forth a Dagger reversed proper piercing a bloudy heart The point crowned Empcriall with this Distick Haec Dextra Vindex Principis Patriae Afterward he was created Lord Haddington and Earle of Holdernesse And our Pamphlet bestowes on him this Character A very good Gentleman by nature but in this Story a Lier by practise Pamp. 9. for which all these favours were too little Reward Sir Thomas Erskin was after wards created Earl of Kelly Knight of the Garter Captain of the King's Guard and Groome of the Stoole And the Fellow designed for the Murtherer had a large Pension confirm'd by Act of their Parliament And all these men but Herries were living with other witnesses at King JAME'S journy when he went from hence to visit Scotland and met together by direction at the same House with Ceremony and all of them with a number of Courtiers ascended into the same Roome the bloud yet remaining where the King related the Story and confirmed by them And afterwards kneeling down with tears of Contrition for his Sinnes to God and thankfulnesse for this Mercy using many pious Ejaculations embraced all these Actors in the former Tragedy when the poor fellow also kist the King's hand These circumstances gave occasion then that this whole story was freshly revived to the common Satisfaction of the whole Countrey and our English Courtiers And in especiall unto the very Reverend Bishop and Nobly borne James Mountegue then present to whom the King addressed himself in this Relation and from whose Mouth I received these particulars at his return into England And thus much we have by word of mouth somewhat I shall add out of writings for more satisfaction This Treason was attempted the 4. of August 1600. And though there followed sundry Suspitions and Examination of several other Persons supposed Abbetters Contrivers yet it lay undiscovered tanquamè postliminio untill 8. years after by the circumspection principally of the Earle of Dunbar a man of as great wisdome as those times and that Kingdome could boast of Upon the person of one George Sprot Notary-publick of Ayemouth in Scotland From some words which at first he sparingly or unawares expressed and also by some papers which were found in his House whereof being examin'd with a little adoe he confessed and was condemned and executed at Edenburgh the 12. of Aug. 1608. A Relation I conceive not common but in my hands to be produced and written by that learned Gentleman Sir William Hart then Lord Justice of Scotland and Principall in all the Acts of Judicature herein And first George Sprot confesseth That he knew perfectly that Robert Logane late of Restalrig was privy and upon foreknowledge of John late Earl of Gowrie's Treasonable Conspiracy That he knew there were divers Letters interchanged betwixt them anent their Treasonable put pose July 1600. which Letters James Bour called Laird Bour Servitor to Restalrig imployed betwixt them and privy to all that arrand had in keeping and shewed the same to Sprot in Fast-Castle That Sprot was present when Bour after 5. daies absence returned with â—nswers by letter from Gowry and staid all night with Restalrig at his house Gunuesgreen rode the next morne to Lothiane where he staid six daies then to Fast-Castle where he abode a short space That he saw and heard Restalrig read these letters which Bour brought back from Gowry and all their Conference there anent And that Bour said Sir if you think to get Commodity by this dealing lay your hand on your heart and that Restalrig answered though he should lose all in the world yet he would passe through with Gowry for that matter would as well content him as the Kingdome To whom Bour said you may do as you please Sir but it is not my Councell that you should be so suddain in that other matter But for the Condition of Darlton I would like very well of it To this Restalrig answered content your self I am not at my wits end That Sprot himself entered into conference with Bour demanding what was to be done between the Earle and the Laird Bour answered that he beleeved that the Laird would get Darlton without gold or silver but he fear'd it would be deerer to him That Sprot inquiring further how that should be done Bour said they have another pie in hand then buying and selling of land But prayed Sprot for God's sake that he would let be and not be troubled with the Lairds business for he fear'd that within few daies the Laird would be landlesse and livelesse And Sprot being demanded afterwards if all these Confessions were true as he would answer upon the salvation of his soul seeing his death was neer approaching Sprot said That he had no desire to live and had care only of cleering his Conscience in the truth And that all the former points