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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A04803	A discouerie of the vnnatural and traiterous conspiracie of Scottish papists, against God, his church, their natiue countrie, the Kings Maiesties person and estate: set dovvne, as it vvas confessed and subscribed by Maister George Ker, yet remaining in prison, and Dauid Grahame of Fentrie, iustly executed for his treason in Edenburgh, the 15. of Februarie. 1592. Whereunto are annexed, certaine intercepted letters, written by someof that faction to the same purpose. First printed and published in Scotland, at the speciall commandement of the Kings Maiestie	Ker, George.; Grahame, David. aut; Davidson, John, ca. 1549-1603.	1593 (1593)	STC 14938; ESTC S107999	22,155	32

defectes ioyning with him a man of credit resolute to assist him as we haue aduised to do since the Baron of Fentrie is put in ward by the King in the Towne of Dundie So that he durst not goe out of the gates thereof vnder the paine of a great summe vntill occasion may be offered to depart the Countrie within the time limitted And I by the Kings Commandement am forbidden to come neare the said Erle because they haue attributed to the said Laird of Fentrie and me his constancie in the Catholike Religion and his absence from Court against the Kings will His warding hath somewhat hindered our course and permits me not to moue him as it hath pleased you to command me and as I desire to dispence the money coniunctly with me so that for supplying of the default of him I haue associated to the same end a verie honest man verie wise called father William Creichtoun Iesuit who was deteined some yeres in the Citie of London after he was taken vpon the sea comming hitherwards from France Likewise I shall helpe my selfe by the prudence of Sir Iames Chesholme eldest brother to the said Iohn who brought the mony from your Highnesse For he is a man confident wise one on our part and verie litle suspect In the mean time the one part of the money is in the principall house of my Lord Leuingstoun a verie Catholike Lord the other here in Edinburgh in suretie inough to helpe as it shall néed the Lords Catholiks who will come verie soone hither to resist to the purposes of them of the faction of England who in the same time are purposed to remaine at Court with forces to raunge all things at their fantacie As for the like summe or greater which your Highnesse will is to cause follow the last sent hither it is good in al euēts it were very soone sent hither secretly to help the necessitie that may fal out to cause things incline to our side when they are in ballance as there is great appearance they will be by the occasion aforesaid And in case that necessitie requires no distribution the said summe shall be kept and reserued to better occasions or till the arriuall of your forces in this Ile There is suspition as also arguments probable inough that Thomas Tyrie who hath brought hither your Highnesse Letters to our King hath not behaued himself according to his dutie For he hath accommodat himselfe in his behauiour more after the affection of our Chanceller who is of the faction of England and abuseth the credit he hath with the King then according to the instructions giuen him there He hath not presented nor made mention to the King of Colonell Sempills Letter whereof I haue caused the copie to be presented to his Maiestie by the Earle Bouthwell as if it had bene sent to him with another of the said Colonells to himself which he receiued from Thomas Tyrie at his arriuall who hath reported to the said Chanceller all that Seigneur don Bernardino spake to him in Paris to the disaduantage of the said Chanceller Also he hath reported to the King that my L. Bishop of Dumblane being returned thither spake to your Highnesse and to others many things to the great preiudice of his Highnesse And it is beléeued also that he is the cause of the suspitiō which is conceiued of the comming of the said Iohn Chesholm newly to the said Bishop How euer it be the other reports aforesaid which he hath made haue not serued to conciliat but to alienate the affection of the King of the Chanceller and many others Heretickes from the said Siegneur don Bernardino the sayd Bishop and Catholikes here that haue had to do with them As for me albeit I speake not willingly to the disaduantage of any whatsoeuer chiefly of them whom I haue recommended as I did the sayd Thomas Tyrie to the said Don Bernardino yet I will preferre the loue of the truth to men and would not in concealing thereof bring preiudice to the publike weale nor to the fidelitie y t the one oweth to the other and specially to that we owe all to the King of Spaine and your highnesse to whō I am presently seruant particularly addicted by the Obligation of fiue hundreth crownes of fée and fortie for monethly entertainment which it hath pleased your highnesse to giue me fréely in name of the King of Spain not being required for my part nor other thing for my particular to this present by reason whereof I am the more bound to giue your highnesse most humble thanks to endeuour my selfe to deserue by my most humble and faithfull seruices as well the said entertainment as the recompense it hath pleased your highnesse to promise me of your grace fauour The said gift of your liberalitie came well for my purpose séeing by reason of the danger of my person it behoued me to augment my ordinarie traine for my greater suretie which I was not able longer to haue borne out without helpe For from all the Lords of Scotland A haue not retained but a part only