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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02764	The examinations, arraignment & conuiction of George Sprot, notary in Aye-mouth together with his constant and extraordinarie behauiour at his death, in Edenborough, Aug. 12. 1608. Written & set forth by Sir William Hart, Knight, L. Iustice of Scotland. Whereby appeareth the treasonable deuice betwixt Iohn late Earle of Gowry and Robert Logane of Restalrig (commonly called Lesterig) plotted by them for the cruell murthering of our most gracious Souereigne. Before which treatise is prefixed also a preface, written by G. Abbot Doctour of Diuinitie, and Deane of Winchester, who was present at the sayd Sprots execution.	Hart, William, Sir, Lord Justice of Scotland.; Abbot, George, 1562-1633.	1608 (1608)	STC 12894; ESTC S118749	27,055	64

That hee had beene an offender against Almightie God in very many respects But that none of his sinnes was so grieuous vnto him as that for which he must die wherin notwithstanding he was not an Actor but a Concealer only That he was ingyred in it by the Laird of Rastalrig and his seruant the Laird of Bour both which hee sayd were men that professed not religion Whereupon he exhorted men to take heed how they accompanied with such as are not religious because sayd he with such as make not profession of religion there is no faith no trueth no holding of their word as himselfe had tried and found But touching the treason for the concealing whereof he was condemned he added That he was preserued aliue to open that secret mysterie which so long had layen hidde That God had kept him since that attempt of the Earle Gowrie from very manie dangers but notedly from one when being in apparent hazzard of drowning he was strangely deliuered which said he was Gods worke that I might remaine aliue vnto this happie and blessed day that the trueth might be made knowen And now I confesse my fault to the shame of my selfe and to the shame of the Diuell but to the glorie of God And I doe it not either for feare of death or for any hope of life for I haue deserued to die and am vnworthie to liue but because it is the trueth which I shall seale with my blood My fault sayth hee is so great that if I had a thousand liues and could die ten thousand deaths yet I might not make satisfaction that I should conceale such a treason against so gracious a King These and the like words when hee had spoken vpon one side of the scaffold hee turned him to the second side and afterward to the third that all the people might heare where he spake to the same purpose as formerly he had done And here it may not be forgotten that in the vttering of these things his tongue serued him verie well with words readie and significant his memorie was perfect his countenance reasonably erect and full of alacritie without all feare of death his voice was loud and audible on euery part which was the more strange because at the times of his examination as also that very fore-noone at the houre of his arraignment his speech was low and weake but now so strong as if God of purpose had giuen him power to deliuer his words in such a maner that all the people might heare and vnderstand When this aboue-mentioned declaration had beene made Sprot returned to that part of the scaffold where he first began to speake and there falling on his knees he vttered a prayer to the same purpose as is set down in this ensuing Treatise And hauing ended the same one of the Ministers praied againe and the prisoner ioyned with him That God would forgiue his sinnes and receiue his soule to mercie After which Sprot standing vp made diuers requests First that what he had deliuered by this Confession on the scaffold might be put into his Processe that the world might take notice of it Secondly that such as were present as they might haue opportunity would be suters vnto the King that his Maiestie would forgiue him this offence for the which he sayd he craued pardon of God of his Souereigne and the world And thirdly hee desired those of the Ministerie which were present that wheresoeuer they came they would proclame in the Pulpit his confession of his crime his sorow for the same and his full hope that God would pardon him And to the end that this might be performed hee tooke the hands of such Ministers as stood neere about him so binding a promise on them And heere being told by the said Ministers and other persons of qualitie that being so neere his departure out of the world it concerned him to speake nothing but the trueth and that vpon the perill of his soule he answered that to the end that they should know that hee had spoken nothing but the veritie and that his Confession was true in euerie respect hee would at the last gaspe giue them some apparent token for the confirmation of the same Then fitting himselfe to the ladder the Executioner commeth to him and as the maner is asking forgiuenesse of him VVith