upon the place. This the king acceptes, and commands him to ryde up and discover what they wer, and the intent of ther being ther; and, according as he found occasione, to returne or give a signe for his retireing. In the meantyme, his majestie, with his traine, being about twentieth horse, placed themselves upon the hight of the muir, to marke the Lord Somervill's goeing, and the carriage of the horsemen they beheld, who now made ane halt, when they first observed the king's company, not knowing what they wer; but seeing them draw togither, they apprehended they wer noe friends; thairfore they resolved to advance noe further, seeing a horseman comeing up to them with all the speed he could make, until they knew for what intent he came. The Lord Somervill was yet at some distance, when he was presently knoune by severall of the company to be ther lord and master; whereupon the laird of Cleilland, and William Chancellor of Quath quan, galloped out to meet him. He was not a litle surprized when he saw them, and demanded the occasione that had brought them togither in that posture and number. To which they answeared, It was by his lordship's directione and his laddye's command: that they wer comeing to Edinburgh to waitt upon him, fearing he had fallen at variance and feed with some one or other about the court. He desyred to see the letter. They told him the Baillzie had it. By this time they wer joined to the company, where, calling for the letter, he made the same to be read, where ther was no such directione nor orders given as they pretended. He enquired who read the letter to his lady; they answered, his new stewart; who being present, was commanded to read it again, which he did; and comeing to the postcript, reads Spears and Jacks, instead of Speates and Raxes; and herein lay the mistake, that the Lord Somervill knew not whether to laugh or be angry at the fellow. But mynding the fear he left the king in, and what apprehensiones and jealousies his majestie might intertaine upon his long communing with them, he commanded that they should depart every man to their respective dwellings and he himself, with the laird of Cleilland and severall other gentlemen returned to the king, who remained still upon the same place where he had parted from him; unto whom being come he relates the wholl story, whereat the king laughed heartily, calles for a sight of the letter, and reades it himself, swearing it was noe great mistake, for he might have been guiltie of that error himself. His majestie having given back the letter, it went from hand to hand amongst these few courtiers that was there, as they proceeded on their journey, the letter itself containing noe matter of any consequence but a naked compliment the Lord Somervill had written to his lady. This is that story of the Speates and Raxes so much

discoursed of then, as it is to this day amongst persons of qualitie; for of late the Duke of Lauderdale, when he was commissioner, at a full table of the greatest part of the nobilitie in Scotland, then dyneing with him, related the wholl story almost in the same termes that I have set it doune. The king being come to Cowthally, he had his entertainement great, and his welcome heartie, albeit my Lady Somervill was somewhat out of countenance, all the discourse being anent the Speares and Jackes, which the king could not forget, thinking it both a good sport and ane easy mistake, because of the neer spelling and sounding of the words; and withall, his majestie was pleased highly to commend the Lady Somervill's love and respect to her husband, in being so active and diligent to soe quickly her husband's friends and followers, in case ther had been any necessitie for them, telling my lady that he hoped she would use the same care and diligence to conveen her lord's followers when he should call him and them to his service."

conveen

In the next passage we have a curious view of the interior of the same baronial residence during a visit of James V.

"The divertisement his majestie had without doores was halking; being now in the midle of Jully, the poutes wer for flight whereof they killed many: these fields, not being soe much laboured then as now, yielded great store, which was the cause the king resorted thither afterward when he mynded his sport; but the recreatione he received in the fields gave him nosuch content as what he had within doores with the ladyes, who, seeing the young king amorously inclyned, allowed him all the liberty that in honour he could requyre, or ther modesty permitt.