and circumstances were true with the depositions made by him the 5. of July last and the whole confession made by him since as he hoped to be saved and which he would seale with his bloud And further being deposed where was now the letter of Restalrig to Gowry He answered That he had this letter amongst other of Restalrig's papers which Bour had in keeping and which Sprot copied out and that he left the principall letter in his Chest amongst his writings when he was taken and brought away and that it is closed and folded in a sheet of paper These depositions made by George Sprot the to of August 1608. and others before being all included in his Indictment following to which for brevity I shall remit the Reader and written by James â—rimrose Clerk of the King's Councell and subscribed Georgè Sprot Present Earl of Dunbar Earl Lothiane Bishop of Rosse Lord Schone Lord Hallo-rod-house Lord Blautire Sir William Hart Lord Justice Mr. John Hall Mr. Patrick Gahoway Mr. Peter Hewet Ministers of Edenburgh and subscribed with all their hands The next day 11. of August Sprot was re-examined and to him declared the assurance of his death and was advis'd not to abuse his Conscience to witnesse untruths and upon the Innocency of the dead or living To which he deposeth That being resolved to die and as he wishes to be participant of Heaven upon the salvation or damnation of his Soul that all that he had deposed were true in every point and circumstance and no untruth in them The next day being the 12. of August 1608. Sprot was presented in Judgement upon Pannell within the Talboth of Edenburgh before Sir William Hart Knight Lord Justice of Scotland assisted with these Persons viz. Alexander Earle of Dunferling Lord Chancelour George Earle of Dunbar Lord Treasurer John Arch-bishop of Glascoe David Bishop of Rosse Gawen Bishop of Galloway Andrew Bishop of Brechine David Earl of Crawford Mark Earl of Lotharine James Lord Abernethie of Saltonne James Lord of Balmerinoth Senitapie Walter Lord Blautire John Lord Burley Sir Richard Coburn Knight Master John Preston Collector Generall
to raise of these Natures the true values and to receive equal benefit with the rest of the Subjects if the Book had bin since observed which he caused in print And for the Copy-holders of Inheritance who by many Records prove their fines certain they did hereupon offer for their freedome 20.30.40 and 50. years purchase where they could shew probable Records without sine to free themselves The Wastes and Commons were tender Titles Wastes Commons full of murmering and Commotion which truly he never durst offer to inclose Nor to urge the Tenants to become Suitors themselves with whom Commissioners were to be appointed to compound for a part and so he made a good President for the rest The Casual fines Casual fines due to the King out of the private possessions as other Lords have by their Courts of Leets Court Barons and such like and out of publique offences as the King was Parent of the Common-Wealth unto whom belong'd praemium poena These being natures left for the King's bounty he commended them also to Commissioners for a better Revenue to be raised being till his time utterly neglected and almost lost As for the extended Lands where the Officers became indebted to the Crown and made it an Art to have their Lands extended at easy rates He caused the most of these to be surveyed commended the Improvement to Commissioners and commanded the Tenants to appear before them The Improvements of the Customes he advanced from 86000. l. to 120000. l. and from that to 135000. l. by the year He bargained for the River-water to be brought to London River water and so to the driest parts which brought a great yearly value He alwaies incouraged all Industry of Manufactures Manufactures Such Inventions as the Statutes admit and countenance As home-making of Allome Salt by the Sunne Busses for fishing Salt upon Salt by new fires and Inventions Copper and Coperas of Iron and of Steele That the Subjects at home might be set on work and the small Treasure of the Nation kept within It concerned him as Secretary to have Intelligence from all parts of the World Intelligence and Correspondence with all Em bassadours and Forreigne States not to be neglected at any hand which he did at his own cost So did all parts grow confident of such a Councelour And so he kept Rules with the united Provinces whose Friendships he would say much concerned this State I may not forget his Christian care Ireland improved for poor Ireland Plantations there and transplantations of the Natives to advance the Customes there and to abate the charges of the Garisons And he did endeavour and in manner did effect an universall course of