhome, be oure apiniounes,   #
standis the surety
of oure souerane Lorde zoure nevo. And the blessit Trinitee     #
preserve zoure
maiestee. At the Kyrk of Steyll, the xiiij day of December.     #
   Zouris withe oure humyll and lauthfull service,
   Archibald, Erl of Angus.
   George, Lord Hom.
   Jon. Somerwell.
To the richt hyee and richt excellennt Prince the Kingis grace  #
of Inglaund.

<S SAMPLE 2>

<Q SC1 XX CORO GADOUGL>
<N DOUGLAS CORR>
<A DOUGLAS GAVIN>
<C SC1>
<O DATE 1515-1518>
<M MEDIUM MS>
<D CSC>
<V PROSE>
<T LET NON-PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U NET X>
<E DIST EQUAL>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I FORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 68>
[} [\58.\] }]
[} [\GAVIN DOUGLAS, POSTULATE OF ARBROATH, 
TO ADAM WILLIAMSON, PERTH, 18TH JANUARY (1515).\] }]

BROTHERE Master Adame, I commend me to zou in my harty wyss.    #
And ze sall
knaw that sene my last wrytyng of Perth, the last day of        #
Decembere, quhilk I
trast ze haf ... and hard forthare all thingys be Ser James.    #
The Byschep of
Dunkeldone is decessyt this Mouneday the xv day of January.     #
And becaus zonn
evyll mundyt Byschep of Morray trublys all our promociones, and #
hes sped Sanct
Andros to hymmself, wyth Dumfermlyng, Arbrocht, Legacy and      #
other facultyes
quhilkis ar nedfull and all ways man be retretyt, zit nocht the #
less sene syk
debatis and controversyes ar costly and doutuus, in all         #
aventour the Quenys grace,
myself and frendis thynkis nedfull I be promovyt to that seyt   #
quhilk now is
vacand, and but pley, and ane rycht gud byschepry of            #
[\? rent\] , and the thryd seyt
of the realme. And to that effect hes the Quenys grace wrytyne  #
for me to the
Papis halynes, and cardynalis, quhareof ze sall wyth this       #
ressave the copy, to solyst
syk lyke wrytyngis fra the Kyngis grace hyr brother. And be     #
nocht hyr lettyris
obeyt in the curt of Roume, ze solyst evyll zour memoryall,     #
less than the Kyng
wyll do nocht for his systyre as I knaw the contrary, bayth in  #
deyd and wryte,
I dout nocht bot ze wyll solyst my materis alss trewly as zour  #
awyne, thocht the
Quenys grace had nocht wrytyne for me. And as I wrate to zou    #
laytly, the
promotione of her servandis and frendis is hyr weylfare and     #
autorisyng, and 
hyndyryng of hyr adversaryes; I pray zou at a word sped thir    #
lettyris to Flandris
as thai ar dyrectyt and sped wyth thaim the Kyngis wrytingis.   #
And gyf ze
kouth do so mekyll as causs the Kyng mak a post therfore, I war #
bedyttyt to his
grace and zou for ever. A wyse frend is soyne chargeyt.
   Item, ze sall knaw that me Lord Erll of Huntlye was heyr at  #
the Quenys grace,
and wyll go hyr way, and bryng mony of the other Lordis to hyr  #
opynione;
<P 69>
and wyth hys avyss scho hes mayd proclame a parlyament in this  #
toune, to 
be haldyne and begyne in this toune the xij day of March,       #
quhare we trast tyl haf
all thyngis redressyt. I wald nocht ze leyt the Byschep of      #
Morray nor zonn Duk
steyll hyddyr by zou, as now latly his clerk, Master Johne      #
Sauquhy, hes doyne,
and landyt at Leyth furth of a Franch shyp, and brocht with     # 
hymm the bullys of
Sanctandros, and publyst the sammyne one his maner in Edynburgh #
this last
Twysday, the xvj day of Januare, bot I beleve he sall nocht haf #
possessyone this
zeyre. Nedfull it is, and that is a speciall punct of zour      #
memoryall, to caus the
Kyng wryte ta the Kyng of Frans heyre apone, to the effect that #
by hys ways the
Kyng our soverane lord be nocht hurt in his prevylegis and      #
faculteys, for that war
to byreif hymm hys croune, nor that his gud systyr the Quenys   #
grace ocht therby
mynyst in hyr autorite, bot raythare mantenyt and defendyt by   #
hymm in the
sammyne. And ocht hes beyne doyne by hys wrytyngis in the       #
contrary othyr
in favoris of zonn Byschep of Morray or ony otheris, that the   #
sammyne, be hys
ways and solistatones, be reversyt agane, that therby na        #
prejudyce may happyn
to the Kyng nor this hys realme, now in tyme present, nor zit   #
in tyme cummyng,
by evyll example, so that syk doyng nor attemptatis be na       #
preparatyve to otheris
in tyme to cum. And kouth the Kyng solyst hys brothyre of Frans #
to haf that
byschep rendyrryt to hymm othyr be pollycy or other ways, that  #
he mycht thereftyr 
be demanyt as efferis, all thir thre realmmys I trast war       #
brocht to grete rest, 
ffor he is and hes beyne the instrument of mekyll harme, and I  #
dreyd sall zit be of
mayre and he be nocht snybbyt. Tent to hymm and zonn Duyk gif   #
the Kyng
thare luffis the weylfare of hys systyr and mast tendyr nevois, #
and alss the quyet
of hys awyne realme. Hast ansuere agayne and be solyst as ze    #
haf beyne in 
tymme bypassyt. And God keyp zou. Of Perth, the xviij day of    #
January, wyth the hand of 
   Zour frend,
   Gawyne Douglas.
   
   The Queyne thynkis ze haf beyne over slowthfull, that sa     #
lang tyme ze beand
in Ingland, ther hes beyne nocht doyne noyther in Roume nor the #
curt of Frans
aganis zonn wykkit Byschep of Morray, and byddis zou mend that  #
falt. Item,
at ze solyst the Kyng hyr brother, that na lettres pass throw   #
hys realme to ne fra,
that belangis ony Scottis man, less than he haf hyr speciall    #
wrytyngis and request
therfore, for syk lettres hes ellis doyne gret harme, and was   #
the fyrst caus of all
the truble anent the promotiones, and is daly a preparatyve to  #
solyst zonn Duyk
of Albany to cum hyddyr. Remembyr my salve conduct and sped the #
sammyne
to me as I wrayt to zow latly. And gif any of my wrytyngis or   #
pertenyng the
<P 70>
Queyne cum furth of Flandres or Roume to zour handis, na fors   #
that the Kyng se
or knaw the contentis therof, that thai maybe the bettyr and    #
mare hastyly sped to
hyr grace or me, for I wayt hys henes wyll stop nane of hyr     #
lettres nor myne, 
quhilk salbe cum to his ples ... honour and avayle.

[} [\59.\] }]
[} [\THE SAME TO THE SAME, PERTH, 21ST JANUARY (1515).\] }]
[^GAVIN DOUGLAS TO ADAM WILLIAMSON^]

BROTHYR Master Adame, I commend me hartly to zou, and hes       #
ressavyt zour layt
wrytyng and credens fra zour companzeone Ser James; and be ze   #
suyre the
Queyne and we all wald be glad to follow the Kyngis mind thare, #
and thankis
hys henes alss lawly as we may of the grete enteyre luf and     #
kyndness profyrryt and
schawyne to us; for the quhylkis we beyne addettyt to be hys    #
trew servandis
before all otheris our alleyegans to our soverane lord hys nevo #
only exceppyt. Ze
may weyll considdyr it is nocht to us possybyll that ze devys,  #
for albeyt my lord
and I, with other frendis, mycht cum to tha partis quhere we    #
plesyt, it suld nocht
be possybyll to cary the Kyng nor hys brother thyddyr, thocht   #
peraventour, and
that full hard wyth gret defyculte and nocht honestly, we mycht #
bring the Queyne
thyddyr in habyt onknawyne and dysagysyt, bot nayne other ways; #
and therfore
ther mane be thocht sum other remed, for my wyt kann nocht      #
attayne quhow
that may be at this tyme; and alss we be in na syk danger at we #
neyd leyf
the cuntre, I wrate to zou layt that the Kyngis wrytingis wald  #
stanch all this
debayt, for I trast thai suld be alss weyll obeyt heyre as in   #
Lundone, wyth the
mast partis of the Lordis. Lat nocht the Kyng therfoare feyre   #
that and he wald
cum wyth hys army or send hys pyssans in this realme, and       #
declare to the
pepyll his actyone war to haf justyce, and gud reull, and to    #
caus the Kyng hys 
nevo, and Queyne hys syster, be obeyt as thai aucht, bot        #
cummand one this
wyss, and notyfyand the sammyne to our commonys be              #
proclamatone,  bot he suld
fynd mony to tak hys part; for I assure zou the pepyll of this  #
realme ar sa
oppressyt for lak of justyce, by thevys, rubry, and other       #
extortiones, that thai
wald be glayd to leyf ondyr the gret Turk to haf justyce. Ze    #
wryte that the
Kyngis grace thare hes wrytyne twyss to Royme agains Glasgow,   #
bot I had lever
he had wrytyne agains the Byschep of Morray, and zit nyedlyngis #
he mane wryte
aganst hym tyll all hys promotione reversyt, lyk as at mayre    #
lenth the Quenys
grace hes wrytyne to the Kyng hyr brother therapone. Master     #
Adame brother, 
f ... nocht to solyst and convoy weyll my promotione to         #
Dunkeldene, as ze luf
<P 71>
me, for I haf gevyne the monye quhare ze bad me, lat se quhom   #
ze kann ...
convoy syk a matere fore zour frend, and I sall do mekyll, bot  #
I sall spek wyth
zou in Lundone of Pasch, for I haf mony devyses that I wald     #
fayne encloss to the
Kyng thare, quhylkis I wyll nocht wryte; and gyf it be          #
possybyll that ther may
be fund ony tymme to performe the Kyngis plessour and desyre,   #
as ze haf wrytyne
with Ser James, I sal do my devour and full best to convoy      #
that mater at all
punctis, bot I kann nocht hastely beleyf as zit quhow it may be #
less than the Kyng wald cum hymm self in this realme, and       # 
th... mycht he do quhat hymm
lykyt, for he wald fynd lytyll or na resystans, and be ze souer #
the grettest of
our adversareys crynys hymm gretly at this hour, one syk wyss   #
that thai wald
geif mekyll of ther valzeand to haf his favouris. Gyf the Kyng  #
of Frans be
ded it is rycht evyll for bayth thir realmmys. Bot heyre is     #
arryvyt a Franch
schip, the xv day of this moneth instant, quhilk proportis na   #
thyng therof, and
therfore I wondyr quha suld haf schawyne my lords of consell    #
ther syk tythyngis.
Gyf we had money I trast we suld debayt weyll eneuch our        #
adversaris in thiz
partis quhyll the sommyr sessione, quher the Kyng mycht moyf    #
quhat army hym
lykyt, and than I trast alsso we salbe mare pyssant than we ar  #
now. I amm
surely informyt furth of Frans the Duyk dysponys hymm nocht     #
hydder quhyll
this nyxt moyne, less than this decess of the Kyng of Frans     #
causs hym ... eyne
the tymme, and zit I trast the Kyng thare, and hys wyss consell #
hes provydyt
mayr warly in all aventoris, so that the Dalphyne is alss weyll #
bund to observe the
pace in all punctis therof as was the the Kyng. And I trast he  #
dar nocht brek the
trewys nor pace astablysyt, to send the ilk Duyk agayne hys     #
oblysyng, and gyf
he wald lat ilk frend mak pace wyth other, quhyll we be all     #
revengyt one Frans,
for God knawys quhat thai haf doyne to us. I haf gud hope and   #
is in convoyng
a mater of dyscord amang our party adversary, one syk wyss that #
I trast ze sall
heyre quhow this promotone now imprecat be zonn dyssatfull      #
Byschep of Morray
sall turne to our weyll, and causs bayth hymm and zonn Duyk     #
cum in evyll
consayt over all this realme, quhylk man nedways redund to our  #
profyte and sall
purches us ma frendis; and I dred nocht bot quha sa ever by     #
Kyng in Frans, he
salbe mayr glad to haf pace and amite wyth the Kyng of Ingland  #
than hys grace
salbe to except the sammyne. I pray zou schaw this wrytyng to   #
my Lord Dacre, 
and the contentis therof to the Kyngis grace. God keyp zou.     #
Wyth my hand,
in hast, at Perth, thyr xxj day of Januar.
   (\Tuus totus,\)
   Gawinus Douglas.

<P 72>
[} [\60.\] }]
[} [\THE SAME TO THOMAS, LORD DACRE, PERTH, 
21ST JANUARY (1515).\] }]
[^GAVIN DOUGLAS^]

MY LORD, I commend me to zour lordschip, in my mast hartly      #
wyss, and as towart
the Kyngis desyre and instructiones send to the Quenys grace    #
wyth Ser James Inglys,
hire henes hes wrytyne heyre wyth ansuere to the Kyng hyr       #
brother and to zour 
lordschip. And in sum part, as I kouth thynk eftyr my lytill    #
wyt, I haf wrytyne
tyll Master Adame, to be schawyne to zour lordschip, and to the #
Kyngis grace
thare, quhow soyne he sall cum to his presens; and be ze suyre  #
the Quenys
grace, my Lord, and we all wald be alss glad to fulfyll the     #
Kyngis desyre, gif it
war to us possibyll, as wyth hard of mynd may be devysit, and   #
kann nocht sa
mekyll as we beyne addettyt for our part rendyr thankis to his  #
heynes therof,
and nocht the les of a thyng he salbe suyre that our servys     #
salbe hys before all
uther mann levyng, our alleygens to our soverane Lord hys nevo  #
alanerly exceppit.
My Lord, ze sall knaw ther is ane byschep latly deid in this    #
land, callyt the
Byschep of Dunkell, and for alsmekyll as thir other benefycis   #
be now in pley and
debayt be this Byschep of Morray, therfore the Quenys grace, my #
soverane lady,
hes wrytyne hyre especiall writyngis to the Papis halynes for   #
my promotone
therto, and forthare, hes by thire hyre wrytyngis solyst the    #
Kingis grace, hyre
brother, to wryte and lawbour effectuusly to the sammyne        #
effect. Quharefore I
beseyk zour lordschip that the sayd lettrez mycht be convoyt    #
with deligence, and
gyf zour gud assistans and commendatone to the Kyng for me,     #
sene our houssys
ar of the auld allyat, and mekyll tendyr aquentans and kyndnes  #
hes beyne betwyx 
thaim of lang tyme, as approvyt weyll be my grandsyr at the     #
sege of Nawart, and
I beleyf that aye mayre and mayre tendyrnes and amyte sall daly #
incres amongis
thaim. Gud it war ze suffyrryt na other lettrez to haf passage  #
throw the
realme but syk as salbe send fra the Queyne the caus quhy I haf #
wrytyne to
Master Adame, and gyf ther be ony sted servys, or plessour I    #
may do to zour
lordschip, I salbe at command, as knawys God, quha haf zour     #
lordschip in hys
blysyt kepyng. At Perth, the xxj day of Januare, wyth hand of
   Zour cousyng, and at all his power zouris,
   Gawyne, Postulat of Arbroth.
To my Lord Dacre's gud lordschip.

<Q SC1 XX CORO GADOUGL>
<N DOUGLAS CORR>
<A DOUGLAS GAVIN>
<C SC1>
<O DATE 1515-1518>
<M MEDIUM MS>
<D CSC>
<V PROSE>
<T LET NON-PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U NET OFF>
<E DIST UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I FORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 75>
[} [\63.\] }]
[} [\GAVIN DOUGLAS, BISHOP OF DUNKELD, AND TWO OTHERS,
AMBASSADORS FROM SCOTLAND IN FRANCE, TO CARDINAL WOLSEY, 
ABBEVILLE, 27TH JUNE (1518).\] }]

MAIST reverend in God, efter dew salutacion. We suppois that it #
is knawin to
zour lordschip how, be command of oure soverane lord and master #
the King of
Scottis, we ar directit, nocht anerly for peax and amite betuix #
the realmis of
France, Ingland, and Scotland, bot als for universale concorde  #
in the kirk of God,
with sufficient auctorite and speciall commande gevin to us, to #
transport us quhare
it sall be expedient for the premisses; and thereapon we in     #
thir partis have spokin
with the King of France, and now we understand that the Duc of  #
Albany, Governour 
of Scotland and tutour to oure soverane lord, is discendit in   #
Bertaigne, quhais
secretare, Gualtere Malynny, as we belevit, suld have cummyn    #
throw Ingland, and
brocht to us ane sauf-conduct. We therfor thocht necessare to   #
advertiss zoure
lordschip this tyme, to effect that we micht have the said      #
sauf-conduct according
to oure supplicacion for the samyn, quhilk we send to zoure     #
lordschip hamely,
becaus we knaw weill zour lordschip may greitly further, and is #
of gude mynde
towart peax amangis Cristin princis for rest and unite of       #
Cristianite; and this
we pray zour lordschip at this tyme, as we beleif zour          #
lordschip will, for the grete
confidens we knaw the said lod Governour has in zoure           #
lordschip. Maist
reverend fader in God, the Haly Gaist have zou in his keping.   #
At Abbayweill, 
the xxvij day of Junii. Be zoure gude and laulye frendis,
   Ambassadouris of Scotlaund,
   Gawyne, Bischep of Dunkeld.
   Robertus E. Ross.
   Patricius, Regius Secretarius.
To the maist reverend in God, Archbischop and Cardinale of      #
Zork, Chancellare 
of Ingland, Legate of the Sege apostolicque.

<S SAMPLE 3A>

<Q SC1 XX CORO BOTHWELL>
<N CORR M LORRAINE>
<A BOTHWELL PATRICK>
<C SC1>
<O DATE 1544-1556>
<M MEDIUM MS>
<D CSC>
<V PROSE>
<T LET NON-PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U NET ROYAL>
<E DIST UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I FORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 114>
[} [\LXXXIX\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Crichton, 4th November (1544).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Plesit unto your hienes, I have at lencht commonit with
the potingar, your grace servitour, tweching sundry
<P 115>
thingis quhilkis he hed in directioun from your hienes,
and now the passage is sa full perrellis that I durst
nocht send writingis to accompleis your grace gud mynd
in suche affearis as I have doun and yett laborand at my
powir to putt fordwart your hienes besines: and sua I
have schawin to the berar my mynd in your grace commandmentis
quhilkis I sall fulfyll at my hichtast power,
and in all thingis it will pleis your hienes to gyf credens
unto him as to my self. Almychty God have your hienes
in evirlesting keping. At Crechtoun, the iiij day of
November be
Your hienes humill and subjet servitour
ERLE BOTHUIL.
[\Endorsed:\] (\Le conte du Baudouel.\)

[} [\XC\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Crichton (c. November 1544?).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Plesit unto your grace, I have witht gret labouris brocht
my lord Borthuik unto your grace service, your hienes
doand to him as I have apponcted, of quhilk this berar
will gyff your grace informatioun. My lord Borthuik
wilbe no ways content without sickirnes be your grace
hand writ and seill, and me and my landis oblist for the
samen; sua it will pleis your hienes to send ane commissioun
to me wnder your hand writ and seill to end
with him in this behalf and to tak him oblist to your
grace service only for all the days of his liff. This beyng
doun, it wilbe occasioun to the residew of the gentill men
of cuntra to cum haill youris for suche gratitudis as your
henes plesis to do to tham. The berar can schaw how
<P 116>
defissill it wes to me to bring him to this purpois becaus
of the grett proffittis promissit to him be the governour
and cardinall quhilk I have stoppit as yit and sall do,
your grace haistand the commissioun as said is to me.
Madam, I am dayly cummerit with the offeris from the
governour of gret profitt bot always I sall serve your
hienes conforme to my power and honour at your grace
plesour in thir premis; and uther besines I have schawin
my mynd unto this berar quhom to it will ples your grace
gyff credens and to haist this berar with your grace mynd,
quhen I sall addres me towart your hienes. Almychty
God have your grace in keiping. At Crechtoun, be
Your grace hwmill and subjett servitour
P. ERLE BOTHUILE.

[} [\XCI\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Crichton, 7th November (1544).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Plesit unto [{your{] grace, this vij day of November
I resavit your grace writingis wytht ane commissioun
selit and subscrivit. Madame, I sall fulfill your hienes
commandmentis at my power; and with suche diligens
as I ma mak salbe in Striveling at your grace but ony
inpediment that ma happin, I beyng levand: howbeit
that Ingland with the assistans of my unfrendis in Taviotdaill
hes brynt heryt and distroyt my haill landis in
Taviotdaill, and now on Woddinnisday hes tane my place
of Ancrome and purpossis this nixt Sonday to sege my
<P 117>
hows of Langnewtoun; and to the samyn effect Sir
Rawff Everis remanis now presently in Jedburgh weill
tretit with the lardis of Farnyhirst and Sesfurd and
utheris cuntre men. I am this day advertist surly that
the governour and his frendis purposs to ly for me in the
passage, bot nother he nor the tribull I have in Taviotdaill
sall be ony stoip to me: besekand your grace hwmilly
that ye stop na thing in your grace purpos bot put it
fordwart, nocht dowting bot all salbe as at your henes
plesour. In suche uther thingis as occurris I have schawin
my mynd unto this berar quhom to it will ples your grace
gyf credens. Almychty God have your hienes in sur
keping. At Crechton, the vij day of November be
Your grace hwmill and subjett servitour
P. ERLE BOTHUILE.
[\Endorsed:\] (\Du Conte de Baudouel.\)

<P 189>
[} [\CXXXVIII\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Blackness, Wednesday, 13th July (1547).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Eftir maist humyll recommendatioun of service, plesit
I haif send my servitoure Oliver Sinclare to youre grace
<P 190>
with my mynd at lenth tuicheing all besyness concernyng
me at this tyme; quhom to ye pleis gif credence. And
almychti God preserve youre grace eternalie. Of the
Blakness this Wednisday the xiij of Julij be
your graces humill subjett servitour at power
AMIRALL.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M. de Baudeuel.\)

<P 191>
[} [\CXL\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Blackness, 25th July (1547).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRAICE.
   Madame, it will ples your graice that I haiff causit meyn
me divers tymis to your graice and my lord governour
that I am in ward at his plesour for na falt making aganis
the quenis graice our soverane lady the comone weill or
hym as salbe knawin, God willing, to your graice, all
wtheris off the realme and wther princis. My said lord,
as I hard of divers of my freindis, pat me in hoip that I
suld be put to fredome eftir the returning of this army.
   Madame, your graice and my lord governour ar now in
Sanctandrois with divers wther lordis and baronis of the
realme: prayand your graice to haif e to my mater that
I am ewill done to, and in speciall that I am abstrackit
fra the service of the quenis graice and realme at sic ane
tyme, and that your graice will counsall my lord governour
that I ma be fred of my ward to serve as wther baronis
of the realme dois. I beleif your graice will do for me
effectuislie as your servand. My caus is honest, thairfoir
your graice may laubour with your honour therintill.
Wer it wtherwayis I suld nocht put your graice to sic pyn;
for, Madame, the service that I ma do salbe ever reddy
to your graice of the auld maner. Ples your grace gif
credens to this berrer your servitour. Madame, eftir
maist hartlie and hwmyll commendatioun of my service
to your graice, I pray almychty God mot haif the samyn
in his ever lesting keping. Off the Blakness, the xxv day
of Julij.
Yowr graice humyll servitour
AMIRALL.

<P 204>
[} [\CXLIV\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 7th October (1547).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Plesit youre grace I haif direct my freind and servand
Oliver Sinclare towart youre grace with my mynd at
lenth in all behalffis, to quhom it will pleis your grace gif
credence as to my selff thair anent. And the haly Gaist
<P 205>
mot haif youre grace in keping. At Edinburgh, the vij
day of October.
Be your graces humill and obedient servitour
AMIRALL.
[\Endorsed:\] (\Le conte de Bauduol.\)

[} [\CXLV\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 26th November 1547.\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Youre grace will pleis, eftir the humill commendatioun
of my service, to be advertist that I have send thir twa
gentilmen, the lard of Elphingstoun and Oliver Sincler,
my traist freindis and servandis to desire youre graces
counsale and advisment for the avoiding of thir grete
apperand parrellis and dangeris that ar like to be addressit
to the grete hurt of me and my freindis. Quhairfore
humilie I beseke youre grace to consult with thir said
gentilmen in all thir caiss and to gif thame credite in all
thingis as gif I wer present at your grace; beleving swa
youre grace to tendir my wele as I am evir of gude mynd
to youre graces service as treulie knawis God, quha mot
<P 206>
evir preserve youre grace. At Edinburght, the xxvj day
of November 1547.
Your graces humyll servand
AMIRALL.