all my heart saith hee for you doe but your office and it is the thing I desire because suffering in my bodie I shall in my soule be ioyned vnto my Sauiour Ascending vp to the ladder he desired the people to sing a Psalme with him which they did with many a weeping eye Hee named the sixt Psalme and beginning it or taking it vp himselfe in euerie verse or line thereof hee went before the people singing both lowd and tunably vnto the very end Then once againe confirming and auowing his former confession he couered his owne face and commending his soule to God hee was turned off the ladder where hanging by the necke some little while hee three seuerall times gaue a lowd clap with his hands that all the standers by might heare which was the signe or token as it seemeth which he a little before had sayd that hee would giue at his last gaspe for the ratification and auowing of those things which by his confession hee had so many times declared and deliuered These things were done in the open sight of the Sunne in the Kings Capitall towne at the Market-crosse in Edenborough in the presence of diuers thousands of all sorts of the Nobilitie of the Clergie of the Gentrie of the Burgesses of women and children my selfe with the rest of the English Ministers standing by and looking on and giuing GOD the glorie that after so long a space as eight yeeres and eight dayes for so it was by iust computation after the attempt of Gowrie he was pleased to giue so noble a testimonie vnto that which by some maligners had beene secretly called in question without any ground or reason I haue reported at length those particulars which I heard and saw which that honourable personage who wrote this Treatise following doth somewhat more briefly deliuer but yet both of vs very truly as thousands can witnesse Out of both these narrations there may diuers obseruations be gathered As first how hainous a thing it is in the sight of God himselfe for subiects of what nature or qualitie soeuer to enter into conspiracie against the life and person of the Lords Anointed for Almightie God hath threatned to discouer these traiterous enterprises and if no other way yet by some strange and miraculous fashion Hee who spake against cruell imaginations of the heart Curse not the King no not in thy thought for the fowle of the heauen shall carie the voice and that which hath wings shall declare the matter what will he do when acts of hostilitie in rebellious maner shall be entred into And doth his Diuine Maiestie disclose it

scandalous imputations if men would not speake or children sound out the trueth in the streets yet the verie stones shall crie as our Sauiour once answered to the maligning Pharisees Blessed be the GOD of iustice who cleereth vp the fame of his holy ones when malice would obscure it Lastly heere may be a warning to men of mine owne profession I meane the Ministers of the Gospell that in cases of highest nature between a King and his rebell they conceiue not things to the woorst and because they will be opposite to him whom most of all they should honor by buzzings and whisperings and secret suggestions without all ground of trueth labour to sow sedition in the eares of women and children or in the mindes of men either weake or ill disposed For as the lips of the Priest should alwayes preserue knowledge so should they preserue trueth And we are to go before our flocks and Congregations in obedience and obsequiousnesse vnto the Christian Magistrate not in sowing sedition or making of mutinies to the disturbance of the State Who should sticke closer to Moyses welding so huge a charge than Aaron and his tribe And who should rather labour to doe his Prince all right than the Minister of the Gospell who next after teaching men their dutie to GOD is made to teach obedience and respectiuenesse vnto Kings And who more deserueth to be chastised than he if he wilfully transgresse These things I thought not amisse to obserue to thee Christian Reader before thou come to the perusing of this plaine and true narration touching the examination arraignment and death of the person here described GOD Almightie blesse the Kings Maiestie grant vnto him many dayes full of pietie and felicitie and after this mortall life expired send him an euerlasting Crown of glorie through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Thine in the Lord GEORGE ABBOT THE EXAMINATIONS ARRAIGNMENT AND Conuiction of George Sprot Notary in Aye-mouth Together with his constant and extraordinarie behauior at his death in Edenborough August 12. 