Law and Justice in the most barbarous and remote parts of that Nation And now concerning the Court of Wards and Liveries Wards Liveries By constitution of this State all the lands of this Nation are holden by two Tenures By Soccage or by Knights Service By the Plough to feed us or by the Sword to defend us And who so died leaving an Heir within age unable to do this service his Heir and Lands fell both to the Protection of the Soveraign And this in antient time was promiscuously carryed in the Court of Chancery until the middle time of Hon. the 8. when this Court of Wards was first erected Since which time the Masters thereof by favour of the Soveraign did accustome as a bounty of State to grant unto Noble Men the King's Servants and their owne followers both the marriag of the body and the lease of the Lands for a third peny of their true worth But in all humility his Lordship finding the estate in a Retrograde Consumption did with all obedience present his Patent at the Kings feet and so the whole benefit became the profit of the Crown Thus he wrought in the Mine of the State-affaires and wasted his Carkasse with desire to have done better Service in these his offices of Treasurer Secretary and Master of the Wards And yet these were sufficient just and true merits Without Friends Wit or Wealth to raise him so much in his Master's esteem Or without ill offices done by him to this Nation as our Pamphlet will make us believe in many absurd particulars And truly Pam. 11.12 his studious labours in the State brought him the sooner to sicknesse a Consumption of the Lungs wherein he wasted some years and at last by advise for cure at the Bath he took leave of the King who came to visit him at Salisbury-House and with tears at his parting protested to the Lords attending his great losse of the wisest Councelour and best Servant that any Prince in Christendome could Paralel Of whom one saies Tu Pater Patriae Princeps Prudentia cujus Extulit immensum Reges Populósque Britannos His time at the Bath was short being spent to extreamity ere he came thither and returning back by the way he was taken out of his Litter and put himself in his Coach and died afterwards at St. Margarets in the House of that worthy Gentleman Mr. Daniel in May 1612. My Lord Viscount Cramborne now Earle of Salisbury and the Lord Clifford Sir Robert Manton and many more Gentlemen of quality then present whom I saw there He was Imbalmed and after Intomb'd at his Princely Mannor of Hartfield Pamp. 14. A fairer Corps then any brasen face that belies his disease His death was extreame sadnesse to the King and to all his friends and others of worth and honour For in spite of the Pamphleter Pamp. 14. he will be valued as he does confesse Never came a Better The next we meet with is Henry Earle of Northampton Henry Howard Earle of Northampton The Antient and Illustrous family of the Howards were here more Eminent then any other that ushered the King to his Additionall Crownes This Henry Howard was Brother unto Thomas Duke of Norfolke who suffered for his attempt of marriage with the Queen of Scots whilst she was Prisoner here in England Which might be some Motive to induce the King to consider the advance of that family though they were indued with large possessions from their Ancestors The Duke left two Sons Philip Earl of Arundell Thomas Howard Earle of Suffolk afterwards Lord Treasurer Henry Howard their Uncle Pamp. 15 was more wedded to his Book then to the Bed for he died a Bacheler and so had the lesse occasion to advance his fortune by Court-flattery or State-Imployment nor indeed was he ever any Suitor for either He was accounted both wise and learned and therefore out of the Kings great affection to Letters especially when they are met in a Noble Person he was advanced in his Creation of Baron of Marnhill and Earle of Southampton then Pryvy Councelor Lord Privy Seale and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Knight of the Garter He had very plentifull for his single life
and to spare for his friends In his expence not over frugal maintaining his Port the most remarkeable like the Ancient NOBLE MAN in his family and Dependants of any other Lord then or since his time He assisted his Nephew the Earl of Suffolk by his designing and large contribution to that excellent Fabrick Awdley-end He built the Noble structure at Charing-Crosse from the Ground Northampton House and presented it a New-years-gift to the Lord Walden Suffolkes eldest Sonne and now called Suffolk-House and yet left his other Nephew the Earl of Arundell the rest of his estate so to appear to the world his equall distribution to such even kinred He was Religious and gave good testimony thereof in his life built