<P 207>
[} [\CXLVII\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Berwick, 6th December (1547?).\]
Yowr grac will ples, eftyr the hwmell commendacion of
my serwet, to be adwartest of my cumin to Birwick the
fyft day of this monayth instant according to my promest
for the stop of gret inconwenyentis that war at[{drest?{]
wpoun the disstrwkcion of me and my freindis, swa that
yowr grac sall haif experiens to jug my meneng ever to be
the preserfwacion of this owr common weill with yowr
gracis serwet be me at all tymmis; refarring credens to
thir beraris quha will awertes me of yowr gracis miend
quhi[{l{]k I am rady to fowfull at thwtyrmest of my powar.
At Birwik, the vj day of Discember
be yowr gracis hwmell serwitour
AMIRALL.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M. de Baudeoul.\)

<P 271>
[} [\CLXXXV\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Langtoun, 25th October 1548.\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Plesit unto youre grace, the dewite of my humyll service
promisit, this is to signefy unto youre gude grace that
eftir lang laubouris and panis I am tholit tocum in Scotland
frelie; quhair I purposs, God willing, to do my
dewite of service unto your grace, by the quhilk I think
to accomplies your graces mynd in thiis thingis as may
<P 272>
gudelie stand with my powar. And sen I will nocht
impeche youre hienes in reding of my lang lettris, to
declare forthir myne affaris I have directit this berare
unto youre grace to schew my mynd at mair lenth, as I
have gevin him informatioun in thiis behalf, sa that it
will pleis youre grace to gif him credence accordantlie:
and thus I pray the almychty God to have youre gude
grace in governing. From Langtoun, the xxv day of
Octobre 1548.
Your graces humyll and obedient servitour
P. ERLE BOTHUIL.
[\Endorsed:\] (\Conte de Baudouol.\)

<P 284>
[} [\CXCV\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Crichton, 19th January 1548-9.\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Plesit unto your grace to have remenbrans as quhair
your grace gaiff in command to monsieur Dosell, ambassatour,
to deliver to my servand in Frans twa thowsand
crownis of the sone, monsieur Dosell glaidlie acceptit to
do the samyn, and at my servandis cummyng to him in
the court of Frans said unto him he hed your grace discharge,
quhairby I have ressavit na money as yitt in that
behalf. And my lord Huntlie hes baid unto me to pass
in to the northland and thair to remane certane tym at
your grace plesour, and albeid I be myndit therto and
all uther service your grace will ples command, yit I have
nocht at this tym money to mak my furnessingis as afferis
me to do, quhairfor hwmillye I pray your grace now in
my neid to support me with this said money quhilk my
servand suld have ressavit in Frans, that I may ordour
me tweching my passage accordanlie to your grace will.
Thus the eternell God have your grace in keping. Of
Crechtoun, the xix of Januar 1548.
Your grace hwmile and subject servitour
AMIRALL.
[\Endorsed:\] (\Du conte de Baudouol.\)

<P 303>
[} [\CCXI\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Perth, 28th April (1549?).\]
TO THE QWENIS NOBILL GRACE.
   Plesit wnto your excellens, I have send my cousing dene
of Dunkeld wnto your grace for sic bissynes I have ado
with your grace at this tyme. Becaus I am layth your
grace suld be melestit with lang writin I have schawin
him my haill mynd, quhom to pleis your grace giff credens
as to my self, and gyf your grace pleis to command me to
ony service in to the partis quhare I am bown to I salbe
reddy at your gracis charge in the auld manere; besekand
Christe to conserve your grace eternally. Of Perth, the
xxviij day of Aprile
be your grace moste humill servitour
ERLE BOTHUILE.
[\Endorsed:\] (\Le conte de Baudouol.\)

<P 319>
[} [\CCXXIII\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 13th December (1549?).\]
TO THE QWENIS GRAICE.
   Plesit unto youre graice I haiff ressavit youre excellence
commandment to meit youre graice in Faulkland the
xiiij day of this monethe instant to pas with youre graice
to this conventioun, and I haiff gottin latlye ane writing
fra my lord gowernour to sped furthe schippis upone
thir Inglismen that lyis in the Fyrthe with diligence
possible: and uther gret besynes I haiff ado of my awn
instantlye, quhilkis can nocht be done without my awin
presens as youre graice sall clerlye knaw her efter. Her
for I besek youre graice to appardone my absence, sua
that I may put forwart my besynes at this tyme to that
effect, that I may await ther efter at grettar lasar upone
youre graicis service. Forther this berair will schaw your
graice the causis of my carye at gretter lenthe, quhamto
it plesit youre graice gyff credence; praying the eternall
God ever to preserve [{your{] graice. Of Edinburgh, the
xiij day of Decemb[{e{]r instant
Be youre graicis maist humill and subget servand
AMIRALL.
[\Endorsed:\] (\Conte de Baudouel.\)

<P 320>
[} [\CCXXIV\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Langnewton, 24th December, 1549.\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Pleis it unto your grace I have spokin the dene of
Dunkeld and the lard of Wauchtoun my freyndis directit,
be thair report, be your grace, desyring me to sindrie
thingis, - the quhilk I thoucht nocht nedfull in the tyme.
And becaus I hard be thame thai wer nocht in redynes
to repair towart your grace I have send me freynd and
servand maister Willame Broune to knaw your graces
mynd and will in the said thingis, with sindrie uthair
thingis I have commandit him to schew unto your grace:
to quhome it will pleis your excellence to gif him credit,
desyring your grace to command me with sic service as
lyis in my powar, quhilk salbe reddy at all tymes as your
grace will pleis to charge. Thus Crist preserf your grace
in helth and prosperite. At Langnewtoun, the xxiiij day
of December 1549.
Be your graces humyll servitour
P. ERLE BOTHUILL.
[\Endorsed:\] (\Du conte de Baudouol du xxiii=me= de decembre,
1549.\)

<P 362>
[} [\CCXLIV\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Newcastle, 20th November 1552.\]
TO THE QUENES GRACE.
   Plesyd your grace to have in rememberaunce whow
alswell duringe all my continewaunce in Scotlande (as in
other places) I was ever at my small power addictede to
your graces service, of the which I am not yet penitent,
and beinge of this lounge tyme solicitant and travailinge
to be reconcielede to the favour of my own naturall realme
(as your grace knoweth) wherby I myght the more honorabillie
spend my dayes, and contynew my poore service to
the kinge of Fraunce and your grace. In woorkinge
wherof I perceyve not onlie my good hart and affection
cowldlie taken, but also under pretence of a wayke suretie
to leis the certaine for the uncertaine, and to have my
bodie in daungere by those whom I have not offendede,
nor hath no just cause, onles jolisie be taken, that I have
and wilbe to earnestlie bent to serve your grace, which to
my small power for no threatninges, losses nor displeasouris
I will not leave so lounge as your grace pleaseth to
accept the samyn. Most hwmblie prayinge your grace
to contynew my good lady and to weye the premissis and
the state of my poore cawses, as to one of your graces
owen servauntes, and labour my revocation in that realme
(which I most desyre) as best may stande to my poore
honor and suretie yf the samyn can be obteygnede, seinge
my offences deserveth no suche extremitie. Or in defalt
therof, that it wyll please your grace with eirnest effect
wryt to the kinge of Fraunce in my favour to addres his
highnes wrytinges to my lorde gouvernour and counsell of
that realme to restore me to my landes, heretaiges,             #
possessions,
rowmes and fealls which I had of the authoritie
at my departour furth of Scotland. And also that yt
wolde please your grace to declare unto his majestie by
<P 363>
wrytinge the effection that I have borne to his highnes
service at all tymes; and now speciallie wolde be most
glaide to serve him at his warres, yf it wolde please his
hieghnes to exceptyd: not dowbtinge but your graces
lettres thus in my favour to his majestie shalbe so in
effect as his hieghnes maye weall perceave your grace ys
my good prences. And thus I shall pray almightie God
to preserve your grace in most longe lyef with prosperous
succes in all your graces effaires. From Newcastell, this
xx=ti= of Novembre 1552.
By your graces most humble and obedient servitor
P. ERLE BOTHULLE.

<P 368>
[} [\CCL\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Crichton, 12th November 1553.\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   It may pleis your gude grace that eftir gret storme off
wedder and hevy laboris be the see I arrivit heir in Lawdiane
quhair I remane as yit, willing with trew hai[{s{]t to offer
and do to your grace my detfull dewite of service, and
becaus I am by violent tempest and storme on the see
<P 369>
sumpart crasit and alterit in my persoun and not sa habill
at this present to do sic service as my will commandis and
steris me to. Sua, to excuis my unhabilnes unto your
grace and to have your grace directioun quhat I sall do
presentlie and quhair I sall addres me to cum to your
grace presens I have send this berar my cousing of Trakwair
to have your grace mynd and command towart me
heirintill. And sen I will nocht impesche your grace with
reding off lang letter, this berar will schaw your grace at
mair lencht lik as I have gyffin to him in charge, suo it
will pleis your grace gyff him credens. And thus prays
the almychting God to have your grace in keping. Off
Crechtoun, the xij day of November 1553.
Your grace hwmyll and obedient servitour at power
P. ERLE BOTHUILE.
<P 440>
[} [\CCXCIV\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Crichton, Saturday (Before 1556).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, plesit unto your grace I resavit your grace
letteris reporting that I have writin sumpart scharpe unto
your grace. Madame, I wrait all anerly the tym requirit
and displesand deid followit therefter. Your grace twychis
me sumpart scharpe, remembring me upoun my honour
and promes maid unto your grace. Madame, I traist
surly that your grace weill kennis that I have mair regard
to my honour thane to all erdly riches or landis, and sall
faythfully serve your grace unto the end of my lyff as the
process off tym, how evir it cum, sall mak wele knawin
unto your grace. And quhat skayth and displesour I
have sustenit presently this berar will schaw unto your
grace at lentht, quhomto plesit your grace gyff credens.
Almythe God have your grace in evirlesting keping. Off
Crechtoun this Saterday efter nowin be
Yowr grace hwmill and subjett servitour
PATRIK ERLE BOTHULE.

<S SAMPLE 3B>

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<P 272>
[} [\CLXXXVI\] }]
[} [\BOTHWELL TO THE GOVERNOR\] }]
[\Langtoun, 26th October 1548.\]
   My lord, eftir humyll comendationis of my service
unto youre grace, this is to signify unto your grace that
eftir lang laubouris and gret panis I am sufferrit tocum in
Scotland fre, quhair I purpos, God willing, to do my dewite
of service unto your grace, by the quhilk I paus nocht bot
to satisfy and accompleis your mynd in quhatsumevir
thingis as may gudelie stand with my pyssance, nocht
dowtting bot to ressave recompance at your graces handis
upon gude desertis. And to declair forthir myne effaris
I have directit this berare to schew my mynd at mair
lenth as I have gevin him informatioun in that behalf.
Sen I will nocht molest your grace in reding my lang
letteris, sa that it will pleis youre grace to gif him credite;
thus the almychty God mot have your grace in keiping.
Of Langtoun, the xxvj day of October 1548.
Your graces servitour at powar
P. ERLE BOTHUIL.
[\Endorsed:\] (\Monsieur de Baudouol.\)

<S SAMPLE 4A>

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<Y X>
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<Z X>

<P 84>
[} [\LXVI\] }]
[} [\SIR GEORGE DOUGLAS TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Caldor, Monday, 26th May (1544).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Eftir recommendatioun of my maist humble service
unto your grace I did wrytt unto you be my cousing
Henry Drummond and send credence that I wauld be
at your grace als schortle as was to me possible and so
come furth of the Mers this Sonday and this day come
to Caldor accompanyt wyth part of gentilmen my freyndis
<P 85>
towart your grace; and for suche causis as this present
berar my trusty freynd will schew unto you I mycht
nocht gudelie come to you at this present, desiring your
grace not to thynk bot I am and ever salbe reddy to do
your grace service according to your honour and the
common welth of this reaulme at the uttermaist of my
power as knawis the eternall God; quha have your grace
in his tuitioun. Writtin at Caldor this xxvj day of Mayi
at foir houris eftir noine, most humbly beseking your
grace to give ferme credence to this berar as to my self
and I war present.
Be your gracis humble obedient servitour
GEORGE DOWGLAS.

<P 88>
[} [\LXX\] }]
[} [\SIR GEORGE DOUGLAS TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 11th June (1544).\]
TO THE QUEINNIS GRACE.
   After mest humble recommendations on to yowr grace
and plesit the samning that I hawe send on to yow this
berer Rose Harret for to go vith yowr lettris to the king
off Ingland and that ye vill mak vith all expedition yowr
letter and hest hym avay, for the suner he go the better
<P 89>
it is. Make his letter vasly and vith gentill vourdis. I
hawe send yow ane clarke off the signet vith syke newis
as inccurrit [\sic\] for the present, and qwhat service I ma
do for yowr grace sall be redde at all tayms as knawis the
Eternell qwham hawe yow in his kayping. Vraytting
at Edinbruchg at fowr efter nwne the xi day off Jun.
(\Post scripta\) : plesit yowr grace to remember to heste
...off yowris avay vith the fyrst schipe in France and that
...to the king off France dissayring hym that he sen[{d
na?{] maner off thing to the guvernur, bot adres all m[{ony
to?{] yowr grace and to yowr consell, for ye knaw qwh[{ow?{]
...it dede yow the last mony that com to the e[{rll off?{]
Lenos; ther for I vald not put the king off France . . .
schargis and than the mony to be put in yowr ennemis
handis to howrt yow vith. Gud it is that ye vrayt ane
letter to schir Jhone Campell dissayring hym to dress
yowr materis vith the king for he is yowr awne servand
and ville be trest anuch to yow.
Be yowr gracis wyt serwes
GEORGE DOWGLAS.

<P 94>
[} [\LXXIII\] }]
[} [\SIR GEORGE DOUGLAS TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Dalkeith, 17th June (1544).\]
TO THE QWEINNIS GRACE.
   Efter mest humblele recommendations off my service
on to yowr grace and plesit this saming that ther is ane
Scottis man callit Sanders Prinille, and is it is sede
betrasit all the men off the Mers to the Inglis men; and
ther sowld ane man off the lorde Hwmis callit Donalsonne
that mette the sade Sanders rayden towart the Inglis
men and ane sparde hors in his hand; and this Donalde
sade to Sanders Prynille that he sowld advertis the lord
Hwme and the gentill men off the Mers that he vas rayden
to be trese tham; and he sade he sowlde repente his
vourdis: and the nixte nycht comme ane compenne
<P 95>
towart xvi or xx Inglis men to the sed Donaltis hows and
hes sclen hym and his swne bethe. This vas ane crewall
decht, fyrst to commit tresson and sayne morther; ther
for if it ma stand vith yowr graceis plesur that ye vald
vith avaysse off yowr lordis off the consell gewe the sade
Sanders off Prynnillis eschite on to the lard off Blaketer
for he hes taking gret hurt at this tayme. He hes xl off
his men ten and sclain, he bein in yowr graceis service
vith me in Sterling. The sade Sanders eschite is vert
lytill or noucht, bot to punis hym to gew uders exemple
to do so abominable dechts. Qwhat service yowr grace
ville command me vith sall be redde at all tayms as knawis
God qwha hawe yow in his kaypping; at Dakecht the
xvij day off Jun
be yowr gracis humble serviture
GEORGE DOWGLAS.

<P 104>
[} [\LXXXII\] }]
[} [\SIR GEORGE DOUGLAS TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Dalkeith, 4th September (1544).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Heifter most humell commendation off my servece on
to your grace, this Turisday my lord Borthik cuming
frome the cardenall till his awn hows I wes in huntyng,
and ane part off my serva[{n{]dis fortunit tyll meit the
sad lord Borthik and stopit hym, and he is ramaning in
<P 105>
your graceis castall off Dalkycht and sall on tyll your
sad plesor be knawing; besekand your grace to ramembar
the ungentyll handling of your gracis servandis be the
governowr and his frendis, trastyng that my lordis being
bund on to your grace for the comonne weill weyll put
rameid in his unrasonable handlyng off yowr gracis
subeis [\sic\] ; and I is on off your gracis servandis sall
... langis to me efter my litill powar, disiryng your
grace [{advertise?{] me off yowr plesor and put ane charp
ordor in thir he at[{tenttatis?{] don to your gracis attorate,
or illis it weill nocht be ragardit. I weill nocht truble
your grace with lang wr[{it{]yng. Quhat service yowr
grace weyll commend me with sall be rady as knawis
God, quham presarf yow. At Dawlkycht, the fourt day
off Septembar
be yowr graces howmil servand
GEORGE DOWGLAS.

<P 108>
[} [\LXXXV\] }]
[} [\SIR GEORGE DOUGLAS TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\28th September (1544?).\]
TO THE QUEYNIS GRECE.
   Efter mest humble recommendasions off my service
[{unto{] your grece, I hawe rasavit your gentil letter vraytin
vith your awne hande quiche promittis to me ane thousant
crownis in pension for my service, quiche I hawe nocht
dissarvit so gret revarde; bot I sal be redde to serve
your grace at al tyms to the beste off my power, and sal
nowther spare for feir off layffe nor guddis to do that
thing according to my honner to the plesur off your grece
and common veil off this ralme. For if ther be bot two
men in Scotland that vil bayde at your opinion I sal be
one and this is nocht for your greceis geir bot for my
promes and h[{onner?{] , quiche I sal never fel quhil I be
alaife a[{s knawis?{] the eternel God, quho presarve your
grece. ... xxviii off September
be yowr gr ... nd
GEORGE D ...

[} [\LXXXVI\] }]
[} [\SIR GEORGE DOUGLAS TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Dalkeith, 13th October (1544).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Eftyr most humyll recommendations of my sarves unto
yowr grace, this Sonday, the xii of Octobar, I hayf rasavit
<P 109>
ane lettyr of yowr gracis fra the parson of Ryne my lorde
Boduallis sarvand, with ane wryting of the yerl of Glencarnis
and sartan arteklis of his counsall, quhilk counsall
me thynk werray gude. Yowr gracis lettyr was lang
of cummyng to me, bot now sen at the tyme is dwyne,
it is gud ye suffyr not langer, becaws the governor waxis
prowd and the cuntray fallis to hym mayr for feyr nor
for luf. He garris the word gang that he hes the yerll of
Huntly, the yerll Marschall, the yerll of Argylle bund
onto hym ... ken this nocht of werrate. He brutis
this to draw the [{ha{]rtis of the pepyll fray yow and to
hym. Now, gud it [{wer?{] me think that yowr grace
wret to all the nobyll [{men{] of Skotland that wildo for
yow, spretuall and [{temporal{] , and desyre thame to cum
to Styrlyng to yowr [{grace{] ... awht days befoyr the
parlament the gavernor hes [{proclamit?{] , and at ye may
with the adwyses of thay nobyll men [{pr{]osede forduart
apon thame that assestis to the governor; for and ye
suffyr the governor and thaym to convene befoyr yow
the mast part of Skotland will cum to hym and than
hawe ye lost yowr purpos to the grate deshonowr of yow
and all yowr part takars and the destrwksion of this hayll
rewlm [\?\] . And quhayr yowr grace wretis to me that I
suld send master John Ballantyn unto you with the
quarter seyll to derek precepts of the parlament, I send
hym to yow to Strewalyng: and quhy wald nocht yowr
grace than caws hym to dow that thyng thane at become
hym to dow or ellis hawe tane the seyll fra hym and put
ane wdyr in the office, for it was saide be yowr grace and
all the lordis that the clarkkis of redgastair and Jus[{tice
<P 110>
with?{] all the hayll rest suld hawe bene send for, and if
thay had nocht cum the day at ye apontit thayme, thay
suld had beyn deschargit of thayr offecis and [{wderis put?{]
into the sam[{en{] and the selis suld hawe beyn ...; and
gif thai had dissobeyt thay suld hayve beyne ... and
new sells mayd. All thyr thyngis war spokin ...
nathing is dwyne. The schame is gret bot the s...
mayr aperandly be the slak handlyng of thyr aff[{airis?{]
... help yit and be deligent and gyf the lordis will ...
yow gar thame cum in ane substantiall manyr ... may
set fordwart thys mater with stranth and ... to return
haym agayn quhyll that thay stabyll ... ate at thay
hawe promest to yowr grace ... to lois owr lywes forfat.
Lat nodyr ca ... be sparit bot charge all manyr of
man ... and thay that cummys, hald thayme as yowr
[{freindis?{] ; thay that dowis the contrary, exteme thaym
[{ennemeis?{] to the quenis grace yowr dohtter and yow
and brak[{arris?{] of the commonn weyll of this rewlm.
Your grace sall wit me lord of Angus is raturnit fra the
bord[{aris{] and hes performit his promes maid to yowr
grace and the lordis ... trastyng all the nobyll men at
was pr[{esent?{] well dow the samen, for we sall nocht fayll
to perform the rest be the grace of God. It sall nodyr be
for fayr words nor proffet that sall gar ws menis ane
grane of owr honor nor promes maid onto yowr grace.
Thayr is gret delygens mayd be the [{governor{] and cardenall
to brek the lordis and nobyl men fray yow and
large proffetis offerit thame; and gyf thay can nocht get
thayme to thayr purpos, offeris thayme proffet to ramane
at hame; and als thay labor at all thayr frendis handis
that ar gentilmen to thame to solest thay lordis and
offerris thame ... that is of souerte. Thayrfor yowr
grace, with awys of the lordis, man wret awtentyk letteris
to all the nobyll men and send wise gentilmen with the
<P 111>
sayd letteris to parswade bayth lordis and gentilmen to
yowr gracis purpos. This day thayr is ane presep of
parlament derekit be the governor to my lord James
and ane wdyr is cum to the yerll of Mortown. A am
swyr thay ar derekit owr all the realm in lyk manyr, and
thayrfor pro[{sede?{] as ye thenk caws with deligens. I
will trwbyll yowr grace na mayr with wretyng at this
present ... this[{?{] desyring yow to apardoun my rude
dytyng bot fors constraines me swa to dw, as knaws God,
quhaw consarwe yowr grace in gud halth. At Dalketh,
this Monunday, the xiii of this mowneth of Octobar
be yowr grases ... servand
GEORGE DOWGLAS.

[} [\LXXXVII\] }]
[} [\SIR GEORGE DOUGLAS TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Tantallon, 18th October (1544).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Efter most humell commendasion of my serwis to [{your{]
grace, I rasaifit your wryttyng with the pressep[{is of{]
parlament the xvij of this instant and sall acor[{dingly{]
adres the said pressepis, and in lykmaner sall ... me
lord of Angus acordyng to your grace ... It is fair west
to the erllis of Angus Bothwel [{and me?{] to bryng owr
folkis to Styrlyng for y[{our grace{] and the nobeill men that
cumis to yow most mu[{ster?{] towart Edynbruch. We
sall fors the gufu[{rnor and{] hes part takaris to cum furth
to the feilddis and f[{echt{] with us or ellis we sall hungar
tham to deith. W[{ithin{] vj dayis ane of ws thre sall be
with your grace agan the conwenssion of the lordis. I
<P 112>
beseik yowr grac to be delegent and spar nodyr for cost
nor lawbor at this pressent; for geif this maitter cum [\?\]
forwart with you ye weill haif no mor trubell be no Scottisman.
Plesit your grace I haif ... wryttyng that com
fra ane kynis man of the lord Grayeis quho schawis on
to me that the cardenell makis gr[{et{] lawbor tell haif the
said lord bund on to him [{and{] to be inimye to your grac.
I wald it suld sta[{nd with{] yowr plessur to wrytt on to
the lord Gr[{ay and{] Jhon Charturrs and send ane cradabell
g[{entilman{] with yowr wryttyngis and offar tham proffattis
[{gyf the?{] maitter sall be drest tuchyng the town
[{of Sanct?{] Jhonstown at the sycht of me lord Mar
[{shal?{] . Geif yowr grac well send ane wys man I tr[{est
it{] maye be drest to your graceis purpos. It war ane
greit weill to yow to haif tham, for the card[{inal{] has no
man to tak hes part bott tham. [{Gyf?{] this matter
wald be down in hast and delegentle, mye cussyng Harre
Drummuntt war ane meit man to send to me lord Graye
and Jhon Charturrs for he hes greit cradens of [{th{]am.
He man ryd wyssle; the guffornor and cardenell luffis
[{na{] man wars. I sall wrytt to the said lord and Jhon
Charturrs [{quhi{]lk I trest sall do gud. Your grac sall
dres ane diffarrans betuex me lord Ruffane and tham and
that sall be gret well for the haill contra. I haif nocht
hard how [{me{]e lord Argyll Glencarn and Cassillis and the
westland men deid at ther tryst in Air, for geif tha be
sur to yowr grace and bryng ther frendis with tham your
matter well ga with yow: for me lord of Huntle Marchell
<P 113>
and Arrell as wrytten on to me that tha well kype promes
on to yowr grace. Gef ye haif the lord Graye ye haif fra
Taye north. Gef yowr grac well gar me lord Askin sand
for the lard of Lochleifin and at he Cum and speik with
yow and se geif ye maye haif hem to be yowrs, for he is
bath throw and manle and well kyp that he promissis;
it is said me that erll of Rothes well be the cardenellis,
and the lard of Lochleiffin and he well nocht be bath on
ane syd as [{I{] beleif. I wald yowr grace wald send for
the lard of Rath and caus hem to speik with all the
gentilmen of Fyf and mak tham yowrs. I well trubell
your grace no mor with this pressent. Quhat serwis ye
well command me with sall be rade is knawis God, quhom
haif yow in kyppyng. At Thamtallon, the xviij of
Octobar
be yowr graces sarwand
GEORGE DOWGLAS.

