It seemyth that with your absence forgetfulness is joynid consydering that at your departure you promised me to send me newes from you. Nevertheless I can learn none. And yet did I yesterday looke for that that shuld make me meryer than I shall be. I think you doo the lyke for your return, prolonging it more than you have promised.

As for me, if I hear no other matter of you, according to my comission, I bring the man Monday to Craigmillar, where he shall be upon Wednesday. And I got to Edinborough to be lett blud, if I hear no word to the contrary.

He is the meryest that ever you sawe and doth remember unto me all that he can, to make me believe that he loveth me. To conclude, you wold say that he maketh love to me, wherein I take so much pleasure, that I have never com in there, but the payne of my syde doth take me. I have it sore today. If Paris doth bring back unto me that for which I have sent, it suld much amend me.

I pray you, send me word from you at latge, and what I shall doo if you be not returnd, when I shall be there. For if you be not wyse I see assuredly all the while burden falling upon my shoulders. Provide for all and consyder well first of all. I send this present to Ledington to be delivered to you by Beaton, who goeth to one day a law of Lord Balfour. I will say no more unto you, but I pray God sende me good newes of your voyage.

From Glasco this Saturday morning.

Being gon from the place where I had left my harte, it may be easily judged what my countenance was consydering what the body without harte, whilk was cause that til dynner I had used lyttle talk, neyther wold anybody venture himself thereunto, thinking that it was not good to do so.

Four myles from thence a gentleman of the Erle of Lennox cam and made his commendations and excuses unto me, that he cam not to meet me, because he durst not enterprise so to do, considering the sharp words that I wold come to the inquisition of the facts which I did supect him of. This last was of his own head, without feare, and that I had also sharply answered to the doubts that he made in his letters, as though there had been a meaning to pursue him. To be short, I have made him hold his peace; for the rest it were too long to tell you. Sir James Hamilton came to meet me, who told me that at another tyme he went his way when he heard of my comming, and that he sent unto him Houstoun, to tell him that he wold not have thought, that he wold have followed and acompany himself with the Hamiltons. He answered that he was not come but to see me; and that he would not follow Stuart nor Hamilton, but my commandment. He prayed him to go speak to him; he refuses it.

The Lord Luce, Houstoun and the sonne of Caldwell, and about xlty horse came to meet me that he was sent to one day o'law from the father, which shold be this day against the signing of his own hand, which he has, and that, knowing of my comming, he hath delayed it, and hath prayed him to go see him, which he hath refused, and give aith that he will suffer nothing at his hands. Not one of the town is omce to speak with me, which makith me to thkn that they be his, and they so speakith well of them, at least his sonne.

The King sent for Joachim and asked him, why I did least sell his lyfe deare ynoughe; but that he did suspect nobody nor wolde, but love all that I did love.

He wold not lett me go, but wold have me to watche with him. I mafe as though I thought all to be true, and that I wolde think upon it, and have excused myself from sytting up with him this nyght, for he saith that he sleepith not. You have never heard him speake better nor more humbly; and if I had not proof of his hart to be as waxe, and that myne were not as a dyamant, no stroke but comming from your hand wold make me but to have pitee of him. But fear not for the place shall continue ill death. Remember also, in recompense thereof, not to suffer yours to be won by that false race that wold do no les to yourself.

I think they have bene at school together. Hehas alwaais the tears in his eyes. He salutheth every man, even to the meanest, and maketh much of them, that they may take pitie of him. His father has bled this day at the nose and at the mouth - gess what token that is. I have not seen him; he is in his chamber. THe king is so desyrous that I shuld give him meat with my own hans, but trust you no more there where you are than I doo here.

This is my first journay; I will end tomorrow. I write all, how little consequence soever it be, to the end that you may take of the while that shall be best for you to judge. I do here a work that I hate much, but I had begun it this morning; had you not lyst to laugh, to see me so trymly make a lie, at the least dissemble, and to mingle truth therewith. He hath almost told me all on the bishop's behalf and of Sunderland, him of that whicch you had told me; but only by much flattering him and praying him, and by my complayning of the bishop, I have taken the worms out of his nose. You have heard the rest.