1608. Written and set forth by Sir William Hart Knight L. Iustice of Scotland Whereby appeareth the treasonable deuice betweene IOHN late Earle of Gowrie and Robert Logane of Restalrig commonly called Lesterig plotted by them for the cruell murthering of our most gracious Souereigne I Thought good gentle Reader for satisfaction of the true hearted and well affected subiects to their gracious Souereigne and closing of the mouthes of his Maiesties malicious enemies to spend a little time in discourse of a strange and almost miraculous accident that fell out of late anent the reuealing of the practises of Gowries treasonable Conspiracie intended against his Highnesse royall person Which purpose was hidden and concealed vntill the time it pleased God to moue one George Sprot who was priuie thereto to manifest and confesse the same as by this that followeth may appeare This Sprot after diuers examinations being moued with remorse of conscience for the long concealing of the foreknowledge of this treasonable conspiracie confesseth declareth and deponeth with the perill of his owne life That he knew perfectly that Robert Logane late of Restalrig was priuie and vpon the foreknowledge of Gowries treasonable conspiracie And for the greater assurance of his knowledge deponeth That he knew that there were diuers Letters interchanged betwixt them anent the treasonable purpose aforesayd in the beginning of the Moneth of Iuly 1600. Which letters Iames Bour called Laird Bour seruitor to Restalrig who was imployed mediatour betwixt them and priuy to all that errand had in keeping and shewed the same to Sprot in the place of Fast-Castle The first of Gowries Letters conteining in effect as followeth Good Laird of Restalrig you vnderstand what conditions should haue beene betwixt vs of before Indeed I purposed to haue come by your house but vnderstanding of your absence in Lothiane I came not Alwayes I wish you either your selfe to come West or els to send some sure messenger who may conferre with mee anent the purpose you know But rather would I wish your selfe to come not only for that errand but for some other thing that I haue to aduise with you To the which Letter Restalrig wrate an answer and sent the same to the Earle of Gowrie by the said Iames Bour of the tenure following MY Lord my most humble dutie and seruice heartily remembred At the receit of your Lordships Letter I am so comforted that I can neither vtter my ioy nor finde my selfe sufficiently able to requite your Lordship with due thanks And perswade your Lordship in that matter I shall be as forward for your Lordships honour as if it were mine owne cause And I thinke there is no liuing Christian that would not be content to reuenge that Machiauellian massacring of our deare friends yea howbeit it should be to venture and hazzard life lands and all other thing els My heart can binde me to take part in that matter as your Lordship shall finde better proofe thereof But one thing would be done namely That your Lordship should be circumspect and earnest with your brother that hee be not rash in any speeches touching the purpose of Padua My Lord you may easily vnderstand that such a purpose as your Lordship intendeth can not be done rashly but with deliberation And I thinke for my selfe that it were most meet to haue the men your Lordship spake of readie in a boat or barke and addresse them as if they were taking pastime on the sea in such faire Summer time And if your Lordship could thinke good either your selfe to come to my house of Fast-Castle by sea or to send your brother I should haue the place very quiet and well prouided after your Lordships aduertisement where we should haue no scant of the best Venison can be had in England And no others should haue accesse to haunt the place during your Lordships being heere but all things very quiet And if your Lordship doubt of safe landing I shall prouide all such necessaries as may serue for your Lordships arriuall within a flight shot of the house And perswade your Lordship you shall be as sure and quiet heere while we haue setled our plot as if you were in your owne chamber for I trust and am assured we shall heare word within few dayes from them your Lorship knoweth of for I haue care to see what ships comes home by Your Lordship knoweth I haue kept the L. Bothwell quietly in this house in his greatest extremitie say both King and Counsell what they liked I hope if all things come to passe as I trust they shall to haue both your Lordship and his Lordship at one good dinner afore I die Haeciocosè to animate your Lordship I doubt not my Lord but all things shall be well And I am resolued wherof your Lordship shall not doubt of any thing on my part yea to perill life land honor and goods yea the hazzard of hell shall not