"Amongst all the ladyes that was there, he fancyed non soe much as Katherine Carmichaell, the captain of Craufuird's daughter, a young lady much about sexteinth years of age, admired for her beautie, handsomenes of persone, and vivacity of spirit, whereby she attracted all eyes that beheld her, but soe strongly the king's, that most of his discourse was with her, and he took it ill when he was interrupted, soe that all the ladyes and noblemen that was present took notice thereof, and gave way to his majestie's courting. I know ther was some malitious tongues then, as there is not a few to this day, affirmes that it was at this tyme, and in Cowthally-house, that the king first procured this ladye's private favoures; but, by ther leave, it is a great mistake, and a most malitious calumnie; for, albeit it be true it was at this wedding he first saw this young lady, and did affect her extremely, beginning then his intrigues of love, yet had he noe opportunity allowed him to obtaine that which he aftirward re. ceaved att the castle of Crawfuird, her father's house. The Lady Somervill being

both virtuous and wise, observing the king's passione, commanded two of Cambusnethan's daughters, and as many of her oune, being then girles about eleven years of age, in whom the king took likewayes delight to discourse with, never to leave the roume, unless Mistress Katherine Carmichaell came with them, the which they particularly observed. But to put this beyond all cavill, this same lady being efterward marryed upon young Cambusnethen, acknowledged to her mother-in-law, that it was neer a year efter she saw the king att Cowthally before his majestie obtained any favour from her, but what in civillitie she might have given to any persone of honour; and doubtlesse, if it had been otherways, the Lady Cambusnethen would have divulged quickly the same to the prejudice of my Lord Somerville's familie, to which she had no great lykeing, notwithstanding of their late submissione to the king, and the civilitie they paid to each other, because of ther neer relatione.

"This marriage being over, the king went for Stirling, being waited upon by the Lord Somerville there some few dayes; and now being to retourne to his oune house, he comes to kisse his majestie's hand. The king told him, with a kynde and pleasant countenance, the great intertainement and fair company he left att Cowthally made him resolve ere long for another visit, hopeing he should be wellcome. Haveing said this, and raiseing him from his knee, the Lord Somervill replyed, what he had at present was by his majesties favour, and the bounty of his royall predecessors, conferred upon him, and his forebearers, of which he was ever myndefull, and therfore was obleidged, as a duetifull subject, to attend his majesties pleasure in all things, haveing been soe highly honoured by his royall presence at his daughter's marriage, that was beyond all expressione of thankes. Upon this he retired, haveing receaved the particular thankes of all these noblemen and gentlemen that attended the king during his residence att Cowthally. Being returned, he lived at home untill the latter end of September. Upon Saturnes day, at night, the king lighted att his house with Robert Bartone, who was in speciall favour with him, and efterwards made thesaurer; James Hamilton of Finhard, who likewayes before his death was thesaurer, and lykewayes master of the king's works; Oliver Sinclair, a brother of the house of Rosseline; Sir David Lindsay of the Mount; . * and John Tennant, (efterward Laird of Cairness) a domestick and wairdropper to the king, who personated (four years after this) his majestie, as he travelled incognito through France in suite of his queen. These, with other seven, wer only his majesties retinue when he came to Cowthally. This surprizeall might have startled any other albeit good housekeepers, but was all one to this lord, that keeped soe plentifull

a table, and had soe provident a lady, that upon all occasiones gave evidence of an excellent house-wife. The Lord Somervill told the king, he was only sorry he had not advertisement of his majesties comeing, that himself and his friends might have waited upon him; but he was soon made to understand the king's comeing incognito, and would admitt of noe more company save himself and other two besyde these that came with him. By this, and some other circumstances, he guessed some part of the king's earand, who, dureing supper, asked severall questions at the Lord Somervill (standing behind his chair) anent the Captaine of Crawfuird, his qualitie, condition, and what he might have in estate, and by his office. Wherein being resolved soe far as my lord knew, the king took occasione first to regrate the meannesse of his fortune, and the smallnesse of his sallary; and efter some spaces, began to praise his daughter's breeding and beautie with some transport, at lenth insinuate as much by his discourse that he would see to the bettering of the father's estate and advancement of the daughEftir supper the king held a long discourse with the Lady Somervill in his oune bed-chamber, which was named efter him so long as the house remained in its integrity-What the import of ther discourse was these that wer present did but guesse, for they stood at some distance; however, it appeared that the king was very pressing to obtaine some promise of her, which, with much civilite, she begged his majestie pardone; and at length somewhat loud, of purpose to be heard, and to be free from the king's importunity, spoke thus, Sir, her father's house is much fitter, where your majestie may expect kynde wellcome, being proprietar of the same, in honouring that familie with your royall presence.' Upon which the king called the Lady Carmichaell that was next to them, and said, 'Your neighbour here, the Lady Somervill, is the most courteous, or rather most scrupulous, persone under heaven for another concerne ; but I will have my revenge in being often her guest, to eat up all the beef and pudding too of this (country).'

ter.