<P 338>
[} [\CCXXIX\] }]
[} [\SIR GEORGE DOUGLAS TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 18th June (1550).\]
TO THE QWENNS GRACE.
   Efter mest humble recommendations off my service
unto yowr grace, ye sal vit that the guvernur hes send and
dissayrit to speik vith me; and I vas contentit, he coming
<P 339>
to Dakecht; and so he dydde. He cowme to Dakecht
on Munday at nycht, fowre hors vith hym. I commund
vith hym at lencht as I sall forder schaw yowr grace at my
spayking vith yow. Yowr grace hes horde off the taking
off the provest off Edinbruchg; and the balyes and the
honest men off the towne send to me and dissayrit me to
cowme and support tham off my consell, and so I cowme
to the towne this Twisday at vi owrs and this Vednisday
ves in the Frers vith the conselle off the towne, qwhar ther
vas offers and dissayris betwix the guvernur and tham.
And so the towne hes dissayrit that tha ma hawe ther
provest fredde betwix this and Frayday apon surtes or
plegis, and he to mak ansur till ony thing that ma be
sedde to hym off resson: and gew the guvernur vill nocht
fre hym betwix this and Frayday tha ville schyse ane
nuder provest. This is the newis that incurris for this
present. Qwhat service yowr grace ville command me
vith sall be redde at all tayms, as knawis God, qwham
hawe yowr grace in kaypping. At Edinbruchg, the xviij
day off Jun.
Be yowr grasis wyt serwes
GEORGE DOWGLAS.

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<P 21>
[} [\XVIII\] }]
[} [\SIR GEORGE DOUGLAS TO CARDINAL BEATON\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 16th August, 1543.\]
   Plesit your gud lordschip that I com to my lord
governour this Thurisday the xvith of August at efter
noune and hes declarit your gud mynd unto his grace
and therefter in his presence has schawin to all the counsall
the writing maid betuix your lord and ws, and it was wele
acceptit be my lord governour and all the counsall. And
his grace with all diligence has directit furth proclamacionis
<P 22>
accordinglie as was commonit betuix your lord and
ws and has scalit the fute band; and sa all thingis is and
salbe performit on my lord governouris part conforme
to oure promis, nocht doubting bot your lord will in
symlable maner do for your part, and the rest of my lordis.
Praying your gud lord to advertis me of the samyn
that I may the mair directlie speik in thai effaris. And
according to your lordschippis plesour I have spokin with
my lady, quha has commandit me to writt to your lord
that the samyn salbe sur of hir gud mynd, trasting that
ye will stand gud unto my lord governour hir housband
quhilk I have said larglie on your behalve unto hir. And
als my lord governour has writtin for all the lords to be
in Edinburgh the twenty day of this instant that his
grace may have thare advise and counsale for the setting
forwart of the materis of England according to your
lord communicacioun and myn. Thar sall na tym be
pretermittit in all the busynes (as your lord and I commonit
at lenth) on this part, desyring your wysdom to
pacify all materis for your part and to have in your
rememberance God and the common welth of this realme,
nocht doubting bot your gud lord will. Praying for
advertisment of thir premissis in writing with your lordschip
gud counsale quhilk I sall glaidlie fulfill to my litle
power as knawis God, quha have your lord in his eternale
tuitioun. Writtin at Edinburgh the said xvi day of
August 1543.
Be your lord wyt serves
GEORGE DOWGLAS.
[\Endorsed:\] To My gud Lord, Cardinall of Sanctandrois.

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<P 89>
[} [\LXXI\] }]
[} [\SIR GEORGE DOUGLAS TO WILLIAM BELL\] }]
[\Dalkeith, 16th June (1544).\]
TO MY CUSING VILZAM BELLE.
   Cusing, efter hartly recommendations I resavit yowr
vrayting this Sonday the xvi day off Jun vith ane letter
fra the qweinis grace, qwhar be I parsawe that hir grace
maynd is that I sould returne towart Sterling to gew hir
may aways and consell for the sending bode in Ingland
and in France and gud it var that hir grace be awayss off
<P 90>
the lordis dereckit away the harret in Ingland vith hir
vrayting on to the kingis mageste and that the letter be
vaysely med and vith gentill vourdis: the clarke off the
register can make it veille and he ville at commendement
off the qwein gar vrayt it. And als swa I valde it stude
vith hir grace plesur for to send avay ane trest servand
off hyrs to the king off Franse maken mension qwhow
the guvernur wsis hym and qwhow schw hes junde to
geder all the nobille men off the rawme for the serving
off the qwennis grace hir doucter and diffense of
this rawme agennis the alde ennemis, and qwhow hir
grace is put in authorite hir selfe, and declare on to the
kingis grace of France all maters as tha hawe procedit
at this tayme dissayring his graceis gud consell vith
supportasion off syk niscessers as hir grace and the
guvernur hes vrayting for vith hir imbassaturs, and at
the support that tha mycht hew sowlde be hestit on to
hir grace, and that mension be mede on to the king off
France that hir grece hes all the helle nobille men off the
rawme unit togeder qwhilke vas never afor sen the dyde
off the kingis grace qwham God assolze, and ville be redde
bode sche and tha for to do the king off France bode
plesur and servis as fermely as ewer the king off Scotland
vas. Thir presentis rehers in the qwennis letter qwhilk
I doute nocht bot schw ville do better nor I can dewayse
ane gret deylle. Nocht the les this is my pure consell
according to my mest bundent dewte qwhilk sall ewer be
redde to do hir grace servis: and if ony prewet person
syk as the guvernur or the cardenell valde vrayt to the
king off France in contrare off hir grace, he beand advertiste
<P 91>
afor qwhow vaysely sche hes orderit hir maters he
vill nocht estime ther infurmasion nor disdynis leis.
This is may dewaysse and consell and gewe I var vith hir
grace I cowld do no more, and make ye may excuse that
I cum nocht presently that the sychte off hir graceis
letter for I hawe mony gret maters ado and I vald put
sowm order or I departit towart hir and tham to remen
according to hir mest gracius plesur. Ther is taking at
this rede dyvers gentillmen off the Mers beand my
freindis and servandis; ther is taking the lard off Cokburne
and his broder, the lard off Langton broder vith
dyvers uder gentill men and ane gret numbre off tham
and ther for I most in the Mers to se gewe I can helpe to
borro thir men onder bandis and I hawe ane syster sown
off my awne, the lard off Vedderburneis broder taking,
and gew I sowld nocht helpe thir men now in ther neide
tha vald nocht serve me eftervart qwan I mistert tham;
thar for I pra yow mek may excuse on to the qweinnis
grace or I sall be at hir grace schortly and dispeche my
bissenes vith als gret diligence as sall be to me possibille
and ther efter cwm and ramen vith hir grace as lang as
hir plesur is, preand yow to advertis me off the sam
qwhilk I sall fulfille to the utermest off my power as
knawis God, qwham hawe yow in his kaypping. Vrayting
<P 92>
at Dakecht the xvi day off Jun. I dissayre yow to schaw
hir grace this letter be caus I rafarre all maters to yowr
vrayting.
Be yowr cowseng
GEORGE DOWGLAS.

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<P 95>
[} [\LXXIV\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 1st July (1544).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madam, I besyk your grace hald this wryting sacrit.
Your grace sall pleis wit I was redde to depart on Fryday
at fyf howris on the mornnyng that the governouris
sarvandis cryit the proclamacion, quhay met me be the
<P 96>
way rydand and inquirit me quhayr I was rydand;
quhayr efter, seand I culd nocht weill ewayd, I ansurit
and said I was passand to my lord governour for certan
besines I had ado. Quhayr efter my cuming to hym I
dysirit his ansuir to the kyngis grace of France be rason
that I was to depart to his grace, quha ansurit and said
he was to depart to Homilton and thair efter wald depart
to Sanctandrois and suld thair gyf me ane ansuir be my
lord cardenall dewis at my dysir, assurand me of on
thyng - that he suld debait the ald alliens of France
and was determit, he beand sarply put at, to deliver the
strenthis of Scotland in the kyngis grace of France handis.
Forder he dysirit me to hawe passit with ane sarvand of
his to my brother the erll of Huntly to hawe dysirit hym
to hawe bein his and debatit his querall or at the lest for
tyll lyin by and bein equall, offerand many wayin profferis
quhylk is nocht nessessar to wryt to your grace. I ansurit
sayand I culd nocht mell me with syk materis be reson
I was the kyng of France sarvand, bot quhat his lordship
wald charg me to do for the comon weill of the realm or
sustenand the ald allya of France his lordship suld fynd
me redde efter my powar. Quhayr I departit plesandly
fra his lordship and said I suld meit his lordship in           #
Sanctandrois
to rasawe my ansuir. Thair efter I past fordward
to Tamtallowin to hawe spokin with my lord of Angws
quha was nocht thair, bot I spak with his brother George
in the Quhyt kyrk, quhom I fynd gyfin to sarf your grace
trewly; and hes comond with hym at lenth as I sall schaw
your grace at metyng. He is departit to Pebylis to met
my lord his brother and hes casit me to ramayn in this
thown quhyll ther cowmin to Dacayth, quhair he sais
that I sall hayf his brotheris my lord of Angus ansuir to
<P 97>
my disyr. Quhayr efter I salbe at your grace and adverteis
your grace of the novellis I fynd or hyr. Ther is
ane schyp cowm furth of Denmark quhay sayis the kyng
of Denmarkis armey ar departit to Swedin in feir of weir
and is surly appointit with the emprior. Prayand God,
madam, efter my hartly commendacion [{of{] my hwmyll
servis, preserf your nobyll grace eternely. Writtin at
Edinburg the fyrst day of July
be your grace maist h[{u{]myll and maist
obeyssant sempill servitour
A. GORDON.

<P 102>
[} [\LXXX\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\St. Andrews, 6th August (1544).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, yowr grace sall pleis witt my lord cardinall
send ther synry writyngis to me to Innerpeffry, prayand
<P 103>
me to cum and speik with his lordship, and in his last
writyng advertesand me off writyngis wes cum owt off
France fra (\monsieur\) de la Croix, writyne the ix day off
Junij; quhowm fray I rasawit ane, schawand off his
gud passag, and referritt all nowellis to my lord cardinall
writyng and the ambasadouris. My lord cardinall advertist
me off yowr grace credit quhilk wes gyffin to master
Jone Hay, the gentilman that cowm laitlye owt of Denmarkthe,
to schaw his lordship, off the quhilkis he hes
maid yowr grace ansour in my [{lord cardinallis{] ambasadouris
writyngis. Madame, we ar advertist for sowr that
(\monsieur\) de Wauldry is tyn presoner and is in Berwyk,
the quhilk is greitt damnage; quharfor, gyf yowr grace
and the ambasadour thynkis necessair for the weill off
this realm and service off the kyngis grace my master to
send ony uthyr haistelye in France, I sall be reddy at
command for ther is ane schip hyr in this towyn that will
be reddy to depart vithin xi or xii dais. Fordar I refer
all uther newellis to my cummyng to yowr grace. Prayand
God, Madame, efter my maist h[{u{]myll commendacion
off hartlye service, preser yowr nobill grace eternaly.
Writyn at Sanctandrois, the sext day off August
be yowr graice maist h[{u{]myll servitour
A. GORDON.

<P 104>
[} [\LXXXI\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\St. Andrews, 20th August (1544).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, efter my maist h[{u{]myll commendacion off
hartlye service pleis yow[{r{] grace I am her with my lord
cardinall quhar I can do yowr grace better service as with
yowr grace, assurand yowr grace I sall do my detfull
diligence to hald my lord cardinall at the best opinion
for yowr grace affect; bot att the list my beyng hyr sall
be to yowr grace awantage as yowr grace sall knaw at
metyng at mair lentht. The end will schaw quha dois
yowr grace best service; quhowm I pray God hawe
yowr grace eternaly in his keppyng. Writyn at Sanctandrois,
the xx day of August
be yowr grace maist h[{u{]myll sugget and servitour
A. GORDON.
   I spaik with my brother, the erll off Huntley, quha I
am asswritt will nocht faill to keip ane gud part to yowr
grace by all the wardyll as yowr grace will knaw.

<P 224>
[} [\CLVIII\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\(c. March - April 1548.)\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, efter the closyng off this mas I gatt ane
writtyng fra my lord quhilk yowr grace ples resave. We
hawe derekit Kempe away agane to my lord to entyrteny
the pwrpos quhill fordar remeid be fownd; and at Kemppeis
retwrnyng yowr grace salbe advertist. I hawe
maid ane wreittyng to my lord quhilk I am content he
schaw, makand mention quhow at the last convention
yowr grace had aggreitt all the nobill men, quhou ar
determit to debait the mater to the utyrmast of thar
p[{o{]war; and sik lyk off gret support that is cum and
cumand owt off France, in the best manere my wyt culd
extend the mater. I thynk (\monsieur\) de Laya hes nocht
bene at the cowrt or the departyng off my lord ambassadour,
bot dowttis nocht efter Laya speikkis with the
<P 225>
kyngis grace bot his grace wilbe advertist off my service
quhilk I remit haill to yowr grace, in quhame trewly is my
haill hoip.
   Be your grace maist humyll and maist obedient
servant
CAITH[{N{]ES.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M=e=\) Alexandre Gordon.

<P 227>
[} [\CLXI\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 21st April (1548).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, pleis yowr grace witt the man hes failzeit trist
and we ar makand new prowision to se the maneir and to
affix ane new trist. Fordar, madame, at my cummyng
to this toune I deliverit nocht yowr grace writyngis to
my lordis governour nor Dunkell becais all wes done and
orderit as yowr grace wald or my cummyng; therfor hes
send the writyngis to yowr grace agane. My lord ambasadour
wes schawin he hed wreittyng to my lady
Hwntlye fra the kyngis grace; as to that behalf I refer
to yowr grace and dowttis nocht bot yowr grace will
asswre my lord ambasadour of my lord my brotheris part
quha hes na mair p[{o{]war of hym self, nor may nocht lyf
<P 228>
with honour to failze, for the quhilk I will set my hand.
And, fordar, yowr grace sall pleis rasave ane writyng of
my lordis awyn hand quhair he commandis me to mak ane
end, sayand he is content for his part; quhilk wreittyng
I pray yowr grace keip. I am haldyn hyr with proces
afoir the lordis aganis my compeditour, quhair I sall do
yowr grace as greitt service as I wer in yowr grace presence,
as yowr grace sall knaw at meittyng.
   Fordar, madame, prayand allmythye God, efter my
maist hw[{m{]yll commendacioune off service, preser yowr
grace ever. At Edynbrucht, the xxj day of Aprille, be
the hand off
Yowr grace mast hwmyll and maist obedient servitour
CAITHNES.

[} [\CLXII\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 25th April (1548).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, efter maist hwmyll commendacioune off
hartlye service praya[{n{]d yowr grace to aperdon me off
my lang tarry to wreitt to yowr grace; nochtwithstandding,
yowr grace may considdyr be thir synry writyngis
my vigilance. Madame, the mater standdis now in this
maneir. I thynk nocht the man may be ony way enschew
be rasone thar is ane greitt suspitione, quhilk quhen the
man schaw that hys keipparis wer advertist, hestely maid
prowision in this sort: he cawsit Jhone Wymmis your
grace master howshaldis sone that wes capitane off Dunbar
say that ther cowme ane man fra my lord governour
<P 229>
and bayd Jhone Wemmis pray my lord gyf he mycht
enschew to cum away on hors bak, quhilk he wald say
that he refwsit. And tharefter my lord schew to his
keppar quhow Jhone off Wemis schew hym sic lyk and
that he refwsit the samin. Swa Jhone off Wemis is pwt
and haldyn in ane schalmer and takis the haill mater on
hym, sayand he schew sic thynkis to my lord as my lord
governour send hym word to do; and thus my lordis part
is haldyn gwd. And suppois the schyp be thayr I trow
it be nocht possib[{i{]ll to my lord to eschaip. Thair for,
madame, I man on force pas to my lord and gyf yowr
grace thynkkis expediane I cum to yowr grace or my
departyng, I sall do the samen. Uthyr wayis I sall pas
fordart and do sa, God willyng, as I sall answer to yowr
grace. Allwayis, madame, I am contrynit to schaw your
grace quhow I can gett na way off sylver fra my gud
sister my lady Hwntlye; and trewly, madame, schew
can nocht instantlye hawe price nor sell of gwddis be
merchanddis. And as to my awyn benefice, ingudfayth
I gart never ane plak sen my cummyng in Scoitland.
Quhow sone I may hawe of my awyn yowr grace sall nocht
be molestit. I am determit to aggre with my compeditour
quharthrow I may have sa suir lyffyng, bot in the myn
tym I hawe na uthyr esperance bot only in yowr grace:
remittand the answer in this behalf to yowr grace plesouris.
I knaw your grace is ampill anewcht advertist quhow all
<P 230>
materis standdis hyr, quharin I asswre yowr grace Robert
Car[{n{]egy dois hys dewoire. I fynd ws sum part cald in
the mater bot trewly it is rycht abill [{to{] cum to ane
tw[{i{]llze. My lord of Dunkell schaw hym lyk ane nobill
man. My lord of Angus wald fane hyr of commonyng.
Your grace knawis quhair in the feir lyis. Wald my lord
governour tak the haysort it war the better as I trow he
sall, thocht he be laycht therto. I pray God help all;
quha preser yowr grace eternally. At Edynbrucht, the
xxv day of Aprille, be the hand off
Yowr grace maist hw[{m{]yll and maist obedient
servitour
CAITHNES.
   I beseik yowr grace ryff this bill efter it be red becas
of the first part that twychis my lord.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M=e=\) Alexandre Gordon.

[} [\CLXIII\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 29th April (1548).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, pleis yowr grace witt I have rasavit ane
writyn fra my lord my brother sen my last writyng to
yowr grace, quhilk ye sall pleis rasave; quhairby yowr
grace may knaw his greit desyr is I cum to hym with
diligence, and becais the last berare I send to yowr grace
is nocht retwrnit I have derekit this berare off new. My
lord is at the pointt as I wreitt to yowr grace and man
schortlye declair hym self; therfor, madame, the sonair
the better that I depart ; quhair efter my retwrnyng yowr
<P 231>
grace sall hawe na fordar cummyr in that behalf for my
lord is determit to ramane presunir quhill God send
better. Besekand yowr grace, sawend greteir besynis,
advertys me gyf yowr grace ples command me ony wthyr
service and to sopport me or my departyng as yowr grace
thynkkis expedane, for trewly, Madame, ther is myster.
I dowt nocht bot yowr grace is better advertist of our
doyngis nor I can wreit, bot always I feir we do lytyll at
this tym. The sonair yowr grace cumis it wilbe the better.
Prayand God, Madame, efter maist hwmyll commendacione
off hartlye service, preswer yowr grace eternally.
At Edynbrwcht, the xxix day off Aprille, be the hand off
Yowr grace maist hwmyll and maist obedient servitour
CATHNES.

<P 239>
[} [\CLXXI\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\(c. May - July 1548?).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, I wreitt to yowr grace affoir with my servand
and is hartlye myscontentit to hawe so neidfull occasione
to molest yowr grace with my pwre adverseteis, quhilk
I am constranit do, haweand na wthyr, ondyr God, for
my releiff, - for only, beand weill rememberit, the occasione
off all this trebill I swstyne is my laboris and attendence
to hycht besynes concernyng this Realm and my pwre
hows, and hes mellit sa far thairin that I cwld nocht retyre
me from daly service bwt tynsell off my procedyng and
jopart off my honour, quhilk hed alwayis bene owt off
recowerance wer nocht yowr grace help. And in this
myn tym my pwre leyffyng wes possest with my compeditour,
and can hawe na apoinctement: that now
am I onhabill to obtyn possession without greitt inconwenience,
far les abill to await on service, for gyf I pas
northrt to obtyn possession it salbe occasione to hald
syndry frome yowr grace service, quha, beand nocht will
<P 240>
mynddit, wald be glaid off that occasione. And wanttane
my leyffyng, I hawe nocht to awaitt on service, quhilk,
gyf I mycht do, I wer sewr off reward; or, gyf I mycht
with yowr grace wreittingis obtyn the kyngis grace
presence or be fwrnyst therto, I dowt nocht releyff. In
gud fayth, Madame, I hawe rowine my self sa far at oudyr
that I may nether fwrnys me self to serve, nor sic remeid
quhar it may be hed. Swa that, trewly, better wittit men
nor I mycht abill syk gretair inconvenience [\sic\] , beand
at this poinct, nor I sall, God willyng; asswerand yowr
grace I gatt offerris at my last beyng in Ingland to hawe
cawsit ane pwre man hyr, bot alwayis that adversete nor
feir of deid sall never cum to me that sall gar me offend
yowr grace nor my honour: for, suppois powyrty banys
me your grace service, ryches sall nocht caus me offend.
Wald God my pwissance wer conforme to my will. Bot
werst off all, thocht I wald waire my self to obtyn honor,
I want substance to pwtt me therto. Exorting yowr grace
aperdon my hardines in my familiar wreittyng, quhelk
procedis only off affection to do yowr grace service. And
gyf yowr grace pleis lat me knaw yowr will and mynd,
I sall yit do diligence to fwfill the samin, and wthyrwayis
salbe na way offend.
   Prayand almychtye God, efter my maist hw[{m{]bill
commendatione off hartlye service, preserve yowr nobill
grace in lang haill and wylfair. Wreittyn by the hand off
yowr grace maist hwmyll and maist obedient servitour
CAITHNES.

