Chapter XXXVIII: Letter II: Published Scots Translation

1. Being departit from the place quhair I left my hart, it is esie to
be judgeit quhat was my countenance, seeing that I was evin als mekle
as ane body without ane hart; quhilk was the Occasioun that quhile
Denner tyme I held purpois to na body; nor zit durst ony present
thameselfis unto me, judging yat it was not gude sa to do.

2. Four myle or I came to the towne, ane gentilman of the Erle of
Lennox come and maid his commendatiounis unto me; and excusit him that
he came not to meit me, be ressoun he durst not interpryse the same,
becaus of the rude wordis that I had spokin to Cuninghame: And he
desyrit that he suld come to the inquisitioun of ye matter yat I
suspectit him of. This last speiking was of his awin heid, without ony
commissioun.

I answerit to him that thair was na recept culd serve aganis feir; and
that he wold not be affrayit, in cace he wer not culpabill; and that I
answerit bot rudely to the doutis yat wer in his letteris. Summa, I
maid him hald his toung. The rest wer lang to wryte.

3. Schir James Hammiltoun met me, quha schawit that the uther tyme
quhen he hard of my cumming he[427] departit away, and send Howstoun,
to schaw him, that he wald never have belevit that he wald have
persewit him, nor zit accompanyit him with the Hammiltounis. He
answerit, that he was only cum bot to see me, and yat he wald nouther
accompany Stewart nor Hammiltoun, bot be my commandement. He desyrit
that he wald cum and speik with him: He refusit it.

The Laird of Lusse, Howstoun, and Caldwellis sone, with xl. hors or
thairabout, come and met me. The Laird of Lusse said, he was chargeit
to ane Day of Law be the Kingis father, quhilk suld be this day,
aganis his awin hand-writ, quhilk he hes: and zit notwithstanding,
knawing of my cumming, it is delayit. He was inquyrit to cum to him,
quhilk he refusit, and sweiris that he will indure nathing of him.
Never ane of that towne came to speik to me, quhilk causis me think
that thay ar his; and neuertheles he speikis gude, at the leist his
sone. I se na uther Gentilman bot thay of my company.

4. The King send for Joachim zisternicht, and askit at him, quhy I
ludgeit not besyde him? And that he wald ryse the soner gif that wer;
and quhairfoir I come, gif it was for gude appointment? and gif I had
maid my estait, gif I had takin Paris [this berer will tell you
sumwhat upon this], and Gilbert to wryte to me? And yat I wald send
Joseph away. I am abaschit quha hes schawin him sa far; zea he spak
evin of ye mariage of Bastiane.

5. I inquyrit him of his letteris, quhairintill he plenzeit of the
crueltie of sum: answerit, that he was astonischit, and that he was sa
glaid to se me, that he belevit to die for glaidnes. He fand greit
fault that I was pensive.

6. I departit to supper. Yis beirer wil tell yow of my arryuing. He
prayit me to returne: the quhilk I did. He declairit unto me his
seiknes, and that he wald mak na testament, bot only leif all thing to
me; and that I was the caus of his maladie, becaus of the regrait that
he had that I was sa strange unto him. And thus he said: Ze ask me
quhat I mene be the crueltie contenit in my letter? it is of zow alone
that will not accept my offeris and repentance. I confess that I haue
failit, bot not into that quhilk I ever denyit; and siclyke hes failit
to sindrie of zour subjectis, quhilk ze haue forgeuin.

I am zoung.

Ze wil say, that ze have forgevin me oft tymes, and zit yat I returne
to my faultis. May not ane man of my age, for lacke of counsell, fall
twyse or thryse, or inlacke of his promeis, and at last repent
himself, and be chastisit be experience? Gif I may obtene pardoun, I
protest I sall never mak fault agane. And I crafit na uther thing, bot
yat we may be at bed and buird togidder as husband and wyfe; and gif
ze wil not consent heirunto, I sall never ryse out of yis bed. I pray
zow, tell me your resolutioun. God knawis how I am punischit for
making my God of zow, and for hauing na uther thocht but on zow; and
gif at ony tyme I offend zow, ze ar the caus, becaus quhen ony
offendis me, gif, for my refuge, I micht playne unto zow, I wald speik
it unto na uther body; bot quhen I heir ony thing, not being familiar
with zow, necessitie constranis me to keip it in my breist; and yat
causes me to tyne my wit for verray anger.