of the mony which I spent trauelling for the weale of this cause in Spain with his Catholike Maiestie and with your highnesse in the low countries As for the foure hundreth crownes imployd for the deliuerance of Colonell Sempill out of prison I haue put it in coūt with the residue which I disbursed of the first sum according as it hath pleased your Highnesse to commaund me The Earle of Mourtoun to whom I haue giuen consolation by writing in prison hath instantly praied me also by writing to remember his most affectioned seruice to your highnes Finding himself greatly honored by the care it pleased you to haue of him By the grace of God he is no more in danger of his life by way of iustice It not being possible to his enemies to proue against him any thing which they had supposed in his accusation As also the Kings affection not so far alienate from him as it hath bene heretofore And incase they would noy him or that it were presently requisit for the weale of our cause to deliuer him we haue euer meanes to get him out of prison and attend in the meane time but the Kings will toward his libertie onely to auoid all pursute that they would make if we deliuer him extraordinarily When they offered him in the Kings name his libertie if he would subscribe the Confession of the heretikes Faith he answered he would not do it for the Kings Crowne nor for a hundreth thousand liues if he had them to lose And hath offered to confound the Ministers by publike disputation I shall solicite the Lords his friends to procure of the King his libertie verie soone For he imports more the weale of our cause thē any of the rest by reason of his forces which are neare England and the principall Towne of

A DISCOVERIE OF THE VNNATVRAL AND TRAITErous conspiracie of Scottish Papists against God his Church their natiue Countrie the Kings Maiesties person and estate Set dovvne as it vvas confessed and subscribed by Maister George Ker yet remaining in prison and Dauid Grahame of Fentrie iustly executed for his treason in Edenburgh the 15. of Februarie 1592. Whereunto are annexed certaine intercepted Letters written by some of that faction to the same purpose First Printed and published in Scotland at the speciall commandement of the Kings Maiestie LONDON Printed by R. F. for Iohn Norton 1593. TO THE READER MAny and dangerous points good Reader of vnnaturall and treasonable practises of Scottish Papists or as they vvill needs be styled Catholicke Romanes against God his church their natiue coūtry and the Kings Maiesties estate and person being discouered by Gods great and mercifull prouidence partly by the depositions confessions of some of the practisers them selues namely Maister George Ker vvho for that cause is imprisoned and Dauid Grahame of Fentrie iustly executed for the same in Edenburgh the 15. of Februarie 1592. and partly by diuers letters of sundrie of the practisers intercepted at diuers times It is thought good by the Kings Maiestie and his honourable Counsaile that the most substantiall poynts of the sayd depositions should be faithfully taken out of the originals vvhich vvere deposed and confessed by the said M. George and Dauid Grahame of Fentrie before the honourable persons deputed by the Kinges Maiestie and his highnesse Counsell to that effect and subscribed vvith their ovvn hands for the greater ease of the memory of the Reader should be summarily gathered into this forme follovving vvhich otherwise vvere scattered here there in their depositions according to the occasion of the diuerse demaundes at diuerse times for the readier taking vp vvhereof the times of the depositions and persons deposed seuerally and coniunctly as the matter craueth should be set dovvne in marginal quotations As also that some of the most remarkable Letters of the practisers should be ioyned hereunto word by word vvhich vvere intercepted vvith Maister George Ker and the rest decyphered and translated as after shall appeare and so the vvhole togither to be imprinted and set forth vnto the vievv of the vvorld to the glorie of Gods Maiestie the only reuealer of these secrets to the comfort edification of his Church the perpetuall detectiō shame of the vnnaturall enemie All vvhich things are so faithfully done in this volum folovving that no man how impudent soeuer he be can iustly challenge it vvith any falsifying forging or chaunging one thing for another to the vvresting of the original depositions in any the least substantiall parts thereof as by conferring this extract vvith the first records vvhich are in the Clerkes hands most euidētly shal appeare if any list to looke vpon them Thou art therfore good Reader greatly to consider the goodnes of our God in this case so vvatchfull ouer his church for the good and safety therof by discouering such deep dangerous practises of the deadly enemy euen thē vvhē as we thinking nothing lesse are readie to be surprised by their close courses so cunningly craftily conueied as vve may vvel say vvith the Prophet our soule is escaped euen as a bird out of the snare of the Fowlers c. As also thou art to be vvakened vp to the earnest consideration of the diligence force and crueltie of our enemies vvhich yet is nothing abated but more eager presently then euer heretofore to atchieue their diuellish intent no vvaies to trust them or be secure as though they vvere sleeping minding no danger to vs vvhile in the meane time so deeply and deadly they conspire vvithin without vvith so great force craft against our religion landes and liues that they dare be bolde in their pride to assure the Spaniard of no resistance here to their