subscriptione manualibus The doome being pronounced the said George was conuoyed to a priuie house where he remained at his secret meditation and afterwards in conference with the Ministers and others vnto the time all things was prouided necessarie for his execution and being brought to the place where he was to die he in publike audience of the whole people at the three sides of the scaffold ratified the former depositions made by him concerning the treasonable practises intended and deuised betwixt Gowrie and Restalrig for the murthering of our most gracious Souereigne and bereauing his Highnesse of his life and his owne knowledge and concealing of their guiltinesse For the which he humbly craued God and his Maiestie forgiuenesse being most sorie and grieued that he had offended God and the Kings Maiestie in concealing such a vile detestable and vnnaturall treason enterprised by them against his gracious Souereigne who hath beene euer so good and gracious to his subiects protesting that if he had a thousand liues to render and were able to suffer ten thousand deaths it were not a sufficient satisfaction and recompense for his offence And that God had preserued him from many great perils when his life was in extreme danger to bring him to this publike declaration of that detestable and horrible fact in presence of all the people vttered by him in these words following To my owne shame and to the shame of the diuell but to the glorie of God And for satisfaction of the consciences of all those if any be that haue or can make any doubt of the trueth of this so cleere a matter he acknowledged that his haunting with Restalrig who was a man without religion and subiect to manie other vices as also his continuall being in companie with the Laird of Bour who likewise was irreligious and without feare of God and his being ingyred by them into their matters after his first sight of Restalrigs letter written by him to Gowrie brought him from one sinne to another and consequently vpon this grieuous crime for the which most iustly worthily and willingly he is now to render his life And thereupon he desired all the people there present to beware of euill companie and namely of the societie of those who are void of religion And farther desired that this his declaration might be inserted in his Processe and that the Ministers of Gods word would publish the same from their Pulpits to the people for which purpose also he tooke diuers of them there present by the hand with their promise to doe the same saying to them That this was the most glorious day that euer his eyes did see In the middest almost of these speeches he did prostrate himselfe and fell vpon his knees in presence of the whole people making a verie pithie prayer in the forme following O Father how should I call thee Father that am so vnworthy to be called thy sonne I haue wandred astray like a lost sheepe and thou of thy mercie hast brought me home vnto thee and hast preserued my life from many dangers vntill this day that I might reueile these hidden and secret mysteries to mine owne shame and thy glorie Thou hast promised that whensoeuer a sinner from his heart will repent and call to thee that thou wilt heare him and grant him mercie And thus he continued a good space in a most feruent prayer to the great admiration of all the standers by Afterward ganging vp the ladder with his hands loose vntied being on the vpper part thereof he desired libertie to sing the sixt Psalme and requested the people to accompanie him in the singing thereof Which being granted he tooke vp the Psalme himselfe with a very loud and strong voice far by his accustomed forme being before his comming to the scaffold a weake spirited man of feeble voice and vtterance and was assisted with the number of a thousand persons at the least who accompanied him in singing that Psalme After the ending whereof he openly repeated and ratified his said former confession and with that recommending his soule to God hee fastened a cloth about his owne eyes and was cast ouer the ladder so ending this mortall life I had almost forgotten that which in this action of his death was strange and in a maner maruellous For being vrged by the Ministers and other of good ranke vpon the scaffold that now at his end he should declare nothing but the trueth touching the matter for which he suffered on the perill of his owne saluation or condemnation of his soule hee for the greater assurance of that his constant and true deposition promised by the assistance of God to giue them an open and euident token before the yeelding of his spirit Which hee accomplished thereafter For before his last breath when he had hung a pretie space hee lift vp his hands a good heigth and clapped them together aloud three seuerall times to the great woonder and admiration of all the beholders And verie soone thereafter he yeelded his spirit By this Narration afore-going each man may learne that the contriuing and plotting of treason against Kings and Princes is a thing odious in the sight of God and therefore ordinarily is disclosed by him at first or at last by one meanes or another and that it is not good to conceale any such conspiracie intended by enemie or friend because the life and safetie of a Christian King who is the common Father of the Countrey ought to be dearer to all good men than the loue or acquaintance of any whatsoeuer who howbeit hee make shew of manie faire things in him yet in this alone That hee purposeth euill against the Lords Anointed sufficiently declareth himselfe to be of a rebellious and vngodly disposition And how wofull the fruit is either of such traitourous resolutions or of the concealing of them may be seene as in a glasse both in the sudden end of the Earle Gowrie and in the execution of this George Sprot with more deliberation a Num. 12.3 b Num. 16.3 c Dan. 6.13 d Neh. 6.6 e Act. 16.20 f Euseb. Eccl. Hist. lib. 4.7 g Lib. 5.1 h Tertull. Apolog. cap. 2. i Euagrius Eccl. Hist. lib. 3.40 k Cyprian Epist. ad Antonian Lib. 4.2 l Aelian Hist. lib. 11.10 m Hieron Epist. 