Bannatyne Club > Criminal trials in Scotland, from A.D. M.CCCC.LXXXVIII to A.D. M.DC.XXIV, embracing the entire reigns of James IV. and V., Mary Queen of Scots and James VI > Volume 2

302 CRIMINAL TRIALS. A.D. ICOO.
Sept. IGOO. occaiion to finiftei- iin])reffi()iis, ami nuriili the people in lewd opinions (wlieninto tlioy are over mucii
bent, of will) of tlier Prince, I thought it my duety, my Lord, to prevent fuch fufpicions, and to iignifie
my minde unto your L. as he this Letter I doe ; that if ever God open my mouth, ather in that place or
any ofer place, I will promife, be liis grace, to fuit them and divert them from fuch cogitations as flew
from perverfitie of nature, rather then from ane folide ground. This I may doe fafelie, and fiill
doe farther, when God fall grant me farther light ; ffor your L. takes me up wrong, if yee be of that
mind, that it is not confcience that moves me to this, but only prepoftrous afi'ection to peifons. My
actions, my Lord, fhortly will be my beft judges and witneffes, ather with me or againll me ; and in the
mean tyme, I would crave this favour of your L. if my fervice will not be acceptable to his Ma. within
the country, that he would fuffer me, with his Licence and favour, whill this llorm be fettled, to
depart. I will not falli your L. with farther Letter; but, if I duill fay it, my confcience fayes to me, I
deferve good will of your L. alwayes. The Lord in his mercie direct your L. in all your affaires, and
take you and yours under his tuition and defence, both now and ever. Of Airtii, pe 22 of SeptenT-
ber 1600. Your L. to his power to be commanded, with fervice.
ISIR R. B.
(4.) Letter, the Earl of Marr, hi reply to Mr Robert Bruce.
Sir,
I RECEIVED your Letter, Avherein yee defyred me to be a dealler at his Ma' liand, that yee may
have a Licence to paffe furth of fe countrie, if better cannot be (whereof I would be very forry.) I
fall leave nothing that in me lyes to doe that which yee defyred me ; but yee muli give me leave, even
to fpnak with yow. I think yee are farr in the wrong, to your felf and all your weall willers, that.is
foe hard of credit, in foe manifeft a mater ; and now, feeing it has come to fuch ane hight, I fear his
Ma. fall be very hard in it ; ffor I darr take it on me, before God in heaven (that is my only witneffe,
in writteing thefe words unto vow,) that Jie moft milhant Treafone that ever was intended againll a
Prince, was that day intended againll his Ma. be my Lord of Gowrie and his brother. This I may
baldly write, in refpect of Jiat I faw ; and if I had occaiion to fpeek with yow, I beleeve to let yow fee
it evidentlie. Alwayes, Sir, I befeech yow evin to refolve with your felf upon that ; which I am
alfured of in confcience yee may ; and that, in refpect I knew it to be the truth. I remit Jie reft to ])e
bearer, whom I know yee will credit. And foe, I committ yow to God. Of Stirline, the 2-1 of
September, 1600. Your loving freind, 3IAKR.
As to that part of your Letter, concerning your good will toward me, in truth I never thought ojier-
wife ; nather merited I ever other at your hand, nor yet fall doe.
.June, 1602. (5.) LETTER, Mr ROBERT BrUCE /o THE KlXG.'
[The following Letter has been collated willi a more correct transcript, preserved in ' The Bool<e
of the Univer fall Kirk' Adv. Librarj', W. 1. 14, p, 329; from which this Extract has been taken.
' Anent the requeft made be the Moderator, in name of the haill Affemblie, to his Ma., in favouris of
Mr Robert Bruce ; His Ma. dedarit, tliat he wald doe in that matter, be the advyce of the Commif-
fioneris of the Generall Afleniblie, and (as) Mr Robert, be his awne behaviour, fhould give him occa-
fione. And becaufe Mr Robert Bruce had, be his Mifliue direct to his Ma. before his departure ofl'
the countrie, as alfo by the ratificatione and farther examinatione and explanatione thereof, in write,
at Perth the 26 of July, 1602, dedarit his refolutione of iiis Ma. innocencie, and guiltinefs of the
Earle of Gowrie and his brother; and promifed to divert the people, fo farr as in liini lay, from
' Calderwood remarks, ' "Sir Robert Bruce, eight dayes before the time appointed for bis departure, directed a
Letter to the King, be the Laird of Balvaird ; wliereiu he toolt his good night, and made a repititioii of the foi'mer
otfers, in as reverent and humble maner as he coiild.'