7. I answerit ay unto him, but that wald be ovir lang to wryte at
lenth. I askit quhy he wald pas away in ye _Inglis_ schip. He denyis
it, and sweiris thairunto; bot he grantis that he spak with the men.
Efter this I inquyrit him of the inquisitioun of Hiegait. He denyit
the same, quhill I schew him the verray wordis was spokin. At quhilk
tyme he said, that Mynto had advertisit him, that it was said, that
sum of the counsell had brocht an letter to me to be subscrivit to put
him in Presoun, and to slay him gif he maid resistance. And he askit
the same at Mynto himself; quha answerit, that he belevit ye same to
be trew. The morne I wil speik to him upon this Point.

8. As to the rest of Willie Hiegait’s, he confessit it, bot it was the
morne efter my cumming or he did it.

9. He wald verray fane that I suld ludge in his ludgeing. I refusit
it, and said to him, that he behovit to be purgeit, and that culd not
be done heir. He said to me, I heir say ze have brocht ane lytter with
zow; but I had rather have passit with zow. I trow he belevit that I
wald have send him away Presoner. I answerit, that I wald tak him with
me to Craigmillar, quhair the mediciner and I micht help him, and not
be far from my sone. He answerit, that he was reddy quhen I pleisit,
sa I wald assure him of his requeist.

He desyris na body to se him. He is angrie quhen I speik of Walcar,
and sayis, that he sal pluk the eiris out of his heid and that he
leis. For I inquyrit him upon that, and yat he was angrie with sum of
the Lordis, and wald threittin thame. He denyis that, and sayis he
luifis thame all, and prayis me to give traist to nathing aganis him.

10. As to me, he wald rather give his lyfe or he did ony displesure to
me. And efter yis he schew me of sa money lytil flattereis, sa cauldly
and sa wysely that ze will abasche thairat. I had almaist forzet that
he said, he could not dout of me in yis purpois of Hiegaite’s; for he
wald never beleif yat I, quha was his proper flesche, wald do him ony
evill; alsweill it was schawin that I refusit to subscrive the same;
But as to ony utheris that wald persew him, at leist he suld sell his
lyfe deir aneuch; but he suspectit na body, nor zit wald not; but wald
lufe all yat I lufit.

11. He wald not let me depart from him, bot desyrit yat I suld walk
with him. I mak it seme that I beleive that all is trew, and takis
heid thairto, and excusit my self for this nicht that I culd not walk.
He sayis, that he sleipis not weil. Ze saw him never better, nor speik
mair humbler. And gif I had not ane prufe of his hart of waxe, and yat
myne wer not of ane dyamont, quhairintill na schot can mak brek, but
that quhilk cummis forth of zour hand, I wald have almaist had pietie
of him. But feir not, the place sall hald unto the deith. Remember, in
recompence thairof, that ye suffer not zouris to be wyn be that fals
race that will travell na les with zow for the same.

I beleve thay[430] have bene at schuillis togidder. He hes ever the
teir in his eye; he salutis every body, zea, unto the leist, and makis
pieteous caressing unto thame, to mak thame have pietie on him. This
day his father bled at the mouth and nose; ges quhat presage that is.
I have not zit sene him, he keipis his chalmer. The king desyris that
I suld give him meit with my awin handis; bot gif na mair traist
quhair ze ar, than I sall do heir.

This is my first jornay. I sall end ye same ye morne.

12. I wryte all thingis, howbeit thay be of lytill wecht, to the end
that ze may tak the best of all to judge upon. I am in doing of ane
work heir that I hait greitly. Have ze not desyre to lauch to se me
lie sa weill, at ye leist to dissembill sa weill, and to tell him
treuth betwix handis? He schawit me almaist all yat is in the name of
the Bischop and Sudderland, and zit I have never twichit ane word of
that ze schawit me; but allanerly be force, flattering, and to pray
him to assure himself of me. And be pleinzeing on the Bischop, I have
drawin it all out of him. Ye have hard the rest.

