Page images
PDF
EPUB

same.

appoynted a Commission, and willed me to devyse my owne surety, and commanded the Secretary to draw vp what warrands I pleased for the I asked the Secretary what course wes to be taken with the Lord Thesaurer, who I thought wes not to be neglected; but he answered, that the Lord Thesaurer's hand wes at the letter of refusall, and therefore will take it ill, if wee shall draw down vpon him a burthen which he is not willing to vndergo, and may hurt his house if he dye, being now ane old Man. But I, knowing his humor, and to testify the respect I ought him, with the Secretary procured a letter from his Majestie to him, putting the accepting or refusing in his owne choyce. But it wes drawne up by the Secretary, (to whom I entrusted it, as belonging to him) with words derogatory (as he alleadged) to his honor,—of set purpose to put vs together by the eares :-for, so long as the Thesaurers, principall and Deputy, did concurre to the King's service, he well knew, that his doings to the King's prejudice, and his owne gaine, would not have so faire way.' Thes warrants being signed, I went about the furnising of such things as could not be conveniently had in Scotland, specially the banqueting stuffe, for which I agreed with Robert Walthew Sergeant of the Kings confectionary, at ordinary rates for ready money, not daring to trust any other with that which wes for the King's owne mouth: and at Archibald Campbell's desyre did offer the employment vnder me to Sir James Baily, of whom (because I shall

1 This was Sir William Alexander of Menstrie, created Earl of Stirling by Charles I., and celebrated both as a poet and a courtier. He travelled through Italy and France with his Lord superior the Earl of Argyle, where he attained to the French and Italian tongues. He got great things from his Majesty, as especially a liberty to create a hundred Scotsmen knights-baronet, (of Nova Scotia,) from every one of whom he got L.200 sterling, or thereby; a liberty

to coin base money, far under the value of the weight of copper, which brought great prejudice to the kingdom; at which time. he built his great lodging in Stirling, and put on the gate thereof Per mare, per terras, which a merry man changed, per metre, per turners, meaning that he had attained to his estate by poesy and that gift of base money.' (Scot of Scotstarvet's Manuscript, Advocates' Library.)

have often occasion to name him) I shall once for all give this Character. He wes basely borne, and had his education vnder a Butcher; the height of his ability wes to be clark of a kitchin; extremly ambitious, and, to attaine his ends, would give largely of that which he had got indirectly. This man did refuse it,-knowing, be long experience, that hardly sould he make vnlawfull benefit where I wes to looke to him,-pretending disability, and a desyre to retire from publick services; whereby I conjectured that he had some wicked purposes; as indeed he had, for, within two dayes after, he went to Scotland, possest the Lord Thesaurer that I went about to take his place from him, and perceaving the Officiars of Estate to be so offended with me, for daring to vndertake what they had refused, that they resolved not to give way to any warrand I should bring downe, conceaved hopes that be there means I might be displaced, and himself succeed.'

Sir James Balfour, in his quaint Annals, records:-'About the end of July, this yeir (1628), the King did resolve to come to Scotland to be crouned heir; and for that purpois did wreatt letters to the counsaill heir, indicting a parliament to hold at Edinbrughe the 15 day of September, this same yeire; bot in respecte his Majesties housses and uther thinges necessarey against that time could not be in redinesse, the Lordes of his privey counsaill intreated him to deferr his journey untill May in the following yeire, 1629, to which his Majestie condescendit, and sent his commandes for contineuing the parliament untill that tyme. His design was to have come doune post; bot the Lord Chanceler, Hay, diswadit him

from that, as a coursse derogatorey from his honor and gratenes, that with a few servants he should goe post to a Kingdome that he had never bean in since his chyldhood, and that in a worsse fashon then his father King James did in August 1617; bot rather in grater pompe and stait, being about to receave his croune, as also to make his first entrey amongst his native people. The King took this advysse verey kindlie, and applaudit the Lord Chanceler heighly for giving it.' It is amusing to compare this very simple and respectable version of these transactions, with the secret springs, and petty storm of faction, from which the papers in the text withdraw the veil. Sir James Balfour was not behind the scenes.

E

XIV. COPPIE OF THE KINGIS LETTERS FOR MY LORD NAPEIR, 1628.

To the Exchequer.