<P 269>
[} [\CLXXXII\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Innerpeffry, 8th September (1548).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, effter maist hwmyll commendacioune off
hartlye service, pleis yowr grace witt I have bene hayfely
vexit with seknes sen my departyng fra yowr grace, and
now intendis to depart to speik with my lady my sistyr.
I am advertist my lord of Combas is cowme, thairfor I
thoycht necessair to advertys yowr grace to knaw gyff
yowr grace will assuir me lady off sylver to hailp hyr
passyng in Ingland, or gyff yowr grace pleis command me
ony wthyr thyng. Allwayis prayis yowr grace lat me
knaw gyf yowr grace wald ony fordar for assuirty off my
lordis service to the kyngis grace owr mastyr, quhilk I
will tak on hand to obtyn quhairthrow I may fynaly end
my promys maid to our forsad mastyr and kyng, withowt
quhais help be yowr grace laborris owr powre hows can
nocht stand. And becais I will cummyr yowr grace with na
langair writyngis I refer the rest to this berare yowr grace
servand and answ[{e{]r as will pleis yowr grace command me;
quham almychtying God preser in sawl and body. At yowr
grace hows of Inerpeffry, the acht day of September be
Yowr grace maist hwmyll and maiste obediant serwitour
CAITHNES.
   My lady my modyr commenddis hyr maist hwmyll
and [{obedient{] service to yowr grace, and in lyk wayis
the lord yowr grace serwitoris humyllis. [\sic\]

<P 286>
[} [\CXCIX\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Jedburgh, 20th February (1548-9).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, efter maist hwmyll commendacioune off
hartlye service ples yowr [{grace{] witt, sen our departyng
I ramanit and doid syk service to my lord Desse and the
<P 287>
army as lay in my p[{o{]war. The strangerris and specially
the suddarttis hes heid greitt necessite off wiweris            #
nochtwithstanddyng
ony laboris cwld be tane. My lord at
his cummyng hyr patt ordour to the toune and gart mak
proclamatiounis in the cuntray for fwrnysyng off the
army, quhilk was neverwelws dificille to be doune. Bot
now I hoip in God the warst is past, for ther is prowisione
maid that the gentill men off the cuntray sall furnys daly,
ilk ane conforme to ther bownddis, sa mony marttis
mwtone quhytt and malt as the army thynkkis may
staik  tham, and beliwis swrly with the help yowr grace
will gar mak off Edynbrwcht we sall hawe wewerris att
will. At my lordis cummyng the capitaine off Farnyhe[{r{]st
thoycht tyll [{haf{] eschaippitt, wer nocht my lord
gart hald ane stark wache, quhair effter thay desirit to
randyr the hows being sawe at ther efter thar lyffis
alennyrly sawe [\sic\] , the quhilk my lord thoycht nocht best,
bot entyrtenit tham quhill the cummyng of (\monsieur\)
Desse, quha thoycht it werray necessair to be done,
thynkand it culd nocht be haid bwt greit tynsell off men.
Bot all wayis my lord past hym self and mannit the laycht
place with certane Frenchte men and Scoittis men and
fell to the carmwschte, quhair capitane Pearre long with
twa wderis war hwrt, and ane callit Cranstoune shoyt
thorycht the schwlder; quhair throw we culd nocht hawe
<P 288>
patience to byd of fordar prowision, bot laid fiyre to the
irne yett and handelit tham swa scharply as we culd
quhill ane serwand of the lerd of Balclwtht wes slane - 
ane callit Twlloycht, quha wes the first that antrit in
Howme - off the quhilk my lord wes hychtly commowitt,
and ther effter send for mair hagbwtarris to (\monsieur\)
Desse and altelyery. Quha cowme hym selff with all
the gentillmen off the army, my lord ambassadour with
the first that my lord hym selff passit with tham to
the wallis, quhilk I belieff wes by the commyssion and
promys he maid to my lady and wes by my awice. All
wayis it wes sa scharply handelyt that thay cryit at all
tymis for mercy, and in the myn tym we wroycht with
pykkis and mattokkis quhill the wall wes cwttit, and swa
schortlye the capitane wes crwely slane and ane greitt
part off the sowldarttis that I belyff thay sall few cum
to cownt. And on Monunday we twk ane interpris to
pas in Ingland and to hawe cawsit the clannis of the
cuntray fyll thayr handdis on the enymeis, and beleyffit
na les nor tyll hawe haid at the lyst twa thwsand Scoittis
men. Bot on the morrow, marchand forwart, we fand
ws faire by that nwmyr, quhar in the myn tyme my lordis
spy mett hym be the way, schewand quhow the Inglis
army wes awaittand on our cummyng, quhilk wes off
trewtht. Than my lord gart tak moustryrris to se quhat
nwmyr we culd be off Scoittis men, quhar we fand na
pwrpos to pas fordwart, remembyryng the baittaill wes
hasertws. And gyf ony inconv[{enie{]nt had happinit the
occasioune therof hed bene thoycht in my lordis defalt,
quhilk commowit my lord hychtly, by the ewill weddyr
<P 289>
that cowme in swc sort that, gyf we had passit fordwart,
we had lossit ane greit part of our army and byne in
danger of fordar inconve[{n{]ient. Quhilk beand considerit
my lord excusit the mater, sayand we had sclepitt
to lang, and gart mak ane red on est Tavydall to redwire
the rebellis to obedience, quhilk of threwcht wes werray
necessair; and [{at?{] our retwrnyng sett fordwart the
makkyn off ane fort, seand nay wthyr way to bryng the
cuntray to obedience; quhilk effter lang disputatioune
culd nocht be thoycht possibille becais the asseatt wes
swa incommode that on force we behwffit to mak twa
forttis - ane to answour and defend the wdyr - quhilk hed
bene to lang. Yit my lord twk (\monsieur\) de Wyngallome
and passit abowt the tone, and at the last hes fwnd ane
assyett on the swtht syd of the tone, mekill mair necessair
and off les trawaill and expensis; and ther effter broycht
fowrtht the rest of the capitainis, quhar we haid lang
dispwtacioune,
and (\monsieur\) de Wyngallome debaitit the
mater with sik rasonis that the place wes thoycht gwd;
and ther effter the mater wes dispwtit in consell and
hoppit of na deliberacioune, swa that (\monsieur\) Desse and
my lord ambassadour with the rest off capitainis and
gentilmen woittit ilk ane for ther awyn part; bot at the
end my lord ambasadour broycht it to that fyn that
the haill army wald do that thyng culd be thoycht be my
lord governour and the consell necessair for the service of
the Realme. Quhareffter off trewtht my lord doid his
part, bot effter we haid concludit and I reddy to hawe
<P 290>
schawyn the conclusion and delibratioune off my lord
governour and the consell in presence of the haill nobill
men off the army, my lord governour start schortly abak,
quhilk maid ws all attonyst. Alwayis my lordis Hwntlye
and Dunkell followit my lord governour and effter greitt
flytyng maid hym contentit and deliverit to mak ane
stryntht, prowydyng that my lord wald promys to byd
with hym, quhilk he doid, and maid ane prowision quhow
we mychtht recowyr thre thowsand pwnddis, becais
(\monsieur\) de Wyngallyone twk on hym to compleitt the
stryntht in thretty dayis hawand ane thowsand pionerris,
quhilk had bene to sair to hawe lositt this cuntray in falt
off sa sobyr ane sowme. Swa, madame, we hoip in God
with pane and laboris our wayage sall be profitabille to
yowr grace service. I hawe maid this lang dischowrs
knawand yowr grace hes nocht greitt besynes, and to gyff
yowr grace to knaw the haill procedyngis sen our departyng.
Twychand my lorddis besynes towart the kyngis grace he
refferris the haill mater to yowr grace as yowr grace
thynkkis expedient and hes wreittyin to maister Jhone
Hay, nocht w[{ith{]standdyng he send hym of Londone
the effett of the apponctement gyffen hym be yowr grace,
that the samen be refferrit to yowr grace advertiss[{m{]enttis
and the kingis grace plesour. Fordar prayis yowr grace
speik to thir gentillmen to remembyr the kyngis grace on
my pwer service quhilk salbe fwnddyin, God willyng, to
yowr grace contentacioune and commandement; prayand
God gyf yowr grace lang heill with contentacioune off yowr
desyrris. Wreityng at Jegbrwcht, the xx day of Febrware,
be the hand [{off{]
Yowr grace maist hw[{m{]yll and maist obedient servitour
CATHNES.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M.\) de Catenes.

<P 291>
[} [\CC\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Jedburgh (c. 20th - 26th February 1548-9.)\]
Madame, pleis yowr grace witt, sen my last wreittyng
our purpois wes changit, as my lord ambasadour will schaw
yowr grace. My lord hes wreittyn to the kyngis grace, my
lord constable, and to my lordis duk of Omall and
cardinall off Gwys, quhilk ar bot generall writyngis off
creditt: ther is na mention off ony besynes. Yowr grace
will do in that behalf as ye th[{i{]nk best, asswrand yowr
grace my lord may do na mair for the contentacioune of
[{yowr{] grace service nor he dois, as the end will schaw. I
will [{nocht{] cummyr yowr grace with langar wreittyng,
desyrand yowr grace hwmily to estyme me as yowr grace
hwmyll and pwre servitour; prayand God preser yowr
grace eternaly. At Jegbrwcht, be the hand off
yowr grace mast hwmyll and maist obedient servitour
CAITHNES.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M.\) de Catenes.

<P 311>
[} [\CCXVII\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\(c. September 1549?).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, efter my maist hwmyll commendacioune of
service I hawe send ane servand to await on yowr grace
serwand, lord of Fynletter, for the wreittyngis yowr grace
<P 312>
ples send to the quenis grace yowr grace dochtyr, and
wtheris as yowr grace thynkkis cawis. I hawe deliverit
yowr grace writyngis to the lord of Downe. Madame, as
to the lord of Finletterris besynes, I hawe broycht to ane
gwd end that my lord my brother hes assurrit me to aggre
with hym at his retwrnyng heir, quhilk trewly, madame,
wer ane meretable thyng to help, and to the greit weill of
our pwre hws, and to seis the scandell. And, fordar, as
to my part I sall, God willyng, mereitte to be estymit ane
of yowr gracis hartly servitoris: referrand the rest to
yowr grace plesour and command, quhame God preserve.
Be the hand of yowr grace
Maist hwmyll and maist obed[{i{]ent servitor
CAITHNES.
[\Endorsed:\] Cattenes.

[} [\CCXVIII\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Dumbarton, Tuesday (8th October 1549).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, efter hartlye commendacione of himyll service
ples witt I come to Dumbartane this Monunday to the
schyp, quhilk as I can persaive will nocht be reddy to
mak saill this sex dayis; q[{u{]harfor gyff yowr grace pleis
<P 313>
command me ony uthyr service in the myn tyme yowr
grace wyll fynd me in Dumbertane. Fordar, efferris to
your grace nobill mynd and plesour. At Dunbertrane
this Twysday, be the hand off
Yowr grace maist h[{u{]myll and obedient servitour
CAITHNES.
[\Endorsed:\] (\Monr.\) Alexandre Gordon.
[} [\CCXIX\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Dumbarton, 8th October (1549).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, efter maist hwmyll commendacione off service
ples yowr grace witt I deliverit yowr grace wreittyngis to
my lord governour and culd be nay way get his wreittyngis
to the kyngis grace, albeit I maid thaim in dew forme or
my departyng off Edynbrwcht. And fordar, becais he
suld hawe na suspicion, I opinit yowr grace wreittyngis
and cawsit the byscoip of Galloway reid the samin,
quhilk culd nocht help; bot he desirit me abyd my lord
of Sanctandrois cumyng, quhilk I mycht nocht do, and
swa I gat na wreittyngis bot ane to my lord govern[{ou{]ris
sone and ane udyr to Miwlyns. At my cummyng to
this tone I fand the kyngis schyp departit viij dayis or my
arrewyng, yit as plesit God, sche wes pwt bakwart be
storme off weddyr, and becais I fand ane contrariws wynd
I send ane serwand bakwart to Hwmyltone with ane
<P 314>
wreittyng to my lord of Sanctandrois, quhairof I hawe
send the copy to yowr grace serwand, master Walter Kyr,
to schaw yowr grace. I send yowr grace ane cyphyr quhilk
I deliverit to yowr grace secretair. I hawe wreittyn at
lyntht to my lordis Hwntly and Argill, and dowttis
nocht bot yowr grace sall fynd tham effekit to the              #
contentacione
of yowr grace only. And efter my cummyng
to France sall labour and obtyn wreittyngis of the kyng
yowr grace brethyr and my lord constabill with the report
that I sall mak my self that thay salbe spwrrit sic sort
to serwe that the affarris and cummerris salbe fordair
releyffit of yowr grace nor affoir. Madame, I can nocht
gyf yowr grace sufficient thankkis, nor merite be my
service yowr grace gwd mynd and help towart me. Allwayis
will asswre yowr grace that the pwre witt and mynd
God hes gyfin me sall be vigilent to that thyng that I can
estyme to be fordest to yowr grace plesour and will by
the rest of the wardill; and, God willyng, yowr grace sall
hawe fordar experriance. I haid nocht gottin yowr grace
wreittyngis to the quyn yowr grace dochtyr and soverane
nor the Scoittis lordis at the makkyn of this present.
I fynd this cuntray folkis makand diligence to the ost
<P 315>
at my cumyng to this tone. Ther cowme ane greitt bill
of complantt to the capitane of Dumbartane of the
spwlzeing of the Ill of Cumray, quhilk partenis to the
rewenew of the castell, done be marinoris of the kyngis
schyp; and thay twk in this towne foir or fyf Bretonis
that thay allegit wes at the samen faitt, and pwt tham
in [{the{] castell. Allwayis I lowsit tham on souerty and
sall do diligence to apleis the capitane to the satisfactione
of baytht the partis, and sall tak ane serwand of the
capitanis with me in the schyp and pwt the best ordour
therto we may. Alwayis ther wes sckaytht done, bot
nocht sa greitt as thay mak the brwt. The capitane at
my desir relyf [\sic\] tham owt of the castell and schew hym
gwd in the mater; bot I said sa far in the mater that I
beleyf he sall be laytht in tymis cumyng to mell with
Frencemen in that maneir. I refer the rest to that thyng
yowr grace ples command. Wreityn at Dumbertane, the
viij day of October be the hand off
Yowr grace maist hw[{m{]yll and obedient servitour
CATHNES.
[\Endorsed:\] Levesque de Cattenes.

<P 317>
[} [\CCXXI\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Cumbrae. On board ship, 10th October (1549).\]
TO THE QWENIS GRACE.
   Madame, efter our schyp wes ondyr sell I rasawit this
present fra my lord my brother, quhowme I fynd hartlye
mynddit to do yowr grace trew service. He desiris me
be at yowr grace command as rasone is - quhilk I will newyr
refws quhill I may lest - and be reddy to do my lord
governour plesour, thocht trewly, Madame, I have bene
bot sobyrly regardit at this tyme and man hawe patience.
I se na help bot be yowr grace and hoppis na udyr; quhilk,
gyf God ples, I sall mereitt efter my pwer p[{o{]war with
humyll service, and is glad to[{b{]e nottit as yowr grace
only pwre servitour, for at the lyst my lord governour will
be gwd to me efterwart for yowr grace saik. Thus will I
nocht pwt yowr grace to fordir cummyr, bot sall trewly
imploy my pwre witt to do yowr grace service, referrand
the rest to yowr grace commandement. Pray[{a{]nd God,
Madame, efter my mest hwmyll commendatione of service,
preser yowr nobill grace eternaly. Wreittyn at Cummray
onder sell, the x day of October be the hand of
Yowr grace rycht hwmyll and rycht o[{bey{]sant
servis [\sic\]
CAITHNES.
   I gat na answer fra yowr grace at the makkyn of this
present.

<P 385>
[} [\CCLVII\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Inchaffray, 24th June 1554.\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, pleis your grace sen my hamecuming I have
veseit my comptis put in ordour be my servandis or thay
lyik as I gaif charge at departing; and findis me, quhowbeit
I had rady payment of the four thousand merkis
your grace obligatioun bearis, sofar superspendit be interesse
of schifting silver to interteine meself and sending
to Rome for thir Iles, by sum auld debtis, that I couth
<P 386>
nocht have iii=c= merkis to the gud. Madame, I belevit
upon ane promis of my chanonis to have had sum releif
of thir chargis be setting of ane few, quharin I am frustrat,
for they will consent tharto in na sort quhowbeit it be to
na hurt nother of the place nor tennentis. I am instantlie
sa handlit that I wait nocht quhair to turn me
except your grace preif the gud maistres at this tyme as
ye have evir done hitherto: quhilk salbe in ane reasonable
and easy maner to your grace as I have chargit this
present berar to schaw your grace at mair lenth, quhairto
it will pleis your grace gif credence and ane answer, for
your grace may be well assurit that it is extreim necessite
causis me to molest your grace at this tyme. Thus prayis
thalmychtie God, Madame, efter my maist humil and
maist obedient commendatioun of humil service, to preserve
your grace eternalie. At Inchaiffray, the xxiiij day
day of Junij 1554.
Your grace maist hwmyll and maist obedient servitour
A. GORDON.

<S SAMPLE 5B>

<Q SC1 XX CORO AGORDON>
<N CORR M LORRAINE>
<A GORDON ALEXANDER SC1>
<C SC1>
<O DATE 1544-1554>
<M MEDIUM MS>
<D CSC>
<V PROSE>
<T LET NON-PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U NET X>
<E DIST EQUAL>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I FORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 213>
[} [\CLI\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON TO THE EARL OF HUNTLY\] }]
[\Stirling, 18th January (1547-8).\]
TO MY LORD.
   My lord, efter himyll commendacione off service pleis
witt I wreitt to yowr lordschip owt off Bretainzze affoir,
and sen my cummyng in this realm I haid nocht the
oportunite to wreitt quhill now, and yit dar nocht be plane
in this wreittyng, becais I feir it haippin in vrang handdis.
Bot yowr lordschip salbe assurit, with owt it be that
thyng that God will nocht permit, this realme wilbe
debaittit to the owtraist quhill we may lest: quh[{i{]lk is
concludit, and we have all reddy sic moyance bayth off
force off men off wyr strangerreris and mony with all
wthyris munitiones necessaires; and planely, my lord, or
we be swa cruelly owrthrawin in this maneir we will
randyr to the Twrk rathyr nor to be onrewangit. All
christyn prenccis dispiccis this fasson off wyr that is to
slay nobill men efter thay be randeritt, and thay that ar
presonerris will nocht put thame to ransome. Thocht
<P 214>
the wysdome off Ingland be extemit greitt, thay gane
nocht the rycht way to mak unuon off thyr twa realmis.
Gyf thay thynk to hawe hartlynes, thay suld traist ws
moir tendyrly. For as twychand your lordschip quhilkis
is now in [{thar{] handdis, plesit thay condisand on ane
ransone and pleggis beand laid therfor, I waitt yowr lordschip
mycht do mair for the commond weill off bayth thyr
realmis nor ever ye sall or may to byd thar presoneir;
bot gyff thay will nocht, far les may we lyppin efter
kyndnes quhen thay wer masterris: for thay may will
consyddyr it can nocht be yowr lordschip only pwysance
quhilk may mak this realm tharis, bot mekle mair yowr
laboris and pwyssance wer ye beand present, considerane
the samen to be to our commone will. Thayfor gyf it be
swa that thay will be na maneir off vay consent to yowr
lordschip releyff, as yowr lordschip thoycht it necessaire
I wald gladly haweand ane pasport to cum and gayne
cum to yowr [{lordschip{], prayand yowr lordschip all wayis
advertis me quhat yowr will pleis command me in all
behalffis. I hawe wreittyn to my lady synry tymis sen my
cummyng haym and sall ryd haym effter this woyage off
Dunde quhar I traist in God your lordschip sall hyr off
scharp neippyng. Fordar refferris to yowr lordschip as
yowr lordschip hes oportunite, prayand yowr lordschip
tak this adversite in patience. I trast in God the Lord,
and all hald fowrt yowr lordschip sall have hesty releyff,
quham conser yowr lordschip in sawlle and body. Writyn
at Styrueling, the xviij day of Januar be the hand off
yowr lordschip brother and hartlye servitour
CAITHNES.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M=e=\) Alexandre Gordon.

<P 315>
[} [\CCXX\] }]
[} [\ALEXANDER GORDON: COPY OF A LETTER TO ARCHBISHOP
HAMILTON\] }]
[\(Greenock, c. 8th October 1549).\]
TO BE SCHAWIN TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   My lord, pleis your lordschip I optenit my depesche of
the quein, quhilk I exped with the grater deligens for to
<P 316>
haif mair suir passaige with the kingis schipe, quhilk I
haif ourtakin be chance, for scho wes departit, bot this
contrarius storme hes put hir abak to Grenok quhair scho
abydis the wynd and will tary on na man efter the wynd
serve hir. War nocht that, I suld haif returnit my self
to your lordschip. Therfor gyff my lord or ye wretis,
prayes [{your{] lordship mak the grater deligens.
   And conforme to the quenis grace writtingis send with
me I causit hir secreter dyt thir uther writtingis to be
subscrivit be my lord, and, forther, oppinnit the quenis
writting and leit my lord of Galloway se the samin:
beseikand your lordschip humilye, gyff thir be nocht maid
as efferis - be ressoun my lord of Galloway plengzeit apon
the ortographye of thaim, quhilk wes the falt of Jakis,
your lordschip servant quha wret thame, - to gar mak
utheris as ye pleis, with quhat uther service my lord or
your lordschip pless command me. My hoipe wes that
his grace wald haif done me that honour by all generall
effaris. All haif gewin me sum speciall credet for divers
utheris resp[{e{]ctis, thocht I be nocht worthy therfor. It
is difficil to his grace or your lordschip to knaw ony mannis
service quhill experience be had therof. Always quhill
his grace be myndit therto, sall mereit his gud mynd with
humile service as ony sall in this realme of my powar and
estait. Praying God, my lord . . .
[\Endorsed:\] The coppy of my lord governouris writting.

<S SAMPLE 6A>

<Q SC1 XX CORO MAXWELL>
<N CORR M LORRAINE>
<A MAXWELL ROBERT>
<C SC1>
<O DATE 1542-1551>
<M MEDIUM MS>
<D CSC>
<V PROSE>
<T LET NON-PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U NET ROYAL>
<E DIST UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I FORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 6>
[} [\II\] }]
[} [\LORD MAXWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Carlisle, 4th March (1542-3).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame in the moist humyll commendatioun of my
service it will ples your grace that I convoyit your gracis
servant Anatint to Carlell and thair the warden send his
sone wyth hym onto the kingis grace of Ingland; and
ilikwis your wther servand Otinze come to Carlell and the
warden causit ane servand of his to pas and conwoye
him to the duke of Suffolk in New cassell, and howe sone
as I have libertie to pas oute of Ingland I salbe at your
grace in all haist; and almychtye God have your grace
in keiping eternalie. At Carlell, this fourth of Marche.
Your gracis maist laulie servand
MAXWELL.

<P 50>
[} [\XL\] }]
[} [\MAXWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh Castle (December 1543).\]
   Madame, plesit your grace to be remembrit how I am
heir haldin in ward in the castell of Edinburcht at command
of my lord governour and hes remanyt heir this lang
<P 51>
tyme for quhat caus I knaw nocht, and now, Madame,
the tyme of parliament is now present, and gif I have
committit ony faltis I am content glaidly to underly the
sensament therof and gif I be culpable to [{be{] punissit,
and utheris wayis gif I be innocent. I beseik your grace
for the service that I haif done to yow and sall do at my
power all my lif, that your grace will speik to my lord
governour and lordis of oure soverane ladyis counsale
that I may be putt to fredome and restorit to my fame
and to that effect I haif gevin in ane byll at mair lenth
to my lord governour and lordis of counsale, praying your
grace to caus reid the samyn with ane deliverance therupoun
according to resoun, for I think werray hevy to
be abstractit fra making of gude service to our soverane
lady your dochter and hir realme and specialie at sik
tymes as this. And almychti God to keip your grace
eternaly.
Be your graces maist laulie servand
MAXWELL.
[} [\XLI\] }]
[} [\MAXWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 25th December (1543).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Mademe, eftir humill commendatioun of my maist
lawly service thankand your grace of the laubouris it
plesit your grace to tak for me your servand for my releif
out of this ward and presone I am in quhen your grace
was last in this toun of Edinburgh, and with the grace
of God your grace sall nocht laubour for me for na shamefull
caus. How beit it hais plesit my lord governour be
wrang informatioun to put me in captivite as knawis
<P 52>
your grace, I wald besik your grace as I haif done afore
that ye will stand my maist gracious lady in the helpin
of me to my releif that I may serf the quenis grace our
soverane lady your grace and hir realm quham I haif
servit trewly and evir sall do induring my lif: and forthir
I pray God conserf your grace eternaly. At Edinburght
this yuill day at ewin
Be your gracis maist lawly servand
MAXWELL.

<P 53>
[} [\XLIII\] }]
[} [\MAXWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Callander, 1st January (1543-4).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE
   Quharfore I wald beseik your grace . . . that it wald pleis  #
your grace
to mak my lord governour and the laif of the lordis nou
being with your grace to that effect [\i.e. to restore him to
liberty\] and geif thai tak ony suspicioun of me that I will
nocht be the man to serf our soverane lady hir realm and
yow als trewly as sall ony u[{ther{] gentilman of Scotland,
I pray your grace to be sa gu[{d and{] gracious lady to me
that ye will tak it apon yow that I sall be the samyn man
and I promis yow be my fayth geif it cumis to ony punct
of scharpnes your grace sall fynd me the samyn: and
gef thai wald postpone this tyme and nocht put me to
my liberty to the intent foresaid I will nocht desyre your
grace to laubour mair eftirvart be me, bot thankis your
grace humely of it that ye haif done and sall byde till
God send me bettir fortoun; and Jhesu to preserf your
grace evermair. In the castell of Calendar this new yeir day
Be your gracis maist lawly servand
MAXWELL.

<P 73>
[} [\LVI\] }]
[} [\MAXWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Hamilton, 21st April (1544).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Mydame, plesit your grace I rasavit your gracis writyne
this xx day of Aprile. I thank your grace that hes
writyne to my lord governour in my fawyr, and als sayand
me in your gracis writyne that ye will be my gud and
gracius lady sa that I be trew and serff the quenis grace
your dochter and the autorite lyke as I haiff promist to
your grace and your grace hes promist the samyn in my
name. Mydame, or your grace faund it utherwaiis nor
<P 74>
sa or ony lewand man mycht mak it gude, I had lever
do the maist wile deid in this warld ; for and I haiff done
utherwaiis nor I haiff promist to your grace I will haiff
na uther ponitione bot deid. Mydame, thar will na man
sa utherwais as I beleiff for I had na thocht that tyme
I was put heir bot to serwit [\sic\] my lord governour the
quenis autori[{t{]e aganis ony man that wald asorpit aganis
the same, quhilk I sall be ay rady to wair my liff in that
caus. Your grace knaws quhat pount I am at and alswa
sall clerlie onderstand that I haiff maid na faill and hes
na uther to do for me; bot quhat your grace will do to
me I am hartlie content of the samyn. And fardar my
wiff hes schawyn your graces mynd quhow your grace
standis to me quhar of I hwmilie thankis your grace;
prayand almychty God to be your kepar ever mair. At
the castell of Hamiltone this xxi day of Ap[{ri{]le be
Your gracis maist lawly serwand
MAXWELL.