13. We ar couplit with twa fals races; the devil sinder us, and God
knit us togidder for ever, for the maist faithful coupill that ever be
unitit. This is my faith, I will die in it.

Excuse I wryte evill, ye may ges ye half of it; bot I cannot mend it,
because I am not weil at eis; and zit verray glaid to wryte unto zow
quhen the rest are sleipand, sen I cannot sleip as thay do, and as I
wald desyre, that is in zour armes, my deir lufe, quhome I pray God to
preserve from all evill, and send zow repois: I am gangand to seik
myne till ye morne, quhen I sall end my Bybill; but I am faschit that
it stoppis me to wryte newis of myself unto zow, because it is sa
lang.

Advertise me quhat ze have deliberat to do in the mater ze knaw upon
this point, to ye end that we may understand utheris weill, that
nathing thairthrow be spilt.

14. I am irkit, and ganging to sleip, and zit I ceis not to
scrible[431] all this paper in sa mekle as restis thairof. Waryit mot
this pokische man be that causes me haif sa mekle pane, for without
him I suld have an far plesander subject to discourse upon. He is not
over mekle deformit, zit he hes ressavit verray mekle. He hes almaist
slane me with his braith; it is worse than zour uncle’s; and zit I cum
na neirer unto him, bot in ane chyre at the bed-seit, and he being at
the uther end thairof.

15. The message of the father in the gait.

The purpois of Schir James Hamilton.

Of that the Laird of Lusse schawit me of the delay.

Of the demandis that he askit at Joachim.

Of my estait.

Of my company.

Of the occasion of my cumming:

And of Joseph.

_Item_, The purpois that he and I had togidder. Of the desyre that he
hes to pleis me, and of his repentence.

Of the interpretatioun of his letter.

Of Willie Hiegaite’s mater of his departing.

Of Monsiure de Levingstoun.

16. I had almaist forzet, that Monsiure de Levingstoun said in the
Lady Reres eir at supper, that he wald drink to ye folk yat I wist of,
gif I wald pledge thame. And efter supper he said to me, quhen I was
lenand upon him warming me at the fyre, Ze have fair going to se seik
folk, zit ze cannot be sa welcum to thame as ze left sum body this day
in regrait, that will never be blyth quhill he se zow agane. I askit
at him quha that was. With that he thristit my body, and said, that
sum of his folkis had sene zow in fascherie; ze may ges at the rest.

17. I wrocht this day quhill it was twa houris upon this bracelet, for
to put ye key of it within the lock thairof, quhilk is couplit
underneth with twa cordounis. I have had sa lytill tyme that it is
evill maid; bot I sall mak ane fairer in the meane tyme. Tak heid that
nane that is heir se it, for all the warld will knaw it, becaus for
haist it was maid in yair presence.

18. I am now passand to my fascheous purpois. Ze gar me dissemble sa
far, that I haif horring thairat; and ye caus me do almaist the office
of a traitores. Remember how gif it wer not to obey zow, I had rather
be deid or I did it; my hart bleidis at it. Summa, he will not cum
with me, except upon conditioun that I will promeis to him, that I
sall be at bed and buird with him as of befoir, and that I sall leif
him na ofter: and doing this upon my word, he will do all thingis that
I pleis, and cum with me. Bot he hes prayit me to remane upon him
quhil uther morne.

He spak verray braifly at ye beginning, as yis beirer will schaw zow,
upon the purpois of the Inglismen, and of his departing: Bot in ye end
he returnit agane to his humilitie.[432]

19. He schawit, amangis uther purposis, yat he knew weill aneuch that
my brother had schawin me yat thing, quhilk he had spoken in
Striviling, of the quhilk he denyis ye ane half, and abone all, yat
ever he came in his chalmer. For to mak him traist me, it behovit me
to fenze in sum thingis with him: Thairfoir, quhen he requeistit me to
promeis unto him, that quhen he was haill we suld have baith ane bed:
I said to him fenzeingly, and making me to beleve his[433] promisis,
that gif he changeit not purpois betwix yis and that tyme, I wald be
content thairwith; bot in the meane tyme I bad him heid that he leit
na body wit thairof, becaus, to speik amangis our selfis, the Lordis
culd not be offendit nor will evill thairfoir: Bot thay wald feir in
respect of the boisting he maid of thame, that gif ever we aggreit
togidder, he suld mak thame knaw the lytill compt thay take of him;
and that he counsallit me not to purchas sum of thame by him.