that handsome Covent at Greenwich and indued it with Revenue for ever for maintenance of decaied Gentlemen a sufficient number and for women also considerable He died in Anno 1613. full of years and Honourable fame though Our Pamphleter wil not know so much Pamp. 16. and yet no doubt must needs be Iutimate with his Person for he tells us his thoughts That he had assuredly promised to himself the Treasurers staff Although we can produce this Lord's Letters and other testimonies imploying all his own and his Friends Interest for that preferment upon his Nephew Suffolke and excusing himself of the burthen and weight of that Office by his known Infirmity of Stone of the which he died Indeed James Hay Earle of Carlile Pamp. 18. It is no matter upon what Score that the King gave his affection to this Favorite James Hay The Scots were never very eminent with Neighbour-Princes what credit they had came by the French to keep ballance with England and them The beginning might then be hoped when their Vnion with these Crownes should afford the meanes to set them forth And it was prudentiall in the King to pick out one of his own to splendour that Nation in our way of peace and Court-ship Especially when all was done at the Master's cost For Hay was poor unlesse what he got by his first Match with the Lord Dennis heir for by his last he had nothing the great spirit of Pearcy Earle of Northumberland disdaining the Marriage and refused to afford a Groat to a beggerly Scot as he call'd him And now this Lord for so was he soon made Lord Hay His vaine 〈◊〉 spences then Viscount Doncaster and Earl of Carlile did most vainely prodigallize what he often begg'd And in truth he had it granted for no other purpose to put down the Englâ—sh Courtier at that vanity And which both abroad and at home was often paid for by the King 's Privy Purse As that feast at Essex-House Pamp. 19. and many his Masqueradoes at Court for he medled not with the Tilt-staff as being no Sword-man but in the other and such like he never escaped to act One part And these expences fam'd him with little credit how erche appears to our Pamphleters Judgement who cries up Pamp. 21. the bounty of his Mind beyond the Moon at least who in truth was never good to Man or beast His Embassies His Embassies to Germany were not so weighty when he posted so long through Germany to find out the Emperor who afforded him the Wild-Goose-Chase as knowing his Arrand before he came at him Which in truth was purposely so designed by the King only to spend time and to amuse mens expectations who were wild after a Warre to beget a Treaty concerning the lost Palatine The effects wherof as the King wisely prophesyed would produce distemper through all Christendome if not destructive to his Son in law He went into France Extraordinary France it was to treate with that King in favour of the Hugenots the Religion as they account it being risen to a Civill Warre by management of the Duke d'Rohau Count Sobeeze and others to a dangerous consequence in severall places almost over France which to allay that King had raised a great Army resolving with countenance of his own Person to give end thereto But King James being invited by several troublesome Commissioners their Agents to implore for their cause and take upon him their protection which he a wise Prince in that declined yet not to neglect them and the rather to satisfy some of our People of the like Gang medled thus farre to mediate by Embassy of Hay who as in that of Germany did nothing with effect but went up to Montaban and so come home again 'T is true he went into Spain Spaine with a message to our Prince with no more matter then others that came after to waite on him in that Courtship For there as in other Kingdomes his Scots vanity must also be blazon'd And for his last Embassy in France about Our Match with that Daughter and our Queen Again into France he came not into Commission till the Treaty was confirmed and the Marriage concluded by Embassy only of the Earle of Holland and Carlile put in afterwards to dance out the Measures His name being used in the Proxie for that Ceremony and at this time the Earl of Holland Earle of Holland had some colour for his expence which he lavished without reason to the weakening of his unsettled fortunes being forced to follow the other then in all his fashions And which Infection by after-Custome became his disease also and almost if not over-mastering yet over-shadowing his Natural eminent parts with which his inside was habited and perspicuous to such as knew him But I am not delighted to urge out this story of the Earl of Carlile as not willing to speak ill of any unlike our Pamphlet that spares none but Him For I should know