all of the gentilman, whome we suspected to have
bene slane, or at the least that he should be delivered to the Quenis
handis. And so upoun the suddane, the Erle of Errane, the Lord James,
the Maister of Maxwell, with the most parte of the horsemen, took
purpose to persew the said Erle Bothwell, yf thei mycht apprehend him in
Creychttoun or Morhame, whittherto (as thei war informed) he had
reteared him self after his treassonable fact: We call his fact
treassonable, becaus that thrie dayis befoir he had send his especiall
servand, Maister Michaell Balfour, to us to Edinburgh, to purchese of
the Lordis of the Counsall licence to come and speak us; whiche we
granted, efter that he had promesed, that in the meantyme he should
neather hurte us, neather yitt any till us appertenyng, till that he
should writt his answer agane, whitther that he wald joyne with us or
not. [SN: THE ERLE BOTHWELL FALS IN PROMEISE, AND HIS TREASONABLE FACT.]
He gave us farder to understand, that he wald discharge him self of the
Quene, and thairefter wald assist us. And yitt in this meantyme, he
crewelly and tratorouslie hurte and spuilzeid the noble man foirsaid.
Albeit that the departure and counsall of the Erle of Arrane and Lord
James, with thair cumpany foirsaid, wes verray suddane and secreat; yitt
was the Erle Bothwell,[1022] then being in Crychttoun, advertissed, and
so eschaiped with the money, whiche he took with him self, as the
Capitane of his house, John Somervaill, (whiche was tackin without lang
persuyte,) confessed and affermed. Becaus the Noble men that soght
redress, soght rather his saiftie and reconsiliatioun; then destructioun
and haitrent thei committed his house to the custody of a capitane, to
witt, Capitane Forbess, to whome, and to all soldiouris thair left, was
gevin a schairpe commandiment, that all thingis found within the said
hous of Crychttoun,[1023] (which war putt in inventorie in presence of
the Lordis,) should be keipt till that the Erle Bothwell should geve
answer, whitther he wald maik restitutioun or nott. Tyme of advertisment
was granted unto him the hole day subsequent, till going doune of the
sone.

In absence of the saidis Lordis and horsemen, (we meane the same day
that thei departed, whiche wes the last of October,) the Provest and
towne of Dundye, togetther with some soldiouris, passed furth of the
toune of Edinburgh, and caryed with thame some great ordinance to
schuitt at Leyth. The Duck his Grace, t