cr●●● enterprise as by their ovvne bragging vvords hereafter in their letters euidently shall appeare yea all kindly natiue Scottish men true louers of the Christiā religion ought speedily substanciallie to concur to the vvithstāding ouerthrowing of this our cōmon enemie vvithin our ovvn bowels whose vnnaturalnes barbarisme high attempt cā be matched with no example domesticke or forrain that we read of whether vve consider the cruel barbarousnes of the Spaniard to vvhom they haue sold their countrie K. and people vvhereof let the monument vvrittē by one of their ovvn Friers against the Spanish crueltie beside experiēce vvher they be maisters beare witnes or vvhether vve cōsider their most deceitful dealing couering their most bloody purposes with cloak of most tēder friendship vvhich most closely they haue coūterfeited by subscriptiō to the true religion by hearing of the vvord preached and common profession thereof vvith vs and participation of the Sacraments by bands finally affinities othes and all attestations lavves sacred and humane that might seeme to procure credit amongst men and many other things to be enlarged in time and place as mens callings in Church and pollicie craues Consider and consider againe good Reader vvhat should be the estate of all honest and godly men their vviues and daughters the estate of Church Common vveale Prince yea and of the miserable vvretches themselues if their purpose to make the Spaniard our maister for no mans seruaunt nor fellovv vvill that proud beast be should take effect O miserie miserie miserie vnspeakeable especially to themselues if their vvofull purpose succeed to their mind and far proceeded practises VVherfore yet againe it is high time and more that all good men and louers of their natiue countrie be vvakened vp to true repentance to the Lord vvho so heauily threatneth and in a part alreadie striketh and to a diligent and substantiall concurring euery one according to his calling and place both in land and Burrovv to vvithstand these desperat attempts before they passe remedie and timely to preuent the farther danger by assisting the execution of Iustice vpon the rest of the detected traitors vvithout respect of persons that so vve labouring to take euill out of Israell the Lord vvho hath so notably begun the vvorke may bring it to an happie end to his glorie our comforts through Christ our Lord. Amen A DISCOVERIE OF THE vnnaturall and traiterous practises of the Scottish Papists against God his Church their natiue countrie and the Kings Maiesties person and estate BY the confessions and depositions of maister George Ker and Dauid Grahame of Fentrie it is discouered That in March 1591. Maister William Creichtoun who hath remained these two yeres past in Spaine sent to maister Iames Gordoun Iesuite brother on the fathers side to George now earle of Huntlie a Gentleman called maister William Gordoun sonne vnto the Lord of Abiryeldie with letters to let the Catholikes here vnderstand what trauell maister William Creichtoun had taken with the king of Spaine since his

comming thither and that the said king had opened vnto him that he had bene deceaued by English men and would from thenceforth embrace the aduise and way which the said maister William would shew him both for inuading of England and alteration of religion within this realme And for that purpose the sayd maister William craued by this Gentleman to be sent to him so many blanks and procurations as could be had of Noble-men here for the assurance of his traffique Vpon the sight and receipt of the which blanks sent with some other discréet gentlemen hauing the Noble-mens commission to be filled vp with such conditions as should be capitulated and agréeed vpon betwixt the king of Spaine maister William Creichtoun which should haue serued as pledges and suerties for the subscribers part at the landing here of the Spanish armie It was concluded that there should haue bene sent out of Spaine about the latter end of the spring in this present yeare 1592. an armie of thirtie thousand men to haue landed either at Kirkcudbricht or at the mouth of Clyde according to the oportunitie of the winde where they should haue intrenched and fortified themselues for the assurance of them and their ships And first of all money should haue bene sent to the Catholikes here for raising of forces to supplie the sayd armie wherof foure or fiue thousand should haue remained within this countrie who with the fortification and assistance of the Noble men Catholikes their friends and such other forces as the spanish monie would raise should haue immediatly after their landing begun to alter the religion now professed within this realme or at least procured libertie of conscience and Papistrie to haue bene erected here and the rest of the armie should haue past toward England the nearest way from their landing to the border These letters sent from maister William Creichtoun being giuen in credit by maister Iames Gordoun to maister Robert Abrecrumby were shown by him to Dauid Grahame of Fentrie at Abirnethie in Aprill 1592. And for effecting of this matter it was once thought most conuenient that sir Iames Chesholme who was then one of his Maiesties chiefe seruaunts should haue gone to Spaine with this commission in respect he was otherwise to passe towards his Vncle maister William Chesholme called Bishop of Dumblane for sir Iames had the first credite of this errand with the Noblemen as he declared to Dauid Grahame of Fentrie that he had dealt with the Earles of Huntlie and Errol and conferred with maister George Ker about this matter about