We are tyed to by two false races. The good yere sunder us and God knytt us togither for ever for the most faythfull couple that ever h did kntt togither. This is my faither; I will dye in it.

Excuse me if I write ill; you must gesse the onehalf, I cannot doo with all, for I am yll at ease and glad to write unto you when other folke be asleep, seeing that I cannot doo as they doo, according to my desyre, taht is between your arms, my dear lyfe, whom I beseech God to preserve from all yall, and send you good rest as I go to seek myne, till tomorrow in the morning that I will end my bible. But it greevith me that it shuld lett me from wryting unto you of newes of myself, so much I have to write.

Send me word what you have determined here upon, that we may know the one the other's mind for marring of any thing.

I am weary and am asleepe, and yet I cannot forbear scribbling so long as there is any paper. Cursed be this pocky fellow that troublith me thus much, for I had a pleasanter matter to discourse unto you but for him. He is not much the worse, but he iss yll arrayd. I thought I should have been kylled with his breth, for it is worse than your uncle's breth; and yet I was sett no nearer to him than in a chayr by his bolster, and he lyeth at the further syde of the bed.

The message of the Father by the way.

The talk of Sr James of the ambassador.

That the Lard of Luss hath told me of the delay.

The questions that he asked of Jochim.

Of my state.

Of my Company.

And of the cause of my comming.

And of Joseph.

The talk that he and I had, and of his desyre to please me, of his repentance, and of the interpretation of his letter.

Of Willie Hiegate's doing, and of his departure, and of the L of Livinston.

I had forgottwn of the L of Livinston, that he at supper sayd softly to the Lady Reres, that he drank to the persons I knw od, if I would pledge them. And after suppor he sayd softly to me, when I was leaning upon him and warming myself, "You may well go and see sick folk, yet can you not be so welcome unto them as you have this day left somebody in payne." I asked him who it was; he took me about the body and said, "One of his folke that has left you this day." Gesse you the rest.

This day I have wrought till two of the clock upon this bracelet, to putt the key in the clifte of it, which is tyed with two laces. I have had so little tyme that it is very ill, but I will make a fayrer; and in the meane tyme take heed that none of those that be heere doo see it, for all the world wold know it, for I have made it in haste in theyr preence.

I go to my tedious talk. You make me dissemble so much that I am affrayed therof with horrour, and you make me almost play the part of a traytor. Remember that if it were not for obeying I had rather be dead. My heart bleedth for yt. To be short, he will not com but with condition that I shall promise to be with him as heretofore; and upon my word, he will do whatever I will, and will com, but he hath prayd me tpo tarry till after tomorrow.

He hath spoken at the fyrst more stoutly, as this bearer shall tell you, upon the matter of the Inglishman and of his departure; but in the end he cometh to his gentleness agayn.

He hath told me, amog other talk, that he knew well, that my brother hath told me at Stirling that which he had said there, whereof he denyed the half, and specially that he was in his chamber. But now to make him trust me I must fayne somehting unto him; and therefore when he desyred me to promise that when he shuld be well we shuld make but ne bed, I told him, fayning to believe his faire promises, that if he did not change his mynd between this tyme and that, I was contented, so as he wold say nothing thereof; for (to tell it between us two) the lordis wished no yll to my, but did feare lest, consydering the threatening which he made in case we accompre they have made of him; and for this respecte shuld be in jealoust if at one instance, without their knowledge, I did raise the game to the contrary in their presence.

And he said unto me very pleasant and merry, "THink you that they doo the more esteem you therefore? But I am glad that you tlaked to me of the lords. I hope that you desyre now that we shall lyve a happy lyfe; for if it weare otherwise, it could not be but greater inconvenience shuld happen to us both than you think. But I will doo whatsoever you will have me doo. I will love all those that you shall love, and so you make them to love me also. For so as they seek not my lyfe, I love them all equally." Thereupon I have willed this bearer to tell you many pretty things; for I have too much to write, and it is late, and I trust him upon your word. To be short, he will go anywhere upon my word.

Alas! I never deceived anybody; but I remitt myself wholly to your will; and send me word what I shall doo, and whatsoever happen to me, I will obey you. Think also yf you will not fynd some invention more secret by phisick, for he is to take phisick at Craigmillar and the bathes also, ad shall not come fourth of long time.