10. ad Furiam n Gregor Hom. 38. in 40. Hom. o Plin Natur Hist. lib. 8 16. p Certaine Articles or forcible reasons printed at Antwerpe 1600 q Ross. contra Henri● Gallum cap. 4.5 r Plin. Natur Hist. lib. 7.27 s Plin. de viris illustrib * Diog. Laert in Antisth t 1. Sam. 24.10 u Psal. 7.3 * Psal. 52.2 x Psal. 119.69 y Psal. 120.2 z Psal 69.12 a 2. Sam. 16.7 b Psal. 43.1 c vers 5. d Diog. La e rt in Zenon e Psal. 37.1 f Chrys Homil 1. de in●●●●treh Dei natura g 1. Pet. 2.23 h Psal. 27.12.14 i Psal. 37.5.6 k Chrys. in Psal. 129. l Sapient 11.17 m Psal. 43.5 n 1. Sam. 24.4 c. 26.7 o 1. Sam. 24.18 p 1. Sam. 26.21 q Euseb. Ecel Hist. lib. 6.8 r Theodor. Eccl. Hist. lib. 1.20.21 s The Earle of Dunbar * Archb. of Glasc Bis. of Brickh L. Halyrudeh L. Collector L. Register L. Iustice. D Maxey M Hodson M. P. Galoway M. I. Hall N. Ch. Lumsden with others t Eccl. 10.20 u Psal. 82.6 u Apoc. 22.11 x Luc. 19.40 y Mal. 2.7 a A house of Restalrigs

the traiterous and bloodie attempt of the Earle Gowrie and his brother against the person and life of our most blessed Souereigne Wherein albeit there were such euidences and arguments as that any man who would haue taken notice thereof might haue been sufficiently informed therein euen at the very first and afterward by the cleere depositions for most pregnant circumstances and ample attestations of many persons of honour and qualitie the Parliament of that Kingdome tooke full knowledge thereof and accordingly proceeded to the forfaiting of the whole estate of that Earle and of his heires for euer yet some humorous men whom in that respect I may iustly terme vnthankfull vnto God and vndutifull to their King out of fond imaginations or rather if you will seditious suppositions of their owne did both at home and abroad by whisperings and secret buzzings into the eares of the people who were better perswaded of them than indeed there was cause imploy their wits and tongues to obscure the trueth of that matter and to cast an imputation where it was least deserued Which when God had permitted for the space of some yeeres to ranckle and foster in the bowels of those who were the Authours of it the same God in his wisdome at last meaning to cure them if they would be cured of that maladie discouered that in the same treason although caried neuer so secretly there were other confederates of whom hitherto the world had taken no kinde of knowledge And albeit two of the persons interested in that businesse were lately dead and departed vnto far greater torment than all the earth could lay vpon them vnlesse they died repentant yet it was apprehended that a third partie remained who had fore-knowledge of that conspiracie and was able to vtter much of the secrets of it one George Sprot a Notarie inhabiting at Aye-mouth a place well knowen in that countrey Which matter or some part thereof being made knowen to an honourable person a most faithfull seruant to his Maiestie first by some words that fell from Sprot himselfe and afterwards by some papers found vpon him it was so wisely caried and so prudently brought about by the great care and diligence of that noble man God Almightie blessing the businesse that so much was reueiled as followeth in this Treatise vpon the Acts to be seene which are here set downe at large word for word as they agree with the processe originall and other examinations that such as haue beene auerse may at last receiue satisfaction Touching all which I shall say nothing but only report that which befell vpon the day of his death when hee suffered for that treason Hauing then the sentence passed on him vpon Friday the twelfth of August 1608 in the fore-noone and publikely being warned to prepare himselfe to his end which must be that after-dinner he most willingly submitted himselfe vnto that punishment which as he then acknowledged he had iustly deserued And being left to himselfe til dinner-time was expired then came to him into that priuate place where hee remained some of the reuerend Bishops diuers L.L. of the Session two of the English Ministers there imploied by his Maiestie with diuers other Ministers of the towne of Edenborough Before whom he first acknowledged and auouched his former confession to be true and that he would die in the same and then falling on his knees in a corner of that roome where he and they then were in a prayer to God vttered aloud he so