Thay for this caus wald be in jelosy, gif at anis, without thair
knawledge, I suld brek the play set up in the contrair in thair
presence.

He said verray joyfully, And think zow thay will esteme zow the mair
of that? Bot I am verray glaid that ze speik to me of the Lordis; for
I beleve at this tyme ze desyre that we suld leif togidder in
quyetnes: For gif it wer utherwyse, greiter inconvenience micht come
to us baith than we ar war of: bot now I will do quhatever ze will do,
and will lufe all that ze lufe; and desyris zow to mak thame lufe in
lyke maner: For, sen thay seik not my lyfe, I lufe thame all equallie.
Upon yis point this beirer will schaw zow mony small thingis. Becaus I
have over mekle to wryte, and it is lait: I give traist unto him upon
zour word. Summa, he will ga upon my word to all places.

20. Allace! I never dissavit ony body: Bot I remit me altogidder to
zour will. Send me advertisement quhat I sall do, and quhatsaever
thing sall cum thairof, I sall obey zow. Advise to with zourself, gif
ze can find out ony mair secreit inventioun be medicine; for he suld
tak medicine and the bath at Craigmillar. He may not cum furth of the
hous this lang tyme.

21. Summa, be all that I can leirne, he is in greit suspicioun, and
zit notwithstanding, he gevis credit to my word; bot zit not sa far
that he will schaw ony thing to me: bot nevertheles, I sall draw it
out of him, gif ze will that I avow all unto him. Bot I will never
rejoyce to deceive ony body that traistis in me: Zit notwithstanding
ze may command me in all thingis. Have na evill opinioun of me for
that caus, be ressoun ze ar the occasion of it zourself; becaus, for
my awin particular revenge, I wald not do it to him.

He gevis me sum chekis of yat quhilk I feir, zea, evin in the quick.
He sayis this far, yat his faultis wer publeist: bot yair is that
committis faultis, that belevis thay will never be spokin of; and zit
thay will speik of greit and small. As towart the Lady Reres, he said,
I pray God that scho may serve zow for your honour: and said, it is
thocht, and he belevis it to be trew, that I have not the power of
myself into myself, and that becaus of the refuse I maid of his
offeris. Summa, for certanetie he suspectis of the thing ze knaw, and
of his lyfe. Bot as to the last, how sone yat I spak twa or thre gude
wordis unto him, he rejoysis, and is out of dout.

22. I saw him not this evening for to end your bracelet, to the quhilk
I can get na lokkis. It is reddy to thame: and zit I feir that it will
bring sum malhure, and may be sene gif ze chance to be hurt. Advertise
me gif ze will have it, and gif ze will have mair silver, and quhen I
sall returne, and how far I may speik. He inragis when he heiris of
Lethingtoun, or of zow, or of my brother. Of your brother he speikis
nathing.[434] He speikis of the Erle of Argyle. I am in feir quhen I
heir him speik; for he assuris himself yat he hes not an evill
opinioun of him. He speikis nathing of thame that is out, nouther gude
nor evill, bot fleis that point. His father keipis his chalmer I have
not sene him.

23. All the Hammiltounis ar heir, that accompanyis me verray
honorabilly. All the freindis of the uther convoyis me quhen I gang to
se him. He desyris me to come and se him ryse the morne betyme. For to
mak schort, this beirer will tell zow the rest. And gif I leirne ony
thing heir, I will mak zow memoriall at evin. He will tell zow the
occasioun of my remaning. Burne this letter, for it is ovir dangerous,
and nathing weill said in it: for I am thinkand upon nathing bot
fascherie. Gif ze be in Edinburgh at the ressait of it, send me word
sone.

