True relation of William Earle of Monteath's affair concerning the Earldome and title of Straitherne

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of them had bussines at Court, sieing he had
spoken with one who would carefully deliver their
letters. The Secretary & President suspecting
nothing of the particular, Sir John Scott doubted
that their purpose was discovered by Sir Thomas
Nicolson, who was Cusin German to the Kings
Advocat, and that night Sir John advysed with
the Earl of Haddingtoun, & was counseled be
him to ride up himself, and carry with him all the
papers concerning that bussines, sieing the per-
sons to whom they had delivered a part of them
was illiterat, and not able to answer against such
things as may be objected against these papers ;
whilk made Sir John conveen Sir James and Sir
Archibald, and having gotten under their hands a
paper giving him commission to repair to his Ma" e
for clearing these matters contained in thir papers,
oblidgeing themselves in their lives and Estates to
stand to whatsomever the said Sir John should say
to his Ma tie in that behalf in their names; and
that instant night, before ten of the clock, within
three days of Christmass, Rode that night to
Dirltoun, & the next morning took post at Cock-
burns path, and the fifth day came to Hamptoun
Court, where his Ma tie resided ; who being brought
into the bedchamber by Mr. Maxwell, he had a
long conferrence with his Ma' ie concerning the said
matter, and shew him the paper which he had
n caused