To be short, so that I can learn he hath great suspicion, and yet, nevertheless trusteth upon my word, but not to tell me as yet anything; howbeit, if you will that I shall avow him, I will know all of him; but I shall never be willing to beguile one that puttith his trust in me. Nevertheless, you may doo all, and doo not estyme me the less therefore, for you are the cause thereof. For, me owen revenge I would not doo it.

He giveth me certain charges, and these strong, of that that I fear even to say that his faults be published, but there be that committ some secret faults and fear now to have them spoken of lowdelt, and that tehre is pseech of great and small. And even touching the Lady Reres he said, "God grant, that she serve yo your honour," and that any may not think, not he neyther, that myne own power was not in myself, seeing I did refuse his offers. To conclude, for surety, he mistruthith her of that that you know, and for his lyfe. But in the end, after I had spoken two or three good words to him, he was very merry and glad.

I have not seen him this night for ending you braceet, but I can find no clasps for yt; it is ready thereunto, and yet I fear lest it should bring you yll hap, or that shuld be known if you where hurt. Send me word whether you will have it, and more monney, and how farr I may speak. Now so farr as I perceive I may doo much without you; guesse you withir I shall not be suspected. As for the rest, he is mad when he hears of Ledinton, and of you, and my brother. Of your brother he says nothing, but of the Earl of Argile he doth; I am afriad of him to heare him talk, at the last he assurit himself that he hath no yll opinion of him. He speaketh bothing of these abrode, nither good nor yll, but avoidit speaking of him. His father keepith his chambre; I have not seen him.

All the Hamiltons be here who accompany me very honestly. All the friends of the others doo come allwais when I go visit him. He hath sent to me and prayeth me to see him rise in the morning early. To be short, this bearer shall declare unto you the rest; and if I learne anything, I will make every night a memorial thereof. He shall tell you the cause of my stay, Burn this letter, for it is too dangerous, neither is there anything well said in it, for I think upon nothing but upon grief if you be at Edinburgh.

Now if it please you, my deere lyfe, I spare neitherhounour, conscience, nor hazard, nor greatness, take it in good part, and not according to the interpretation of your false brother-in-law, to whome I pray you, give no credit against the most faythfull lover that ever you had or shall have.

See not also her whose fayned tears you ought not more to regard than the true travails which I endure to deserve her place, for obtayning of which, against my own nature, I doo betray those that could lett me. God forgive me, and give you, my only friend, the good luck and prosperitie that your humble and fathyfull lover doth wisshe unto you, who hopith shortly to be another thing unto you, for the reward of my paynes.

I have not made one word and it is very late, although I shuld nver be weary in wryting to you, yet will I end, after kissing of your hands. Excuse my eviil wryting, and read it over twise. Excuse also that I scribbled, for I had yesternight no paper when I took the paper of a memorial. Pray remember your friend, and write unto her and rial. Pray remember your friend, and write unto her often. ove me allwais as I shall love you.

Remember you of the purpose of the Lady Reres.

Of the Inglishman.

Of his mother.

Of the Erle of Bothwell.

Of the ludgeing in Edinburgh.