24. Be not offendit, for I gif not ovir greit credite. Now seing to
obey zow, my deir lufe, I spair nouther honour, conscience, hasarde,
nor greitnes quhat sumevir tak it, I pray zow, in gude part, and not
efter the interpretatioun of zour fals gudebrother, to quhome, I pray
zou, gif na credite agains the maist faithful luifer that ever ze had,
or ever sall have.

Se not hir, quhais fenzeit teiris suld not be sa mekle praisit nor
estemit, as the trew and faithful travellis quhilk I sustene for to
merite hir place. For obtening of the quhilk aganis my naturall, I
betrayis thame that may impesche me. God forgive me, and God give zow,
my only lufe, the hap and prosperitie quhilk your humble and faithful
lufe desyris unto zow, quha hopis to be schortly ane uther thing to
zow, for the reward of my irksum travellis.

25. It is lait: I desyre never to ceis fra wryting unto zou; zit now,
efter the kissing of zour handis, I will end my letter. Excuse my
evill wryting, and reid it twyse over. Excuse that thing that is
scriblit,[435] for I had na paper zisterday quhen I wrait that of ye
memoriall. Remember upon zour lufe, and wryte unto hir, and that
verray oft. Lufe me as I sall do zow.

Remember zow of the purpois of the Lady Reres.

Of the Inglismen.

Of his mother.

Of the Erle of Argyle.

Of the Erle Bothwell.

Of the ludgeing in Edinburgh.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

(State Papers, Mary Queen of Scots, vol. ii. No. 65)

Being gon from the place, where I had left my harte, it may be easily
iudged what my Countenance was consydering what the body may without
harte, which was cause that till dynner I had used lyttle talk,
neyther wold any --pson-- body advance him selfe therunto, thinking
that it was not good so to doo.

Fowir myles from thence a gentleman of the Erle of Lennox cam and made
his commendations and excuses vnto me, that he cam not to meete me,
because he durst not enterprise so to doo, consydering the sharp
wordes that I had spoken to Conyngham, and that he desyred that I wold
com to the inquisition of the facte which I did suspecte him of. This
last was of his own head, without commission, and I told him that he
had no receipte against feare, and that he had no feare, if he did not
feele him self faulty, and that I had also sharply answeared to the
doubtes that he made in his letters as though ther had bene a meaning
to poursue him. To be short I have made him hold his peace; for the
reste it were to long to tell you. Sir James Hamilton came to meete
me, who told me that at another tyme he went his waye when he heard of
my comming, and that he sent unto him Houstoun, to tell him that he
wold not have thought, that he wold have followed and accompany him
selfe with the Hamiltons. He answeared that he was not com but to see
me; and that he would not follow Stuard nor Hamilton, but by my
commandment. He prayed him to go speake to him; he refused it.

The Lard Luce, Houstoun and the sonne of Caldwell, and about XLty
horse cam to meete me and he told that he was sent to one day a law
from the father, which shuld be this daye against the signing of his
own hand, which he hathe, and that, knowing of my comming, he hath
delayed it, and hath prayed him to go see him, which he hath refused
and swearith that he will suffer nothing at his handes. Not one of the
towne is come to --to see me-- speake with me, which makith me to
think that they be his, and then he speakith well of them at leaste
his sonne.

The King sent for Joachim and asked him, why I did not lodge nighe to
him, and that he wold ryse sooner and why I cam, whithir it wear for
any good appointment, that he[428] cam, and whithir I had not taken
Paris and Guilbert to write and that I sent Joseph. I wonder who hath
told him so muche evin of the mariage of Bastian. This bearer shall
tell you more vpon that I asked him of his letters and where he did
complayne of the crueltye of some of them. He said that he did dreme,
and that he was so glad to see me that he thought he shuld dye.
Indeede that he had found faulte with me....

I went my waye to supper. This bearer shall tell you of my arryving.
He praied me to com agayn, which I did: and he told me his grefe,
and that he wold make no testament, but leave all unto me and that I
was cause of his sicknes for the sorrow he had, that I was so strange
unto him. And (said he) you asked what I ment in my letter to speak of
cruelty. It was of your cruelty who will not accepte my offres and
repentance I avowe that I have done amisse, but not that I have always
disauowed; and so have many other of your subjects don and you have
well pardonid them.