the time of the last Parlement holden in Edinburgh in Iune 1592. as also communed againe in his owne house with the same maister George Ker in October 1592. touching the whole heads of this dispatch but sir Iames not being able to be so soone readie and maister George Ker being bound off the country it was thought best that the same Commission should be giuen to him and that he should vndertake the carrying of the said Letters And so he was imployed in that errand the rather because both his grandmothers were Creichtouns Afterward maister George being bownd to this iourney and readie to make saile out of Fairly Roade at the West sea banke vpon the 27. of December 1592. Then by Gods prouidence the said maister George was apprehended in the Ile of Cumray and with him there was intercepted sundry missiue Letters directed to this purpose Amongst which there was eight blankes whereof one is subscribed De vostre Majestie tres humble tresobeisant seruiteur Guilliame compte de Anguss An other blanke is subscribed De vostre Majestie tres humble tresobeisant seruiteur Francoys compte de Erroll And these two blankes were both procured of them by Syr Iames Chesholme in their owne lodgings in Edinburgh at the time of the last Parliament in Iune 1592. An other blanke is subscribed Guilielmus Angusi comes An other blanke is subscribed Franciscus Errolli Comes Which were both procured of them by maister Robert Abircrumby who was the chiefest traueller in that matter in October 1592. Another blanke is subscribed Georgius Comes de Huntlie And another is subscribed Georgius Comes de Huntlie Which were both with the whole blankes proposed first to the Earle of Hunlie by maister George Ker in Strathbogy at his passing there Which six seuerall blankes before specified should haue bin all filled with missiue Letters by the aduise of maister William Creichtoun And the other two blanks making out the number of eight were both subscribed in the midst of two open shéets of paper in this maner Guillielmus Angussie Comes Georgius comes de Huntlie Franciscus Errollie Comes Patricius Gordoun de Auchindoun Miles Which two last blankes were first subscribed by the Earle of Huntlie and Patricke Gordoun in October 1592. And after being sent with maister Robert Abircrumby to y e Earles of Angus and Erroll were subscribed by them in the same moneth of October 1592. And these two blankes should haue bin filled vp with procurations and whatsoeuer should haue bene thought méet by the said maister William Creichtoun for the auouching of that which maister George Ker had in direction and credit of the subscribers which credit he receiued from the Earle of Huntlie by the report of maister Iames Gordoun and from the Earles of Angus and Erroll by themselues in Edinburgh in the beginning of October 1592. And the summe of this his credit was an assurance that these Noble men should raise a power of horsmen méet the Spanish Armie at their landing and reciprocally to assist accompanie and conuoy them in their passing to England by all the forces they could procure vpon the King of Spaines charges And these Noble men subscribers tooke the burden on them and interposed their bandes for the concurring of the whole Catholikes of Scotland in this cause thought it méete amongst themselues for the better secrecie that none other should be craued to binde for this errand but they thrée With these eight blanks subscribed as is said there was intercepted stamps in wax of the Erle of Angus seale of Armes six of the Earle of Huntlies seale of Armes foure and of the Earle of Errolles seale of Armes thrée Dauid Grahame of Fentrie deposed that he met sundrie times since this purpose was in hand with maister Robert Abircrumby as namely that the first knowledge he had of this purpose was by the said maister Robert in Dunfermling and afterward in y e Castle of Striuiling before maister George Ker his preparation to his iourny where M. Robert shewed him that this Cōmission was to be giuen to the said maister George to cause the blankes to be filled with maister William Creichtouns aduise and that he was to deliuer the same blanks with the other Letters to him who was to depart and carry with him all this message Like as the

ouer farre our meanes to ayd you to magnifie their owne only and make themselues to be estéemed able to do all to aduance themselues thereby in credit with your Maiestie such as are about you but the experience of this their passage hath sufficiently testified they haue not showne themselues in such number to assist your forces as we haue done And therfore your Maiestie as most wise as ye are shal if it please you make such account of the one as ye neglect not the other and so serue you with them both to the end ye pretend without hazarding your forces for the particular of the one or the other We remit to the declaration of some of your own subiects that haue bene here the commodities and aduantages of landing in these parts where the expenses bestowed vpon the equippage of one Galliasse shall bring more frute to your seruice then ye may haue of ten vpon the Sea And we may assure your Maiestie that hauing once sixe thousand men here of your own with mony ye may leauie here forces of this Countrey as fréely as in Spaine who will serue you no lesse faithfully then your owne naturall subiects And albeit we cannot without blame of presumption giue your Maiestie aduise in your affaires there Alwaies in that that may concern your seruice here we may speake more fréely as being vpon the place and knowing by ordinarie experience many things vnknowne to any of yours that are not