passionately deplored his former wickednesses but especially that sinne of his for which he was to die that a man may iustly say hee did in a sort deiect and cast downe himselfe to the gates of hell as if he should there haue beene swallowed vp in the gulfe of desperation yet presently laying holde vpon the mercies of God in Christ he raised himselfe and strangely lifted vp his soule vnto the Throne of Grace applying ioy and comfort to his owne heart so effectually as can not well be described In the admitting of this consolation into his inward man he burst out into teares so plentifully flowing from him that for a time they stopped his voice The sight hearing wherof wroght so forcible an impression in those persons of honour and learned men who beheld him that there was scant any one of them who could refraine teares in the place as diuers of themselues that day did witnesse vnto me The effect of his prayer was the aggrauating of his crime in concealing the treason against the Kings Maiestie into which hee said God did most iustly suffer him to fall by reason of his former wickednesse which he had so desperately multiplied in despight of God and his holy VVord And thereupon going on with many sensible speeches and most feeling comparisons hee insisted on the fearefull and dreadfull danger wherein hee was if the Lord in iudgement should looke vpon him Notwithstanding at last he proceeded Yet most mercifull father whereat he made a stay and repeating the word father with a maruellous loud and shrill voice he added why should I call thee father that haue so many wayes and so horribly transgressed thy commandements in all the course of my life but especially in concealing this vile fearefull and diuellish treason against my most gracious Soueraigne Lord Lord there is nothing belongeth to me but wrath and confusion and so went on in a strange vnaffected current of words liuely expressing the sorrow of his heart Yet there he stayd not but spake forward to this purpose Notwithstanding Lord thou hast left me this comfort in thy VVord that thou hast sayd Come vnto me all ye that are weary and laden and I will refresh you Lord I am weary Lord I am heauily laden with my sinnes which are innumerable I am ready to sincke Lord euen to hell without thou in thy mercy put to thy hand and deliuer me Lord thou hast promised by thine owne word out of thine owne mouth that thou wilt refresh the weary soule And with that he thrust out one of his hands and reaching as high as hee could with a louder voice and a strained cried I challenge thee Lord by that word and by that promise which thou hast made that thou performe and make it good to mee that call for ease and mercie at thy hands Lord heare mee Lord pardon mee Lord comfort me by thy holy spirit assure my conscience of the forgiuenesse of my sinnes say to my soule that thou art reconciled And so after many zealous petitions vttered to the like effect he applied to himselfe the mercies of God in Christ Iesus in whom he assured himselfe of Gods fauour with earnest request that he might continue in that assurance to the end wherof he nothing doubted Afterward being brought to the scaffold where he was to die he vttered many things among which I obserued these He acknowledged to the people that he was come thither to suffer most deseruedly

affray me from that yea although the scaffold were alreadie set vp The sooner the matter were done it were the better for the Kings bucke-hunting will be shortly and I hope it shall prepare some daintie cheere for vs to dine against the next yeere I remember well my Lord and I will neuer forget so long as I liue that merrie sport which your Lordships brother tolde me of a Noble-man at Padua for I thinke that a parasceue to this purpose My Lord thinke nothing that I commit the secrecy hereof and credit to this bearer for I dare not only venture my life lands and all other things I haue els on his credit but I durst hazzard my soule in his keeping if it were possible in earthly men for I am so perswaded of his truth and fidelitie And I trow as your Lordship may aske him if it be true he would goe to hell gates for mee and hee is not beguiled of my part to him And therefore I doubt not but this will perswade your Lordship to giue him trust in this matter as to my selfe But I pray your Lordship direct him home with all possible haste and giue him strait command that he take not a wincke sleepe while hee see me againe after hee come from your Lordship And as your Lordship desireth in your letter to me either riue or burne or els send backe againe with the bearer for so is the fashion I grant Which letter written euery word with Restalrigs owne hand was subscribed by him after his accustomed maner Restalrig And was sent to the Earle Gowrie by the sayd Iames Bour. After whose returne within fiue dayes with a new letter from Gowrie hee stayed all night with Restalrig in Gunnes-greene and Restalrig rode to Lothiane the