o Hammyltoun, for consultatioun to be taikin with my Lord Duikis
Grace. And in this menetyme came assureit word that the Frensche men war
begun to fortifie Leith; quhilk thing, as it did mair evidentlie
discover[943] the Queneis craft, sua did deiplie greiff the hartis of
the haill Nobilitie thair, quha, with ane consentt, aggreit to write
unto the Quene, in forme as followis:--

[SN: LETTERIS TO THE QUENE REGENT.]

"At Hammyltoun, the xix[944] day of September 1559.

"Pleise Your Grace,

"We ar credibillie informeit, that your army of Frensche men sould
instantlie begin to plant in Leith, to fortifie the same, of mynd
to expell the ancient inhabitants thairof, our brethren of the
Congregatioun; quhairof we marvell not a littill, that your Grace
sould sua manifestlie brek the Appointment maid at Leith, but ony
provocatioun maid be us and our brethren. And seing the samyn is
done without ony maner consent of the Nobilitie and Counsale of
this realme, we esteme the same nocht onlie oppressioun of our pure
brethren, indwellaris of the said town, bot allsua verray
prejudiciall to the commun-wealth, and playne contrair to oure
ancient lawis and libertieis: Heirfoir desyreis your Grace to caus
the samyn warke interprysit, be stayit; and nott to attempt sua
raschlie and manifestlie against your Graceis promeis, against the
commun-wealth, the ancient lawis and libertieis thairof, (quhilk
thingis, besyde the glorie of God, ar maist deir and tender unto
us, and onlie our pretence;) utherwayis, assuring your Grace, we
will complayne to the haill Nobilitie and Communitie of this
realme, and maist eirnistlie seik for redress thairof. And thus,
recommending oure humyll service unto youre Hienes, your Graceis
answer maist eirnistlie we desire, quham we committ to the eternall
protectioun of God.

"At Hammyltoun, day and yeir forsaid. Be youre Graceis humyll and
obedient Servitouris."

(This letter was subscrivit with the handis of my Lord Duik, the Erie of
Arrane, Argyle, Glencairne, and Menteith; be the Lordis Ruthwen,
Uchiltre, Boyd, and by utheris diverse, Barronis and Gentilmen.)--To
this requeist sche wald nott answer be writt, bot with ane letter of
creddeit sche send Sir Robert Carnegy[945] and Maister David
Boirthick,[946] tua, quham amangis many utheris, sche abusit, and by
quham sche corruptit t