My Lord, gif the displesure of zour absence, of zour forzetfulnes, ye feir of danger sa promisit be everie ane to zour sa luifit person, may gif me consolatioun, I leif it to zow to juge, seing the unhap that my cruell lot and continuall misadventure hes hitherto promysit me, following ye misfortunes and feiris as weill of lait, as of ane lang tyme bypast, the quhilkye do knaw. Bot for all that, I will in na wise accuse zon, nouther of zour lytill cair, and leist of all of zour promeis brokin, or of ye cauldnes of zour wryting, sen I am ellis sa far maid zouris, yat yat quhilk pleisis zox is acceptabill to me; and my thochtis ar as willlingly subdewit unto zouris, that I suppois yet all that cummis of zow proceidid not be just ony of the causis forsaid, bot rather for sic as be just and ressonabill, and sic as I desyre myself. Quhilk is the fynal order that ze promysit to tak for the suretie and honorabill, and service of ye only uphald of my lyfe. For quhilk alone I will preserve the same, and without the quhilk I desyre not bot suddane deith, and to testifie unto zow how lawly I submit under zour commandemetis, I have send zow, in signe of homage, be Paris, the ornament of the heid, quhilk is the chief gude of the uther memberis, inferring thairby that, be ye seising of zow inteh possessioune of the spoile of the quhilk is principall, the remnant cannot be bot subject unto zow, and with consenting of the hart. In place theirof, sen I have ellis left it unto zow, I send unto zow ane sepulture of hard stane, collourit with blak sawin with teiris and bones. The stane I compair to my hart, that as it is carvit in ane sure sepulture or harbor of zour commandements, and above all, of zour name and memorie that ar thairin inclosit, as is my heart in this ring, never to cum furth, quhill deith grant unto yow to ane trophee of victorie of my banes, as the ring is fullit, in signe that yow haif maid ane full conqueis of me, of myne hart, and unto yat my banes be left unto yow to ane trophee of victorie and my acceptabill lufe and willinf, for to be better bestowit han I merite. The ameling that is about is blak, quhilk signifys the steidfastness of hir that sendis the same. The teiris are without number, sa ar the dreddowis to displeis yow, the teiris of your absence, the disdane that I cannot be in outward effect youris, as I am without fenzeitnes of hart and spreit, and of gude ressoun, thocht my meritis wer mekle greiter than of the maist profite that ever was, and sic as I desyre to be, and salltak pane in conditiounis to imitate, for to be bestowit worthulie under your regiment. Me only wealth ressaif your marriage with extreme joy, the quhilk sall not part furth of my bosum, quhill yat marriage of our bodyis be maid in publict, as signe of all that I outher hope of desyris of blis in yis warld. Zit my hart feiring to displeis you as mekle in the reiding heirof, as I delite me in yet writting, I will mak end, efter that I have kissit zour handis with als greit affectioun as, I pray God )o ye only uphald of my kyfe) to gif yow lang and blissit lyfe, and to me zour gude favour, as the only gude yat I desyre, and to ye quhilk I pretend. I have schawin unto desyre, and to ye quhilk I pretend. I have schawin unto this beirer that quhilk I have leirnit, to quhome I remit me, knoawand the credite that ze gaif him, as schol dois thatwill be for ever unto zow humbil and obedient launchfull wyfe, that for ever dedicates unto zow hir hart, her body, without ony change, as unto him that I have possessour of my hart, of quhilk ze may hald zow assurit, yat unto ye deith sall na wayis be changeit, for evill nor gude sall never mak me go from it.

I have watched later there above than I wold haue don, if i had bene to draw out that that this bearer shall tell you, that I fynde the fayrest commoditie to excuse yor busynes that might be offred: I have promised him to bring hiim to morrowe. Yf you think it, give ordre thereunto.

Now Sir I have not et broken my promes with you for you had commanded me to send you any thing or to write and I doo it not, for offending of you. And if you knew the feare that I am in thereof, you wold not have so many contrary suspicios, wich nevertheless I cherishe as proceeding from the thing of this worlde that I desyre and seeke the moste, that is your favor, or good will, of wich my behaviour shall assure me, And I will never dispayre thereof as long as according to your promes you shall discharge your harte to me, Otherwise I wold think that my yll lick, and hte fayre behavior of those that have not the thirde parte of the faythfulnes and voluntary obedience that I beare unto you, shall have won the advantage over me of the second Loover of Jason. Not that I doo compare you to so wicked, or myself to so unpitifull a person, Althoughe you make me feel some greefe in a matter that toucheth you, and to presetnve and keepe you to he who alone you belong, if a body may clayme to him selfe that wich is won by - well, faythfully, yea entirely loving, as I doo, and will doo all my lyfe for payne or hurt what soever may happen to me thereby. In recompense whereof, and of all the evils that you bene cause of to me, Remember the place herby. I desyre not that you keepe promes with me to morrowe, but that we may be togither, and that you give no credit to the suspicions that you shall have, without being assured thereof. And I aske no more of God but that you might know all that I have in my harte, wich is yours, and that he preserve you, fro all evill, at the leist during myu lyfe, wich sha; not be deere unto me, but as long as yt and I shall please you. I go to bed, and give you good night. Send me word tomorrow early in the morning how you have don for I shall think long. And watche well if the byrde shall fly out of his cage or withou his make, as the turtle shall remayne alone to mament and morne for absence how short soever it be. THat that I could not doo my Ire shuld doo it with a good will, yf it weare not that I feare to wake you, for I durst not write before Joseph and Bastian and Joachim, who weare nit new gon from I begon.

