as for the particular discourse of their actions and points wherein I crave your advice and present assistance as well in respect of the multitude of affairs that I am presently burdened with, as of the sufficiency of the gentleman carrier hereof, my ambassador, I have thought it good to be remitted to his report; of whose employment I have made special choice at this time, as of one that hath no other cause in his head but his master's; and therefore you may the better trust him, and according to the greatness and hastiness of the errand, so I pray you to grant him a loving and sudden despatch. And thus, madam and dearest sister, I recommend you to God's most holy protection.

From Edinburgh, the 26th of July, 1594.1

Your most loving and affectionate brother and cousin,

JAMES R.

James VI. to the Earl of Marr.

My Lord Marr,

Because in the surety of my son consisteth my surety, and I have concredited to you the charge of his keeping, on the trust I have of your honesty; this I command you, out of my own mouth, being in company of those I like; otherwise, for any charge or necessity

2

1 It appears from the endorsement that this letter was received by Elizabeth on the 4th of August. It appears, therefore, to have been eight days on the road.

2 This mysterious expression justified Marr in withholding his charge from the king himself, in case he should fall into the hands of his enemies, and be forced to command the surrender of the prince.-Miss Strickland's Lives of the Queens, vol. vii. p. 366.

which can come from me, you shall not deliver him. And, in case God call me at any time, see that, neither for the queen nor the estates their pleasure, you deliver him, till he be eighteen, and that he command you himself. This from

Although I cannot, by any blotting of paper, render in any proportion unto you such dear thanks as you have lately in two points deserved at my hands, yet (as the nearest way to shun the spot of ingratitude) have I written this present unto you, to be a witness of my thankful mind. For, first, what dear thanks can I give for that so honourable and kind entertainment wherewith it pleased you to honour the duke of Lennox, and that only in regard of my recommendation? where not only you, but all your court and country, did look upon him with so favourable an eye, being only moved and warranted therein by your example.

And, next, how shall I ever be able to acquit your

MSS. Cotton. Calig. D. ii. Art. 193. The reports alluded to by James, according to a contemporary letter, were the cause of much alarm to the English government. Tyrone had solicited succours from the Pope and the king of Spain, it being his object to procrastinate the war till he could receive them.

kind usage of me, as well by your last most loving and hearty letter, wherein it hath pleased you to declare that you are content to accept my offer for your service in Ireland; as also by the kind speeches it pleased you to use of me to my servant Foulis? in this I can say no more, but give thanks to who hath at last granted my long-wish desires in making you now rightly to interpret and conceive of my honest affection, which by many obligations is duly owen unto you, all the clouds of mistaking being now most happily cleared.

For performance of your desire in the Irish matters, I shall omit no opportunity, nor spare no diligence (as my servant Foulis will more amply inform you). In the mean time, I have thought good to inform you of such news, as one of our wine-merchants, newly arrived out of Spain, hath reported unto me; as I shall never fail to make you acquainted with anything that shall ever come to my ears which many in any case concern your state. His news are these:

That, as he was in the Canaries buying wines, it was written to him by friends of his out of Spain, that twelve thousand men are prepared for Ireland, against the beginning of April next, under the conduct of one Don Jean de Cordua; as also that all the fencible men of Spain and Portugal are quinted,' and of every fifth man of them is composed an army of forty thousand men; and for their transporting there is about the number of thirty great ships and argosiers 2 prepared and brought 1 Balloted to serve in the army, one out of every five.

2 Ships of very considerable burden, either for merchandize or war.

out of Italy; besides a number of his own country ships, making in all four score great ships and twenty pinnaces. They are to make voyage in the beginning of the next summer, and, as it is thought, towards this isle.

There are the news, word by word, as they were delivered unto me; what is like to be true or false herein, I remit to be discerned upon by your wisdom; not doubting but, in this as in all other advertisements of the like nature, you will wisely keep that safe mid-way, in neither trusting nor apprehending too much the news of your enemies' strength, and yet in not omitting all timous1 preparations to make your careful providence to appear, to prevent the enemies' celerity, who should neither be feared nor licklied.2

And thus, craving pardon for too long troubling you with my ragged hand, I commit you, madam and dearest sister, with the good success of all your affairs, to the tuition of the Almighty.

Your most loving and affectionate brother and cousin, JAMES R.

James V1. to Queen Elizabeth.3

Madam and dearest sister,"

That I have been so long unanswering your last letter, I most heartily pray you not to impute it to any sourness or fault of courtesy in me, whereunto my nature, I thank God, is no ways inclined; but in truth I bear so

1 Early; timely.

2 Despised; underrated. 3 MSS. Cotton. Calig. D. x., art. 192.

little regard to so vile and treacherous lies proceeding from so base a fountain, as I thought my only innocence should have force enough to bear me through the foggy mist of such groundless calumnies; and therefore had remitted the answer of your letter, to have been carried by a messenger of my own, whom I am shortly to send unto you. Always you may assure yourself that I have obeyed the contents and desire of your letter; for, before God, it never entered in my heart to suspect that a prince, endowed with such rare graces as you are, could ever give ear to such shameless fictions.

My suit only is, that till you hear farther from me, (which shall be with all diligence) you would favour me so far, as to delay the fellow's execution, if he be yet alive, to the effect that, by some honourable means, wherein I am to deal with you, my undeserved slander may be removed from the minds of all men. Which, assuring myself of your princely honour and love towards me, you will gladly do, I commit you, madam, and dearest sister, to the tuition of the Almighty.

From my palace of Falkland, the 30th of July, 1598. Your most loving and affectionate brother and cousin, JAMES R.

How unjustly I am blamed anent 2 Irish matters, you shall likewise be informed by one of mine.

1 Safe keeping.

2 Concerning.