that vertue and vice are Inherent in Man And as it becomes us to tell truth when we speak their vertue yet with modesty and compassion to discover their vices either being Examples for the future that to imitate this to shun And I cannot but with Compunction remind That the monstrous excesse of the belly and the back by his first President became then the Mode of those times for great Persons the most part to follow and for the Common People to this hour to practise And truly a wise and a good Man ought justly to have hated his condition in this without suspition of malice or envy Pamp. 21. as it is said Northampton did who yet as may be remembred took leave of this life ere Hay was setled on horsback And that other marke of Reproach also may without partiallity be taken oft the Score from that Noble Northampton who on my conscience for I knew him well disdained the Guilt in that frivolous story of Sir Robert Mansell Nor is it material to credit the rest of that Rant in his Vice-Admirall voyage The Second Remark of the Preface Second Remarke Pamp. 30. falls upon the Treason of Sir Walter Ralegh which the Pamphlet calls an arrant trick
of a decrepid old Man to a proper young Lord and strengthned with the abilities of an experienced Assistant Pamph. 124. without deserving the least quarrelling Item of our Carping Pamphleter The next in our way Chancellor Egerton is that of the Lord Egerton He was Chancellor of England a man very aged and now with sicknesse fallen on his aeath-bed Pamph. 125. The Term come and the Scal to be disposed In order thereunto the King sent Secretary Winwood not Bacon for the Seal with this Message That himself would be his under keeper and not to dispose it whilst he lived to bear the name of Chancellor Nor did any receive the Seale out of the Kings sight till Egerton was dead which followed soon after Sir Francis Bacon succeeded him in the Chancery Chancellor Bacon He was Attorney Generall and as others by that Place and the usuall way of preferment time without memory come to high Office of Iudicature either in Chancery or to the other Benches so did he rise He was a man of Excellent parts of all other learning as of that of the Law and as proper for that place as any man of the Gown His merits made him so then which in after time his vices blemished and he justly removed to his private Studies which render him to the world full of worth and with the small Charity of our Author might merit the Bayes before any Man of that age And so we shall spare our labor to observe his entrance into that Honor by the idle Message from Buckingham Pamph. 127. made up only by our Authors mouth Who tells us of his growings heighth and pride Particularly intimated afterwards to the King in Scotland Pamph. 131. by Letters from Winwood which the King read unto our Author At which he sayes they were very merry Good God! The King opens his bosome to him at that instant not usuall to any of the Green-cloth when this Man so vilely studied and plotted his Soveraigns and that Kingdoms dishonor Vide Preface for which he was turned out of the Court. Was the King so gracious to him he so graceless then and since in the Pamphlet to defame him and his Posterity He that eats of his bread lifts up his hand to destroy him And afterwards we are told his downfall which he says at last humbled him to a Horse boy He did as became him to do to the House of Peers prostrate himself and sins which ingeniously he acknowledged craving pardon of God and Them promising with Gods mercy to amend his life which he made good to the worlds Eye Those excellent works contrived in his Retirements d ee manifest And let me give this light to His better Character from an observation of the late King then Prince returning from hunting He espied a Coach attended with a goodly Troop of Horsemen who it seems were gathered together to wait upon the Chancellour to his House at Gorembury at the time of his declension At which the Prince smiled Well! do we what we can said He This Man scornes to go out like a Snuffe Commending his undaunted Spirit and excellent parts not without some regrett that such a Man should be falling off And all this much differing from Our Authors Character of Him Those times are complained of Pamph. 