here The ouer late arriuall of your Armie in our waters tooke from it the commoditie to retire it selfe in such safetie as it might haue done comming sooner by reason of the great windes that are ordinarie here in haruest as also lack of Pylots experimented vpon the coasts of England Scotland and Ireland appeareth to haue bred great harme to the sayd Armie whhich we could haue remedied concerning Scotland to haue sent Pilots from this if it had liked your Maiesty to haue serued your self with them Likewise sauing better aduise it séemes to vs altogither vnprofitable to fetch the Armie by sea it may be eschewed for manie causes And amongst others because such as shall haue fought by sea shall be vnable being wearie to fight againe by land against new forces so the best should be to shift by one way or other for sparing of your men and vesselles and so the English forces staying vpō y e sea vnfought with shalbe disappointed and shall not come in time to assist them that shalbe assailed by land After sending hither a part of your forces before the other which should go the right way to England and that secretly by the back of Ireland Your Maiestie should compell the enemie to diuide their forces it may be should cause them send the greatest part hither where ye might make them beléeue the greatest part of your forces were arriued at least should cause them disgarnish as much of England and draw a great part of their forces which would resist your landing and inuasion on that coast And we may well promise that hauing here six thousand of your men and mony to ayd others here we should within sixe wéekes after their arriuall be a good way within England to approach and assist the forces which your Maiestie shuld cause to enter there The knight William Sempill colonel can shew your Maiestie the whole to whom we leaue it Also we haue caused to write both before and since his departure our many such aduises by maister Robert Bruce and caused to addresse the same to my Lord Duke of Parme to whom your Maiestie remitted vs from the beginning in these affaires And séeing we hope your Maiestie is duly aduertized and enformed we will end the present kissing most humbly your Maiesties hand Praying God with all our affection to graunt you full accomplishment of all your holie enterprises From Edinburgh this 24. of Ianuarie 1589. Your Maiesties most humble and affectioned seruitors G. Earle Huntlie c. In name of the other Lordes Catholikes in Scotland A Letter directed from the Erle of Huntly to the Duke of Parme intercepted in Ianuarie c. MY Lord I haue receiued from Iohn Chesholme the Letters it pleased your Highnesse to write the 13. of October full of most Christian affection to the welfare of our cause for the which I giue your highnesse most humble thanks The support of ten thousand crownes sent to that end is receiued by M. Robert Bruce which shall not be imploied but for helpe of the most vrgent necessitie of the sayd cause as it hath pleased your highnesse to direct After the departure of Colonel Sempil I haue found my selfe so beset on all hands and pressed in such sort by our King that it behooued me to yéeld to the extreame difficultie of time and subscribe with his Maiestie not with my hart the confession of their faith or otherwise I had bene forced immediatly to haue departed the countrie or to haue taken the fields for resisting his forces and such as he might haue drawn out of England to his aide which I could not haue done specially then when by the returning of your armie into Spaine all hope of helpe was taken from vs but if on the one part I haue faulted by the apprehension of dangers that threatned my ruine I shall on the other part endeuour my selfe to amend my fault whereof I repent me with all my heart by some effect tending to the weale aduancement of the cause of God who hath put me in such credit with his Maiesty that since my comming to the Court he hath broken his former Gards and caused me to establish others about his person of my men by the means of whom and their captains who are also mine I may euer be maister of his person and your support being arriued spoile the hereticke of his authoritie to fortifie and assure our enterprises wherevpon I beséech your Highnesse to send me your aduise to assure your selfe of my vnchangeable affections in my former resolutions albeit the outward actions be forced to conforme themselues sometime to necessitie of occasions as M. Robert Bruce will more amplie write vnto your Highnesse to whome I remit me farther Praying God after I haue most humblie kist your Highnesse hand to giue you accomplishment of your holy enterprises From Edinburgh the 24 of Ianuarie 1592. Your highnesse most humble and affectionate seruitour G. Earle of Huntlie A Letter from the Earle of Erroll to the Duke of Parme intercepted in Ianuarie c. MY Lord since God of late by the cleare light of his holy Catholike faith hath chased from my vnderstanding the darkenesse of ignorance and errour wherin I haue bene heretofore nourished I haue bene as soone persuaded in acknowledging of so great an effect of his diuine grace towards me that I am chéefly obliged to procure sith I know the enterprises of his Catholike Maiestie and your highnesse tende

