fore; and I perceive that I may have advantage of 1600 Dirleton, in case his other matter take effect; as we hope it shall. Always, I beseech you, be at me, the morn at even; for I assured his Lordship's servant, that I shall send you over the water within three days, with a full resolution of all my will, anent all purposes, and I shall indeed recommend you and your trustiness to his Lordship, as ye shall find an honest recompence for your pains in the end. I care not for all the land I have in this kingdom, in case I can grip off Dirleton; for I esteem it the pleasantest 'dwelling in Scotland. For God's cause keep all things secret, that my Lord, my brother, get no knowledge of our purposes; for I rather be earded quick. And so looking for you, I rest till meeting. From the Canongate the 18th day of July.

P. S. I am very ill at ease, therefore speed you hither.

Your's to power ready.

RESTALRIG.

LETTER III.

Right Honourable Sir, all my hearty with humble service remembered, since I have taken on hand to interprise with my Lord of Gowric, your special and only best beloved; as we have set down the platt already, I will request you that you will be very circumspect and wise, that no man get an advantage of us. I doubt not but you know the peril to be both

Buried alive. ·

1600 life, lands, and honour, in case the matter be not

wisely used; and, for my own part, I shall have a special respect to my promise that I have made to his Lordship and Mr. Alexander, his Lordship's brother, although the scaffold were set up. If I cannot come to Falkland the first night, I shall be timely in St. Johnston on the morn. Indeed, I lippened for my Lord himself, or else Mr. Alexander, his Lordship's brother, at my house of Fastcastle, as I wrote to them both. Always I repose on your advertisement of the precise day, with credit to the bearer; for howbeit he be but ane sillie glyed old carle, I will answer for him, that he shall be very true. I pray you, Sir, read, and either burn or send again with the bearer; for I dare hazard my life, and all I have elsc in the world, on his message, I have such proof of his constant truth. So commits you to Christ's holy protection.

From the Canongate the 27th day of July, 1600.

P. S. I used not to write on the back of any of my letters, concerning this errand.

Your's to all power, with humble service ready,
RESTALRIG.

LETTER IV.

My Lord, my most humble duty, with service, in most hearty manner remembered. At the receipt of your Lordship's letter, I am so comforted, especially at your Lordship's purpose communicated to me

I trusted to, I expected the coming of.

therein, that I can neither utter my joy, nor find 1600 myself able how to encounter your Lordship with due thanks. Indeed, my Lord, at my being last in the town, Mr. Alexander, your Lordship's brother, imparted somewhat of your Lordship's intention anent that matter unto me: and, if I had not been busied about some turns of my own, I thought to have come over to St. Johnston and spoken with your Lordship. Yet always, my Lord, I beseech your Lordship, both for the sake of your honour, credit, and, more than that, that your life, my life, and lives of many others, who may, perhaps, innocently smart for that turn afterwards, in case it be relieved by any, and likewise the utter wrecking of our lands and houses, and extirpating of our name, look that we be all as sure as your Lordship, and I myself shall be for my own part; and then I doubt not but, with God's grace, we shall bring our matter to an fine*, which shall bring the contentment to us all that ever wished for the revenge of Machivellian massacring of our dearest friends. I doubt not but Mr. Alexander, your Lordship's brother, has informed your Lordship what course I laid down to bring all your co-associates to my house of Fastcastle by sea, where I should have all materials in readiness for their safe receiving on land, and into my house, making, as it were, but a manner of passing time in an boat on the sea in this fair summer-tide, and no other strangers to haunt my house while we had concluded on the laying our plot, which is already devised by Mr. Alexander and me. And I

* To a conclusion.

1

1600 would wish that your Lordship would either come, or send Mr. Alexander to me, and thereafter I would meet your Lordship in Leith, or quietly at Restalrig, where we should have prepared an fine hatted kit*, with sugar and comfeits and wine, and thereafter confer on matters; and the sooner we brought our purpose to pass it were the better, before harvest. Let not Mr. W. R. your old pedagogue, ken of your coming. But rather would I, if I durst be so bold to intreat your Lordship once to come and see my own house, where I have keeped my Lord Bothwel in his greatest extremities, say the King and his Council what they would. And in case God grant us happy success in this errand, I hope both to have your Lordship and his Lordship, with many others of your lovers and his, at a good dinner before I die. Allways I hope that the King's buck-hunting at Falkland this year shall prepare some dainty chear for us, against that dinner, the next year, jocose hoc, to animate your Lordship at this time: but, afterwards, we will have better occasion to make merry. I protest, my Lord, before God, I wish nothing with a better heart nor to atchieve to that which your Lordship would fain attain unto; and my continual prayer shall tend to that effect; and with the large spending of my lands, goods, yea, the hazarding of my life, shall not afray me from that, although the scaffold were already set up, before I should falsify my pro

* A hatted kit is a dish common in Scotland at this hour. It is a preparation of milk kept for some time. The whey is let off, and the remainder is of a pretty thick consistence, and no unplea sant acidity.

mise to your Lordship, and persuade your Lordship 1600 thereof. I trow your Lordship has an proof of my constancy already or now. But, my Lord, whereas your Lordship desires, in your letter, that I crave my Lord, my brother's mind anent this matter, I utterly disassent from that, that he ever should be an counsellor thereto; for, in good faith, he will never help his friend nor hurt his foe. Your Lordship may confide more in this old man, the bearer hereof, my man, Laird Bour, than in my brother; for I lippen my life, and all that I have else, in his hands; and I trow he would not spare to ride to hell's gate to please me; and he is not beguiled of my part to him. Always, my Lord, when your Lordship has read my letter, deliver it to the bearer again, that I may see it burnt with my own eyes; as I have sent your Lordship's letter to your Lordship again; for so it is the fashion I grant. And I pray your Lordship to rest fully persuaded of me, and all that I have promised; for I am resolved, howbeit it were to die the morn. I must entreat your Lordship to expede Bour, and give him strait directions, upon pain of his life, that he take never a wink of sleep until he see me again, or else he will utterly undo us. I have already sent another letter to the gentleman your Lordship knows, as the bearer will show your Lordship of his answer, and forwardness with your Lordship; and I shall show your Lordship farther at meeting, when and where your Lordship shall think it meetest. Till which time, and ever, I commit your Lordship to the protection of Almighty God.

From Gunn's Green, the 29th day of July, 1600.