touris send to maik
appointment. But thay war nocht suffered to approche neye to the Lordis,
neyther yit to the view of our camp; whiche put thame in greatter fear.
[SN: FIRST ANSWER AT COWPER MURE.] Answer was gevin unto thame, "That as
we had offended no man, so wald we seak appointment of no man; bot yf
any wald seak our lyves, (as we war informed thay did,) thay should find
us, yf thay pleased to mak diligence." This answer receaved, war send
agane the Lord Lyndesay and Laird of Wauchtoun,[830] who earnestlie
requeasted us to concord, and that we wold nocht be the occasioun that
innocent bloode should be sched. [SN: THE SECUND ANSUER.] We ansuered,
"That nather had we querrall against any man nather yit sought we any
manis bloode; onelie we war conveaned for defence of our awin lyves
injustlie sought by uther." We added forther, "That yf thay culd find
the meane that we and our bretherin myght be free from the tyrranny
devised against us, that thay should reasonabillie desyre nothing whiche
should be denyed for our parte."

This ansuer receaved, the Duke and Monsieur Dosell, haveing commissioun
of the Quene Regent, required that Assurance mycht be taikin for eight
dayis, to the end that indifferent men in the meantyme micht commone
upoun sum finall aggrement of those thingis whiche than war in
controversie. Heirto did we fullie consent, albeit that in nomber and
force we war far superiour; and for testificatioun heirof, we send unto
thame our hand-writtis, and we lykewyis receaved thairis, with promess
that within two or three dayis some discreat men should be send unto us,
to Sanctandrois, with farther knawlege of the Quenis mynd. The tennour
of the Assurance was this:--

THE ASSURANCE.

"We, JAMES DUKE OF CHATTELLERAULT, Erle of Arrane, Lord Hammiltoun,
&c., and MY LORD DOSELL, Lievtenant for the King in thir partis,
for our selffis, our assistaris and partakeris, being presentlie
with us in cumpany, be the tennour heirof promittis faithfullie of
honour to My Lordis ARCHIBALD ERLE OF ERGYLE, and JAMES COMMENDATAR
OF THE PRIORIE OF SANCTANDROIS, to thair assistaris and partakeris,
being presentlie with thame in cumpany; That we, and our cumpany
foirsaidis, shall reteir incontinent to Falkland, and shall, with
diligence, transport the Frenchemen and our uther folkis now
presentlie with us; and that na Frencheman, or other souldiouris of