1.

Right Trusty, &c. Wee greete you well. Haveing considered that the charges requisite for entertayning oure house during the tyme of our aboade in that Kingdome to ressave our Croun, and to hold a Parliament there, which of necessitie doth require present moneyis, and in regard of our grit affairs wee cannot convenientlie afford them at this tyme, and that wee intend to tak such a course for levying of them that none of our subjectis can have caus to complaine, nor yet to suspect our royall intention in seeing them at the tyme appointit by us; wee have been pleased to move our Deputie Thesaurer, who wes here for the tyme, to borrow those moneyis at this tyme for our said use; and to the effect that he nor no others who shall joyne with him should anywise suffer for their affection to our service, or be in danger of not being payed of what they shall undergo for the same, wee are heirby willing to grant unto them any assurance that they can ressonablie demand or that wee can lawfullie grant for their relief: Our pleasure is that there be granted unto him and them any securitie he shall require, upon our rentis, casualties, and taxationes present or to come in generall, or by particular assignmentis by actis of Counsell and Exchequer, or by Commissiones of retromission with the same, under our seill, as he or his counsall at law shall devyse for his or his forsaids securitie; and that all impedimentis that can arrise in their uptaking the saidis rentis, casualties, and taxationes, present and to come, whereby he or they may be hindered frielie to intromett with the same, be removed by you, till they be satisfeid of all moneyis disbursed by them for this purpose with the ordinarie intrest for the same during the tyme of the forberance therof: Provyded alwise that such moneyis as have been alreddy disbursed, for the present use of our comeing, by our Thesaurer, be first payed or

secured unto him; and excepting such moneyis as wee pleased to reserve by that letter written unto you, touching the engadging our Officers of State for this purpose; which moneyis wee will first to be payed or secured to the persones interessed, according to our first royall intention. Southwick, 28 of August, 1628.

To the Earle of Mar.

2.

Right Trusty, &c. Wee greete you well. Haveing considered the charges requisite for provision of our house during the tyme of our aboade in that our ancient Kingdome, which of necessitie doth require present money, and which in regard of our grit and important affairs we cannot at this tyme convenientlie afford, we have been pleased to move our Deputie Thesaurer, who happened to be here for the tyme, to undergo the burding for levying of the same, granting him any security he can require, upon our rentis, casualties, or taxationes, present and to come, you being first secured of such moneyis as shall appeare that you of late have layed out for our use, wherein wee have found your affectione to our service, and for which we give you hertelie thanks; and excepting the payment of such moneyis as wee wer pleased to reserve by that letter written unto our Exchequer touching the ingadgeing our Officers of State for this purpose; which moneyis wee will to be payed or secured to the persones interested, according to our first royall intention; and if you will be content to raise the halfe of those moneyis requisite for the said use, with our said Deputie, wee are willing that you be equallie secured with him upon our saids rentis and others forsaidis: Whereunto, in regaird of your former disbursements for our use, wee will not further move you then you think you may convenientlie do; alwise desireing you to continue your best endevours for seeing all things in good order, against the time appointed for our comeing there. Wee bid you fairwell. Southwick, 28 of August, 1628.

3.

Warrant for compoising the Master Household.

Haveing at this tyme put the charge upon our Deputie Thesaurer for levying of moneyis for the intertaynment of our houshold during our aboade in that our kyngdome, and being willing that all thingis touching our intertaynment, and order of our hous, should be so circumspectlie considered of befoir that at our comeing nothing should be wanting, or out of due order; wee, out of a confidence of your sufficiencie and affection to our service, have maid choice of you to whom these presents are directed as our Commissioners for this purpos, requireing and herby authorizing you to convene togidder, both befoir and after our comeing ther, and taking unto your assistance the Master of our houshold, to be named by us, to consult touching all thingis which anywise may concerne the order of our houshold, our intertaynment and provisiones necessarie, and to see the same ordered and performed accordinglie; and wee ar willing, if so you shall think expedient, to authorise you in this service after any other manner you shall think requisite: Wherein wee will that one of the clerks of our privie counsell be imployed as your clerk in your proceeding therein. Southwick, 28 of August, 1628.

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »