3

fell not into the hands of my Lady' my commere,' who made her full accompt thereof. One Hamilton, gudman of the Haggs, being likewife fumonid, and to be forfailtid at this tyme, for a caufe of lyk importaunce, hath made his compoficion with her for 3000 Scottish, and procurid his exemptcion out of the fentence. And the reft, that are prefently contynewid to the next parliament, purpofely spared, afwell in hope of lyk compoficion, be they neuer fo innocent, as for that they had no fufficient proofe against them at this tyme. She hath also, at this feffion, for the foume of 8000 merks Scottish, procurid the reftoreing of the old Byfhopp of Dunkeld, an excomunycat and profeshed papift, and removid the other, with the speciall interest of my Lord of Argyle, who had from him the most part of the lyvingis of that byshoprick in leafe. Of all which they take no fhame to profefe an open portfalue, no one day paffing ouer their heads, without feecking either land or money from fome one or other, to take them vnder their protection, which for gayne they spare not, be the cause right or wrong. The rest of thofe that be either contynued or fumoned against the next feffion, to be holden in September, do look for no juftice, but fuch as fhalbe measured out by the ell of my Lady Aranes confcience and good nature, who is lyke then to cary no lefe ftroke then at this tyme, bycause the King, who myndeth not to be prefent at it, hath appointed 4 of ech estate to hold that feffion, and to proceed in the forfaicture, of which my Lord her husband, being ordinarily styled Chauncellour, is to prefide alone, fo as all men expect none other but just and equall proceading at the handis of fo equall and competent judgis.

As for other things, namely, touching the fuccefe of the late meeting on the Borders, I am acquainted with litle on the one fyde or other generally, albeyt not vtterly ignorant what paffeth. This I am well affured of by perfons of good credit, that Arane, before his going to the Borders, (agreably to that he had vtterd diuers tymes before to fome of his famyliars),

1 Elizabeth Stewart, eldest daughter of John, fourth Earl of Athol,-a woman whose profligacy was notorious.

Commere, gossip, familiar acquaintance. Sir James Melville mentions that Davison became so familiar with Arran as to be 'maid his gossup.'-Memoirs, p. 328.

3 Robert Crichton, who was promoted to the see in 1550, but deposed after the Reformation. By the influence of Arran and the Earl of Argyle he was again restored, as above stated, upon the surrender of the bishoprick by James Paton, then bishop.

fent this meffag to the King by a gentleman of credit, that he should tak no thought of any thing but his pastyme and pleafur, and for this meeting let him alone, who, as he said, out of two pointis had gatherid a third, which he affured him felf fhould proue the turne to outfhoote vs in our owne bowe. But of the particuler of thingis, ther is not anie in dowt that pretend to know any thing, but by difcourfe and couuerture befidis, the Master of Gray, (who being lately enterid into a strayt league with Arane, fince the French credens came home, wherin he had fome intereft, as a man specially trustid), is named to be ambassadour towardis her Maieftie, and, as I heare, to be very shortly dispatchid, albeyt I be not yet made acquainted with all. This gentleman, who hath bene allwaies notid in religion an obftinat papist, in affection French, in devocion a profeffed feruant of the Scottish Queens; one that hath confeffed him felf to be inwardly acquainted with the whole courfe and proceadings and intentis of her felf, and her frendis abroad, and to have bene very liberally gratified in Fraunce, both by the Duke of Guife, and at his last coming home, by the Spanish Ambassadour in Fraunce, from whom, as his felf confeffeth, he hadd a very fayer cupboard of plate in guifte, to the value of 5 or 6000 roleues; and one that fince his coming, hath bene as a steward in the difpenfing of fome part of that money the Queen fent home, (which fome of the Kingis owne counfell, and men moft privy to her doings, haue confeffhed to my self to have bene litle lefs then 20,000, and that Ballandyn, of whom I have hertofore aduertifed, was the meffenger), of which he bestowed, by her direction, lately the foume of 300.'s on Fuliambe' and his companyon. This gentleman, I fay, beinge fo quallified, affectid, and recomended to this feruice by Arane his speciall labour and procurement, I leave it to her Maieftie and your honours theare to confider what ground it hath, and wherto it tendeth, my felf fynding nothing but bare testimonyes of men accuftomyd to deceyt, (against many contrary effectis), that may move me to put her Maiefty in hope of any found or direct dealing from hear, which, for myne own part, I dare not affure, what foeuer be pretended. And yet am I borne in hand, that both the 1 Godfrey Fuljambe and his brother were secret partizans and correspondents of Queen Mary.

