Papers relating to William, first Earl of Gowrie, and Patrick Ruthven, his fifth and last surviving son

William, first Earl of Gowrie, and Patrick Ruthven. 75
not but Mr. Secretary dothe acquaynt your honour from
tyme to tyme with as muche as he receaveth, and hath not
forgotten to excuse me in your behalfe, as I have oft in-
treated him by my lettres. Yf, I say, thes and other unfeyned
impediments did not excuse me, your honour might be as-
sured that yow should have had no cause to complayne of
my silence, and therefor beseche [you] to interpret my fault
in the best parte, and assure yourselfe that, how negligent or
slacke soever I appeare in ceremonies, yow shall still fynd me
the same I have pretendid, without chaunge in my affection
and devocion towardes yow.
Of the uncerten estate and procedings here I woot not
what certenly to write unto your honour, other then that I
fynd infinite appearaunces that this yonge kinges course, di-
rected partely by the unassured compasse of his mother's
counsell, and partlye by the immoderate affections of some
here at home, dothe carye him headlonge to his owne daynger
and hazard of his estate, which, exceedingly shaken by their
late violent and tempestious fourme of procedinges, can not
longe abide in the termes it is. He hath, since the chaunge
at St. Androwes, continually followed fourth an implacable
hatred and pursute agaynst all such as in defence of his lyfe
and crowne have hazarded ther owne lives, living, fortunes,
and all that they have, and now throwen himselfe into the
armes of those that have heretofore preferred his mother's
satisfaction to his owne seurtie, and do yet ayme at that
marke with the apparaunt daunger of relligion (which hath
alreadie receavid a greater wounde by the late confusions and
alterations then can be easelye repayred) and hazard, both of the
state att home, and common peace with ther interest [nearest?]
neighbours abrode, agaynst whose quiett as thies alteracons
have [been] specially directed, so may your honour easely
ghese what we may looke for, yf the counsaile of ther oracle
and indevour of her instrumentes may take place. The
Frenchman, Fonteny, brother to de Naue, her secretary,
who addressed hither bothe from her selfe and her frindes in