I am young.

You will saye that you have also pardoned me many tymes and that I
returne to my fault. May not a man of my age for want of counsell,
fayle twise or thrise and mysse of promes and at the last repent and
rebuke him selfe by his experience? Yf I may obtayn this pardon I
protest I will neuer make faulte agayne. And I ask nothing but that we
may be at bed and table togiether as husband and wife; and if you
will not I will never rise from this bed. I pray you tell me your
resolution heerof. God knoweth that I am punished to have made my God
of you and had no other mynd but of you. And when I offende you
somtyme, you are cause thereof: for if I thought, whan anybody doth
any wrong to me, that I might for my refuge make my mone thereof unto
you, I wold open it to no other, but when I heare anything being not
familiar with you, I must keep it in my mynd and that --makith me out
of my wytt-- troublith my wittes for anger.

I did still answair him but that shall be too long. In the end I asked
him why he wold go in the English shipp. He doth disavow it and
swearith so, and confessith to have spoken to the men. Afterwards I
asked him of the inquisition of Hiegate. He denyed it till I told him
the very wordes, and then he said that Minto sent him word that it was
said, that som of the counsayle had brought me a letter to signe to
putt him in prison, and to kill him if he did resiste and that he
asked this of Minto himself, who said vnto him that he thought it was
true. I will talke with him to morrowe vpon that poynte. The rest as
Wille Hiegate hath confessed; but it was the next daye that he cam
hither.

In the end he desyred much that I shuld lodge in his lodging. I have
refused it. I have told him that he must be pourged and that could not
be don heere. He said unto me ‘I have hard saye that you have brought
the lytter, but I wold rather have gon with yourselfe.’ I told him
that so I wolde myself bring him to Cragmillar, that the phisicians
and I also might cure him without being farr from my sonne. He said
that he was ready when I wolde so as I wolde assure him of his
requeste.

He hath no desyre to be seen and waxeth angry when I speake to him of
Wallcar and sayth that he will pluck his eares from his head, and that
he lyeth; for I asked him before of that, and what cause he had to
complayne of some of the lords and to threaten them. He denyeth it,
and sayth that he had allready prayed them to think no such matter of
him. As for my selfe he wold rather lose his lyfe than doo me the
leaste displeasure; and then used so many kindes of flatteryes so
coldly and wysely as you wold marvayle at. I had forgotten that he
sayde that he could not mistrust me for Hiegate’s word, for he could
not beleve, that his own flesh (which was myselfe) wold doo him any
hurte; and in deed it was sayd that I refused to have him lett
bludd.[429] But for the others he wold at leaste sell his lyfe deare
ynoughe; but that he did suspecte nobody nor wolde, but wolde love all
that I did love.

He wold not lett me go, but wold have me to watche with him. I made as
though I thought all to be true and that I wold think vpon it, and
have excused myself from sytting up with him this nyght, for he sayth
that he sleepith not. You have never heard him speake better nor more
humbly; and if I had not proofe of his hart to be as waxe, and that
myne were not as a dyamant, no stroke but comming from your hand could
make me but to have pitie of him. But feare not for the place shall
contynue till death. Remember also, in recompense therof, not to
suffer yours to be won by that false race that wold do no lesse to
your selfe.

I think they have bene at schoole togither. He hath allwais the teare
in the eye. He saluteth every man, even to the meanest, and makith
much of them, that they may take pitie of him. His father hath bled
this daye at the nose and at the mouth. Gesse what token that is. I
have not seene him; he is in his chamber. The king is so desyrous,
that I shuld give him meate with my own hands, but trust you no more
there where you are than I doo here.

This is my first journay; I will end to morrow. I write all, how
little consequence so ever it be of, to the end that you may take of
the wholle, that shall be best _for you to judge_. I doo here a work
that I hate muche, _but I had begon it this morning_; had you not lyst
to laugh, to see me so trymly make a lie, at the leaste dissemble, and
to mingle truthe therewith? He hath almost told me all on the bishops
behalfe and of Sunderland, without touching any word unto him of that
which you had told me; but only by muche flattering him and praying
him to assure him selfe of me, and by my complayning of the bishop. _I
have taken the worms out_ of his nose. You have hard the rest.

