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have your counsel, assistance, and concurrence to so goodly a work; assuring, upon our honour, and in the word of a prince, that, upon your returning to your native country, you shall find us disposed not only to consider the pains of your journey, but also to respect you likewise in your placing and providing for you in honourable rooms, which we desire to be furnished with godly, learned, and quiet spirits.

And, like as we protest before God to mean sincerely, so we wish you to render that obedience to us, whereby you shall have good proof of our favour. We have also commanded our well-beloved chaplain and councillor, the bishop of Saint Andrew's, to write unto you in these matters; to whose writing, and the declaration of the bearer (whom you shall credit, and whom we have specially directed for that purpose), we commit the rest.

And thus, we commit you and your labours to God; and wish you not to be negligent in His work. From our palace of Falkland, the 19th of June, 1584.

James VI. to Queen Elizabeth. 1

Madam and dearest sister,

You have so far kythed at this time as ever you did before your constant favour towards me, as

1 Cotton. MSS. Calig. C. viii. Art. 231. The "accident" here referred to was the surrender of Stirling Castle to the lords, the partisans of England, who now had the king at their mercy, and regained their estates and honours. The treaty between England and Scotland concerning the reformed religion was concluded a few months afterwards.

2 Shown, or evinced.

I am ashamed, since I can by no means acquit the same, as well in respect of your most loving letter as of the hasty and careful despatch and direction of the gentleman, bearer hereof, your ambassador, with whom, according to your desire, I have dealt plainly concerning this late accident; and all other things he inquired of me, surely I find the gentleman correspondent to your expectation both in honesty and secrecy. He hath kept also your command so astrictly in dealing only with myself, as in very deed some men here find it not a little strange.

And now, madam, you have dealt so plainly and honestly with me, as I am beholden to do the like. As, upon the one side I trust firmly your declaration, of your own part, concerning this late accident (which as God is my witness I never otherwise suspected); so, on the other part, I say for myself that, notwithstanding I must confess, I was hourly earnestly dealt with to run some foreign course; yet, Almighty God hears me record that, since my promises made unto you, I never have directly nor indirectly dealt in any foreign course to this hour. And to the end I may give you a reciproque proof of my honesty, I will earnestly desire you, that this matter, which is left off betwixt us, may, of new, be fallen Finally, persuaded that your good will may so far be acquitted by me, as your part may be mine in all cases, as I swear, on my part, ever to prefer you to all princes' friendship I have in any country, you have so far heaped your good deservings upon me; and to the effect that the foresaids may be the better performed, I

to.

will with all speed direct one of mine own unto you, who will also amply inform you of all proceedings here. In the mean time, I will remit me to the aforesaid bearer, whom to whatsomever I have spoken, it is freely and without any compulsion; for never shall I for compulsion, other speak, promise, or act otherwise than I think, and that which is honest.

Thus, praying you ever to esteem of me as of one careful to acquit the manifold obligations he hath unto I commit you, you, madam and dearest sister, to God's

holy protection.

From Linlithgow, the 26th day of November, 1585. Your truest and lovingest friend and brother,

JAMES R.

James VI. to Mr. Archibald Douglas. 1

Reserve up yourself no longer in the earnest dealing for my mother, for you have done it too long; and think not that any your travails can do good, if her life be taken; for then, adieu to my dealing with them that are the special instruments thereof.

And, therefore, if you look for the continuance of my favour towards you, spare no pains nor plainness in this case. But read my letter written to William Keith, and conform yourself wholly to the contents thereof.

1 MS. Cotton. Caligula, C. ix. fol. 432; copied into Howard's Collection of Letters, p. 244. The former part of this short but interesting note was not carried out by its royal author.

VOL. II.

E

And in this request let me reap the fruits of your great credit there, either now or never.

Farewell!

JAMES R.

October, 1586.

James VI. to Queen Elizabeth. 1

Madam and dearest sister,

If you

26th January, 1587.

could have known what divers thoughts have agitated my mind since my directing of William Keith unto you for the soliciting of this matter, whereto nature and honour so greatly and unfeignedly bind and oblige me; if, I say, you knew what divers thoughts I have been in, and what just grief I had, weighing deeply the thing itself, if so it should proceed, as God forbid ! What events might follow thereupon, what number of straits I should be driven unto; and, amongst the rest, how it might peril my reputation amongst my subjects; if these things (I yet again say) were known unto you, then, I doubt not, but you would so far pity my case, as it would easily make you, at the first, to resolve your own best into it.

I doubt greatly in what fashion to write in this purpose, for you have already taken in so evil with my plainness, as I fear, if I should persist in that course,

1 Cotton. MSS., Calig. D. i. Art. 17, and Calig. C. ix. Art. 72. These letters were part of the feeble efforts made by James to save the life of his mother. It is almost unnecessary to observe they were dictated more from feelings of fear and shame than of affection.

you will rather be exasperate to passions in reading the words, than by the plainest style, persuaded to consider rightly the simple truth. Yet, justly preferring the duty of an honest friend to the sudden passions of one, who, how soon they be past, can wiselier weigh the reasons than I can set them down, I am resolved, in few words and plain, to give you my friendly and best advice, appealing to your ripest judgment to discern thereupon.

What thing, madam, can greatlier touch me in honour, both as a king and a son, than that my nearest neighbour, being in strict friendship with me, shall rigorously put to death a free sovereign prince and my natural mother, alike in estate and sex to her that so uses her, (albeit subject, I grant, to a hard fortune) and touching her nearly in proximity of blood? What law of God can permit that justice shall strike upon them, whom He hath appointed supreme dispensators of the same under him? Whom he hath called gods, and therefore subjected to the censure of none in earth. Whose anointing by God cannot be defiled by man nor unrevenged by the author thereof. Who, being supreme and immediate lieutenant of God in heaven, cannot therefore be judged by their equals on earth. What monstrous thing is it, that sovereign princes themselves should be the example-givers of their own sacred diadem's profaning? Then, what should move you to this form of proceeding? (supposing the worst which, in good faith, I look not for at your hands)-honour? or, profit? Honour were it to you to spare when it is least looked for; honour were it to you (which is not only my friendly

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