principally to that end as also to the aduancement of some ciuile cause which hath verie great affinitie coniunction with ours here That I may testifie by this present the affection that I haue to the weale of the one and the other hauing euer before my conuersion bene one of the number of your friends and seruitors for the respect of the last to the which the first of religion which is the greatest most important that is in the world being ioined thereto I am also become altogether yours which I most humbly beséech your highnesse cause to be signified to his Catholike Maiestie and to promise him in my behalfe that he hath not in this countrie a more affectionate seruaunt then I neither yet your highnesse as ye shal vnderstand more amplie of my intention in particular by him by whom your highnesse shall receiue this present To whom after I haue most humblie kissed your hand I beséech the Creator to giue you the accomplishment of your holy desires From Edinburgh this 24 of Ianuarie 1589. Your highnesse most humble and most affectioned seruitant Francis earle of Erroll A Letter from Robert Bruce to Monsieur Francisce Aguirre Spaniard c. intercepted in Ianuarie 1589 written in French and translated into Scottish as followeth MOnsieur de Aguirre I haue receiued your Letter dated the ninth of Nouember written from And werpe wherby I was glad to vnderstand of your arriuall there and health and that you haue guided your selfe so wisely in the execution of all that I committed to you Your maister who at my request hath giuen you entertainment hath giuen me the like testimonie of your behauiour and hath promised me by his letters to haue you in the fauourable commendation I desired and to employ you in good occasions If he send you hither againe into these parts cause your selfe to be set on land néere Seytoun where I pray you to enter secretly and there you shal be kept while I may come and find you c. The rest of this missiue being set downe in obscure terms is to be seene in the originall A Letter from Robert Bruce to the Duke of Parme intercepted in Ianuary 1589. Lately before the Rode of the bridge of Die ciphered in French deciphered afterward and translated into Scottish as followeth MY Lord Monsieur Chesholme arriued in this countrie fiue daies after his departing from thence and with requisit diligence came to the Earle of Huntlie in his own house in Dunfermeling where hauing presented to him your highnesse letters of the 13 of October be declared amplie vnto him the credit giuen him in charge conformable to the tenour of the letters from your highnesse wherein they perceiued your highnesse great humanitie and affection to the aduancement of the glorie of God in this countrie with other consolations most conuenient to moderat the dolour displeasure conceaued by the harts of the Catholikes by reason of the successe of your armie against their hope and expectation Also some dayes afterward as the commoditie offered to me to receiue the money the said Chesholme deliuered to me six thousand two hundred thrée score twelue crownes of the Sun thrée thousand seuen hundred Spanish Pistolets and likewise hath caried himselfe in all his actions since very wisely and as becomes a man of God chéefly then when vpon the suspition conceaued of his so suddaine returning the king sent to take him I shall behaue my selfe by the grace of God in the kéeping and distribution of the monie last sent and of that which resteth yet of the first summe according to your highnesse prescription and as I ought to answer to God in conscience and to your highnesse in credit and to the whole world in the reputation of an honest man and will mannage it in such sort that by the grace of God there shal be fruit drawn therof pleasant to your highnesse It is true that I find as all others would doe that would enterprise such a charge here my self inuolued in great difficulties for on the one part I am in great danger of the heretikes of them of the faction of England by reason of the open profession that I make of the Catholike religiō and of the suspicion that the last hath of my secret practises and dealing against them On the other part I haue much ado to moderate the appetite that some Catholike lords haue to haue the monie presently for the hope which they giue of some pretended occasions which will neuer fall out as they promise The Earle of Huntlie made instance to haue the third part of the summe which was sent hither as soone as it was deliuered to me but he hath not toucht nor shal not touch herafter a half peny but vpon good tokens I haue paied him in the meane time with inexpugnable reasons wherwith in the end he is cōtēted I beséech your highnesse by the first letter it shall please you to write into their parts to the Catholike Lordes to remoue one errour from thrée who haue written there in name of the residue that moues them to thinke by reason they were the first that made offer of their seruice to the King Catholike that all the money that comes hither should be parted in thrée and immediatly after the arriuall thereof deliuer it to them without giuing part to others which beside them are in great number to the King Catholikes seruice and yours and also deliberate to hazard after their power for the aduancement of this cause as they are of whom the others will not depend in any sort in the accepting of the means that comes from your liberality both acknowledge them as comming directly from your Highnesse to whom onely they will be bound and obliged and not to the other thrée Of the which the Earle of Mortoun hath hitherto contented himselfe with reason As also the Earle of Huntlie hath neuer showne himselfe subiect to money but since he hath bene induced by the third to wit my Lord Claud Hammiltoun his vncle who is somewhat couetous of gaine and thought vnder such pretext to make his profit The sayd Earle of Huntlie is constrained to remaine at Court he is fallen from his constancie in his outward profession of the Catholike Religion partly for hauing lost all hope of your support before the returning of the said Chesholme because of his long staie there partly by the perswasion of some politikes partly to eschew the perils imminent to all them that call themselues Catholikes partly to kéepe himselfe in the fauour of his King who pressed him greatly to subscribe to the confession of the heretickes and to be at league with England But for all this his heart is no whit alienated from our cause for he hath the soule euer good albeit he haue not such vigour to perseuere and execute so as is requisit in so great an enterprise but they may helpe the