<P 344>
[} [\CCXXXIV\] }]
[} [\MAXWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Jedburgh, 27th February (1550-1).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
(\A LA ROYNE DESCOSSE.\)
   Plesit your grace to be advertist, efter my cuming to
Scotland I raid to Jedburghe quhair I fande my lord
governor at the Justice airis accumpanit with munsur
Dosee and aparte of the Franche men: quhair thay tuik
greit pane to pute ane guid ordour in the country, the
quhilk wilbe done lik as I traist your grace salbe contentit
with. Gife it lik your grace, at my cuming heir I
harde ane sclanderus bruit how thair vas to cum this
somer in Scotland ane greit nomer of men of were, and
as swm metientis did juge, to prevein the tyme of the
governouris office afore the quenis cuming to perfite age.
Wpon this bruit I t[{h{]ocht it neidfull to breik with my
<P 345>
lord governour gife he harde ony thing of this sclander or
gawe ony credit thairto. His answire vas: I knew the
natoure of the maist parte of the Scottis men vas to juge
efter thair awne fantaseis, bot as to him he regardit nor
gave credit to na sik thing, for he dowtid nocht bot the
kingis maje[{s{]te and your grace vald keip in all sortis
according to your promis and appoyntment, lik as he
sulde do for his parte. Morover he schew me the king
hade exsperience afore of his doingis touart his grace, and
he vas myndit to proseid safwrthe that the king and ye
baith sulde have ever the langer the better oppenyon in
him. I assourit his grace of my puir life and honour it
vas the best to proseid in that sorte of guidnes, for thair
vas nathing menit to him ther bot ane verry treuthe, and
your grace to be his ernist freind lik as he valde finde be
deidis. I knawe of na newe novationis to advertis your
grace of, for this realme is in guid quhietnes. As to my
awne part ye sall fynde me of the awlde maner redy to do
your grace service at the wtermost of my lytill power. In
the meintyme gif it chance that munsere Dosee or ony
of the kingis frindis have to do heir thay sall fynde me
redy to do service or pleswre, for I dowte nochte bot your
grace wilbe contentid thair with. Thus I beseik God to
gewe you lang guid helthe. Fra Jedburghe, the panulte
of Fabruerij.
Your graces with lawly service
MAXWELL.

<P 349>
[} [\CCXXXVIII\] }]
[} [\MAXWELL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\14th June (1551).\]
   Plesit your grace to be advertist, the maister of Erskine
hes schawne me at his departing from your grace ye
delyverit him xij hunder frankis,the quhilk ye appontid
<P 350>
to gewe me. Moreover he schew me ye had providit me
sekirnes of viij=c= frankis mair, swa my ... attait suld be
twa =M= frankis, and I to be ane of the gentilmen in the
[{ki{]ngis chalmer - the quhilk rowme I think me mair
adettid to serve [{the{] king and you for, nor ye hade providit
me thre =M= frankis vithout [{the{] office. I have
occatioun to say I have servit ane trew and constant lady
and knawis I am not able to recompence your guidnes.
Nottheles I salbe redy to serve at the utermost of my lytell
power quhair it sall pleis the king or you to command me,
and sall think my selfe the mair happy gif I be callit therto,
for I sall reserwe nathing to my parte bot only my allagence
to the quene my soverane your gracis dochtir. Thair is
litill occatioun of newis to advertis your grace of in thir
partis.... (\Monsieur\) Lausake will schawe you the proceding
with the commesioneris [{of{] Ingland, quha as I beleve
h[{as?{] ... the dowble of the contrauct to ... ffiote[{?{]
He was ane of the commesioneris for the part of Scotland
him selfe, [{and u?{]sit him therin vary honestly, alsweill
towart the service of the kinge [{as th{]e veill of this        #
country.
Madame, I persave by your gracis litter [{Georg{]e Dowglas
hes informit your grace that I have persewit the thrid
part of the erle of Mortounis landis by resoun my vife is
ane of his aris, and that your grace is nocht contentid
<P 351>
therwith becaus the said Gorge is now in your gracis
service. I have done nathing in that mater at this
present bot as stande with the plesure of his brothir and
his awne soun as thay schew me, for thay wer baithe
present at the serving of my wiffis breiffis as ane of the
thre airis to the erle of Mortoun. I have acclamit na
landis albeit I traist my wife hes rycht to the thrid part
of the erldom of Mortoun and I am myndit to persew it
safer as may stand withe justice at your gracis cumin in
this cowntry, and nocht to waill na tyme in Gorgis absence;
for I dowte not that I have deservit ony wther to your
grace bot ye will forder me in my.... Thus I besyche
God to presarve you in guid [{heill, and to ?{] forder yowr
jwrnay swne in Scotland ... this xiiij of June
Your gracis hw ...

<S SAMPLE 6B>

<Q SC1 XX CORO MAXWELL>
<N CORR M LORRAINE>
<A MAXWELL ROBERT>
<C SC1>
<O DATE 1542-1551>
<M MEDIUM MS>
<D CSC>
<V PROSE>
<T LET NON-PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U NET OFF>
<E DIST EQUAL>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I FORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 133>
[} [\XCIX\] }]
[} [\ROBERT MAXWELL TO THE GOVERNOR\] }]
[\Dumfries, 5th (May 1545).\]
TO MY LORD GOWRNOUR.
   My lord, efftir all humill commendation wnto your grace
[{pleis you?{] to be advertissit that efftir my departing off
Edimburcht [{fra?{] your grace or I com to thir west
bordouris the erell off Leonax wyth lord Quhartom, warden,
<P 134>
war departit at the poist to London; and thareffter the
hale cuntreth off this west wardanry off Ingland hes daly
thir x or xii days last bipast preparit and maid redy all
thair wittalis and hes brocht the samyn, sic as quheit ry
malt, to Carlell and is daly makin wyth all expedition alle
bere breid and furnissing that is in thair possibilte. And
as I can be advertissit or gett knaulege furth off Ingland
thai ar to inwaid thir partis off this west bordour wyth
ane gret army ... wter distruction and that wythin
x or xij days. [{Thar{]fore I pray your grace that I may
have part [{of artill{]yery and puldir for keping off thir
houssis ... certane gunnaris furnist, for wythout [{fail
we?{] will be inwadit. And als that your grace ... the
xx=ti= gunnaris that is in the towin off ... be anssuerit and
payt off thair last monethis [{wages?{] last bipast quhilk I
have payt on my auin: and a[{ls{] that your grace wald
caus the hale realm nixt adjacent to be in redines to supple
ws incace off gret invasion at thir partis; and we off this
cuntreth salbe, wyth Goddis grace, in redines to supple
ony wthir part that sall happin to be inwadit, efftir your
graceis advertissment: and that your grace wald nocht
forgett thir promissis becaus it concernis the hale commoun
weile off this realm: and, wyth the grace off God, your
artalzery puldir and gunnaris salbe wele warit, qua
[{preserve{] your grace evirmare. Off Dumfres this fyfth
day off ...
be your gracis servitour
ROBERT MAXWELL.

<S SAMPLE 7>

<Q SC1 XX CORO METHVEN>
<N CORR M LORRAINE>
<A METHVEN HENRY>
<C SC1>
<O DATE 1542-1550>
<M MEDIUM MS>
<D CSC>
<V PROSE>
<T LET NON-PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U NET ROYAL>
<E DIST UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I FORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 119>
[} [\XCIII\] }]
[} [\METHVEN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\25th November (1544).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRAICE.
   Madame, pleis your grace
To remembir my service don unto out soverane lord
your umquhill deirest spous quhar of his graice had             #
consideratioun
and myndit to have rewardit me giv his graice
had convelessit. Madem, pleis your grace to remembir
my service consernyng our soverane lady your deirest
dochtir in stopping the transporting. Secundlie, the
stopping of effusion of blud that apperit to be betuex the
lordis and utheris barronis and leigis. Thridlie, how my
lord governour com unto your graice and sen that tym
has ussit him be your graice and counsall beand wyth you
than chossin. Madam, in all the poyntis forsaid and
mone utheris concernyng the commone weill I haif at
all tymmis don my haill cuer, quharfor I sustenit greit
exspenssis throw the quhilk I am greitly superexspendit.
Madem, I informyt your grace befoir alsweill how my
leving was of small importance yerly, and that my confidence
was your grace suld at gud tym mak me help of
mone for recovering of my superexspenssis maid in maner
forsaid, and als sum yerly help quhar throw I mycht the
bettir await apon your graice service. Madem, this my
rememberance of service and report maid unto your grace
pleis except in gud sort as of your maist humell and
<P 120>
obedient lawly servitor wyth haill power sa lang as lif
induris; na les thinkand than be your gud graice humanite
your honor and consideratioun my help in maner forsaid
to be fynellie adressit, quhilkis beand, I sall do sic service
unto our soverane lady your grace and realm that nayn
of my power sall do bettir. Forthar, pleis your [{graice{]
your servitour, this berar, will mak informatioun of caus
quhy I com nocht presentlie unto your grace to await
apon your graice service. The eternell God haif your
graice in his evirlesting governament. Writin this xxv
day of November
be your grace maist hummill servitour
LORD METHVEN.
Madem, pleis your graice I hald your servant my brothir
Allexander, this berrar, belevand to haif cummyn my self
unto your grace, besekand your grace to pardoin hym.

<P 132>
[} [\XCVIII\] }]
[} [\METHVEN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Sunday (April 1545?).\]
TO THE QUENIS GUD GRAICE.
   Pleis your gud graice.
I purposit till have awaytit apon your graice service at
this tyme of conventioun war nocht impediment, quhilkis
your graice servitour Allexander my brothir will schaw
your grace.
   Madem, your graice is prinsipall mediatrix to lawbour
concord betuix all lordis and greit men that cummis to
this conventioun and to solist tham to mak unyte and
concord wythin all thar boundis, ilk an for thar awn part,
and in speciall my lord of Huntle and my lord af Argaill,
<P 133>
and to solist tham and every uther lord and greit barroun
to caus ces all opressiounnis; and your graice and all my
lordis to recounsall in tendir maner all greit gentilmen
that be innorance is of ill mynd towartis haly kirk, becaus
it is now dowtsum to punes be the law as the sammyn
requiris. Madem, gif the varyance betuix my lord
Ruthven, Crage and Muncref on the tan part, and the
lord Gray, Jhon Charteris, and Kilfawnis mycht be
reconsalit, it war an principall thing to unite thir partis.
The eternell God conserf your grace. Writin this Sunday
be your grace maist hummill servitor
LORD METHVEN.
[\Endorsed:\] M. de Metfan.

<P 134>
[} [\C\] }]
[} [\(METHVEN) TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Perth, 6th May (1545).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madam, eftyr maist humble commendacioune of my
service [{unto your grace{] thyis is to advertis your grace
<P 135>
that I haif spokyn this ... man quhylk is laytlye cumin
out of Yngland ... cuntre als fer as Doncastell quhar
he saw ... the makyng of thare mostrys and the men
all [{furneisyt to?{] cum fordwartis to the bordoris. The
mony and thesawrar is cum fra [{?{] Donkcastell to pay
the wageouris, and this is the maner of thar ordore as he
sayis. Thar cumis xl=m= men be land to the est bordour
and als mony to the west bordoure, and then thosand men
be se to land quhar thai thynk best apon the est hand
and othir x=m= wyth the erll of Lenoxe quhylk sall land other
at Dumbertan or in Argyll as thai thynk best; and baythe
thir armys, as thai purpos, sall june togyddyr and meit at
Sterlyng. Thar is of this forsaid army to the nomyr of
xvj=m= lansknychtis, Ytaleanis and Spanyardis. Thar
is gryt prowysyon makand in Carleill to rasaif the army
at cummis in at that bordoure. All the quhyt and malt
of Cummarland, Westmurland and Kendell is cumand as
fast as hors ma cary it to Carleill. And abufe lx of
myllaris, ... mony wrychyttis and fleggearis to dres
arrowys and bow[{is ar{] cumin thar wythin thir vj dayis.
Nocht wythstand[{ing of ther pre{]mysys [{?{] thai ar begone to
cast ane gryt fo[{ussay about the?{] thown of Carleill and
makis ane plat for [{reparation?{] of the setadell. Thay
haif ane profecy that the [{town?{] of Carleill and castell
salbe won bot nocht the setadell, and therfor thai mak
all the strenthe thai can to keipe the samyn. As anent
the pece at your grace hard tell suld haif bene tane for iij
<P 136>
monethys betuix France and Yngland be the empryouris
cast, all that is bot falset and collusyon tyll abus the kyng
of France, to hald abak the kyng of Francys helpe fra Scotland
ondyr hope of aggreance quhyll thar army ma be rady
to cum apon Scotland. And quhom be I haif this word
your grace sall knawe at my cumin to yow and other
thyngis quhylkis I wyll nocht wryt at this tym; praying
God to conserfe your grace. At Perth, the vj day
of Maye be
Your ...
[\LORD METHVEN\]

<P 138>
[} [\CII\] }]
[} [\METHVEN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Methven, 28th May (1545?).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame pleis your grace
It is writin to me how your grace hes gottin the eschete
of William Edmistoun quhilk is veray proffetable unto your
grace becaus all enteres and clame that William Edmistoun
allegit to have of your grace is now indowtit youris:
maist hummelie beseking your grace, nocht withstanding
ony laubouris of our contray partiis, that thair be na part
therof disponit to thame bot at all the samyn remane
haill in your grace handis, quhilkis doand is your grace
honour and proffett; and als your grace may the mair
esely help your servitouris, my brutheris wyff and bairnis.
<P 139>
Becaus of les pane to your grace of lang wryting, pleis
to heir your grace servitour maister William Steward to
informe and remember your grace heirupon. Madame,
it will pleis your grace to do for the deliverans of your
servitour my bruther gif he may [{be?{] had ony way
without promit of favouris to our parti, for and I wer in
his place I suld tak aventur of lyff and deid or the party
had ony releiff uther wayis than the rigour of justice.
Madame, we your grace hummele servitouris hes suir
confidence in your grace concernyng the premiss and all
uther ressoneble efferis. The eternall God conserve your
grace. Of Methwen, this xxviii day of May instant
be your grace maist humell servitour
LORD METHVEN.
   Madame, pleis your grace, that all thingis parteinand
to my bruther sone of rycht, that your grace will keip the
samyn in your handis and na part therof to be disponit
to na uther persoun mair nor till our partiis.
[\Endorsed:\] M. de Metfan.

<P 208>
[} [\CXLIX\] }]
[} [\METHVEN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Perth, 31st December (1547).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRAICE.
   Madem, pleis your graice to be advertisit and rememberit
that befoir the asseg foirst of Sanctandrois my lord
<P 209>
governour was informit that the personis haldaris therof
wald maik appoyntment and gif our the samyn how son
my lord governour com to the samyn. Alsua my lord was
informit that the castell mycht haif beyn won be force
of the sobir arttalzerij that was brocht to it. The poyntment
com nocht to effect, nor yet the castell gottin, and
greit tyme tynt and expensis inlykwys, and the personis
wyth haldaris of mair curage to perseveir in tharis hei
contentemtioun [\sic\] , and was greit occasioun to nuris
and fortife thar intelligens wyth Inglismen and was greit
confort to all thair fauvoraris and greit dispair till gud
trew leigis, and in a part nocht honorabill that my lord
governour suld depart but his intent. And thair efter
quhen the sam casteill was ordourlie persewit, culd na
way be defendit be the wyth haldarris and in maist honorabill
sort was had and schortlie don. Madem, the asseg
of Bruchtie procedit of lycht report: as informatioun
maid to my lord governour that gif his gracie wald cum
to it and bring the cunterfeit of arttalzerij Bruchty wald
be gevin to him, and the dereck contrar was fwnd in deid
and my lord constarnit to want his intent and to depart,
quhilkis has caussit the Inglis be heycht and to get new
support and mak of new mair strang fortifeying of Bruchty
and do nychtlie greit troublis and skaythis be fyr heirschippis
ravising of wemen borning of abbayis and
halding of the legis in conte[{n{]wall lawbouris exspenss and
feyr; and traistis that sen first my lord governour gat
nocht the hous be asseig that now be my lord lyutenent
it sall nocht be asseigit be fors of arttalzery bot salbe
deffendit, and inlykwis intendis to haif the toun of Dunde
hastile sa strynthe [\sic\] that tha ma defend the samyn.
Pleis your graice to consider all the poyntis abon writin;
<P 210>
the harmis sustenit therthro and yet nocht remeiddit; and
how the Inglis is an thousand men of ordinance hakbutteris
and peikkis, and of greit arttalzerij substantiousle
providit; and how this nobill man has excepit this
lyiutenandry allanerlie for the recover [{of{] Bruchty and
Dunde pesefeing of the legis and ministratioun of justic,
quhilkis he intendis to do wyth all possibilite: and heirffor
that your graic be your greit wisdom pleis to caus all
thingis concerning the asseg of Bruchty, as greit arttalzerij
puderis bullattis gunnarris and hagbutterris and
uther men of weir and peonarris be larglie furnest, and
abon in all sortis rather nor under. Madem, of necessite
is requirit part of the cappidennis that is cum out of
France quhilkis has intelligens of ordour of men on the
feildis; alsua is to be had of the cappidens that has best
intelligens to asseg and ordouring arttalzerij and that
can mak the samyn to be weill and perfitlie ussit. Pleis
your graice, for surty I traist and this purpos exceppit
be my lord Argaill be substa[{n{]tiousle providit, the hous
and toun sall nocht faill to be gotten and the legis put to
quiatnes and the Inglis utirle repulsit fra thir partis.
And be the contrair, gif this substantious help and provisioun
be nocht speid delygentlie heyr, sall nocht be
possibill that my lord Argaill and the remenent heyr ma
do his purpos quharfor he cum in thir partis, bot man
heyr of ennymis daly tryumphe and ma nocht put remeid
therto, quhilkis salbe mayr discurag to all the legis than
befor, and occacioun to Ingland to perseveyr in thar
contenwaill suppley sending to thaim, and causing the
<P 211>
legis in thir partis to dispar and apoynt wyth tham and
to delyver tham ma strynthis. Besekand your graice
now to schaw your wisdom as your graice has ay don,
for all is weilwilling heyr: and tak tym quhill tym is
oportun. The langer our ennymeis be contenwat the
starkar ar thai, and salbe the grettar fors that sall repuss
tham and put tham away. Madem, becaus I ma nocht
gudly tak sa greit payn as in tymes past I haif ben at all
tymmis humelle to writ unto your graice the best I can,
and now presently writtis of verrite efter my understanding.
The eternell God conserve your grace. Of
Pertht this last of December be
your graice maist humill servitour
LORD METHVEN.

<P 234>
[} [\CLXVI\] }]
[} [\METHVEN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Methven, 8th May (1548).\]
TO THE QUENNIS GRAICE
   Madem, pleis your graice the erll of Huntlie has dissirit
the erll of Sothirland to cum to Ingland and speik wyth
him; quhar of the erll of Sothirland is rycht displessit
and will nocht pas nor will haif na traist nor intelligens
wyth Ingland. He will nocht schaw this playnlie to ony
person uther than to your graice. Alsua I wait he is and
wilbe your graice servand and do his haill power to the
wele of our soverane lady and the common weill of this
realm, and will nocht be brokin therfra. Herfor your
graice suld do for him and now anent his takkis, quhilkis
is bot an small mater in respect of the service he ma do,
that your graice wilbe speciall pryncis mastres to him
and that he ma fynd your graice do the samyn; quhilkis
your graice gettand to him, I sall adres efterwart all
thingis to your graice intent; - and the may[{r{] greit
men the bettyr. I haif nocht schawin him ony thing
pertenand sacret nor will nocht quhill I spek first wyth
your graice, bot I sall, will God, thar efter do all as your
graice wald. Ples your graice that nayne se this writing
<P 235>
bot your self; and almychty God keip your grace. Of
Methven, this viij day of May
be your grace maist humell and obedient servitour
HENRY LORD METHVEN.
[\Endorsed:\] M. de Meftan.

<P 237>
[} [\CLXIX\] }]
[} [\METHVEN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Cupar, 22nd May (1548).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRAICE.
   Madem, efter all hummill commendatioun of service
ples your graice I resavit your graice writing fra master
William Steward this xxij day of May. I sall do the
best I can to consall the erll of Sotherland ws him wysle
and alwayis to your graice plesour: - and siclyk all utheris
that I ma one way haif creditt to sa unto, wyth all service
I ma possibill evir. And ferther, ples your graice to thir
effectis to gif credens to master William Steward; and the
eternell God conserve your grace. Of Couper this day be
youris grace maist humell and obedient servitour
HENRY LORD METHVEN.
[\Endorsed:\] M. de Meffan.

[} [\CLXX\] }]
[} [\METHVEN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Methven, 1st June (1548).\]
TO THE QUENNIS GRACE.
   Madem, eftir all hummill service pleis your graice I
haif spokin wyth the erll of Sotherland your graice trew
<P 238>
servitour, and he has promyttit to do his utir delygens in
thay partis for gud rewill and concord, and to caus all
the folkis be in armour and wappines and to sarve the
auttorite. And he has sic confidens in your graice that
he belevis na person sall get the takkis of Mwrray uther
than him self, and sen your graice has evir ussit greit
wisdom and don evir for the commoun weill persever;
and trewille, madem, I assur your graice it is mair the
commoun weill your graice dispon thay takkis to the erll
of Sotherland nor till ony utheris. And howbeit he be
my gud son, I writ to your graice the best for the weill
of tha cuntrayis and weill of your graice honour and
service. Madem, as to my lord of Argaill I traist ther is
nayn in this realm that is sa greitlie gevin to sarve your
graice and my lord governour trewille and substantiouslie,
quhilk wilbe understand perfitle to your grace. I am
gudle informyt that he spairis nother landis nor guddis
to draw all the legis in all partis to concord and to be
abill to cum to the army, as ferther my lord of Cowper
your graice rycht trew servitour wil mayr largele inform
your grace; and inlyk wys of all utheris thingis in thir
partis. Quhat service I can or may is evir at command
<P 239>
of your graice. Of Methven, this first of Junij. The
eternell God conserve your grace evyrmair.
be your grace mast humill and obedient servitour
HENRY LORD METHVEN.
[\Endorsed:\] M. de Meffan.

<P 240>
[} [\CLXXII\] }]
[} [\METHVEN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Methven, 3rd June (1548).\]
TO THE QUENNIS GRACE.
   Madem, eftir all hummill service pleis your graice I
have promittit to your graice service trewille quhilkis I
<P 241>
think to kep, and to that effect sall evir be playn your
graice efter my understanding. I haif freyndis in all
partis in this realm, at quhom I haif maid delygent
lawbouris to haif intelligens quhat is the caus that Inglis
men is fawvorit and the auttorite nocht obeyit nor servit.
I fynd ther is sum prynsipall thingis quhilkis is the
caussis. In the first, part of the legis has tayn new           #
apoynzionis
of the scriptour and has don agan the law and ordinance
of haly kirk. Secundlie, utheris the legis has for
feyr - tham on bordouris and dry merchis, and utheris
apon the schoirris of the sey or burrows apon the se of
this realm - for safty of tham, thar wyf barnis and guddis
has fawvorit and beyn famylliar and assistit to Inglis.
Thridly, otheris of the legis has throw insolence and regard
of particular prophet has assistit and tayn part wyth
Inglis. Ferdly, utheris the legis has apon leis understanding
and inprudentlie tayn consait that thai mycht
leif at mair quyatnes and justice under the Inglis nor our
awn natioun. And becaus thir sort of personis is an greit
nombyr thai think and this realm cum till an stabill way,
thay and ilk an off tham wilbe pwnest according to justice;
and till eschew and pwt by justice tha think mair souer
is to tham that this realm be nevir at perfit hwnyte nor
at perfit justice, for dreddour of thair pwnissioun. And
for remeid herof, and to caus all thir personis to be of luf
trewilly to sarve the attorite and be faithfull subjectis
and obydyent, your graice to remembir how the kingis
graice, quhom God assolze, your spous, seand the greit
men and uther the legis standand in feyr of justice for
falttis and crymmis don in his mynorite, gaif tham ane
fre remessioun be ane act of parlyament; quhilkis
apperandly war presentle best to be don.
   Madem, I traist that thir caussis was the tynsall of the
jeornay of Penke in an grait part, and misordour of the
<P 242>
army, and our greit haist but ordour. Madem, best is all
gud wayis and gud dress be maid in dew tym that be
apperance ma put feyr fra the legis and mak unyte and
concurrans. Madem, I besek your graice, as ye luf the
weill of our soverane lady your self and the common weill
of this realm, to tak tent herto and to be avysit wyth the
ambassadour and (\monsieur\) la Schappell; and gif it
ples your grace, to schaw to tham ilk part herof. Madem,
alswa conform to my promes of trew service I man advertice
your grace of all utheris thinkis that apperandlie
is to be don: The lordis that is greit men and uther lordis
and barronis to be cherisit fawvorable wyth your graic
and wyth all the prynsipall men of gud quhay that cummis
out of France heyr, for the nater of this pepill is of this
realm; first to be gentillie don to, and that tha persaif
luf and all gudnes in the kingis graice of France. And als
this realm is pwyr and the greit men can na way beyr
greit exspens of thar awn leving. All greit men in this
realm has, and utheris efter thair greis has, folkis to sarve
tham in thair awn bowndis but ony mone bot allanerly
gud tretyng and greit houss to be haldin of daly exspens
ordynar of meyt and drynk; bot to remayn lang out of
thair awn boundis apon thair awn exspenssis thai ma na
way do the samyn wythout tha be suppleyit and helpit
be substance. I traist tha ma abid wyth thar vittellis
brocht wyth tham for schort tym; and fra that be gayn
and spendit tha may nocht tary but help.
   Madem, as to my self your graice kennis the greit service
I maid to the kingis heynes umquhill your spous, quhay
has rewardit me gif he had levit, and sen his deces, to your
grace and my lord governour, and ther throw superexspendit
greitly; and how I haif an sobir leving and als
how I am subject to sum infermyte of gravaill, and dolour
<P 243>
of stayn, as I trast quhar throw I ma nocht gudly awayt
apon lawbouris and service and I ma nocht gudly be daly
resedent in your grace service, I think I man writ oft and
hamille as your awn sobir servitour, concernyng all sic
materis and effeiris as I can think for the weill of our
soverane lady your grace and the commoun weill of this
realm. And efter, as I fynd ony advertysing gud to writ
to yowr graice, I sall do the samyn. The eternell God
consarve your graice. Of Methven, this thrid of Junij
be youris graice mast humill and obedyent servitour
HENRY LORD METHVEN.
   Madem, word was at Brochty thre dayis passit that this
arttalzery suld away, of quhilk tha ar exseding blyth.
The toun of Pertht and all this cuntray is in dispar and
sayis planly that an part of the France army suld be ferst
in this watter of Tay or this gret arttalzery war had away,
quhilkis was thar haill hoip and lippining of deffence.
Alsua, madam, the erle Argaill had and has the charg
to answer for this arttalzery, and is requyrit he had ben
warnyt; quhai I wayt wilbe glad and tha wair his awn
to sped tham to your grace. Avice herupon, and as your
grace advertiss agan, salbe don wyth all delygence.
[\Endorsed:\] M. de Meffan.

