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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

and lament heauily the slouth and negligence your merchands haue vsed in answering of your last sute you proposed to them For apparantly if they had made answer in due time our wares had bene here in due time with our great profit and consolation The stay and stop of the matter apparantly was lacke of expenses that no man would of his owne charges take that voyage in hand yea some craued a thousand crownes for his expenses So the matter was once wholy giuen ouer and almost cleane forgot vntill it pleased God of his diuine prouidence to stir vp this bearer to take the matter in hand on his owne expences as hée hath bene euer bent in that cause not onely to spend his goods but also the thing which is more deare to him that is his life therefore I thinke he should be the more acceptable as also for the affinitie of blood ●or both his grandmothers were Creichtones And as for wit abilitie in treating of those affairs he is not inferiour to any of your merchands which you desired as ye wil perceiue by experience God willing And albeit that he of his couragious liberalitie and zeale to the cause hath takē the matter in hand on his own charges yet all your friends in these quarters thinke it verie reasonable that al should be repaied to him againe cum vsurs with promotion till any other accident should fall out for the weale and furtherance of this cause c. But now I will say one word of him and so come to some other purpose of our own If I had a thousand tongues with so many mouthes with C●ceroes eloquence I could not be worthie ynough to commend this Gentleman to you and all your company as I shall let you vnderstand God willing if euer we doe chaunce to méet face to face and therefore whensoeuer ye may preuent him with any benefit either by your selfe or any other abide not till he craue it of you for he is the worst asker in his own cause that euer ye conversed with Sed nunc ad alia If you be well remembred at your departing out of this countrie you gaue maister Iames Makcartnay a procuratory to intermeddle with maister Alexander Homes little liuing he hath here in East Lowthiane the which he pleaded and obtained in law and tooke vp the yearely rents therof to his own behoofe giues his none of it In the mean time there falles out such incumbrāces touching that land that we are like to loose the whole The sayd maister Alexanders nearest friends and heires haue in iudgement prooued him to be dead and so enter as heires to him In the meane time the Land of Spot his chiefe lord is forfeited and so the land wairds so that we are like to lose al if remedie be not found Wherefore falling in consultation with maister Alexander King he thought best to sell the land vnto him and we to vse the siluer in a more sure manner of the which ye shall receive some writings from this bearer the which ye will vnderstand better then I. Onely I thinke if some meanes be not vsed we shall loose all better it is to haue some thing nor loose all As for the price set ye it downe for he hath mentioned none as yet but he will giue as much as any other because as he saies he hath some land lying neare to it I pray you answere vs with spéede I doubt not but ye haue heard how the yong man whose father was slaine by the Laird of Ruthvenis slue him againe whose Ladie is married to one Iames Reid Camnay is come into the Constables hands and your Nephew is priuie of it and that by the meane I trow of Abraham your brother but your Maich is litle better thē beggred Drumkilbo is dead and Thomas Tyrie is Tutor I pray you aduertise me by what manner maister Stephen Wilsoun came by my Lord Leuingstons Obligation the which you had of the fortie Crownes his L. owed you For maister Stephen hath gotten the fortie Crownes rendering the Obligation which ye had I durst neuer make mention of the hundreth Crownes from the father and fortie Crownes from the sonne which ye left me authoritie to aske c. My Lord Leuingstone is departed out of this world Ye heard before that Dauid Forester had one sonne and now hath an other borne in the Castle of Striueling where he is in ward hardly handled There is but one of our Nobilitie here which hath of the King of Spaine any pension well payde of twelue hundreth Crownes The which apparantly are euill bestowed For he nor none of his as yet hath euer done any kind of good in the promotion of the Kings matters wherfore such pensions were better bestowed on others who trauell daily and hourly putting in hazard both their goods liues as this bearer hath done and daily doth and others as he can shew you c. Because I haue no other thing to write and haue bene long inough I commend me to your praiers and you to God At Scotland the 15. of December 1592. Yours at his power Robert Sandesoun Directed on the backe To his trustie friend George Cranfurd A Letter directed to the King of Spaine by three Noble men of Scotland whereof two haue since returned to the profession and defence of the truth by their oathes and subscriptions wherfore their names are suppressed the third his name expressed to wit the Earle of Huntly because he continueth as yet in his former wicked course This Letter writtē by them in the name of the Catholicke Noblemen of Scotland cyphered in French was intercepted in Ianuarie 1589. lately before the time of the Rode of the Bridge of Die afterward was decyphered word by word and translated into Scottish as followeth SIR we cannot sufficiently expresse by spéech the great griefe we haue conceiued being frustrate of the hope we haue so long had to sée this yeare past the desired effects fall out which we attended of your Maiesties preparations And our displesures haue bin so much y e greater that your naual armies should haue passed by so neare vs vnuisiting vs who expected the same with sufficient forces for the peaceable receipt and assisting thereof against all enemies in such sort that it should haue had no resistance in this Country and with our support should haue giuen inough to do to England At least if it had come here to refresh it it had preserued a number of vessels and men which we know haue perished neare our Iles and vpon the coast of Ireland And had discouered an incredible number of friends in full readinesse to haue run the same fortune with it in such sort as we dare wel affirme it should not haue found halfe so many in England for all that is spoken by the English Catholikes refuged there who by emulation or rather by an vnchristian enuy extenuate