My hart, alace! must the foly of ane womane quhais unthankfulness toward me se do sufficiently knaw, be occasiioun of displesure unto zow, considering yat I culd not have remeidit it, I culd not tell it zow, for that I knew not how to governe myself thairin: for nouther in that not in any uther thing will I tak upon me to do ony thing without knawledge of zour will, quhilk I beseik zow let me understand; for I will follow it all my lyfe mair willingly than zow sall declai it to me; and gif ze do not send me wod this nicht quhat ze will that I sall do, I will red myself of it, and hezard to caus it to be interprysit and takin in hand, quhilk micht be hurtfull to that quhairunto baith we do tend. And quhen scho sall be maryit, I beseik zow gice me ane, or ellis I will tak sic as sall content zow for their conditiounis; bot as for thair toungi of faithfulness towart zow I will not answer. I beseik zow yat ane opinioun of uther persoun be not hurtful in zour mynde to my constancie, Mstrust me; bot quhen I will put zow out of dout and cleir myselfe, refuse it not, my deir lufe, and suffer me to make zow some prufe be my obedince, my faithfulness, constancie, and voluntarie subjectioun, quhilk I tak for the pleasantdest gude that I micht ressaif, gif ze will accept it; and mak na greiter outrage ot give mair mortal grief.

Alas, my Lorde, why is yor trust putt in a pson so unworthy to mistrust that wich is wholly yours! I am wood*. You had promised me that you wold resolve all, And that you wold send me worde every day what I shuld do. You have don nothing thereof. I advertised you well to take heed of your falce brother in lawe. He came to me, and withou shewing me anything from you told me that you had willed him to write to you that that I shilde say, and where and whan you should com to me, and that that you shuld doo touching him. And thereupon hath preached unto me that it was a foolish enterprise, and that with myn honor I could never marry you seeing that being maryed you did carry me away. And that his folk wold not suffer yt. And that the lords would unsaye themselves and wold deny that they had siad. To be shorte he is all contrary. I tld him that seeing I was com so farr, if you did not withdraw yorself that psuasion nor death it selfe shul make me fayle of my promesse. As touching the place you are to negligent (pdon me) to remit yo self therof unto me. Choose it yorselfe and send me word of it. And inthe mean tyme I am sicke. I will differ as touching the matter it is to late. It was not long of me that you have not thought thereupon in tyme. And if you had not more changed yor mynde since myne absence that I have, you shuld not be now to aske such resolving. Well ther wantith nothing of my pte. And seeing that yor negligence doth putt us both in ye danger of a false brother, if it succeese not well, I will never rise agayne. I send this bearer unto you for I dare not trust yor brother with there lres nor with the diligence. He shall tell you in what state I am, and judge you what amendment these new ceremonies have brought unto me. I wold I weare dead. For I see all goith yll. You promised other manners of matter of you forseing but absence hath powre over you, who ij strings yo yor bowe. Dispatche the annsweare that I fail you not. And put no trust in yor brithr for this enterprise. For he hath told yt, and is all against it. God give you good night.

*In the Scottish copy, this reads "wot," which translates as "wild." In Scots, the word "wod" means mad or angry.

My Lord, sen my letter written, zour brother in law yat was, come to me verray sad, and hes askit my counsel, quhat he suld do efter to morne, becaus thair be mony folkis heir, and among utheris the Erle of Sudderlan, quha wald rahter die, considdering the gude that have sa laitlie ressavit of me; and suffer me to be caryit away, that conducting me; and htat he feirit thair suld sum troubil happin of it: of the uther syde, that it suld be said that he wer unthankfull to have betrayit me. I tald him, that he suld have resolvit with zow upon all that, and that he suld avoyd, gif he culd, that that were maist mistaisitit.

