James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell. 317

ould acquetants that they wer so unkynd in wryteing to you r 1. and patlye becaus of my ?vandes repareing towart they partis I thocht goud to let your 1. haif knowlege that my lord regent, with the rest of the lordes, dynitt in the castell this Fryday, and it was dely9itt to my lord regent thair ane shippe cuit from the laird of Grange and hes schawyn, that y Erll Bothell hes escapit narrolye" in schytland, and left his shippis, and followeing so neir the unecorne one of the pryncepall shippis q'lk the laird of grange had is brokkin, and y e men saif, and yc laird of grange w l ye Costabill of Dunde is landit in Schytland, and hes tain ye pryncepall ma of ye cutre, and hes takin ane of the lord Bothelles shippis, and two spetiall mariners callit David Willye and Georde fogo : y laird of Tillebairn hes followit the rest of y 6 shippis. This comytt you' 1. to the protection of y* eternall God. Fra your 1. ever at power to comand,

(In dorso,) R d in September, 1567, DAVID SYNCLER.

David S'cler to therle of Bedford.

(Addressed,) To the ryth wyrshippull my lord off Bedford.

(Also,) To M r Secretary.

(4.) Same volume, art. 97. "The King of Denmark to the King of Scotland, in answer to a letter of his Majesty respecting the murder of the late King Henry, and requesting that the Earl of Bothwell, who was stated to be the author of the murder, and had been arrested m Norway, might be sent back to Scotland. Stating that, inasmuch as the Earl of Bothwell had legally been acquitted of the charge, and for other reasons, he hopes to satisfy the King of Scotland's expec- tation by keeping Bothwell in safe and stricter custody. Dated Dec. 30th, 1567. Latin :"

[State Paper Office, Scotland, Elizabeth, vol. xiv. art. 97.]

Fredericus secundus Dei gratia Daniae, Norwagiae, Gothorum, Vandalorumque rex, Dux Slcsvici, Holsatiae, Stormariae, ac Diethmariae, comes in Oldenbourgh et Delmenherst, Serenissimo Principi Domino Jacobo Scotorum regi consanguineo et fratri nostro charissiino, salutem ac continuum felicitatis incrementum. Serenissime Princeps consanguinee et frater charissime, Reddidit nobis die xvhujus mensis literas Serenitatis vestrae ultima Septembris Strivelingi scriptas presentium exhibitor foecialis vester. Quibus nos de miserabili casu Illustrissimi Principis domini Henrici Scotorum Regis patris Serenitatis vestnc bone recordationis iterum certiores facit. Ac comitem Bothuallum non ita pridem a prefecto nostro in Noruagia captum, quem crudelissimae cadis istius reum et authorem facit, ad supplicium deposcit eumque sibi a nobis dedi, et si ita nobis videatur tempus certum constitui petit quo is nostra ex jurisdictione in Scotiam reduci et poena adfici possit. His nos amice jam respondemus, nos sicut superioribus literis nostris testati sumus tragicum istum et plane miserandum casum optimi Principis tanto maiore cum animi dolore percepimus quanto magis nota fuerunt omnibus Serenitatis ipsius varia et animi ct corporis dona et ornamenta, prasscnsquc Serenitatis vestrae etas et rerum in Scotia status parentem et moderatorem talem requirere videbantur. Ideoque pro communi nostra regnorumque nostrorum necessitudine mortem Christiani et vicini regis

• This word is either struck out or has been blotted.

VOL. XXXVIII. 2 U