We are tyed to by two false races. The _good yeere_ untye us from
them. God forgive me and God knytt us togither for ever for the most
faythfull couple that ever he did knytt together. This is my fayth; I
will dye in it.

Excuse it, yf I write yll; you must gesse the one halfe. I cannot doo
with all, for I am yll at ease, and glad to write unto you when other
folkes be a sleepe, seeing that I cannot doo as they doo, according to
my desyre, that is betwene your armes my dear lyfe whom I besech God
to preserve from all yll, and send you good rest as I go to seeke
myne, till to morrow in the morning that will end my bible. But it
greevith me, that it shuld lett me from wryting unto you of newes of
myself --long the same-- so much I have to write.

Send me word what you have determinid heerupon, that we may know the
one the others mynde for marryng of any thing.

I am weary, and am a sleepe, and yet I cannot forbeare scribbling so
long as ther is any paper. Cursed be this pocky fellow that troublith
me thus muche, for I had a pleasanter matter to discourse vnto you but
for him. He is not muche the worse, but he is yll arrayed. I thought I
shuld have bene kylled with his breth, for it is worse than your
uncle’s breth; and yet I was sett no nearer to him than in a chayr by
his bolster, and he lyeth at the furdre syde of the bed.

The message of the Father by the waye.

The talk of Sir James --Hamilton-- of the ambassador.

That the Lard a Luss hath tolde me of the delaye.

The questions that he asked of Jochim.

Of my state.

Of my companye.

And of the cause of my comming.

And of Joseph.

The talk that he and I haue had, and of his desyre to please me, of
his repentance, and of thinterpretation of his letter.

Of Will Hiegate’s doinges, and of his departure, and of the L. of
Levinston.

I had forgotten of the L. of Levinston, that at supper he sayd softly
to the Lady Reres, that he dronk to the persons I knew if I wold
pledge them. And after supper he sayd softly to me, when I was leaning
vpon him and warming myselfe, ‘You may well go and see sick folkes,
yet can you not be so welcom unto them as you have this daye left som
body in payne who shall never be meary till he haue seene you agayne.’
I asked him who it was; he tooke me about the body and said ‘One of
his folkes that hath left you this daye.’ Gesse you the rest.

This day I have wrought till two of the clock vpon this bracelet, to
putt the keye in the clifte of it, which is tyed with two laces. I
have had so little tyme that it is very yll, but I will make a fayrer;
and in the meane tyme take heed that none of those that be heere doo
see it, for all the world wold know it, for I have made it in haste in
theyr presence.

I go to my tedious talke. You make me dissemble so much that I am
afrayde therof with horrour, and you make me almost to play the part
of a traytor. Remember that if it weare not for obeyeng I had rather
be dead. My heart bleedith for yt. To be shorte, he will not com but
with condition that I shall promise to be with him as heretofore at
bed and borde, and that I shall forsake him no more; and vpon my word
he will doo whatsoever I will, and will com, but he hath prayed me to
tarry till after to morrow.

He hath spoken at the fyrst more stoutly, as this bearer shall tell
you upon the matter of the Englishmen and of his departure; but in the
end he cometh to his gentlenes agayne.

He hath told me, among other talk, that he knew well, that my brother
hath told me at Sterling that which he had said there, wherof he
denyed the halfe, and specially that he was in his chamber. But now to
make him trust me I must fayne somthing vnto him; and therfore when he
desyred me to promise that when he shuld be well we shuld make but one
bed, I told him fayning to believe his faire promises, that if he did
not change his mynd betwene this tyme and that, I was contented, so as
he wold saye nothing therof; for (to tell it betwen us two) the Lordis
wished no yll to him, but did feare lest, consydering the
threateninges which he made in case we did agree together, he wold
make them feel the small accompte they have made of him; and that he
wold persuade me to poursue som of them, and for this respecte shuld
be in jelousy if --by and by-- at one instant, without their knowledge
I did brake a game made to the contrary in their presence.