He has resolvit to wryte thairof to zow be my opinioun; for he has abaschit me to se him sa unresolvit at the neid. I assue myself he will play the part of an honest man Bot I have thocht gude to advertise zow of the feir he hes yat he suld be charger and accusit of treasoun to ye end yat, without mistraisting him, ze may be the mair circumspect, and that ze may have yet mair power. For we had zisterday mair than iii. c. hors of his and of Levingstoun's. For the honour of God, be accompanyit rather with mair then les; for that is the principal of me cair.

I go to wryte my dispatche, and pray God to send us ane happy enterview schortly. I wryte in haist, to the end ye may be advysit in tyme.

Entre ses mains, & en son plain pouvoir,
Je mets mon fils, mon honneur, & ma vie,
Mon pais, mes subjets, mon ame assubjettie
Est toute a luy, & n'ay autre vouloir
Pour mon objet, que sans le decevoir
Suivre je veux, malgre toute l'envie
Qu'issir en peut, cart je n'ay autre envie,
Que de ma foy luy faire appercevior:
Que pour tempteste, ou banasse qu'il face,
Jamais ne veut changer demuere ou place.
Bref, je feray de ma foy telle preuve,
Qu'il cognoistra, sans faute, ma constance;
Non par mes pleurs, ou feinte obeissance,
Comme autres ont fait, mais par divers espreuve.

Elle pour son honneur vous doit obeissance:
Moy vous obeissant, j'en puis recevoir blasme,
N'estant, a mon regret, comme elle, vostre femme;
Et si n'aura pourtant en ce point preminence.
Pour son profit elle use de constance,
Car ce n'est peu d'honneur d'estre de vost biens dame:
Et moy, pour vous aimer, j'en puis recevoir blasme,
Et ne luy vostre mal n'a l'apprehension,
Moy je n'ay nul repos, tant je crain l'apparence.
Par l'advis des parens elle eut vostre accointance;
Moy, malgre tous les miens, vous porte affection.
Et de sa loyaute prenez ferme asseurance.

Par vous, mon coeur, & par vostre alliance,
Elle a remis sa maison en honeur,
Ele a jouy par vous de la grandeur,
Dont tous les siens n'avoient nulle asseurance.
De vous, mon bien, elle a eu la constance,
Et a gaigne pour un temps vostre coeur,
Par vous elle a eu plaisir en bon heur,
Et pour vous a honneur & reverence,
Et n'a perdu sinon la jouissance,
D'un fasheux sot qu;elle avoit cherement.
Je ne la plain d'aimer donc ardement
Celuy qui n'a en sens, n'y en vaillance,
Ny en beaute, en bonte, ny constance,
Point de second. Je vy ceste foy.

Quant vous l'aimiez, elle usoit de froideur,
Si vous souffrier pour s'amour passion,
Qui vient d'aimer de trop d'affection,
Son doigt monstroit la tristesse du coeur.
N'aiant plaisir en vostre grand ardeur.
En ses habits monstroit sans fiction,
Qu'elle n'avoir paour, qu' imperfection
Peust l'effacer hors de ce loyal coeur.
De vostre mort je ne vis la peaur,
Que meritoit tel mary & seigneur.
Somme de vous elle a eu tout son bien,
Et n'a prise ne jamais estime,
Une si grand heur, sinon puis qu'il n'est sien,
Et maintenant dit l'avoir tant aime.

Et maintenant elle commence a voir,
Qu'elle estoit bien de mauvais jugement,
De n'estimer l'amour d'un tell amant,
Et voudroit bein mon amy decevoir
Par les ecrits tous fardez de scavoir,
Qui pourtanta n'est en son esprit croissant,
Ains emprunte de quelque auteur luisant,
A faint tres bein un envoy sans l'avoir.
Et toutes fois ses paroles fardeez,
Ses pleurs, ses plaincts remplus de fictions,
Et ses hautz cris & lamentations,
Ont tant gaigne, que par vous sont gardeez,
Ses lettres, escrites, ausquels vous donnez foy,
Et si l'aimez, & croiez plus que moy.