129. What base courses our Favourite took to raise moneys for advance of his beggerly Kindred Heretofore we are told that the Great Men mastered all now the affairs are Managed with beggerly fellows concludes against himselfe that Riches make Men Cowards and Poverty Valiant T is true Plenty makes Men Proude and Industry brings a Man to Honour Had our Author lived to these our dayes and observed as much now as he pried into then He must have spoke other Language unlesse as likely He could hold with the Hare and run with the Hounds We all know the Duke of Buckingham had many Kindred for his Family were Antient. And dispersed by time into severall Matches with the Gentry who no doubt did addresse to the Favourite for preferment And what strange or new device was it in Him to raise them that were neere in Blood by Noble and worthy wayes as he did and if our Author had liked to lick after the Kitchen-maid had it been handsome for a Kinsman to have kickt at his kindnesse Pamph. 129 130. Good God what a Summary Bead-roll of Pensioners are listed in our Authors Account Sure He became Register to the Revenue of that Rabble Chancellour Attorney Deans Bishops Treasurers Rich and Poore raking upon the rates of Offices Bishopricks Deaneries with Fines and Pensions Otherwise he sayes It had been impossible that three Kingdomes could have Maintained His Beggerly Kindred Oh Pamph. 7. but He must tell us He made them all Lords w ch got him much haued He did so and he did well He made his two Brothers Peers his Mother and Sister Countesses the rest of his kindred by his Countenance got means to live like their Birth-rights being a Race Handsome and Beautifull And yet let me tell him I have been often present when it hath been urged as a Crime to this great Man the neglect of his owne when the discourse hath been prest for preferment of his Freinds And this I know for I acted therein The Late King in honour of Buckinghams Memory supplied the necessities of his Kindred which his untimely death left without support As for the base Observations through and through the Pamphlet though I liv'd in the shadow of the Court reasonable years to see many turns of State Yet I confesse my time other wayes diverted than to rake after so much Ribaldry and beastly bawdery as now to question this his peeping pimping into each Petticoat Placket and for his sufficienency therein he might have been made Master of the Game In Bacons place Pamph. 139. Doctor Williams Lord Keeper comes to preferment Doctor Williams by the title of Keeper of the Seal during pleasure which the Chancellor hath for life He was also Dean of Westminster and Eishop of Lincolne brought in sayes he to serve turns to do that which no Layman was sound bad enough to undertake Former Ages held it more consonant to Reason to trust the Conscience of the Clergy with the Case of the Layman they best knowing a Case of Conscience And antiently the Civill Law was allwayes judged by the Ministers of the Church and the Chancery and Courts of Equity in charge of a Divine Minister So ran that Channell till Bacons Father had it from a Bishop and now a Bishop has it again And had King Iames lived to have effected his desires the Clergy had fixed firm footing in Courts of Iudicature out of the rode of the Common Law And this was the true Cause of Williams Initiation thither How he fell from that and other his wayes since from worse to worst of all we leave him if he be
Sir John Skewe Knight Register And he was declared accused and pursued by Sir Thomas Hamilton Knight Advocate to the King for his Highnesse entries of the Crimes contained in his Indictment whereof the tenure follows viz. George Sprot Notary in Aye-mouth You are indicted and accused forasmuch as John sometime Earle of Gowry having most cruelly detestably and treasonably conspired in the moneth of July the year of God 1600. to murther our deere and most gracious Soveraigne the King 's most excellent Majesty And having imparted that divelish purpose to Robert Logaine of Restalrig who allowed of the same and most willingly and readily undertook to be partaker thereof The same comming to your knowledge at the times and in the manner particularly after specified You most unnaturally maliciously and treasonably concealed the same and was art and part thereof in manner following And first In the said moneth of July 1600. after you had perceived and known that divers letters messages had past betwixt the said John somtimes Earl of Gowry and the said Robert Logane of Restalrig you being in the house of Fast-Castle you saw and read a letter written by the said Restalrig with his own hand to the said Earle of Gowry viz. My Lord c. At the receipt of your letter I am so confuted that I can neither utter my joy nor find 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 honour as if it were my own cause And I think there is no Christian that would not be content to revenge that Machiavilian Massacring of our deer Friends yea howbeit it should be to venture and hazard life lands and all things else My heart can bind me to take part in that matter as your Lordship shall find proof thereof But one thing would be done namely that your Lordship