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

304 CRIMINAL TRIALS. A.D. 1600.
Oct. 1600. and if Mr Robert conclefcendecl not to thefe words, and wes not content to utter tliem in pulpit, there
was noe byding for liim in Scotland. He defyred alfo, that lie might keep the interlyned Letter a
while, promifeing- to redeliver it ; but he gave it to liis uncle Sir Patrik Murrey, and was never rede-
livered. In the meantyme, Mr Robert returned to Reftalrig, upon Thurfday at night,' the penult of
October. The ihip was not as yett out of the harbourie, it being great in quantitie,' and heavie
loadned, and the floods'" alfo decreafing, there was litle hope of out-getting. Alwayes Cornelius
Inglis, fonne to James Inglis the owner of the Hiip, was moved to emptie her of a great part of her
loadning ; but the deid neep' was fo great, according to the courfe of the moon and cuftome of that
lea, that they looked not for her floating : But, by^ ther expectation, and farr by the cuftome marked
in tliofe feas, 80 years before, where the waters fould have decayed, againft the cullorne they increafed,
till they put her on floatt and convoyed her out ; and thereafter returned to their own naturall courfe,
and continued in ther ebnelTu for five weeks after. The ihip faired furth on Saturday the firft of No-
vember, and was drawen up to the Queens-ferrie, where ILe lay at anker. Upon the third of Novem-
ber Mr Robert went up to the (hip. Two of the Miniliers certified him, that he was to be charged,
vnder the ))aine of Treafone, to retire to the (hip within 24 houres ; Ti'hich made him to make the
greater hafte. Soe he raid to the Queens-ferrie, accompanied with Sir William Cranlloun and his
fone ; and after fiipper took fliip. Two bailliffes went with him to the Ihipe, and Mr Thomas Gray
and a Notar, John Maky. He took inrtruments in the hands of the Notar, that he obeyed the Act.
They returned in a boat. It was marked by them that returned, that, by'' cuftome, there appeared
foe great a light, which ferved them to read, and the mariners and Ikippers to take up fail ; altliough
it was neer midnight. Soe they drew to fea, by God's blefllng, and arived at Deep' in France, upon
Saturday the 8 of November.
(7.) Llttf.r, Mr Robert Bruce to his Wife.
A long letter is inserted in Caklerwood's 31 S. Church History, Vol. V. p. 581 to 591, in which
he treats of his ' persecution,' &c. He subscribes himself, ' Your loving hulband, not wearie I affure
vow of the Lords croffe, but wearie of tlie treieherous flatterie of men.' It is dated, ' Oft' Berwick,
the 5 of this inftant of June.* And on Sept. 29, 1601, Mr Patrick Sioison, Minister at Stirling, writes
him, inviting him to return to Edinburgh. — See Caldencood, p. 692.
Jan. 1602. (8.) 'A Conference between MrRobert Bruce andfome {Comm[(fioners)
directed from the King.''
The King appointed Mr Robert Bruce to come to Craigrailler, to conferr with fome appointed be
him. Mr Robert took Mr Patrick Simfone with him, to be a witnelFe to thair dealing : Soe, upon
the 15 of Januar (1602), they melt at Craigmiller. They proponned three tilings to him : (1.) That
he would approve the book fett out upon Gowrie's Confpiracie : (2.) That he wotdd purge the King,
in fuch places as the King fould appoint him to preach in : (3.) That he would crave the King par-
don, for his long miftruft and difobedience. All the three were refufed be Mr Robert, after long con-
ference. They gave him fome Articles and Inftructions, in write, and craved his Anfwer in write ; the
tennor wherof foUoweth.
iNSTRl'CTiONsybr Jtis Majejiies CommiJJioners directed to Mr Hobert Bruce.
Whether, if he be throughlie refolved now, of the forme and maner of that treafonable attempt
committed againft his Ma. at Perth ; and fpeciallie, of his Ma' honeft minde, intention and miraculous
1 This must have been done by stealth, and in contravention of the Charge which confined him to Airth, &c. See
p. 233, &c. 2 Size, buithen, 3 Flood tides. ^ Neap tide. * Contrary to. 6 Contrary to. 7 Dieppe.