Vous la croyez, las! trop je l'appercoy,
Et vous doutez de ma ferme constance,
O mon seul bien, & ma seule esperance,
Et ne vous puis asseurer de ma foy.
Vous m'estimez legiere, que je voy,
Et si n'avez en moy nulle asseurance,
Et soupconnez mon coeur sans apparence,
Vous meffiant a trop grand tort de moy.
Vous ignorez l'amour que je vous porte.
Vous soupconnez qu'autre amour me transporte.
Vous estimez mes paroles du vent.
Vous despeignez de cire mon las coeur.
Vous me pensez femme sans jugement;
Et tout cela augmente mon ardeur.

Mon amour croist, & plus en plus croistra,
Tant que vivray, & teindray a grandheur
Tant seulement d'avoir part en ce coeur,
Vers qui enfin mon amour paroistra
Si tres clair, que jamais n'en doutera.
Pour luy je veux recercher la grandeur,
Et feray tant que de vrary congnoistra
Que je n'ay bien, heur, ne contentment,
Qu'a l'obeir & servir loyaument.
Pour luy j'attendz toute bonne fortune,
Pour luy je veux garder sante & vie,
Pour luy tout vertu de suivre j'ay envie,
Et sans changer me trouvera tout une.

Tant seulement d'avoir part en ce coeur,
Vers qui enfin mon amour paroistra
Si tres clair, que jamais n'en doutera.
Pour luy je veux recercher la grandeur,
Et feray tant que de vray congnoistra
Que je n'ay bien, heur, ne contentment,
Qu'a l'obeir & servir loyaument.
Pour luy j'attendz toute bonne fortune,
Pour luiy je veix garder sante & vie,
Pour luy tout vertu de suivre j'ay envie,
Et sans changer me trouvera tout' une.

Pour luy aussie j'ay jetter mainte larme,
Premier qu'il fust de ce corps possesseur,
Duquel alors il n'avoit pas le coeur.
Puis me donna un autre dur alarme,
Quand il versa de son sang mainte dragme,
Dont de grief me vint laisser douleur,
Qui m'en pensa oster la vie & frayeur,
De perdre, las! le seul pourvoir de bonheur.
POr luy j'ay hazarde grandeur & conscience,
Pour luy tous mes parens J'ay quitte & amis,
Et tous autres respectz sont a part mis,
Brief, de vous seul je cherche l'alliance.

De vous, je dis, seul soustien de ma vie,
Tant seulement je cerche m'asseurer;
Et si ose de moy tant presumer,
De vous gaigner maugre toute l'envie:
Car c'est le seul desit de vostre chere amie,
De vous servir, & loyaument aimer,
Et tous malheurs moins que que rien estimer,
Et vostre volonte de la mienne suivre
Vous cognoistrez aveques obeissance,
De mon loyal devoir n'obmettant la science,
A quoy J'estudiray pour tousjours vous complaire,
Sans aimer rien que vous, soubs la subjection
De qui je veux san nulle fiction,
Vivre & mourir; & a ce j'obtempere.

Mon coeur, mon sang, mon ame, & mon soucy,
Las! vous m'avez promis qu'aurons ce plaisir
De deviser aveques vous a loiser,
Toute la nuict, ou je languis icy,
Ayant le coeur d' extreme paour transy,
Pour voir absent le but de mon desir.
Crainte d'oublir un coup me vient saisir,
Et l'autre fois je crains que endurci
Soit contre moy vostre aimable coeur,
Oar quelque dit d'un meschant rapporteur:
Une autre fois je crain quelque aventure,
Qui par chemin destourne mon amant,
Par un fasheux, & nouveau accidnet:
Dieu destourne tout malheurx augure.

Ne vous voyant selon qu'avez priomis,
J'ay mis la main au papier pour escrire,
D'un different que j'ay voulu transcrire.
Je ne scay pay quel fera vostre advis;
Mais je scay bien qui mieux aimer scaura,
Vous diriez bien qui plus y gaignera.