should be circumspect and earnest with your Brother that he be not rash in any speeches touching the purpose of Padua And a certain space after the execution of the aforesaid Treason the said Robert Logane having desired the Laird of Bour to deliver to him the said letter or else to burn it and Bour having given to you all tickets and letters which he then had either concerning Restalrig or others to see the same because he could not reade himself you abstracted the above-written letter and retained the same in your own hands and divers times read it containing further to wit My Lord you may easily understand that such a purpose as your Lordship intendeth can not be done rashly but with deliberation And I think for my self that it were most meet to have the men your Lordship spake of ready in a bote or bark and addresse them as if they were taking pastime on the Sea in such faire Summer-time And if your Lordship could think good either your self to come to my house Fast-castle by sea or to send your Brother I should have the house very quiet and well provided after your Lordships advertisement And no others shall have accesse to haunt the place during your being here And if your Lordship doubt of safe landing I shall provide all such necessaries as may serve for your arrival within a flight-shot of the house And perswade your Lordship you shall be as sure and quiet here while we have setled our Plot as if you were in your own Chamber For I trust and am assured we shall have word within few daies from them your Lordship knowes of For I have care to see what ships come home by Your Lordship knows I have kept the Lord Bothwell quietly in this house in his greatest extremity in spite of King and Councell I hope if all things come to pass as I trust they shall to have both your Lordship his Lordship at a good Dinner ere I dy Haec jocose To animate your Lordship I doubt not but all things will be well and I am resolved thereof your Lordship shall not doubt of any thing on my part Peril of life lands honor and goods yea the hazard of hell shall not affray me from that yea though the Scaffold were already set up The sooner the Matter were done it were the better For the King 's Buck-hunting will be shortly and I hope it will prepare some daintier cheer for us to live the next year I remember well my Lord that merry sport which your Lordship's Brother told me of a Noble-Man at Padua for I think that a Parasceve to this purpose My Lord think nothing that I commit the secret hereof to this bearer for I dare not onely venture my life lands honour and all I have else on his credit but I durst hazard my soule in his keeping I am so perswaded of his fidelity And I trow as your Lordship may ask him if it be true he would go to Hell-gates for me and he is not beguiled of my part to him And therefore I doubt not but this will perswade your Lordship to give him trust in this matter as to my self But I pray you direct him home again with all speed possible and give him strait command that he take not a winck sleep till he see me again after he comes from you And as your Lordship desireth in your letter to me either rive or burn this letter or send it back again with the bearer for so is the fashion I grant Restalrig Which letter writ every word with the said Robert Logane's own hand was also so subscribed with this word Restalrig And albeit by the contents of the aforesaid letter you know perfectly the truth of the said most treasonable conspiracy and the said Logane his foreknowledge allowance and guilt thereof like as you were assured of the same by his receiving divers letters sent by Gowry to him and by his returning letters to Gowry for the same purpose and by sundry conferences ferences betwixt Logane and Bour in your presence and hearing concerning the said Treason as well in July preceding the attempt thereof as at divers other times shortly thereafter as likewise by Bour his revealing thereof to you who was upon the knowledge and devise of the Treason and was imployed as ordinary Messenger by Logane to Gowry whereby your knowledge concealing and guilt of the same was undeniable Yeâ— for further manifestation thereof about July 1602. the said Logane shewed unto you that Bour had told him that he had been somewhat rash to let you see a letter which came from Gowry to Logane who then urged you to tell what you understood by the same To whom you answered That you took the meaning thereof to be that he had been upon the councell and purpose of Gowrie's Conspiracy And that he answered you what e're he had done the worst was his own But if you would swear to him that you should never reveale any thing of that matter to any person it should be the best sight that ever