2 Davison, in a letter of the 6th September 1584, gives Sir Christopher Hatton almost a similar account of the Master of Gray. "He [the King] is on Thursday last departed

King, for his own part, standeth well affected to cherish and preferue her Maiefties favour and frendshipp, and that Arane, to gayne his felf credit with her Maiefty, whofe only favour of a forepromes may avayle him most, hath procured this Ambaffadour, and chofen out this perfon beft acquainted with the plottis and courfes of her enemyes, to difcouuer and lay them open wholy to her Maiefty with the Kings good lyking and confent, as they that pretend nothing more then direct and plaine proceadings, of which I leave the tryall to her Maieftys iudgement and experience.

The King departed this morning towardis Faulkland, but the lordis of his Counfell remayne here for a tyme, to take order in fuch things as could not be difpatched before his departure, and are dryven to go vpp to the Caftell and fitt there in Counfell, to th'end that nothing be done without the privitye of my Lady, my cummere. I was on Sonday invited to dyne theare, wheare I held fome purpose with his Maiefty of many thingis, and obferuid the ftrangenes of their behaviour towards the poore young prince, who is fo distractid and weryid with their endles importunityes, as it pitied me to fee yt, and, if I be not abufid, groweth full of their fashions from hence to Faulkland, where they are in deliberacion to dispatche the Master of Graye, appoynted by Arraynes procurement to be ambassadour to her Maiesty; but his departure is yet uncerten. This gentleman, besids that he is a knowen papist, a favorer of the French course, a seruant and pencioner of the Queens, and a suspected pensioner of the Popes, hath himselfe confessed to have had at his cominge out of Fraunce, a cupboard of plate, geaven him by the Spanishe ambassadour resident ther, to the valewe of 5 or 6000 crownes, besids other gyfts frau the Duke of Guise, and other the Queenes frinds; and since his cominge home, hath bine Threasurer of such monye as was sent home by Ballandine, as cominge from the Queen, whereof I knowe where he weighed at one tyme 10,000's, reserved to the Kings owne use, besids his owne parte, and that was els disposed amongest other of the courtiers, to releve ther hungry appetits; out of which store he hath of late, by his owne confession, delivered at the Queens comaundement 3001s to Fuljambe and his companyon, who, fleeinge this last year owt of England, have bine since enterteigned with Huntly in the North, and of late at his fathers in Fife, as was likewise Nugent the Irish rebell and his companyon. So, as by the qualitie of the person, with other circumstaunces, your honour may ghess what fruicte is to be gathered of his ambassage, and what respect they have here for religion that employe men so qualified. He maketh great preparacion, and taketh with him divers yonge gentlemen as vayne as himselfe. But hitherto, I am not once maide acquaynted by him selfe, eyther with diett or his charge, my Lord of Hunsden, and they thinckinge it best to have it passe throughe no more hands than ther owne, to whome I freely yeld all the honour and reputacion that may grow thereof, which, I feare, will not be much when ther accompt is maide; but th'ende will crowne the worke."HARL, MSS. No. 291, fo. 143.