Nous Marie, par la grace de Dieu, Royne d'Escosse, douraryere de France, & promettons fidellement, & de bonne foy, & sans contraynte, a Jacques Hepburn Conte de Boduel, de n'avoir jamays autre espoulx & mary que luy, & de le prendre pour tel toute & quant fois qu'il m'en requerira, quoy que parents, amys ou autres, y foient contrayres. Et puis que Dieu a pris ce moien je fous libre, n'estant sous obeissance de pere, ni de mere, des mayntenant je proteste que, lui estant en mesme liberte, je feray preste, & d'accomplir les ceremonies requisis au mariage: que je lui promets devant Dieu, que j'en prantz a tesmoignasge, & la presente, signee de ma mayn: ecrit ce
----- MARIE R.

As Setoun, the V. day of April, the zeir of God 1567, the richt excellent, richt heich and michtie Princes, Marie, be the grace of God, Quene of Scottis, considering the place and estait quhairin Almightie God hes constitute hir heichnes, and how, be the deceis of the king hir hisband, hir Majestie is now destitute of ane Husband, leving solitaire in teh stait of wedowheid: In the quhilk kynde of lyfe hir Majestie maist willingly wald permit: Bot on the uther part, considering the inconveniencis may follow, and the necessitie quhilk the realme hes, yat hir Majestie be couplit with ane husband, hir Heichness hes inclynit to mary. And seing quhalt incommoditie may cum to this realme, in case hir Majestie suld joyne in mariage with ony forane Prince of ane strange natioun, hir Heichnes hes thocht rather better to zeild unto ane of her awin subjectis: Amangis quhome hir Majestie findis nane mair abill, nor indewit with better qualities than the richt nobill, nor indewit with better qualities than the richt nobill and hir deir cousin, James Erle Bothwell, &c. of quhais thankfull and trew service hir Heichnes, in all tymes bypast, hes had large prufe and infallibill experience. And seing not only the same gude mynd constantly perserving in him, bot with that ane inward affection and hartly lufe towardis hir Majestie, hir Heichness, amangis the rest, hes maid hir chose of him: And thairfor, in the presence of the enternall God, faithfully, and in the word of ane Prince, be this presentis, takis the said James Erle Bothwell as hir lawfull husband, and promittis and oblissis hir Heichnes, that howsone the proces of divorce, intentit betwixt ye said Erle Bothwell and Dame Hane Gordoun, not his pretensit spous, beis endit be the ordour of ye lawis, hir Majestie sall, God willing, thairefter schortly mary and tak the said Erle to hir husband, and compleit the band of matrimonie with him, i nface of holy kirk, and sall never mary nane uther husband bot he only, during his lyfetime. And as hir Majestie, of his gratious humanitie and proper motive, without deserving of the said Erle, hes thus inclynit hit favour and affection towardis him, he humble and reverentlie acknowledging the same according to his bound dewtie, and being als fre and abill to mak promeis of mariage, in respect of the said proces of divorce, intentit for divers ressonabill causis, and that his said pretensit spous hes thairunto consentit, he presentlie takis his Majestie as his lauchfull spous in the presence of God, and promittis and oblissis him, as he will answer to God, and upon his fidelitie and honour, that, in all diligence possibill, he sall prosecute and set fordward the said proces of divorce alreddy begunne and intentit betwix him and hte said Jane Gordoun his pretensit spous, unto the fnal en of ane decrett and declarator thairin. And plesure, and quhen hir Heichnes thinkis concenient, sall band of matrimoie with hir Majestie and lufe, honour and serve hir Heichness, according to the place and honour that it hes pleisit hir Majestie to accept him unto, and never to have ony uther for his wyfe, during hir Majesteis lyfetime: In faith and witnessing Quhaifof, hir faithful promeis with yair handis, as followis, day, zeir and place foirsaidis, befoir thir witnesses George Erle of Huntly, and Maister Thomas Hepburne Persoun of Auldhamstock, & Sic subscibitr
------ MARIE R.
JAMES ERLE BOTHWELL

The above text is taken from transcripts found in Appendix A of Herbert Gorman's The Scottish Queen, published in 1932 by Farrar & Rinehart Inc.

Please also see Lady Hedgehog's Caskett Letter Critique and her essay on the life of Mary Stewart.