cifie sum trubill quhilk, be the
craft of the Quene, was rasit in his absens, he requyreit the Erle of
Glencairne, Lord Boyde, Lord Uchiltre, and utheris of Kyle, to meit
thair, for sum ordoure to be taikin, that the brethren sould not be
oppressit; quhilk with ane consent thay did, and appoyntit the tent of
September for the nixt Conventioun at Striveling.

[SN: THE FIRST KNAWLEGE OF THE ESCHAIPING OF THE ERLE OF ARRANE
OUT OF FRANCE.]

Quhill thir thingis war in doing at Glasgw, letteris and ane servand
came fra the Erle of Arraine[881] to the Duik his father, signifeing
unto him, that be the providence of God, he had eschaipit the Frensche
Kyngis handis, quha maist treason abillie and maist crewellie had socht
his lyfe, or at leist to have committit him to perpetuall presoun: [SN:
LET THIS BE NOTIT.] for the same tyme, the said Frensche King, seing he
could [not] have the Erle him self, gart put his youngar brother,[882]
ane bairne of sick aige as could not offend, in strait presoun, quhair
he yitt remaneis, to witt, in the moneth of October, the yeir of God
J^m. V^c. lix yeiris: quhilk thingis war done be the craft and policie
of the Quene Dowager, quhat tyme the Duik and his freyndis war maist
frack to sett fordwart hir caus. Thir letteris resavit, and the estait
of his twa soneis knawin, of whame the ane was escaipit, and the uthir
in vyle preassoun cassin,[883] the Duke desyreit communing of the Erle
of Argyle, quha, pairtlie against the will of sum that lovit him, raid
unto the Duik fra Grlasgw to Hammiltoun; quhair, abyding ane nycht, he
declairit his jugement to the Duik and to his freindis, especiallie to
Maister Gawyne Hamyltoun. The Duik requyreit him and the Lord James to
write thair freindlie and confortabill letteris to his sone, quhilk thay
baith maist willinglie did, and thairefter addressit thame to thair
jornay. Bot the verray day of thair depairting, came one
Bowtencourt,[884] from the Quene Regent, with letteris, as was allegeit,
from the Kyng and Quene of France to Lord James, whilk he delyverit with
ane braggin countenance and many threatning wordis. The tennour of his
letteris was this:--

"_Le Roy._

"My Cousing, I have bein greittumlie mervellitt, having understand
the trubillis that ar happinnit in thir pairtis; and yit mair
mervell that ye, of wham I had ane haill confidence, and alsua hes
this honour to be sua neir the Quenis Grace, my wiffe, and hes
resav