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There was ane vther conwentione appointed to hold heir at Edinburgh, vpone the first of Aprylle 1599; wherin ther was a contract past betwixt the Kings Majestie and gentlemen venturers towards the Lewes, vpone certaine conditiones, speciallie, that sufficient securitie being maid to them therof, they sould pay to his Majestie sewin scoire chalders of beare yairelie. And vndertaking the journey toward the Lewes in the end of October the same yeare, accompanied with v or vj men vnder wadges, besyde gentlemen woluntars, throw the coldnes of the ile, the lake of ludgeinge and vther enterteinment, a number of them died of the fluxes. And the laird of Balcombie and his cumpanie, passinge in ane boate out of the Lewes towards Orkeney, were intercepted be the way be sume hilandmen supposed to be Mackenzeis men, be whome sume of Balcombies men was slaine, and himselfe takin and deteined captiue, and so hardlie vssed, that be deadlie disseasses contractit he deceaisit in Orknay efter he was sett at libertie. Be the meanes of ane speciall hielandman off that ile, there were ten or twelfe apprehendit of the speciall withstanders of that interpryse, and beheidit, and ther heids sent heir in a pok to Edinburgh, which were sett vpone the ports therof.

In the moneth of Julie 1599, ther arryued heir ane ambassadoure from France named Monsure Byron, brother as was said to Monsure de Byron great treassurer of France, with the traine of xviij or xx in companie. He repaired to his Majestie, and had presence at Falkland where his Hienes was at hunting, and where his Majestie reteained him still in his cumpanie in his passing to the west and vther parts, and therefter at his departour propyned him with a rich cuipbuird. He touik his passadge be seaward, bot [be] the storme of weather was dunge in at Yermonth Raid, and forced to take jurney therfra be land. His commissione was keipit secreitt, and onelie suppoised to be the renewing of the league betwixt France and his Majestie, and a beginninge of a greatter familiaritie betwixt them then had beine. His Majestie sent horse and hunds to the Kinge of France be this same ambassadour.

A conuentione of the estaits was holdin at Edinburgh vpone the x of December laste, where motione was maid concerning the supplie of his Majesties necessars, be a taxatione to be lifted of the subjects forestallers of markets and vthers; whilke beinge mourmoured against, the maitter was delayed to a

more frequent conuentione of the estaits, appointed the xxvij day of March 1600. Att the whilke conuentione, the beginninge of the yaire was altered be act and proclamatione, from the xxv of Marche to the first off Januarie, at whilke day the yeare [was] heirefter ewer to begine, and so to be rackonned.

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