said blankes and Letters which were procuréd for that errand were all deliuered by maister Iames Gourdoun and maister Abircrumby to maister George Ker to be carried by him to maister William Creichtoun Iesuit And to be filled vp at the discretion and direction of the said maister William and of maister Iames Tyrie who was best acquainted with the affaires there For the vnderstanding of the borrowed counterfaited names that occurre in the Letters following good Reader thou shalt finde them interpreted on the margent where they are pointed out by this Marke * which interpretations are conteined in the originall depositions of the practisers and in some of their intercepted Letters A Letter directed from an English Iesuit and intercepted with M. George Ker the 27. of December 1592. Good father the inclosed to my Lord I pray you reade and take it as written to your selfe what I write to him I write to you what I craue of him I craue of you what I hope of him I hope of you as of my Patron Pedagogue in spiritualibus as of a man whose discretion and moderation I haue well experimented in all cases and at all times If I had so far ouerlashed gone beyond my compasse as some good fellowes would imagine yet I wonder that some good men both in their owne conceits and other spirituall means will admit no excuse no satisfaction no purgation when S. Paul to the Galathians in most euident terms setteth downe this rule amongst the perfect and spirituall Fratres si praeoccupatus fuerit homo in aliquo delicto vos qui spirituales estis hujusmodi instruite in spiritu lenitatis considerans teipsum ne tu tenteris If I had spoken with you at my last being in Italie as I well hoped I had perhaps made a better conclusion of my businesse there then I did to my own content and all my friendes satisfaction which hope for all these stormes I will neuer giue ouer and when I leaue by your meanes to be vnder the good habering I wil write to you of that subiect The Lord Seytoun in whose house I soiourn sometimes salutes you Of the affaires of the Catholikes here I leaue it to them to write and relate by whose meanes these letters shall be conueighed My Lord Seytoun hath a hauen of his owne which may be hereafter very commodious for our purpose Commend me I pray you to F. Barth Pere c. maister Dudley Iipher knight and Iohn Thules which vpon some sudden pushes of persecution haue made their repaire hither are in health and salute you And maister Syall a priest dyed here lately in Edinburgh Loue me and pray for me I beséech you all solito And if you send any into these parts let them come furnished with as ample faculties as you may Let them enquire for one maister Ionas which will be a token betwixt vs. Our Lord blesse vs and send vs to méet once ere we die Seytoun this 2 of October 1592. Yours euer most assured Ioan Cecilio Blanke on the backe A letter directed from the Earle of Angus all written and subscribed with his owne hand intercepted with maister George Ker the 27. of December 1592. MY most affectionat commendations premitted this present is only to know of your welfare and friends and of the estate of matters where you remaine and to shew a testimonie of my good affection towards you For God be praysed if you were in this countrie I could doe you greater pleasure then I was able to doe before albeit good will lacked not at any time as you know The bearer hereof can informe you of such things as occurre with vs for we are here dayly subiect to alteration You may credit him as my selfe for so his vertues do deserue It is not needfull that I trouble you with his recommendation séeing he is to you that he is you know his honestie and good intention and the causes of his departing to whose sufficiencie referring the rest my hartie salutations and my bedfellowes with all our companie young and old remembred vnto you and your good company commits you with them to the protection of God Edinburgh the tenth of October after our count 1592 Yours euer to his power Anguss Blanke on the backe A Letter directed from maister Iames Gordoun to maister William Creichtoun intercepted with maister George Ker the 17. of December 1592. TRustie friend after most hartie commendations your friends that are here haue directed this present bearer to you for full resolution of all your affaires in these quarters we haue delayed ouer long I graunt but he wil shew you the cause of all The best is first ye vse all expedition in time comming against the next summer otherwise you will lose credit here with your factors If ye come ye will find more friends then euer ye had but otherwise ye will find fewer because the next summer manie are bound to other countries and wil not abide on you no longer Hast home hither some word to your friends that we may put them in good hope of you and they will tarrie the longer The bearer is an honest man and very sufficient ye may credit him as my selfe I should haue come with him my selfe were it not I was persuaded that you would remaine satisfied with our answere and because I had a let out of Flaunders As the bearer can shew you ye haue gotten all that ye desired therefore make hast The bearer is come vnto you on his owne charge therefore ye must haue respect to him The last bearer that ye sent came behind hand here and hath gotten no satisfaction as yet because nothing could be gotten here and we could find no man but this that would passe on his owne charge and I feare that if he had not come on his own expenses ye should not haue receiued answer so soone therefore ye should intreat him the better We looke for your selfe here shortly and I would you brought the rest of your friends with you that are beyond the sea for if your purpose passe forward they must be also present otherwise we must come and visite you All other affaires of this countrie I will commit to the bearer who is faithful Your wife and your children commend them vnto you and looke to sée you shortly If I or Sandesoun your friend receiue any siluer from the bearer you shall be aduertised by an other ticket how much it is and subscribed with both our hands The rest I will refer to the bearer God preserue you euer from all euill At Dundie the 20 of Nouember 1592. Your most affectioned to his power I. Christesoun Directed on the backe To his assured friend George Craufurd A Letter directed from maister Robert Abircrumby to maister William Creichtoun intercepted with maister George Ker the 27 of December 1592. AFter my due and humble salutations and offer of seruice I gréeue

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

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