<P 244>
[} [\CLXXIV\] }]
[} [\METHVEN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Methven, 10th June (1548).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madem, efter all humell service pleis be advertissit this
x day of Junij I resavit my lord governouris writing and
<P 245>
my lord of Dunkeld writing dissirand me haist the arttalzery.
Madem, Duncan Dundas cum heyr apon
Tuisday the v day of Junij and departit the Wednisday
next therefter, the vj day of Junij, and I caussit begin
and yolk of my awn oxin xiiij=xx= and caussit draw the
arttalzery throw my boundis and throw the lord Ruthven
bowndis to gif gud exempill to the laif of the barronis [{to{]
do syklyk. Madem, howbeit I wrait unto your grace
and to my lord governour to inform of the comfort of the
enymeyis and the discomfort of the legis and als how
resun requyrit that the erll Argaill suld haif discharg
and requyrit that I had discharg becaus I gaif the erll
Argaill my hand writ of resait of the arttalzery. Yet
nochtwythstanding I ussit and caus ws all delygens in
maner forsaid, and on the next day ayrle efter I resayt
charg and that Duncan Dundas cum, the arttalzery
departit fra me. Madem, it is rycht lamentable and
displesand till ony trew hart that has don gret service
and evir remanand still and thinkis, will God, to do trew
staid and aw of na creator for my lawte to serff weill and
get nother thank nor yet luf nor reward. Madem, I meyn
nocht this be your grace bot be my lord governour
quhom unto I haif writin his wikednes, for I haif ben and
thinkis to be als trew as him self saffand his estait and
gree all uther wayis. Besekand your grace mast humelle
to excus me that I ma na uther wais do bot evir to be
playn unto your grace; and the eternell God conserve
your grace evirmayr. Of Methven, this x day of Junij
be youris grace maist obedient and humell servitour
HENRY LORD METHVEN.

<P 248>
[} [\CLXXVI\] }]
[} [\METHVEN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Camp at Haddington, Thursday, 4 A.M. (5th July 1548).\]
TO THE QUENNIS GRAICE.
   Pleis your graice
This Wednisday the suthwest bastalze condamnit that
na defence is maid in it: the bastalze at the Freir kirk all
brokin except an litill part to the west: the meid bastalze
apon ther tren[{c{]he at the west part, the an half of the
gabionis and a part of the bastalze dwng away; the
<P 249>
northt west trencht is condamnit all except the roum that
an small peice lyis in, quhilkis I trast salbe condamyt all
this day. Daly and nychtlie is at all ouris carmosche of
hakbuttis. Thai ussit nocht sen Tuisday efter non.
This nycht continwall carmosche fra the sun past till this
day at iiij in the morning wyth hakbuttis; and all nycht
all our greit artallzery lawborit and has dong the tolbutht
and reft an pece that lay betuix it and the kirk of the
freyris. This nycht our peonaris has wroucht owr tryncht
wythin ferty futtis to thar trinsche that is rycht befor
that meid bastalze. Ther is v=c= workmen to cum out of
the gallions to cast this nycht in the trensche. I trast
this nycht salbe sein mair besynes to the Inglis men, or
ellis the morn at the furrist. I beleif that few Inglis has
sleppit this last xxiiij houris in speciall. Tha mak greit
defence on thar fassun, and trewille tha haif fortefeit the
toun in greit sort at the begining, and in the nycht workis
as tha may. I put na dout thay will tyn the toun hastile.
This Wednisday lait an Scottis boy com out at the est
port of the toun and is haldin, quhilkis sayis Wilstrop the
principall capiden is slayn, and his lyutenent bayth;
nocht the les thar is na credeit gevin therto. Madem,
thar is Scottis men quhilkis spak wyth part of tham
wythout owr thar trenchis, quhilkis my lord governour
has caussit tak, quhay sayis thay ar all in deidly feyr and
wald randyr bagsaif and livis and nocht to be haldin as
preso[{n{]aris. Bot ther is no dout of the wyning of [{the{]
town and all therintill, will God, quhay conserve your
<P 250>
grace evir. Of the camp this fersday at iiij houris
arly.
Your grace mast humill and obedient servitour
METHVEN.
   The boy sayis ther is on Tuisday and We[{dn{]isday last
ii=c= men slayn wyth our artallzery.
[\Endorsed:\] M. de Mestafan.

[} [\CLXXVII\] }]
[} [\METHVEN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 17th July (1548).\] 
TO THE QUENNIS GRACE.
   Madem, this xvj day of Julij the cannonis was reterit
fra the seg be command of (\Monsur\) Dasse. He remanys
still yet at the seg, and daly and nychtly the carmosche
cessis nocht. Mone slayn in the toun, and part of France
men. The France men and Count Rangraif wald haif
givin the sout, and (\Monsieur\) Dasse of gud mynd therto,
and the hour of the sout effext. In the present tym the
word com be post out of Ingland at xij houris in the nycht
that the lord Gray wyth an greit army wes apon Coldingam
mwr, xviij myllis fra Hadington, and than it was considerit
<P 251>
that gif the sowt wer givin that thai mycht nocht
eschaip greit slachtyr, and bettir was and mayr gud aperance
to contenew the sawt and to mak for battall. And
apon that purpos the greit arttalzery was reterit to Leith
and Edinbrught, and the small arttalzery remanand still
in the camp. Alswa the Scottis army was departit, and
my lord governour was na greit company. This day the
erle Sotherland and the northtland folkis departis of
Edinbrogh to the camp, - xvj=c= men, and, as tha say, ma
is cummand. I com to this toun yestren wyth the greit
arttalzery and caussit cary sex cannons of (\Monsieur\)
Dasses to Leyth, and, wile God, I depart to the camp the
morn ayrly. I put all the gret arttalry in redynes that
quhen it chargit [\sic\] to cum forward agan (\Monsour\) Dasse
wile yett sowt the toun, quhilk he sad to the beschop
Dunkeld and to me. Ther is a vote passand that the
lord Gray has reterit to Berwyk to get ma folkis, and
intendis to send part of lycht hors to refresche the toun.
I trast all salbe the bettyr that your grace be heyr. God
almychty consarv your grace evir. Of Edinbrugh, this
xvij day of Julij.
Your grace mast humill and obedyent servitour
METHVEN.
   (\Monsieur\) Dasse will camp still and intendis nocht to
reteyr, and my lord governour siklyk.
[\Endorsed:\] M. de Meffan.

<P 274>
[} [\CLXXXIX\] }]
[} [\METHVEN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Methven, 8th November (1548).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRAICE.
   Madem, pleis your gud graice.
I have resavit your graice lettir fra Rosay. And howbeit
I have kepit my beid maist part sen your graice being
in to Pertht, and specialle sen Allow evin, I sall, God         #
willing,
be at your graice on Monenday next but ony forther delay
except allanerlie seiknes; and traist weill, madem, I was
it, and thinkis to me [{be ?{] your graice trew servitour but
ony meyn way. Forther, the eternell God consarve your
graice. Of Methven, this viij day of November
be your graice maist hummill and obedient servitour
LORD METHVEN.
[\Endorsed:\] M. de Metfan.

<P 317>
[} [\CCXXII\] }]
[} [\METHVEN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Methven, 24th October (1549?).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madem, eftir all hummill and obedient service pleis
your graice, sen your grace departit of Pertht the erll of
<P 318>
Huntle spak wyth the lord Ruthven for gud dres of this
slachtir committit laitlie on an servand of the lard            #
Tulibardin.
The lord Ruthven schew his innocence, and
that he had promittit unto your grace to do therin as
your grace pleissit command him. The erll of Huntle
send for me, and caussit the erlls of Arroll and Athoill
and me to pas to Tulibard[{in{] quhar we commonit at
lyntht wyth the lard and his utheris freyndis, quhai on
his part inlykwys sayis he will do the ordinance of your
graice. Madem, sen your graice has evir ussit perseverand
lawbouris for the common weill of this realm, now
reconsaill this caus, and now presentlie at the cummyng
of the erll of Huntle and Argaill your graic and my lord
governour to dysyr tham to speik wyth the lord Ruthven
and the lard Tulibardin and wyth thar freyndis, and ther
efter your graic and my lord governour to mak fineill
concord quhilk suld perseveyr constantlie and of luf in
tym to cum. This beand, thai wyth thar kyn freyndis and
servandis ma the bettir serve the auctorite; and gif it
pas ony lang tym nocht reconsallit, ma cum to greit             #
inconvenyentis
quhilkis salbe impediment to the service ther
of. Madem, as ane of your grace humell servitouris I
thocht best to advertice your grace herof, beseking the
eterneill God to consarve your graice evir. Of Methven,
this xxiiij day of Octobeir
be your graice maist hummill and obeisand servitour
HENRY LORD METHVEN.
[\Endorsed:\] M. de Metfan.

<P 437>
[} [\CCXCI\] }]
[} [\METHVEN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\(Before 1550?)\]
[\ ... \] concernyng the mater I maid informatioun of unto your
<P 438>
grace at my last departing of Steriviling.

<S SAMPLE 8A>

<Q SC1 XX CORO OTTERBUR>
<N CORR M LORRAINE>
<A OTTERBURN ADAM>
<C SC1>
<O DATE 1543-1547>
<M MEDIUM MS>
<D CSC>
<V PROSE>
<T LET NON-PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U NET ROYAL>
<E DIST UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I FORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 35>
[} [\XXVIII\] }]
[} [\SIR ADAM OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 13th October (1543).\]
TO THE QWENYS GRACE.
   Madame, plesit youre grace that thir lordis that hes
bene here hes callit me and the men of gude of the toune
sayand that thai will lauboure for restitutioun of the
schippis and gudis, desyring ws to send oure writingis
to the king of Ingland with ane nychtboure of our aune
and thai wald send ane of thairis to lauboure in the mater:
quhilk we thocht verray gude. Nochtwithstanding we
will nocht send oure writingis without your grace my
lord governoure and the lordis being with yow se and
consider the said writing of the quhilk we have send the
copy presentlie, and to have your help and avis heirinto;
praying your grace that ye will gife youre help in the
mater and sollist all the lordis to that effect for the skaith
sustenit be this toune is mervalous greit and as I can
persaiff thare is litill hoip of remeid or restitutioun, becaus
I spak with this ambassatour of Ingland quhilk schew
me ane artikill send fra the counsaill of Ingland berand
in effect thir wourdis: The kingis majestie of Ingland
can be content, upoun oure gentill and humyle persute,
to grant ws restitutioun of oure schippis and gudis swa
we will favoure him and be of his party and mak protest
therupoun hes he will devis. This wordis I red in the
writingis send to this ambassatoure fra the counsaill of
Ingland and becaus we can nocht condiscend to sic unresonable
desyreis I have na hoip of restitutioun. Forther
plesit youre grace that my lord governoure hes writtin to
<P 36>
me to gife na credence to thame that said his lordschip
reportit evill sayngis of my lord cardinale anent me
howbeit thai be ma nor thre men of gude that herd the
contrare. As to my lord cardynale I beleiff surelie that
he wald never faill to me considering my gude mynd to
do his lordschip trew service. I am verray sary at my
herte to se samony that suld be noble men gevin to mak
lesingis. Madame, quhen it plesis youre grace to command
me with ony service I salbe reddy therto with all my
harte. Praying the virgyne Mary to preserve your grace.
Of Edinburgh the xiii day of octobre
Be your gracis humyll servitour
AD OTTERBURN.

<P 47>
[} [\XXXVII\] }]
[} [\SIR ADAM OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 26th November (1543).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, efter maist lawlie commendatioun of hartly
service, plesit your grace to be advertist that the erle
of Angus send to ane gentil man of this toune to knaw
my mynd gif I wald suffir him to cum heir accumpanyt
with his frendis to the noumer of thre thousand hors
quhilk I refusit and wrait that he behufit till haif patience
for divers causs. George Douglas hes bene in Beruik all
<P 48>
this last oulk doand as I suppone litil gud. The erle
Bothuel com to this toune of Friday with sextene or
twenty hors and we are chargit to concur with him in
halding furth of convocationes houbeit he is nocht accumpanyt
in that sort, quhilk wes nocht weil regardit.
We had befor our toune to keip, and now we haif nocht
anerly the toune bot ane noble barroun and young gentil
man to keip fra his inymeis. I wil nocht infest your
grace in this mater forthir at this tyme bot with the grace
of God sall do the best I can to the plesour of God the
service of our soverane your dochter and of your grace.
I think it veray strange that the erle of Angus and that
sort suld mak ane greit convocatioun without your grace
my lord governour and cardinale knaw the samin and
war in als grete reddynes as thai; assuring your grace
that ther cuntre folk ar strikand men and nocht like the
folkis that my lord governour mett last with, tharfor the
gretar cur wald be takin in all behalfis. Madame I thocht
I wald adverteis your grace of sic thingis as occurris heir
being sur that I am and salbe your graces faythful servand
ay reddy at command, prayand God to preserve your
grace. Of Edinburgh this Mononday the xxvj day of
November
Be your graces rycht humyll servitour
AD. OTTIRBURN.

<P 57>
[} [\XLVII\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 16th January (1543-4).\]
TO THE QWENIS GRACE.
   Plesit your grace to be advertist that I haif been sa
occupyt nicht and day that I had na lasor to write to your
grace quhar for I desir hartlie to be excusit. The besinis
ar swa procedit that your grace and we all hes mater to
thank God and ascribe na thing to our doyngis bot to
Him that governis all to his plesour. George Douglas
at the writing of this bil is enterit in the castel of          #
Edinburgh
and the uther plegis to be enterit as is devisit
with hartlie obedience, and dout nocht bot all is weil and
suirly done to your plesour. This uther sort has but fail
tynt Ingland quhilk is grete rejosing. My lord governour
and the lordis heir wilbe at your grace incontinent and
mak the finale resolutioun and ordour with your graces
avys and consale and lois na thing bot at your plesour.
The lard of Cesfurd hes unvorthely takin ane hous of
my lord Bothuellis in Tyvedale callit Ancrum quhilk
hous nocht beand haistely deliverit my lord governour
with all his cumpany wil pas to the recoverance therof.
Madame, gif I haif servit [{truly?{] the deid schawis;
praying your grace to hald me that man that wil by na
vyis mak lesingis nor mak hiech promisis bot, will God,
<P 58>
my deid salbe ay abone my sayingis and salbe reddy to
serve your grace at all tymes as ye sal ever mair knaw
be deid. And God almychty preserve your grace. Of
Edinburgh this xvj day of Januar
Be your gracis humell servitour
AD. OTTERBURN.

<P 59>
[} [\XLIX\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 27th February (1543-4?).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame,plesit your grace to be advertist I have maryit
ane dochter laitlie and as youre grace knawis sik materis
requiris coist and expensis quhairfoir I wald desyre youre
gracis supporte in that mater gif ye may gudelie ; and
gif your grace be nocht disposit at this tyme I will ever
mair stand content to abide youre pleser. Ferthir I dout
nocht bot sir Johnne Campbell of Calder hes schewin
youre grace quhat comunicatioun was betuix my lord
cardinale and me at his departyng out of this toun.
Nochtwithstanding I have had writtin fra his lordeschip
sen his departyng in cotures and gentill maner.
[{With commendations of service{] Of Edingburgh the
xxvij day of Februar
Be your gracis humyll servitur
ADAM OTTERBURN.

<P 75>
[} [\LVIII\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 28th April (1544).\]
TO THE QWENIS GRACE.
   Plesit your grace that upoun Setterday that last wes
my lord governour direckit ane writing under the signet
and his subscriptioun to charge me to warde quhilk
<P 76>
writing his grace at the sollistatioun of my lord of Orknay
principaly dischargit. I traist your grace and my lordis
will think that sic charge suld nocht haif bene gevin
without your avis, bot at this tyme thair hes bene counsalouris
that hes bene planely in my lord governouris contrar.
I neid nocht to write all at lenth how the mater hes
procedit and be quhais menis : your grace wilbe sufficientlie
advertisit be utheris. Your grace salbe assurit
that as to my particular actioun I never offendit to na
erdlie man sen I com to mannis aige. And as for the
commoun actiounes of this toune thai salbe fundin honest,
and gif your grace findis utherwyis quhen the verite is
knawin ye sall help to our punitioun: and gif we be
fundin honest men baith towart God and our princes your
grace will defend our honest querelis as accordis, and to
be to my simpilnes as my gud maisteres, I alwyis being
fundin honest.
   Madame, the blissit Virginie be your support. Of
Edinburgh this Monenday the xxviij day of Aprile
Be your graces humyll servitour
AD. OTTERBURN.
[\Endorsed:\] A Sire Addam Hotbourne.

<P 92>
[} [\LXXII\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 16th June (1544).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Pleis your grace to be advertist that George Douglas
come to my hous of Reidhall that samin nycht that I
departit fra your [{grace?{] and remanit quhill on the
morne that he had dynit I commonit with him in all
materis at lenth and fand him verray weill myndit to
serve your grace and to stand ferme at your opynioun
and alswa to be ane gude Scottis man. Bot his mynd
is that your grace seik be all menis pece of Ingland, and
gif it can nocht be obtenit to defend stoutly aganis thair
ire. Youre grace may weill undirstand that he wald
rathar have peax nor were, gif it mycht be had, for divers
causis as your grace can weill considder. Thairfore it
is verray necessare that ya direct ane herald with all
diligence to the king of Ingland for ane conduct to             #
ambassiatouris
and to insert in the writing to be send to him
that your grace exhortis him to grant the said saufconduct,
and at thair reparing to his grace thai sall have sic           #
comissioun
with thame that his grace of ressoun salbe satesfyit.
   Forder thair is ane Flemyng schip that wes tane be
Franchemen reddy to departe in Flandris and the merchandis
of Dunde and this toune hes thocht rycht hevy
that thair nychtbouris ar lyand in presoun in Flandris
and ar abill to peris and de in presoun without help.
Thairfore thai have desirit your grace humlie to direct
<P 93>
my lord of Sanct Johnis incontinent for delivering of
the sadis presoneris and thair gudis; and, gif the said
lord can nocht be na wayis be sped away, to send for
Snawdoun herald and direct him to excuse all materis
and to schaw the impedimentis quhairthrow our ambassiatouris
mycht nocht cum: bot is neidfull that the said
lord pas for the comoun weill, for at the fyne the said
lord or sum uther grete man man pas. It is mair expedient
to mak ane expensis nor to mak doubill and alsua our
erandis will nocht be perfitely endit and sped be ane
herald.
Alswa pleis your grace to be advertist that the erle
of Levenax is forgane the north coist havand twa schippis
quhilk come with him furth of Dumbertone about the
Ilis. I spak with the man that saw him. Your grace
sall beleif surelie that he will byde at the avys and
counsale of George Douglas quhilk I knaw perfitely.
Thairfore it is verray expedient that your grace send with
all diligence to the said George to solist the said erle to
remane in the contre for the weill of the samin and to
accept gude wayis and to concur with your grace and the
remanent of the lordis. The said George is in Dalkeith
and I sall send writing to him to solist him to the samin
effect, and the rathare that the said George hes schewin
me his mynd in that mater of befoir. Your grace and
counsale had grete neid to be besy for the weill of the
realme. I saw ane bill that come fra James Henrisoun
furth of the New castell, makand mentioun that he wes
sary for the damnage that we had gottin of Ingland bot
mekle mair trist and sorrowfull for the damnage tocum,
counsaland thairfore his companzeoune, Francis Aikman,
<P 94>
nocht to repair nor big his hous for this yeir for we stand
at ane evill poynt. My lord governour sayis he sall seik
help at hell or he want his purpois; and alswa the mater
standis hevy to me for my parte, for as George Douglas
hes schewin to me that he sayis he sall entir throw the
castell and sla me, and gif the toun resyst he sall byrn the
remanent of it that is unbrynt.
   Madame, thair is ane certane of mysdoaris in Domglas
quhilk levis apoun reif and spoilze. Gude it war that your
grace wrait to George Douglas and caus my lord Boithuile
to cum here and stanche thift and to keip the cuntre fra
thevis and tratouris. I assure your grace ye ar in gude
estimatioun with all the haill cuntre and thairfore ye man
be all menys to help the pure cuntre and repres thevis.
Madame, the blissit Virgin Marie conserve your grace.
Of Edinburcht the xvj day of Junij
Be youre gracis humyll servitour
AD. OTTERBURN.

<P 169>
[} [\CXXI\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\(c. August 1546).\]
TO THE QWENYS GRACE.
   Madame, it is of verite that thair is ane condict writtin
for to the lordis Ruthven and Paslay and secretar, and
that Brunstoun suld have passit in cumpany with Paslay.
And the impedimentis and argumentis that the secretar
maid aganis the comprehentioun was to the effect that thir
personis mycht have past and interit in ane trewis or
peax with Yngland be oure awin way, bot thai ar marvilus
displesit that knawlege is gottin of this mater and hes
send to Dunbar for the messinger to returne; and quhidder
it be to brek that purpois and to ressave the supplicatioun
agane that was send for that condict or nocht, I can nocht
say. I sall writ to your grace as I can fynd occasioun.
Madame, the virgyn Marie be your supple.
Be your gracis humyll servitour
AD. OTTERBURN.
[\Endorsed\] (\M=e=\) Adam Hotbourne.

<P 170>
[} [\CXXIII\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Wemyss, 26th September (1546).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, plesit youre grace my lorde governour send
me twa divers writtingis to cum to Sanctandrois: and
<P 171>
the effect was to pas in Yngland, and the secreter and
I to be in commissioun and gif we agre nocht, he to pas
in France to knaw the kyng of Francis mynd.
   Madame, I am agit and seiklie throw my prisamynd and
evill tretin, and is unable divers wayis, as God kennis.
I have nocht accepit that charge as yit nor will nocht
without your graces avis and command, praying your
grace to send me your mynd heirto and to excus me, I
cumin nocht my self, becaus force it is, to speik with your
grace or I departe out of this cuntre.
   Madame, the glorious Virgyne be your kepar. Off the
Wemys, this Sunday, the xxvj day of September.
Be your gracis humyll servitour
AD. OTTERBURN.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M=e=\) Adam Hotbourne

[} [\CXXIV\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 20th October (1546).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, plesit your grace to be advertist that I ressavit
your writting direct to my self and ane uther direct to
the king of Yngland quhilk is nocht closit, and the use of
this realme is to send all letteris closit quhowbeit thai be
<P 172>
letteris of credence; thairfoir, madame, I have send the
writting agane to your grace to be closit gif your grace
think is expedient, and to send it agane in all haist. Your
credence I have put in writting.
   Madame, thair was grete solistationis and fair hechtis
bayth with hors and geir to tak this mater on hand: I
have gottin na hors and na money that will furnis me to
Mussilburght. And suppois thai luke to na honeste that
hes devisit me to this lawbour, yit nocht theles and I suld
pas upoun my fute I sall do my parte, and at my power
procure the plesour of God and wele of this realme: and
gif I de in the pane, my dede salbe meretable and honest.
And God preserve your grace in prosperite. Off Edinburgh,
the xx day of October.
Be your graces humyll servitour
AD. OTTERBURN.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M=e=\) Adam Hotbourne.