Scotland and the ordinary residence of our King As also he is a Lord the most resolute constant and of greatest execution of any of the Catholickes It is no small maruell considering the meanes the heretickes haue to hurt vs and their worldly wits so far passing ours and their euill will and intention against vs that we subsist Truly we cannot but attribute the effect thereof to God who then when the certaine newes of the returning of the Armie of Spaine by the backe of Ireland were dispersed through this countrie the heretikes of the faction of England triumphed and the constancie in the outward profession of the Earle of Huntlie and others was altered caused the Earle of Angus to die who was chéefe of the English faction the selfe same time grew some dissention amongst the heretikes by reason of some offices that some pretended to vsurpe aboue others at Court and by the instant prayers and holy persuasions of two fathers Iesuits conuerted to our holy faith two heretike Earles of the chiefest authoritie amongst them the one wherof is called the earle of Erroll Constable of Scotland conuerted by father Edmund Hay the other called the Earle of Craufurd conuerted by the said father William Creichtoun They are both able and wise young Lords and most desirous to aduaunce the Catholike faith and your enterprises in this Ile which they are determined to testifie to his Catholike Maiestie your highnesse by their owne letters which by the grace of God I will send by the first opportunitie In the meane time they haue required me to make you offer of their most humble and most affectioned seruice promising to follow whatsoeuer the same Iesuits and I shall thinke good to be done for the conseruation of the Catholikes and to dispose and facilitat the execution of your enterprises here which they may do more easilie then they that are knowne to be Catholicks whose actions are euer suspicious to the heretickes for their religion whereof these two Earles haue not yet made outward profession but in that as in the rest they submit themselues to our will and to that we think most expedient The said Fathers of that companie do profit verie much in Scotland and so soone as any Lord or other person of importance is conuerted by them they dispose and incline in the very meane time their affection to the seruice of the king of Spaine and your highnesse as a thing inseparable conioined with the aduancement of the true Religion in this countrie If I had commandement from your highnesse I would giue them some little almes in your name to helpe them eight others whereof foure are also Iesuits and the other foure are seminarie priests of Pontawmoussone in Lorraine which are al the Ecclesiastikes that produceth so great spirituall fruit in Scotland and acquires to you here such augmentation of your friends and seruaunts After the parting of Colonell Sempill from hence the Lords sent letters with the said father Creichtoun and other Gentlemen after the armie of Spaine to cause it land in this countrie but it had taken the way to Spaine few daies before their arriuall at the Ilands where it had refreshed it selfe so that it was not possible for them to attend on it They of this countrie that are of the faction of England were in a maruellous feare during the incertaintie of the landing of the sayd armie and confessed plainly if it had landed here they had bene vtterly ouercome The Earle Boithwell who is Admirall of Scotland and as gallant a Lord as any is in the countrie albeit he make profession of the new religion yet is he extremely desirous to assist you against England hauing waged and intertained all this summer vnder pretence to go daunt the Isles some troupes of men of warre which togither with his ordinarie forces should haue ioined with yours if they had come hither He suffers himselfe to be peaceablie guided by me notwithstanding the diuersitie of our religion and hath often times sayd that if the Catholikes would giue him suretie to possesse after the restitution of the Catholikes religion two Abbies which he hath that he would euen presently be altogether one of yours He intends to send the Colonell Halkerstoun to accompanie certaine Captaines and gentlemen to Spaine and almost foure hundred souldiors all safe from the Naufrage in our Iles. And because they are in great necessitte he is purposed to furnish them with ships vittels and other things necessarie to testifie thereby to the king of Spaine the affection he hath to do him most humble and affectionate seruice And if we thinke it good hath offered himself to go out of the countrie and to go offer himselfe to your highnesse in the low Countries and by your aduise afterward doe the like to his Catholike Maiestie in Spaine But here vpon we will aduise what is most expedient If we may alwaies be assured of him he will be as profitable for the weale of our cause as any Lord in Scotland for he hath great dependance about this towne which is the principall