and behaviours which he will fometymes difcourfe of in broad language, as he that is not ignorant how they vse him. She hath, fince the breaking vpp of the chifts of the jewellis, made newe keyes without the Kings privité or comaundement, the old remayning yet with Sir R. Melvill, who is mynded to refygne them vpp to his Maiefty, fo fone as he fhall come to the Court, bycaufe he will no longer ftand charged with that which she hath the difpoficion of, [whom] every man fufpectith to skillfull in fubtraction. It is certenly reported, that fhe hath alfo, in furveighing the wardrobe, tryid what garmentis, & that were the Queens, may best fitt her, and chofe out, at her own discretion, what she lyketh; which strange fashion of hers and her husbands will, in the iudgement of the wyfe in Court, haften their change of fortune, howsoeuer they fede ther felues now with an opinion of their long standing. I fynd by my bmio eg.1 100, that 100 is not fleeping or careless, though he be farr of, and is perfuaded the tyme will help all this. I haue enterteigned eru with very many good complimentis and affurance of the good meaning, favour, and affection of 10, but empty woords I fynd move litle. I do now live here only as a cipher, and may very well be fpared if it please her Maiesty, befidis that your honour knoweth what cause I haue to defier home, to take fome order in your owne estate, and seing it shalbe the vnburdening her Maiefty of a nedeles charge, and an eafe to my felf. I befeech your honour give me leave to importune you still as a meane to her Maiesty for my revocacion, which I defire not, as he that weryeth to do her Maiefty feruice, but bycause I fee not what my prefence and stay here can avayle, my Lord of Hunfedon his only credit fufficing with fuch as now guyde the ftreme. Befeeching therefore your honours favour, and expecting your good aunfwer, I do for this tyme recomend your honour to the providence of the Allmighty.

Your honours most humbly at comaunding,

Edinburgh the xxiiij of August 1584.

W. DAUISON.

POSTCRIPT. The Abbot of Newbottill3 dyed the last week, and was buried yesterday. The minifter, that preached at his buryall, and en1 Cipher. 2 Cipher.

3 Mark Kerr, second son of Sir Andrew Kerr of Cessford.

veighed against the corruption and confufion eating into this Church by the ambicion and wickednes of their Bishopps, was the fame day fent for and comytted. The fame day, which was Sonday, the Byshopps of St Andrewes and Abirdene preached before the King in the great church of this towne, labouring more to establisht heir owne estate then to edify the hearers, who generally skorned and condempned them, and, without the Kings presence, had otherwyse testified their myflyking, but all this notwithstanding, they push forward their owne pompe, though with the common hurt of the whole ftate of this Church, wherof they appeare to have very litle fence. The Provost of Glenliwde1 is brought againe to this towne, and comytted to the Caftle; their foreign confpiracy is at an end, nowe my Lord of Arane hath hitt the mark he aymid at. The King him felf, as is affured me by fome of his owne Counsell, hath an vtter myflyk of the chang, and hath blaimed the Secretary and Sir R. Melvin for dealing further in the matter then they had warrant from himself. But fome think the Mr yelding in this and others extraordinary dealing against him without the Kings warraunt, will turne to Aranes difadvantage with the tyme, howsoever he do presently beare yt owt. I find the myflyk generall of his infolent and imperious proceeding, and even thofe he vfeth and trusteth most will prove vnto him rotten reedis with the tyme, if I am not deceaved, fom of them having to myself spoken playne languag tending that way, and as they affure me the King him felf [is] growing weary of the infolence and rapyne both of him and his wife; wherin the tyme only must bring the remedy. The witches haue foretold that he fhalle dye a violent death, and his wife, as I am credibly aduertised, hath spoken afmuch to her famyliar frends. And albeyt thes thingis move others little, yet doth it appeare to fetle a contynuall feare in him, who goeth for the moft part armid; and being late with the King one evening, and returning to the Castle with his wife, caufed the torches to be putt out, and caft an other cloke vppon him felf, and left his wife, who kept her way through the high ftreat, and with one onely feruant paffed an other by way fecretly, and met her at the Castle gate, teftifieing thereby the contynuall fear he liveth in.

Mr Robert Douglas, Provost of the Collegiate Church of Lincluden in Galloway.