[} [\CXXV\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\London, 5th December (1546).\]
TO THE QWENIS GRACE.
   Madame, plesit youre grace tobe advertist that efter
your directioun I movit sik thingis to the king of Yngland
as ye commandit and findis litill effect to my purpois as
yit. He said he cutht mell with na persoun in Scotland
sa lang as my lorde governour was in autorite. I persaif
his grace luffis yow the war that ye ar in ane accorde with
my lorde governour. We have writtin tweching our
besynes at grete lenth to my lorde governour quhilk wilbe
schawin to your grace. Schortlie, my counsale is yee
writt with deligence to the kyng of France to luke weill
on oure materis: for other it will cum to that poynt that
<P 173>
the comprehensioun may be exceptit, as thair is litill
apperance therof; or ellis enter in ane new pece quhilk
the counsale of Yngland desiris; or ellis seik outwart
alliance. We have writtin all reddy to the kyng of France
of the proceding heir, and quhow it is said heir that the
comprehensioun was maid conditionalie, and ferther hes
referit the rehers of the mater to the ambassatour of
France quhilk was present at our disputatioun togidder
with the empriouris ambassatour quha schew him party.
I refer all uther thingis quhill my returning. I traist ye
may have writtingis to France be this ambassatour than
to send be see. I pray your grace remember to help me
with expens; and God kepe youre grace. Off Londoun,
the fyft day of December
be your gracis humyll servitour
AD. OTTERBURN.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M=e=\) Adam Hotbourne.

<P 174>
[} [\CXXVI\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\London, 4th February (1546-7).\]
TO THE QWENIS GRACE.
   Madame, sen the departing of Cumbo with quham I
wraitt at lenth to my lord Erskyn, the kyng of Yngland
decessit on Wedinsday at nycht the morn efter Sanct
Paulis day; and within thir xx dayis the young kyng
beis crounit and the auld kingis beriall be solempnisat.
He hes ordanit in his letter will that the erle of Heirfurde
salbe governour to the young kyngis persoun and protectour
of the realme of Yngland, and nammyt xvj personis
to be counsalouris be quhais awys all thingis salbe orderit.
We spak on Thurisday the thrid day of Februar with the
erle of Hertfurde in his logyn, and na persoun with him
except Pigett, secretar, and findis as we fand at all tymes
that thai wald be at ane trety of pece with sum trety of
the mariage bot nocht with sa strait and rigorus conditionis
as was in the first contract. I fynd that thai will
nocht suffer the secretar pas in France. I pray your grace
gif it be thocht that we suld nocht trete upoun pece that
ye will counsale to mak provisioun, and spetialie for the
strenth of Edinburgh and the qwenis housis of Lothiane,
<P 175>
for gif thai be wele regardit thair is na danger of conquest
or that thai will wesy youre grace at Striveling. Quhat
is done of Sanctandrois I can nocht say bot that ambassatouris
of Sanctandrois ar wele herd heir and labouris
for the plesour of Yngland as befoir or the concorde. I
wrait to my lorde Erskyn with (\monssieur\) Cumbo quhairof
your grace is sufficientlie advertist be the said lorde. I
traist your grace sall have gude caus to be content with
my service quher I may avance your honour or plesour;
and God almychty kepe your grace. Off Londoun, the
ferde day of Februar.
Be your gracis humyll servitour
AD OTTERBURN.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M=e=\) Adam Hotbourne.

[} [\CXXVII\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\London, 8th March (1546-7).\]
TO THE QWENIS GRACE.
   Madame, pleis youre grace I have spokin with (\monsieur\)
Cumbo this berar; becaus he was to cum in Scotland I
thocht it gude to salute youre grace with this bull. This
Setterday the fyft day of Marche my lorde secretar
departit furth of Londoun. Thair is nyne schippis of
this cuntre past to the see and as I can have informatioun
to avait upoun oure Scottis schippis. I mak na lang
lettres becaus I wrait laitlie to your grace. I wait nocht
<P 176>
quhow it sall succede betuix France and Yngland bot
the ambassatouris of France ar wele tretit and as freyndis
and we as inymyis.
   Madame, gif youre grace will command me with ony
service ye sall fynd me obedient; praying God to conserve
youre grace in prosperite. Of Londoun, the viij
day of Merche
Be your gracis humyll servitour
AD. OTTERBURN.
[\Endorsed:\] Adam Hotbourne.

[} [\CXXVIII\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\London, 14th March (1546-7).\]
TO THE QWENIS GRACE.
   Plesit youre grace to be advertist that heir is rycht
evill tithandis. I think the (^Lyon^) be tane and mony of
the men slane. Dryburgh is saif. My lorde governour
was sufficientlie informyt that thair was ten schippis of
weir maid to the see. As for uther besynes, your grace
sall surelie understand that the pece betuix France and
Yngland was contractit for the kingis and thair successouris,
and now the samyn is renewit within thir thre
dayis and, as the ambassatour sayis, we are comprehendit
as of befoir; bot we ar nocht off counsale thairto. The
empriour triumphis in Almanye and thairfoir I beleev
<P 177>
that France and Yngland hes jonyt thame self in mutuale
kyndnes mair surelie than of befoir; and, as I suppone,
for feir of the said empriour we stand in ane hevy cais.
Thairfoir your grace man tak the mair labour to gif gude
counsale. I assure your grace that I persaif sik kyndnes
betuix France and Yngland that France will nocht displeis
thame. (\Monsieur barron de lay\) Garde and ane Blanchet
hes sped thair erandis heir and ar departit glaidlie. This
that I writt to your grace is verray treuth. The secretar
is now with the courte of France. And gif your grace
will command me with ony service, advertis me; and
almychty [{God{] preserve your grace. Off London, the
xiiij day of Marche
Be your gracis humyll servitour
AD. OTTERBURN.
[\Endorsed:\] Adam Hotbourne.

<P 179>
[} [\CXXX\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\(London, April 1547.)\]
TO THE QWENIS GRACE.
   Madame, plesit your grace to wyt that ther is ane
servand cum in fra my lord secreter and brocht me ane
letter makand mention that his commission is tynt and
that he hes spokin with this young kyng of France. He
hes writen this mater be syfferis, quhobeit it nedit nocht
<P 180>
for the protector hes the commission, and it is na mater
of secreitnes to schaw that he spak with the kyng of France.
He hes nocht writen ony uther thing to me and I ame
content to ken na forther for he that kennys na thing may
keip consell. This servand sayis that your freyndis ar
gret consaloris and reularis. Lord Dernly is in curt
and the ald reularis baitht men and women ar passit. I
cane writ your grace na thing of the emprior, bot sum
sayis he is deid and sum utheris that he is seik. As for
tydingis heir, I see na thing bot as the ald kyng wer
levyng and ilk day I heir of our infelicite. My lord
Maxwell and Driburgh ar lik to go mad, quhobeit Driburgh
is heir daly with me bot he hes ane kepar and at
gret charge. I had gret pane to gett this litill liberte to
him. I cane gett na help to M. Johne Hay and the
utheris. I have writen to my lord governour that I will
cum hame for I have nocht ado heir. I am seikly and is
nocht abill to wait apon curtis and specialy in this cuntre.
I pray your grace humlie that yee wald sollist my lord
governour to suffer me to returne for saifty of my liff.
I think that my lord secreter may uis ane commission heir
as in France, for I ame nocht in haill nor uther wayis to
tary apon ther lang besynes. I pray Jhesu that all be
weill rulyt to the weill of our pur realme. Madame, I ame
<P 181>
reddy with all the humyll service that I cane or may do;
praying God to conserff our masteres and your grace in
prosperite
Be yore gracis humyll servitour
AD. OTTERBURN.
[\Endorsed:\] Adam Hotbourne.

[} [\CXXXI\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\London, 29th April (1547).\]
TO THE QWENIS GRACE.
   Plesit youre grace, I have writtin to yow of all sik
thingis as heir occurrit and doutis nocht bot or the cuming
of this gentilman youre grace is wele advertist of the kyng
of Francis dede als wele be my letteris send to youre
grace as to my lorde governour with uther sik thingis as
occurrit; and for this tyme I have nocht to writt bot it
is rycht neidfull ye tak grete deligence to await apoun
oure doyngis that hes commissioun in uther cuntreis.
It is nocht neidfull to declair all thingis at lenth. As for
tydingis heir, I think thir men sall nocht invaid oure
realme this yeir bot thai mak grete preparatioun in all
partiis, quhilk the protectour allegis done for na invasioun
bot to kepe thair cuntre bot I tak nocht my jugement
apoun thai sayingis.
   Madame, I am rycht seiklie and remanis heir without
ony besynes, quhairfoir I beseik youre grace that ye wald
dedene to solist my lorde governour to suffer me to return
hame that I may de amangis my freindis. My lorde
secretar may do all that I persaif is tobe done.
   Madame, gif thair be ony service I may do to your
gracis plesour I salbe reddy at my power; praying God
<P 182>
almychty to preserve youre grace. Of London, the penult
day of Aprile.
Be your gracis humyll servitour
AD. OTTERBURN.
Master Henry Bannayis and capitane Borthuik ar
cumin to this tone. I dreid sayr the end of this mater of
Sanct Androis.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M=e=\) Adam Hotbourne.

<P 183>
[} [\CXXXIII\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\London, 17th May (1547).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, pleis youre grace to be advertist that (\monsieur\)
Cumbo like ane honest gentill man hes done his divore
tweching Driburgh and his servandis like as your grace
wilbe ferther advertist. The said (\monsieur\) Cumbo hes
declarit your gracis gude mynd towart me quhairthrow
I think me gretelie oblist to do your grace all service to
<P 184>
me possible. And as for this cuntre I se na thing as yit
bot stabillite like as the auld kyng war on lyve. This
cuntre preparis for weir aganis ws and it is for certane
that thair is daylie wappynschawyngis in the cuntre.
Preistis of small leving ar compellit to fynd harnes for
ane man, quhether it be to invaid or defend I can nocht
say. I marvell that capitane Borthuik and doctour
Durame war sufferit to cum heir. As for master Henry
Balnavis, he is wele servit be se and land and is returnit
in Scotland with the best gunnar in Yngland. I drede
sair Sanct Androis. It is quietlie said heir that thai
brocht with thame the writtingis of xxvij noble men
oblising thame to this kyng: quhilk I beleve nocht tobe
of verite, quhowbeit the ambassatour of France hes writtin
to the kyng that sik thingis is of verite and schew me ane
tykket of the names of thre grete men. I traist that
efter the cummyng hame of my writtingis your grace sall
knaw the verite quhairthrow ye may advertis the kyng
of France, quhilk is verray necesser to be done, with grete
diligence for the honour and wele of our realme, for I
suspect thir lesyngis be maid to put ws out of consate
with France. I have writtin sum parte of this mater to
my lorde governour bot nocht sa plane as to your grace,
makand na rehers quhat this ambassatour of France hes
<P 185>
writtin. Uther materis I refer to my lorde Erskyn and
Driburcht.
   Madame, I am sa evill tretit mony wayis that it is bayth
schame and pane to rehers, and war nocht that sum Scottis
men induellaris of Depe happynnit to cum heir I had
sauld my hors for fawlt of money, for I have na credence
heir becaus the Inglismen dar nocht do me na curtesse:
bot your grace salbe assuryt that I sall rather suffer
poverte than to be abandonyt to ony in this realme for
quhatsumevir necessite.
   Madame, I am and salbe reddy with all faythfull service,
praying the eternall God to preserve your grace. Of
London, the xvij day of Maij
Be your gracis humyll servitour
ADAM OTTERBURN.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M=e=\) Adam Hotbourne.

[} [\CXXXIV\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\London, 4th June (1547).\]
TO THE QUHENIS GRACE
   Plesit youre grace to be advertist that I ressavit
writtingis fra my lorde governour to the kyngis hienes
heir for delivery of the presonaris as your [{grace{] knawis,
quhilkis I presentit to the protectour and counsale quha
sayd thai wald avys and thairefter gif me anser. And on
that samyn day thair come ane gentilman fra the kyng
of France with commissioun to present our acceptatioun
<P 186>
of the comprehensioun and for delivery of Driburght and
master Johnne Hay, and swa oure erandis was to ane
effect; bot the gentilman hed sum thing ellis in commissioun
anent the bildin at Bullonze by thair trety. The
said gentilman had anser that thai wald nocht ressave
the said acceptatioun nor gif documentis therupoun for
mony caussis litill to effect. Nocht theles thai said thai
wald observe the said comprehensioun and wald move
na weir, we doand siklike; and as for the presonaris thai
gaif anser that thai wald be contentit that thai war
deliverit fyndand cautioun athir to enter or to pay ane
ressonable ransone. This was ane anser of deservance
and quhen I offerit tobe cautioun sua I mycht return
hame or I war requirit for ther interes thai wald nocht
agre therto bot that or evir I suld departe out of Yngland
the saidis abbot and master Johnne suld be enterit agane
or ellis pay ane ressonable ransone, and swa I to remane
as ane plege quhilk war to me ane myscheif and dishonour
sundry wayis. Sa fer as I can considder be thair procedingis
and sayngis according therto thai tak na cure
of ony prince or natioun. Quhow it will stand betuix
France and Yngland I can nocht say bot it apperis nocht
to be unite betuix thame. The Inglismen hes biggit ane
wall of xix or xx fute thycht at the hevin of Bullonze on
the Frenche syde. The cardinale of Lorane with uther
grete men of the realme hes vesit the said wark and I
traist be nocht content therwith. I have informyt my
lorde governour quhow thir folkis wald I suld return
hame and laubour for ane commissioun for my self and
utheris to treit upoun peax. I traist this war ane ganand
way to put all thingis to delay; and in the menetyme to
avys the best the gentilman departit the secund day of
Junij towart France.
The kyngis grace heir hes writtin ane anser to my lorde
governour of sik writtingis as was send heir for delivery
<P 187>
of the prisonaris bot I think thai salbe fund strange and
rycht hicht.
   Madame, I am your humyll servitour reddy to do your
graces command in ony thing that lyis in my power,
praying God to conserve your grace. Off London, the
ferd day of Junij
Be your gracis humyll servitor
ADAM OTTIRBURN.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M=e=\) Adam Hotbourne.

[} [\CXXXV\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\London, 4th June (1547).\]
TO THE QWENIS GRACE.
   Madame, plesit your grace that efter the closin of my
letter the ambassadour of France send ther letteris
quharby your grace may persaiff that I did deligence, as
I have done at all tymes. I wald rather cheis ony pane
of my body or I suld faill to do your grace all the service
that my body mycht suffer. Madame, I beseik the
glorius lady be your supple. Of Lundon, the ferd day
of Junij
Be your gracis humyll servitour
ADAM OTTIRBURN.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M=e=\) Adam Hotbourne.

[} [\CXXXVI\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\London, 29th June (1547).\]
TO THE QWENIS GRACE.
   Plesit your grace tobe advertist that ther is na apperance
of motion in this cuntre except aganys ws. Ther folkis
<P 188>
proposis to bryng graitht and werkmen to sett up fortilis
quhar thai think best in Fiff or Lothiane and quhar thai
have moniest fawveraris, of the quhilkis I dreid thai have
our mony. Thair hes bein ane Italiane twyis in Sanctandrois
to devis quhar it is mest ganand to byg in Fiff on
the see cost. He is laitlie returnyt, and as I cane be
advertist he hes pete in his hart of our cuntre and of the
ordour therof: I pray God put remeid. This Italiane
seand tham that ar innymis to the realme at gret liberte
and weltht he marvilis. My lord sec[{r{]etar hes send ane
writen to me sayand that he wes to gett his anser about
mydsomer. I dreid and we speid ws nocht hestele we sall be
convoyt with greter cumpany then we brocht with ws heir.
   Madame, I ame and salbe reddy at all tymis to do your
grace all humyll service at my power, praying God to
preserff your grace. Of Lundone, the penult day of Junij
Be your gracys humyll servitour
ADAM OTTERBURN.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M=e=\) Adam Hotbourne.

[} [\CXXXVII\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\London, 13th July (1547).\]
TO THE QWENIS GRACE.
   Plesit youre grace tobe advertist that this Tuisday the
xij day of July the protectour of Yngland did send for me
and complenit of mony and divers attemptatis done be
Scottismen aganis Yngland bayth be se and land, and efter
lang altercatioun he desirit me to writ to your grace and
the counsale, makand mentioun that the kyngis hienes
and counsale of this realme was content to depute certane
commissionaris apon the bordour to tak and mak redres
of all attemptatis committit on other syde sen the trete
of pece betuix France and Yngland and the comprehension
<P 189>
of ws contenit thairinto; and in the menetyme thai
sall purches the empriouris consent to the foirsaid
comprehensioun,
quhilk he understandis salbe eiselie optenit
becaus the empriour led the waris aganis ws for thair
caus alanerle; and hes nemmit the bishope of Durame
and sir Robert Bowis to be commissionaris for the parte
of Yngland; and ferther the said protectour and counsale
hes offerit to treit pece with ws in sik sorte that of resson
we suld be content and to send commissionaris to the
bordouris to that effect.
   Madame, I can nocht say of quhat intention the protectour
hes proponit thir materis bot gude it is to tak cure
for the defence of the realme. I writt nother to perswaid
nor disuade, bot anerlie for descharge of my dewite.
   Madame, I beseik your grace for Godis saik to laubour
that I may return hame for I am heriit and distroyit mony
wayis. And almychty God conserve youre grace. Off
London, the xiij day of July.
Be your gracis humyll servitour
ADAM OTTIRBURN.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M=e=\) Adam Hotbourne.

<S SAMPLE 8B>

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<N CORR M LORRAINE>
<A OTTERBURN ADAM>
<C SC1>
<O DATE 1543-1547>
<M MEDIUM MS>
<D CSC>
<V PROSE>
<T LET NON-PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
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<Y X>
<H X>
<U NET X>
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<J INTERACTIVE>
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<Z X>

<P 53>
[} [\XLIV\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE EARL OF BOTHWELL\] }]
[\Reidhall, Friday (4th January 1543-4?).\]
TO MY LORD ERLL BOTHUELL.
   My lord, eftir maist hartlie recommendatioun of my
service, plesit your lordschip to remember of our commonyng
<P 54>
betuix Corstorphin and Edinburgh and that I wes
determit to do you service and follo your consaill. I
assur your lordschip quhen it come to the poynt I mycht
nocht fynd iii=xx= personis to debait the mater. The thing
I did wes for gude quhowbeit I be murmurit saikleslie.
It was far ware done to gyf our the towre of the abbay
and leif it afore or I maid me to ony appoyntment. My
lord the men of gude and dekynnis send honest men to
me desyrand me to cum to the town and tak the cure on
me, and therupon I past to the town this Thurisday and
spak with thaim all quhem I fand weill myndit and to
serve me in that cure abone ony man; nochtwythstandyng
I have gevin gude wordis and deferrit the mater quhill
I have your lordschip consall and help accordyng to the
promis maid betuix ws. Your lordschip knaws quhow
my lord gowernour hes done to me and therfore I dreid
he be my wnfreind. I beseik your lordschip to declair
my part as I heir ye have done lyke ane nobill and trew
lord and schaw my part to the qwenis grace and, will
God, your lordschip gyff ewir I may do ony steid sall fynd
me ane trew servand; and to send me answeir and your
awys the sonest ye may. This mornyng George Dowglas
is ryddyng by my place, quhether to Strevelyng or to
speik with the governour I can nocht weill say, bott the
<P 55>
governour desyrit George to cum and speik with him
wyth mony gude wordis as is writtin to me. God conserff
your lordschip. Of the Reidhall this Friday
Be your lordschip servitour
AD OTTERBURN.
[\Endorsed:\] Adam Hotberne.

<P 190>
[} [\CXXXIX\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE GOVERNOR\] }]
[\London, 17th July (1547).\]
TO MY LORDE, MY LORDE GOVERNOURIS GRACE OF SCOTLAND.
   My lorde, sen the closing of my writing I am informyt
that thair is ane Spanyert send in Flanderis to bring
Flemyngis in our contrar; and attour I am surelie informyt
that Flemyngis cummis of thair awin plesour in
our contrar. I repent sair that ther is sa grete respect
to particular proffeit and na respect to the common wele.
We provoke all the warld in our contrar, like as I wrait
in certane articulis to your grace of befoir. I can say na
mair, bot I pray God keipe your grace and saif the puir
realm of Scotland. Off London, the xvij day of July
Be your graces humyll servitour
ADAM OTTERBURN.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M=e=\) Adam Hotbirnne.

<P 192>
[} [\CXLI\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO THE GOVERNOR\] }]
[\London, 10th August (1547).\]
   My lord, plesit your grace to be advertist that on Sonday
that last wes I past to Hamtoun Court quhair I spak
with the kingis majeste and the protectour with utheris
the lordis of consale, quha thocht that it wes nocht conforme
to ressoun nor consuetude observit betuix princis
that I suld remain in tyme of hostilite without I wald
proppone concord and had power therto. And becaus I
saw afoir my eis verray gret preparatioun of weir, and
actualie the gret hors the harnes the hagbutaris and all
gorgious reparrale set forwart towart our realme I wes
desirous to haif my leif, quhilk I obtenit fra the kingis
hienes: and efter my licence to depart I spak with the
protectour and requirit of him gif he wald na uther way
bot to invaid ane pupill and hir realme. He answerrit
that the kingis majeste wes dishonerit be the taking of
the Langholme quhilk wes conquest in tyme of weir and
his just dominioun, and als of the invasioun and persute
of the kingis freindis, with mony uther sayingis that he
couth say na further in that matter bot to proceid to the
interprise devisit be the counsale; sua I tuke my leif.
<P 193>
And to rehers all sayingis als wele on my part as theris,
it wer our tedious to rehers and lang to write. And on
Mononday efter none Peter Thomsoun come heir with
your gracis writingis and immediatlie thereftir ane
messinger of court come to me desiring that I suld return
to Hamtoun Court on the morn, to the quhilk desire I
obeyit: and howbeit I had nocht bene requirit, your
gracis lettres constrenit me to pas. I come to the said
place out of London at ix houris in the morning and first
schew the protectour your writingis, quhu maid faith and
tuke upoun his honour that he wes myndyt to kepe the
comprehensioun and to tak and mak redres, bot the
materis betuix the realmez ar alterit sensyne and the
kingis honour grevously hurt be Langholme and uther
injuris: quhair for he thocht nocht to proceid as he wes
myndyt of befoir. And efter lang debait anent your gracis
instructionis with forther mair deip communication [{?{]
in thai materis the protectour said to me: Sir, ye remember
ye desirit at me on Sonday gif I wald persever in proceiding
aganis Scotland, or gif ther mycht be uther gude wayis
adressit for the eis of bayth the realmez; and sensyn,
sayis he, I haif pausit upoun better wayis to be had than
the effusioun of blude and distructioun of the pure pupill,
and according therto I desire ye to send the herauld be
post to Scotland and declair that I am ane man gevin
alwayis to pece and quiet without I be provokit to the
contrar, and gif it pleis the governour of Scotland to tak
gude wayis quhilkis salbe to his honour his proffit and the
wele and commodite of baith the realmez I salbe conform
therto. And that the materis may be the mair esele
brocht to pas and mair amplie oppynnit he desirit that Sir
George Douglas wald repair to the New castell the xxvij
day of this moneth, quhair he suld be present and opin
thir materis to him, sua that he mycht refer to your grace
and counsale and tak resolutioun therto for the commoun
wele of thir tua realmez and eschewing shedding of cristin
blude.
<P 194>
   My lord, I can do na les than to schaw your grace all
sic wechty causis quhilk wald be profoundlie considerit
and pausit upon. I think, for my pur wit, your grace and
counsale suld nocht lichly thir sayingis bot heir tham,
and to send the said sir George to that effect peraventur
thingis may be commonit and brocht to sum stay without
tinsale of freindis. I haif schewin to the ambassatour
of Fraunce all thir materis and I traist the king of France
sall haist advertisment be post and answer at your grace
haistelie. My lord, I pray God that your grace and
consale answer wele for the honour of God and commoun
wele of the realme.
   Forther, my lord, and it pleis your grace luke upon
mony and divers writingis send be me to your grace thir
mony dais past declarand this army tobe set forwart be
sey and land in the end of this moneth, ye sall find you
sufficientle advertist; and merwellis that ye war nocht
satefiit therinto, for I abhorrit awayis lesingis learis and
flatteraris. I dreid ye will nocht gif credence quhill ye
se thame cum in at the dur. And, further, Peter will
declair to your grace quhat he seis; and almychty God
conserve your grace. Of London, the x day of August.
Your gracis servitour
ADAM OTTERBURN.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M=e=\) Adam Hotbourne.

