Volume II Part 5 (1/2)

LORD OCHILTRIE.

LORD ROBERT STEWARTE.

GAWIN HAMYLTOUN OF KILWYNING.[123]

ERLE OF ARGYLE.

LORD BORTHWICK.

LORD JAMES STEWARTE.

LORD OF SANCT JHONE.

ALEXANDER GORDOUN.

LORD JHONE OF ABERBROTHOK.[124]

LORD BOYDE.

LORD SOMMERVAILL.

ABBOT OF KINLOSS.

ABBOT OF CULROSS.

JAMES STEWART OF SANCT COLMES INCHE.[125]

[122] These Subscriptions obviously exhibit the names and not the actual signatures of the Subscribers.

[123] Commendator of Kilwinning.

[124] Lord John Hamilton, Commendator of Aberbrothock.

[125] Commendator of the Monastery of Inchcohn, or St. Colme's Inch.

THE INSTRUCTIONIS GEVIN, SUBSCRYVIT TO THE SAID COMMISSIONARIS [THAT WENT TO BERWICK, AR THIR AS][126] FOLLOW:--

[126] The words enclosed in brackets, are supplied from MS. G.

AND for the first, Gif it shalbe askyt of yow be the said Duck of Northfolk his Grace, and otheris, [by] the Quenes Majesties appointment, appointed Commissionaris, gif our pledges be in reddines?

Ye shall answer, that thei ar, and in Sanctandrois, the xxiiij of this instant, and shalbe reddy to delyver in hostages for securitie of our promisses, and part of contract, thei offering and macking securitie for thair part by the Quenes Majesties subscriptioun and great sealle, and delyvering the same unto you; provyding that thei chuse and mack thair electioun of the pledges as is convenient.

Secoundlie, Gif the saidis Commissionaris shall demand of yow, what interpryse the armye of England shall tak upoun hand at thair first inc.u.mminges? Ye shall answer, in generall the expulsioun of the Frenches soldiouris furth of this realme: and first and in specialle furth of the toun of Leyth, seing thair great forces ar thair.

3. _Item_, Gif it shalbe askit of yow, at what place our freindis and bretherin of England shalbe mett, and what day, what nomber, and what n.o.bill men in c.u.mpany? Ye shall referr all those thingis to thair electioun and choise.

4. _Item_, Gif it shalbe askit of yow how the armyes shalbe fournissed with victuallis, and especiallie the horse men? Ye shall answer, that with thair advyses ane sufficient order shalbe tackin thairin.

5. _Item_, Gif it be requyred, how the munitioun shalbe carryed, and oxen furnissed to that effect? Ye shall answer, as we have gevin in commissioun to Lethingtoun, quhilk we ratifie.

6. _Item_, Gif it beis asked, wha shalbe Lievtennent to the armie of Scotland? Ye shall answer, my Lord Duckes Grace.

7. _Item_, Gif it shalbe inquyred, what nomber our haill armye extendis to? Ye shall answer, thai will, G.o.d-willing, be fyve thousand men.

8. _Item_, Gif it shalbe askit, what maner of way Leyth shalbe a.s.saulted? Ye shall desyre all preparationis to be in reddenes, and the advyse to be taine after the placing of the armyes and view of the strenth schoirtlie.

9. _Item_, Gif it shalbe askit of the Castell of Edinburgh, gif thei will stand freindis or nott? Ye shall declair our diligence maid, and to be maid schoirtlie heirinto; but for the present can a.s.sure thame of nothing.

10. _Item_, Gif it beis askit, in caise the Castell be unfriend, whair the armye shalbe placed? Ye shall ansueir, for the first in Musselburgh and Tranent, and thei partis, till the battery, and all preparationis be in reddenes.

11. _Item_, In caise it beis inquyred of all bye-lyeris, and in speciall of my Lord Huntlie, in the North? Ye shall ansueir in generall, ane goode hope is had of the maist pairt thairof; and tuiching my Lord of Huntlie in speciale, ye shall schaw how he hes send writtingis to my Lord of Arrane, with ane servand in creddite, to a.s.sure him of his a.s.sistance; and for that caus hes desyred letteris of suspensioun of the Quene Dowageris commissioun, to be send to him, to be usit by him in thei partis, and utheris letteris to arreist the Clergies rentis and her's[127] boyth in thei partis, with proclamationis to cause all men to be in reddines to pa.s.s foruardis, for maintening of the religioun and expulsioun of strangeris. My Lord hes writtein to him, that he may come to him in proper persone, whairof the answer is nott returned as yitt.

[127] In MS. 1566, ”hires;” MS. G, ”hyres.”