morne thereafter where he stayed fiue or six dayes Then after his returning past to Fast-Castle where he remained a certeine short space And farther deponeth that he saw and heard Restalrig reade the last letter which Bour brought backe to him from Gowrie and their conference there-anent And heard Bour say Sir if ye thinke to make any commoditie by this dealing lay your hand to your heart And Restalrig answered that he would do as he thoght best And farther sayd to Bour Howbeit he should sell all his owne land that he had in the world he would passe thorow with the Earle of Gowrie for that matter would giue him greater contentment nor if he had the whole Kingdome and rather or hee should falsifie his promise and recall his vow that hee had vowed to the Earle of Gowrie hee should spend all that he had in the world and hazard his life with his Lordship To whom Bour answered You may doe as you please Sir but it is not my counsell that you should be so sudden in that other matter But for the condition of Dirlton I would like very well of it To whom Restalrig answered Content your selfe I am at my wits end And farther Sprot deponeth that he entred himselfe there-after in conference with Bour and demanded what was done betwixt the Laird and the Earle of Gowrie And Bour answered that hee beleeued that the Laird should get Dirlton without either golde or siluer but feared that it should be as deare vnto him And Sprot inquiring how that could be Bour sayd they had another pie in hand nor the selling of any land but prayed Sprot for Gods sake that hee would let be and not trouble himselfe with the Lairds businesse for he feared within few dayes the Laird would either be landlesse or lifelesse And the sayd George Sprot being demanded if this his deposition was true as he would answer vpon the saluation and condemnation of his soule and if hee will go to death with it seeing he knoweth the time and houre of his death to approch very neere deponeth for answer that hee hath not a desire to liue and that hee knowes the time to be short hauing care of no earthly thing but only for cleering of his conscience in the truth of all these things to his owne shame before the world and to the honour of God and safetie of his owne soule that all the former points and circumstances conteined in this his deposition with the deposition made by him the fift day of Iuly last and the whole remanent depositions made by him sen that day are true which hee will take on his conscience and as hee hopeth to be saued of God and that he would seale the same with his blood And farther being demanded where this aboue written letter written by Restalrig to the Earle of Gowrie which was returned againe by Iames Bour is now deponeth that hee abstracted it quietly from Bour in looking ouer and reading Bours letters which he had in keeping of Restalrigs and that he left the aboue written letter in his chest among his writings when hee was taken and brought away and that it is closed and folded within a piece of paper This foresaid deposition was made by him the tenth of August 1608 written by Iames Primerose Clerke of his Maiesties Priuie Counsell and subscribed with the sayd George Sprots owne hand In the presence of The Earle of Dunbar The Earle of Lothiane The Bishop of Rosse The L. Schune The L. Halyrudehouse The L. Blantyre Sir William Hart his Maiesties Iustice. M. Iohn Hall M. Patricke Galoway M. Peter Hewart Ministers of the Kirkes of Edenborough Subscribed with all their hands And also the eleuenth day of the foresaid moneth and yeere the said George Sprot being re-examined in the presence of a number of the Counsell and Ministers aforesaid and it being declared to him that the time of his death now verie neere approched and that therefore they desired him to cleere his conscience with an vpright declaration of the trueth and that he would not abuse the holy name of God to make him as it were a witnesse to vntrueths and specially being desired that he would not take vpon him the innocent blood of any person dead or quick by making and forging lies vntruths against them Deponeth that he acknowledgeth his grieuous offences to God who hath made him a reasonable creature in abusing his holy name with many vntrueths sen the beginning of this Processe but now being resolued to die and attending the houre and time when it shall please God to call him he deponeth with many attestations and as he wisheth to be participant of the Kingdome of heauen where he may be countable and answerable vpon the saluation and condemnation of his soule for all his doings and speeches in this earth that all that hee hath deponed sen the fifth day of Iuly last in all his seuerall depositions were true in euery point and circumstance of the same and that there is no vntrueth in any point thereof And hauing desired M. Patricke Galoway to make a prayer whereby he might be comforted now in his trouble Which was done The said Deponer with