<S SAMPLE 8C>

<Q SC1 XX CORO OTTERBUR>
<N CORR M LORRAINE>
<A OTTERBURN ADAM>
<C SC1>
<O DATE 1543-1547>
<M MEDIUM MS>
<D CSC>
<V PROSE>
<T LET NON-PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U NET X>
<E DIST UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I FORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 161>
[} [\CXX\] }]
[} [\OTTERBURN TO CARDINAL BEATON\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 8th April (1546).\]
TO MY LORD CARDINALL OF SANCTANDROIS AND LEGAIT.
   My lorde, I commend my hartlie service humlie to your
lordschip quham plesit to wit that I ressavit your writting
<P 162>
makand mentioun that ye ar aggreit with Oliver Sinclare
of the quhilk I am content and desiris that all men satisfy
and pleis your lordschip in all behalffis: and quhair your
lordschip writtis that Oliver Sinclare menis him to your
lordschip that I am scharpe to him, quhilk is nocht of
verite, for thir twa yeris bipast I have assolzeit him fra
day to day and moneth to moneth in hoipe of payment
and gif this be scharpnes your lordschip may juge: and
quhair your lordschip thinkis I suld tak his land in payment
I knaw nocht quhair he hes land in Scotland, and suppois
he had land I wil tak nane becaus I have bene sua demanyt
in the kingis grace tyme and sen syne divers wayis quhilk
war lang to rehers that I have na gude to pay my dettis
and my dochteris tocher quham I have mariit laitlie
except that det. And as to my lorde Borthuik he hes
sauld his woll to men that hes put it in Ingland like as all
the merchandices and vittales on this syde of the watter
passis thair and the said lorde gevis your lordschip litill
thankis of thingis past, and Oliver his wyffe and he lyis
cursit and aggregit quhilk I traist thai wald nocht do
without the hoipe of sum way by my satisfactioun. My
lorde I have bene and wilbe als trew to your lordschip as
ony kynnisman or servand your lordschip hes. Beseiking
your lordschip that ye will nocht gif ane absolutioun
without I be satisfiit, for and ye do, ye will put me to uter
hirschip quhilk I wait your lordschip will nocht do to me
quhilk is your trew servitour. And almychty God
preserve your lordschip. Off Edinburcht the viij day of
Aprile
Be your lordschip himyll servitour
AD. OTTERBURN.

<S SAMPLE 9>

<Q SC1 XX CORO WOMEN>
<N CORR M LORRAINE>
<A WOMEN WRITERS>
<C SC1>
<O DATE 1544-1571>
<M MEDIUM MS>
<D CSC>
<V PROSE>
<T LET NON-PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X FEMALE>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U NET ROYAL>
<E DIST UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I FORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 20>

[} [\XVII\] }]
[} [\COUNTESS OF HUNTLY TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Huntly, 16th August (1543).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, I commend my hartly service to your grace.
It pleis your grace I have resavit your grace writing fra
<P 21>
your servand this berar, makand mentyoun that my lord
governour hes rasit ane cursing on my lord and done be
his awyn avyce to stop that he cum nocht to your grace
at this tyme as your grace is informyt. Madame, I assuyr
your grace ye will fynd that informacioune als fals as
utheris quhilkis hes bene maid to your grace abefoir.
Thair is na syk lettres cumin on my lord as yit as ye wrayt;
bot my lord wes informyt that syk lettres wes to cum
and hes gottin ane absolucione fra my lord cardinall in
aventuyr of the samyn. Madame beleif na uther thing
bot my lord wilbe the samyn man he promist to your
grace, and hes gottin greyt laubouris be the governouris
waye to brak hym fra your purpois: and had tha bene
any alteratioun of purposis I suld nocht haf falit till
adverteis your grace with deligens and aye salbe redy to
do your grace syk plesuyr and service as I ma at all tymes,
as knawis God quha mot have your grace in keping eternalye.
At Huntlie the xvj daye of august be
Youris grace humill servatrice
ELIZABETH COUNTESS OF HWNTLYE.

<P 46>
[} [\XXXVI\] }]
[} [\CATHERINE BELLENDEN (WIFE OF OLIVER SINCLAIR) TO THE 
QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 23rd November (1543).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, efter maist humill commendationis of my
puir service to your hienes I am adverteist that your grace
belevis that my husband and I ar awand greit soumes of
money to your grace for Orknay and Zetland and will
nocht pay your grace, and to that effect maister Thomas
Makcalzen your graces man of law hes arreistit our schip
and guddis and haldin the samyn this moneth bygane,
quhairthrow we haif tynt the mercat that we suld haif
maid money of our penny worthis to our greit skaith and
dammage be ressoun that I mycht nocht cum to get
souerte to lows the said arreistment becaus I haif bein
under greit seiknes and wthir trublis this lang tyme
bygane; the quhilk I traist and your grace had bein
weill informyt your grace wald nocht haif gart trubill
our geir in the maner as it was. Madame, your grace
sall wnderstand we haif nocht tane wp ane penny of
Orknay nor Zetland nor will nocht get quhill efter this
nixt Belten and we are informyt your grace hes set the
saidis landis to my lord of Huntlie the quhilk purposis
to be thair or than, and to tak wp the saidis frutis gif
sabeis we suld pay na thing; thairfor, will your grace be
sa gracious to ws as to ratife our fyve yeris tak quhilk
our maister quhom God assoilze set to ws, we sall mak
<P 47>
your grace thankfull payment at your grace plesour as
I wrait to your grace of befoir, for we think greit lak to
gang fra our native rowmes quhilk my husband and his
surname hes brukit thir thre or four hundreth yeris,
considering that we ar in will to mak als gude payment
to your grace as ony that can dissyre it. Beseikand your
grace to schaw this gentill man, the berar of this bill,
quhat your grace intendis to do to ws and quhat we sall
lyppin to; and Eternall God keip your grace and your
graces successioun in all haill and weilfair. Writtin at
Edinburgh the xxiij day of November be
Your gracis humill servatris
KATHERINE BELLENDEN.

<P 130>
[} [\XCVI\] }]
[} [\COUNTESS OF MORAY TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Elgin, 14th March (1544-5).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Mademe, efter humill commendatione of my service to
your grece I thank your grece of your guid mynd and deid
schawyn to me be my eme of Caldar. As yit I am nocht
obeyit of my hwis of Darnway nor yit of your grecis
hwsis of Ros, nochtwithstandyng the quenis grecis your
dochteris schargis wsit on the withhaldaris of the said
hwsis, quhilk causis me to be ewill obeyit of my hwsbandis
restis awcht to your grece and wderis. Nochtwithstanding,
I haif wrytin owir to merchandis of Edinburgh
to caus your grece be answerit of thre hundret punde of
<P 131>
mwnye and the lawe salbe had with diligens. Quhowbeid
I had mwny in this cuntre I durst nocht send it owir be
ressone of my serwandis at war spwilzeit be the get.
Quhow swne I haif putt ordir heir sall hest me to your
grece and mak compleit payment of all restis bygane.
I haif ane tryist with my lord of Huntlie in this wlk to
se gyf I may pleis his lordship, and ther efter sall adverteis
your grece of all thynges; quhome God mot haif in his
kepyng. At Elgyne, the xiiij day of Marche be
Your grace at command and service
ELIZABETH CONTAS OF MURRAY.

<P 148>
[} [\CX\] }]
[} [\COUNTESS OF MORAY TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Dingwall, 21st November (1545).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Mademe, efter maist hertle commendatione of my
service to your grace, rasavit ane writting of your grace
this xx day of Novembere daitit at Stryvelyng the xv day
<P 149>
of Octobere, desyrand me to mak gud and haiste payment
of this Martymes terme. I beleif the maist effek of the
Martymes terme in money is dischargit to me be your
grace assingnaisions maid to Sir Watter Ogilby and the
knycht of Cauder, quhilk is in the haill v=c= mark, quhilk
thai haif tayne payment of at my hand, by uther allowans
that is ordiner, quhilk your grace sall knaw at my comptes.
As for your grace fermes, it is weill knawin the tyme of
yeyr is nocht as yeit to sell ony fermis and merchantis
nocht travalyng in the cuntreth as in pesable tyme,
therfor can nocht get the money therof haistelie without
I do my self gret inconvenyent and skayth, quhilk I wait
your grace desyris nocht considerand [{the{] gret cost and
cummer I haif tayne and maid in putting [{your{] grace
landes and tennandis in rest and peis, quhilk I trast [{I
hai{]f done conformand to your grace mynd at my departing.
[{Nocht?{] the les, the money I may get sall do delygens
and send to you. As for preceptis, beseikis your grace to
send nayne to me bot sik as will gif me day that I may
mak payment one [{without?{] hurting me, and sall mak
als thankfull payment to your grace as ony uther serwis
you, will God, quha haif your grace in eternall keiping.
At Dyngwall, this xxj day of November be
Your grace at command of my service
ELIZABETH CONTAS OF MURRAY.

[} [\CXI\] }]
[} [\COUNTESS OF MORAY TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Cawdor, November (1545).\]
Mademe, eftere humle commendatione of my service to
your grace, I haif bene doand part of besynes and service
<P 150>
consernyng your grace and hes put your landis of Ros to
the best poynt I mycht, swa that all the landit men and
utheris inhabetaris of the landis of Ros are rade to do
your grace service and honour as thai be chargit. And
hes maid provesione for keiping of your tennandis fra
oppressione and sorny[{ng{] the best I could, howbeit the
same hes bene costlie to me as your grace may consider,
quhilk I req ... that ... consider[{yng?{] your grace
mynd schawing to me at departing ... understand
that the martymes terme in money will be na thing ...
effek by your grace assingnations and the wittall sillver
of this ... in the yard may nocht be payit to eftere
candillmes that schipis may haif passaig without ony
gret skayth, quhilk I traist your grace desyris nocht.
Therfor I beseikis your grace send na preceptis for na money
to me quhill the said tyme, for I am weray layth to disobey
ony thing ye will desyre me do, as knawis God, q[{uha{]
mot haif your grace ever in his keiping. Of Cawder, this
... Novembere.
Your grace at command of my service
ELIZABETH CONTAS OF MORAY.

<P 157>
[} [\CXVI\] }]
[} [\COUNTESS OF ATHOL TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Dunkeld, 14th January (1545-6).\]
   Mademe, eftir maist hummill service and prayaris unto
your graice, pleis be remembrit how your graice wrait to
my lord governour and to my lord cardinall in favouris of
your graice trew servitour Sir Adame Otirbourn and be
your graice request that tym Sir Adem was contenwat.
Mademe, ples your graice ther is laitle an sommondis of
tresson raissit on Sir Adem and apon his son Jhon Otirburn
quha mariit the erle Athollis cister, and surle Sir Adem
is haldin innocent and sic thingis allegit be his small
freyndis. Mademe, he is agit and of greit exsperienc and
haldin evir [{in{] tymis passit of wisdom, quharfor it suld
<P 158>
no[{cht{] be an presumption nor synister information [{that{]
suld hurt sic a man in his faym nor [{gud?{] is: attour, he
is now veseit be infirmite. And for his son and your grace
servitrice his s[{pous{], thar can nocht be imput to tham,
quha suld [{nocht?{] be trowblit. Thir premiss beand
considerit [{be?{] your grace gret wisdom, we all your
grace servitouris, the frendis of Sir Adem his son and his
spois, traistis surle in your grace help, and that now as of
befor your grace will be his gracios pryncis and gud
mastres, quham in to is his and ouris your servitouris
confidens to get him and his son dischargit of all sic
trowblis; quhilkis we maist hum[{i{]lle besek your grace
to do for his innocence and our pwre service. The eternell
God conserve your grace. Of Dunkeld, this xiiij day of
Januarye
be your grace mast humell servitrice
COMPTAS OF ATHOLL.

<P 280>
[} [\CXCIII\] }]
[} [\LADY HOME TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 28th December (1548).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madem, I commend my hartly servis to your grace,
ples your grace to ramemer of my wryting my dochter
broht, - it is fulfald lossing to God. My son Alexander
had cumit to your grace wyth the ferst tidengis bot my
lord Huntle said he sold send, and ther efter be at your
<P 281>
grace hem self. My son Andro was at the plas woning
prenssipall, and his cusing John Hom wyth hem the lard
of Coldonknous and young Alexander Hom and the lard
of Melarstanis. Thar wald na uder of the garesonis pas
vyth my son. Well plis your grace to cum to Edenbrught
vyth all delygens and lay garisonis in the Hom,
ther salbe uder thingis doun, wel God. And ilk man wilbe
wellmyndit, ther wilbe few Inglis men in Scotland be lyf.
Your grace mon cas gret delygens be mad for support to
the plas of adventour it be put at be Inglis men. Had the
hale garisonis past vyth my son Andro, Kelso had beyn
won to. All our asperans is in your grace, thar for do
as your grace plessis. Your grace ramemeris I dysirit
part of support quhen your grace thinkis expedyent. I
wald ye gef it to my dochter to send to me for I haf gret
mister. Quhat your grace list command, wryt and it sall
be doun, well God, quha preserve your grace eternally.
Wretin of Edenborght, the xxviij day of Dyssembar be
your graceis humell servetour
MARYON LADY HOM.
[\Endorsed:\] (\M. le conte Mareschal.\)

<P 291>
[} [\CCI\] }]
[} [\LADY HOME TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Home, 9th March (1548-9).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRAS.
   Madem, I comend my hartly serwis to your grace.
Pleis you to be advertesit that thar is cumit serten of
<P 292>
Inglis men to Beryk ma nor wes of befor, bot I belef tha
well nocht all be thre thousand men. Caus wait one the
fortht of Inaresk sa mony as is nedfull, and maik for
suir advertisment in tha parttis, that tha be nocht stoun
on. Als sua I beseik your grace to caus my son and all
uder Scottis men that ye ma forga to cum in this cuntre,
for ther welbe besyn[{e{]s about this toun or ellis in som
uder pairt in this cuntre. The French men that wes heyr
cald not agre with the capeden wes sent to tham, and said
to hem they aucht na servis to the king, and we haf caussit
hem to send for uderis sa mony as plissis hem, and pout
tham away. This last rad was mad in Ingland has doun
na gud, bot maid our inimeis harde, and quhill it be mendit
the Inglis men well never trast to geit skath. Your grac
maun be vere scherp batht on the Franch men and on the
Scottis men or it will nocht be weill; yet ader to do as
aferis to tham or lat it be, tha mecht never getin sa gud
ane tym. Pardon me that writtis sa hamly to your grac,
for in gud feth it cumis of ane gud hart as than [\sic\] that
loifis bath the honour of Scotland and Frans. Forder,
God keip your grace. Writin of Hom, the ix day of
Merch be
your gracis servetour
MARION LADY HOM.

<P 295>
[} [\CCV\] }]
[} [\LADY HOME TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Home, 20th March (1548-9).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madem, I commend my hartly serves to your grace,
sertifying your grace that the hors men of ther parttis of
Ingland that wes at Hatington past by this plas on
Tysday. And it is said be part of Inglis men, had the
Franch men in Dombar beyn half parte to tham, thar
had few Inglis men past away. I exort your grace to
caus the French men that sold cum heir to this plas of
Hom to be heir wyth delygens and that tha be honest
men that will anser of ther lyf and honnour to the kingis
henes of Franc and your grace, and that tha breng na
man wyth tham to be thar sudaris and servetoris bot
quhilk is well gifin: for your grace is knawin of Inglis
men the mallis tha haf to Scottis men, and prenspale to
us, and tha well nocht spair noder for cost nor travell to
haf this plas. And thar is four of the French menis
<P 296>
servandis that is now in this plas past to Ingland and ane
of them toik capeden Nicollayis blak hors vyth hem, and
tha ar in Northam. Your grace moun caus vevaris to
cum vyth the Franch men both of weyn and flour and
uder nessesares, for thar is lytell to geit in this cuntre, and
tha ma sell it agayn to the soudarttis and brew beir to
tham, and tak up thar wagis thar for, and by in to tham
agayn, sa thay well be well fornist and your grace to haf
na tensall. Efter that the French men cum to this plas
to raman, and the cuntre brokin fra all assirans and som
punist for offenssis doun, I well cum and speik vyth your
grace, quhar your grace sall knaw all thingis conserning
this cuntre. And God preserv your grac. Of Hom, the
xx=ti= day of March, be
your gracis servatour at command
MARYON LADY HOM.
[\Endorsed:\] (\Le conte mareschal.\)

[} [\CCVI\] }]
[} [\LADY HOME TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Home, 28th March (1549).\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madem, I commend my hartly servis to your grace.
Plis your grace that the Inglis men is marwelis dysplessit
of this last carmis that my son our threw tham, and tha
wellien contant, and dystrow all this cuntre, quhar for
I pra your grace caus the leutenand wyth the garisonis
to sped tham our. Als sua I beseik your grace to be gud
<P 297>
prenssis to the Spangyarttis and lat tham cum agayn, for
tha do lyk noble men, and als suay the Mour. He is als
scharp ane man as rydis, beseking your grace to be gud
prenssis unto him. I wald your grace caussit the Franch
men to cum to this plas. Thar is not xxx in to it, and
tha ar our few quhan the Scottis men ridis forth; and
gar vevaris cum to tham. Forder as accuris I sall adverttis
your grace. The Spangya[{r{]ttis is awand bath mony that
I caussit men len tham and als to the pur wyfis in this
toun for ther expenssis, and the Franch men in lyk maner
to the wyfis, that the pur folkis ma furneis na mar wyth
out tha geit payment, as your grace ma well conseder. I
dout nocht bot your grace well caus all to be payit. And
the eternell God pryserw your grace. Wrytin of Hom,
the xxviij day of March be
your gracis humell servetour
MARYON LADY HOM.

<P 341>
[} [\CCXXXII\] }]
[} [\LADY GRAY TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 18th November (1550).\]
TO THE QWENIS GRACE DROWRIARE OF SCOTLAND.
   Eftir maist humill commendatioun of service unto your
grace pleis the samin, your grace being rememberit how
oft tymes I spak for the releif of my husband, that I and
his bairnis mycht haif ane lyfe, and my spous to serve the
king of France and your grace, as our soveranis maist
derest moder, and now sen youre graces depairting of
Scotland my said spous is deliverit in my lord ambassatouris
and lieutennentis keping in the castell of Blaknes,
 - quhair your grace may mak me and my bairnis to haif
<P 342>
support be releving of my said spous. Beseiking your
grace for merite of God and the service that his blude and
myne may do, that your grace wilbe gracious quene and
lady to him at this tyme, owthir tobe relevit undir quhat
plegeis and conditionis your grace will think expedient,
and to remane in Scotland, or to be relevit and cum in
France to serve as the kingis majestie and your grace will
gif command; for we ar aluterly herriit in tymes bigane,
as your grace knawis ane pairt therof. I neid nocht
truble your grace with lang lettir, for all the mater hes
bene sa oft reheirsit that ye knaw the samin, and now
without your help I and my bairnis wilbe herriit and distroyit
be povirte for evir, quhilk your grace pleis help and
our prayeris and service salbe evir to your grace as knawis
God, quha preserve your grace in lang lyfe and prosperous
estait with the hevin at your depairting. Writting of
Edinbrucht, the xviij day of November be
Your graces maist humill servant
MARION LADY GRAY.

<P 369>
[} [\CCLI\] }]
[} [\LADY OF BUCCLEUCH TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Edinburgh, 28th January 1553-4.\]
TO THE QUENYS GRACE.
   Madame, eftir maist humyll commendatioun of service,
empleis your grace be advertisit I have tareit heir thir
aucht days bipast in houp of your cumyng to this towne:
awating thaireupone to haif spoking your grace at lenth in
all my necessar besiness, for my suyr traist and asperance
is onelie in your grace above all utheris of this realme.
And I with all frendis pertening me salbe your trew servitouris
in all sic behalfis as ye pleis command ws. Besekand
your grace to send me advertisment gif ye intend to be
heir schortlie or nocht, for I will await yit ferder upone
your cumyng. I haif committit sum part of my mynd
be toung to my broder the berar heirof, quhairto pleis
your grace geif credit. And God almychting preserve
<P 370>
your grace eternalie. Off Edinburgh, the xxviij of Januar
1553.
be your oratrix
JANAT BEATOUN LADY OF BWKCLWTHT.

<P 393>
[} [\CCLXII\] }]
[} [\COUNTESS OF ERROLL TO THE QUEEN REGENT\] }]
[\Perth, 14th November (1554?)\]
TO THE QUENIS GRACE.
   Madame, eftyr maist hwmyll commendatione with
serveis and prayarris, your grace plais wit that,
nochtwithstending
<P 394>
the promissis my lord my husband maid to
your grace - that I in all behalffis suld be wssit and
traittit as his wyff and according to my facultye - he
nevertheless at this tyme is far chengit frome that purpois
and frome the keping of his said promissis. He hes laid
to my charge and desyrit me to refar me to freindis twiching
the modefeing of my sustentatione. I was contentit
that he suld wis the counsall of his awin freyndis as he
thocht best; bot as for my pairt I wald refar that matter
to nane udyr bot to your grace. And sen syne he hes
requyrit me na fordyr, and gyff he continew in the sammyn
mynd he is in, on fors I man cum and tak my sustentatione
of your grace quhyll your grace provide sum way
that I may have my honest leving. Quhilk being providit,
considderand my lord is nodyr desyrus nor contentit
with my companye, I will cum and spend the
sammyn in your gracis serweis. Attour, this Wednisday
I haif spokin [^EDITOR'S EMENDATION ha[{if spo?{]kin^]          #
with my lord quhay hes declarit his mynd
to me, sayand that he can in na [^EDITOR'S EMENDATION           #
[{in n?{]a^] way stand content
with me, allegand me to be participant and fortefiar of
your brokin men quhilk maid the spoilze upone his guddis.
It may be weill knawin that I wald desyr na skayth nodyr
to hym me nor my bernis, seing that his skayth is bayth
myne and my bernis als weill as his. Swa I have na
refuge bot unto your grace, and without your grace put
sum remade to this besenes I persave na wder thing bot
the wtter confusione of his hous me and my bernis. And
as to the furnissing of me, the maister my sone will schaw
your grace of that and all wdyr my affairris, to quhome
your grace plais gyff crydens. Besekand your gud grace
to adverteis me with my said sone quhat your grace
thinkis best that I do in all behalfis: and the Lord God
<P 395>
haiff your gude grace evir in his twischione and keping.
At Pe[{r{]tht, the xiiij day of November be
your gracis humble servitrice at command and powar
MARGARET COWNTES OF ERROLL.

<P 437>
[} [\CCXC\] }]
[} [\COUNTESS OF MONTROSE TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER\] }]
[\Kincardine, 6th April (1547 or earlier).\]
[\ ... \] the twa hundretht
crounis I lent your graice, that I may heff tham now agane
in my mistir .... And it vill pleis your graice deliver
tham to the berar. [\ ... \]
be your grace humille servitrice at hir wter powar
COMITACE OF MONTROS.'

<P 438>
[} [\CCXCIII\] }]
[} [\LADY HOME TO THE QUEEN'S GRACE\] }]
[\Thorntoun, 5th July (after 1550).\]
TO THE QUENEIS GRACE.
   Madam, efter maist hertlie and hummill commandatioun
of service I haif resavit ane writting fra yowr grace
the thrid day of this instant moneyth of July, makeand
mensioun that Johne Otterburne of the Ryd hall hes said
that he hes the landis of Monynettis in herytege. His
father and he hes had thame in lang possessioun. Trowth
it is my lord my husband set that steiding to his father
to haif doun him sertane profeitis and plesur, quhilk wes
<P 439>
nocht yit doun as yowr grace sall knaw at mair lenth.
Quhair he sayis that I alege that his tennandis hes rewin
the cowmoun of Thornetown, it is na alegeance bot in
werray deid that he hes tane in in sewerall to him self in
corne and gyrs neir twa myle off eird, and this said cowmoun
partenis to the lard of Innerweik and the lordschip of
Feirstoun and me. And I desyrit the tennandis thir twa
zeir by past to desyst fra brekin of the ground and thai
promeist that thai sould proseid na forther. Nochtwithstanding
thai haif menurit, quhilk is contrare ressoun
and gud quentence. And quhair he sayis that I intend
to mak conwocatioun of our soverane ladyis legis with
thair catell and hors to eit and destroy the corneis, trewlie
I never intendit sic ane thing, howbeit that it mycht be
doun of rason. I traist in yowr grace that ye will caus
me haif justyce quhensumever that I will complene of
him or of ony wtheris, and I sall never make occacioun
of ony inobedyence to yowr graceis awthorate, bot sall be
glaid to set it furth als far as is in my possabelyte.
The tennandis of Johne Otterburneis tuke in this land
in the tyme of the Inglismen quhen thai war assurit, and
did me mekill mair skayth he and his frendis in that tyme,
as yowr grace sall knaw at mair lenth. Thai haif bayth
maid me the falt and the fyrst plent. I never maid faill
to na creature nor never sall, with the grace of God, quha
mot preserve yowr grace in saule and body. Writtin of
Thornetoun, the fyft day of July, be
yowr graceis hummill obedyent servitor
MARYON LADY HOM.



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