"Airly upon the Sabbath the king caused the Lord Somervill send a horseman to Craufuird castle, to advertise the captaine he would be there against night; and withall, forbade to make any great provisione, seing his traine would not exceed a duzone. This advertisement was soe unexpected and short, that the captaine knew not what to think of it; however, he caused putt all things in the best order that might be, and prepared for the king's coming. But ther was non soe much surprized with the news as the young lady, the captaine's daughter, who, suspecting the king's earrand from what she had met with from him at the marriage in Cowthally, she could have wished herself not only out of her father's house but out of the world. Soc much terrour

and affrightment did seize upon her persone, that she knew not what to resolve on. Some tymes she thought it fitt to acquaint her father and mother with her feares; and then againe, without acquainting them with her thoughts, to slip doune to Lamingtounehouse, or the toune of Douglasse. But as modesty tyed up her tongue from the first, soe the shortness of tyme, and (the want of) ane handsome pretext, hindered the later, for it was not possible to have keeped the knowledge of her removeall that day from the king, which might have incensed him exceedingly against her father, the greatest part of whose fortune was mostly at that tyme at the king's disposeing, as heretable keeper of the castle of Craufuird. Thus, unresolved what to doe, or how to carry towards the king, in great trouble of spirit, poor lady, she remained in a carelesse dresse untill his majestie's arryveall.

"The king, haveing breakfasted and heard messe att the colledge church of Carnwath, made foirward on his journey to the castle of Craufuird, being accompanyed with non but the Lord Somervill, and these few he brought from Edinburgh with him. He was mett by the captaine of Craufuird with some horsemen, some few myles on this side of the castle, with whom he discoursed familiarly untill ther arryveal at the house, where his majestie was receaved at the gate by the lady and two of her daughters. What entertainement his majestie receaved from the captaine and his lady, and kyndenesse from ther beautifull daughter upon his amorouse addresse to her, is noe part of that which I have in hand; yet I am apt to believe, from severall circumstances and papers that I have seen, that this interview proceeded noe farther than to useher the way,

or if you doe, you must not divulge it, unlesse you be desperately resolved to forfault both your life and fortune to the fury of ther amoures. Besydes these inducements, and her father's interest, she might have before her eyes the example of Elizabeth Moore, Rowallane's daughter, who bare to King Robert the Second three sones, long before her marriage; and at lenth, notwithstanding of the king's haveing two sons in marriage by the Earle of Rosse's daughter, she dying, and herself taken to be his queen, her sones was reputed and declared righteous successores to the crowne, and that by consent of Parliament.

"These reasones, with the splendent aspect of royall majestie, backed with a soveraigne power, might prevaill much upon this innocent lady, and inclyne her to a complyance, as not weill knowing how to refuise the kynde offeres of soe obleidgeing a prince, the effects whereof, in four yeares tyme, made her mother of two boyes and ane daughter to the king."

The reader will observe in what a style of courtly submission the author talks of the insult offered by the royal visitor, both to his own ancestor the Lady Somerville, and to the Captain of Crawfurd's family. In several posterior passages we find hints of the manner in which he regarded this sort of royal condescension. The ladies so honoured seem to be not a whit more contaminated by it in his eyes, than they were in those of his kinsman, the Laird of Cambusnethan, who married successively two concubines of James V. These ladies, according to one passage,

very much illustrate the family;" and in another we are told, that their husband "was a plain country gentleman, and an excellent housekeeper, happy in both his marriages for beautiffull and vertuous ladies.' Vol. 2. A second long digression is made in another place, in vindication of the character of one of them, and the noble author concludes in these words-" Thus far have I digressed in vindication of this excellent lady, that it may appear it was neither her choyse, nor any vitious habit that prevailled over her chastity, but ane ineviteable fate that the strongest resistance could scarcely withstand."-Vol. 1. p. 388-anticipating, as the Editor has already observed, the indulgent maxim of Prior,

"That when weak women go astray Their stars are more in fault than they."