And he said unto me very pleasant and meary ‘Think you that they doo
the more esteem you therfore? But I am glad that you talked to me of
the Lordes. I hope that you desyre now that we shall lyve a happy
lyfe; for if it weare otherwise, it could not be but greater
inconvenience shuld happen to us both than you think. But I will doo
now whatsoever you will have me doo, and will love all those that you
shall love so as you make them to love me allso. For so as they seek
not my lyfe, I love them all egally.’ Therupon I have willed this
bearer to tell you many prety things; for I have to muche to write,
and it is late, and I trust him upon your worde. To be short, he will
go any where upon my word.

Alas! and I never deceived any body; but I remitt myself wholly to
your will. And send me word what I shall doo, and whatsoever happen to
me, I will obey you. Think also yf you will not fynd som invention
more secret by phisick, for he is to take physick at Cragmillar and
the bathes also, and shall not com fourth of long tyme.

To be short, for that that I can learn he hath great suspicion, and
yet, nevertheles trusteth upon my worde, but not to tell me as yet
anything; howbeit, if you will that I shall avow him, I will know all
of him; but I shall never be willing to beguile one that puttith his
trust in me. Nevertheles you may doo all, and doo not estyme me the
lesse therfore, for you are the cause therof. For, for my own revenge
I wold not doo it.

He giuith me certain charges (and these strong), of that that I fear
evin to saye that his faultes be published, but there be that committ
some secret faultes and feare not to have them spoken of lowdely, and
that ther is speeche of greate and small. And even touching the Lady
Reres, he said ‘God grant, that she serve you to your honour.’ And
that men may not think, nor he neyther, that myne owne power was not
in myselfe, seeing I did refuse his offres. To conclude, for a
suerety, he mistrustith vs of that that you know, and for his lyfe.
But in the end, after I had spoken two or three good wordes to him, he
was very meary and glad.

I have not sene him this night for ending your bracelet, but I can
fynde no claspes for yt; it is ready therunto, and yet I feare least
it should bring you yll happ, or that it shuld be known if you were
hurte. Send me worde, whether you will have it and more monney, and
whan I shall returne, and how farre I may speak. Now as farr as I
perceive _I may doo much with you_; gesse you whithir I shall not be
suspected. As for the rest, he is wood when he hears of Ledinton, and
of you and my brother. Of your brother he sayth nothing, but of the
Earl of Arguile he doth; I am afraide of him to heare him talk, at the
least he assurith himselfe that he hath no yll opinion of him. He
speakith nothing of those abrode, nether good nor yll, but avoidith
speaking of them. His father keepith his chamber; I have not seene
him.

All the Hamiltons be heere who accompany me very honestly. All the
friendes of the other doo come allwais, when I go to visitt him. He
hath sent to me and prayeth me to see him rise to morrow in the
morning early. To be short, this bearer shall declare unto you the
rest; and if I shall learne anything, I will make every night a
memoriall therof. He shall tell you the cause of my staye. Burn this
letter, for it is too dangerous, neyther is there anything well said
in it, for I think upon nothing but upon greefe if you be at
Edinboroughe.

Now if to please you, my deere lyfe, I spare neither honor,
conscience, nor hazard, nor greatnes, take it in good part, and not
according to the interpretation of your false brother-in-law, to whom
I pray you, give no credit against the most faythfull lover that ever
you had or shall have.

See not also her whose faynid teares you ought not more to regarde
than the true travails which I endure to deserve her place, for
obteyning of which, against my own nature, I doo betray those that
could lett me. God forgive me and give you, my only frend, the good
luck and prosperitie that your humble and faythfull lover doth wisshe
vnto you, who hopith shortly to be an other thing vnto you, for the
reward of my paynes.

I have not made one worde, and it is very late, althoughe I shuld
never be weary in wryting to you, yet will I end, after kyssing of
your handes. Excuse my evill wryting, and read it over twise. Excuse
also that [I scribbled], for I had yesternight no paper when took the
paper of a memorial. [Pray] remember your frend, and wryte vnto her
and often. Love me allw[ais as I shall love you].