of Scotland as also vpon the frontiers of England He hath offered to maintain and defend me against all that would attempt any thing against me We haue chosen for euery Catholike Lord a gentleman of the wisest and faithfullest Catholikes and best beloued of their friends to serue them in counsell and to meete at all occasions to resolue vpon the most expedientest courses that may concerne the weale of our cause according to the will and intētion of their Lords who haue obliged themselues to approue and execute their resolutions and in no wise to contradict the same and by that means we hope to proceed with greater securitie and effect then we haue done heretofore Alwaies they shall know nothing of our intelligences there nor our finall intentions but according to the exigence of the affairs which shal be in hand and that superficially and without discovering our selues ouer far Your highnesse shall vnderstand by the particular letters of the Lords that which resteth to be sayd to you by these presents by reason whereof I will make an end most humbly kissing your highnesse hands and praying God to giue you all the good hope and felicitie you desire From Edinburgh the 24 of Ianuarie 1589. Your Highnesse most humble and most affectioned seruitour Robert Bruce Deposed by maister George Ker 3.5 and 6. of Febr. 1592. Deposed by maister George Ker the 3.5 6 of Febr. 1592. And deposed by Dau. Grahame of Fentrie the 13. of Feb. 1592. Deposed by maister George Ker the 3. of Febr. 1592. Deposed by maister George Ker the 3. of Febr. 1592. And by Fentrie the 14. of Feb. 1592 Deposed by Fentrie the 13 of Feb. 1592. Deposed by M. George Ker 3. of Feb. 1592. Deposed by Fentrie 13 of Feb. 1592. Deposed by Da. Grahame of Fentrie the 13 of Feb. 1592. Deposed by Fērtie

13. of February 15●● Deposed by Maister George Ker. 3. of Feb. 1592. Deposed by Fētrie 13. of February 1592. Deposed by master George Ker 3. of Febr. 1592. Deposed by master George Ker 3. of Februarie 1592. Deposed by master George Ker 3. of Febr. 1592. and by Fentrie 14. of Fe. 1592. Deposed by M. George Ker 3. of Febr. 1592. Deposed by M. George Ker. 5. of Feb. 1592. Deposed by M. George Ker the 5. and 6. of February 1592. Deposed by Fētrie 13. of Febr. 1492. Deposed by Fētrie 14 of Febr. 1592. M. George Ker. To M. William Creichtoun M. George Ker. Relation to the blankes The Spanish armie The Catholike Romans and their confederates M. Robert Abircrumby M. Iames Gordoun M. William Creichtoun The hyperbolicall and ridiculous commendation of M. George Ker. * These writings intercepted with the rest are a charter and obligation to be past by M. Alexander Home of Palywell to M. Alexander King his heires and assigns of foure teame lands in the Lordship of Spot with a missiue letter directed by him to that effect Dauid Grahame of Fentrie Enuy amongst the Papists themselues * M. Robert Abircrumby * M. William Creichtoun They are sory that the Spanish fleete past by without landing in Scotland The Spaniard should haue had great assistance in Scotland They haue informed the K. of Spaines subiects wracked here of the meanes to do good by landing in Scotland Aduise to the king of Spaine how to assault this Iland hereafter Aduise to the king of Spaine how to assault this Iland hereafter With 6000. men sent from Spaine money to leauie a power in Scotland they will in sixe weekes be far in Englad Bruce is the mouth of these Lords to the King of Spaine and Duke of Parme. Letters receiued frō the D. of Parme by Iohn Chesholme Support of 10000. crownes from the Duke of Parme. He dissembles his religion for feare and pollicie He hath established gards about the king at his own deuotion to be maister of his person when occasion shall offer The causes of the Papists are inseparable for the king of Spains seruice Letters sent by Iohn Chesholme frō the Duke of Parme to the Harle of Huntlie and receiued by him at Dunfermeling 10000 Crounes receiued from the Duke of Parma by Bruce to be imploied for the king of Spaine his seruice in Scotland The mony is to be distributed among the Catholike Nobilitie of Scotlād The Earle of Huntlie would haue a third part to himself What euer this Noble mā hath bene at this time it is not to be obiected to him now after his faith and subscription giuen to the contrarie The Earle of Huntly dissembles his Religion first for feare and pollicie after to worke his matters the better Sir Iames Chesholme brother to Iohn Chesholme a confederate The mony is in my L. Leuingstones chiefe house and at Edinburgh to serue the Catholike Noble mens turnes that are shortly to assemble More money promised by the Duke of Parme. It is ment that Spanish forces should arriue in this Iland They count our King amongst the heretickes Bruce seruant to the King of Spaine and to the D. of Parme hath one pension of 40. crownes in the moneth and 500. crownes of ferill Bruce hath negotiated in Spaine with the K. and in the low countries with the D. of Parme. Whatsoeuer this Noble man hath bene at this time it is not to be obiected to him now after his oath and subscription giuen to the contrary if he remaine constant The king of Spaine duke of Parma haue enterprises to be executed in Scotland The Iesuits and Priests do great hurt in Scotlād Hereby it is euident that the declining of papistrie draws with it defectió from our natiue kings obediēce to the seruice of the king of Spaine and D. of Parme. The Popish Lords did send by Chreichtoun to moue the Spanish fleete to land in Scotland A counsell of chosen men for euery Catholike Lord are erected by Bruce for the execution of Catholike enterprises