1817.

LETTER FROM JAMES IV. TO THE

KING OF DENMARK,

to the provestis and ballies of Edinburgh, Sanct Johnstoun, Dundee, Mon

1506.

Little Egypt, &c. (Referred to at page 161.) ILLUSTRISSIME, &c. Anthonius Gawino, ex Parva Egypto comes, et cœtera ejus comitatus, gens afflicta et miseranda, dum Christianam orbem peregrinationes studio, Apostolicæ Sedis (ut refert) jussu, suorum more peregrinans, fines nostri regni dudum advenerat, atque in sortis suæ, et miseriarum hujus populi, refugium, nos pro humanitate imploraverat ut nostros limites sibi impune adire, res cunctas, et quam habet societatem libere circumagere liceret. Impetrat facile quæ postulat miserorum hominum dura fortuna. Ita aliquot menses bene et catholice, (sic accepimus,) hic versatus, ad te, Rex et Avuncule, in Daciam transitum paret. Sed oceanum transmissurus nostras literas exoravit, quibus celsitudinem tuam horum certiorum redderemus, simul et calamitatem ejus gentis Regiæ tuæ munificentiæ commendaremus. Ceterum errabundæ Egypti fata, moresque, et genus, eo tibi quam nobis credimus notiora, quo Egyptus tuo regno vicinior, et major hujusmodi hominum frequentia tuo diversatur imperio. Il lustrissime, &c.

MS. Reg. 13. B. II.)

ACT OF THE LORDS OF COUNCIL,

Respecting John Faw, &c. Jun. 6, 1541.

(Referred to at page 161.)

THE quhilk day anentis the complaintis gevin in be Jhone Faw and his brether, and Sebastiane Lowlaw, Egiptianis, to the Kingis Grace, ilkane pleinzeand vpoun vther of diverse faltis and Iniuris; And that It is aggreit amang thame to passe hame, and to haue the samyn decydit before the Duke of Egipt. The Lordis of Counsale being avisit with the pointis of the saidis complaintis, and vnderstanding perfitlie the gret thiftis and scathis done be the saidis Egiptianis vpoun our soverane Lordis lieges, quhairuer thae cum or resortis; Ordanis letters to be direct

Forress, and Inuerness; And to the Schirefis of Edinburgh, Fif, Perth, Forfair, Kincardin, Aberdene, Elgyn and Foress, Banff, Crummarty, Inuerness, And all vtheris schirefis, stewartis, provestis, and ballies, quhair it happinnis the saidis Egiptianis to resort; To command and charge thame, be oppin proclamatioun at the mercat croces of the heid burgh of the schirefdomes, to depart furth of this realme, with their wifis, barnis, and companies, within xxx dayis efter thai be chargit therto, vnder the pane of deid; Notwithstanding ony vtheris letters, or privelegis, granted to thame be the Kingis Grace; Becaus his Grace, with avise of the lordis, hes dischargit the samyn for the causis forsaidis; with certificatioun and thai be fundin in this realme, the saidis xxx dayis being past, thai salbe tane and put to deid. (MS. Act. Dom. Con. vol. 15. fol. 155.)

CONFESSIONS OF WITCHCRAFT.

[The following extracts form part of a series of depositions made before the Kirk Session of Perth, 1623, and are copied from the original MS. signed, as below, by the clerks of Session and Presbytery. They are chiefly interesting on account of the allu sions they contain to several curious popular charms and superstitions. We have now before us a number of other original papers relating to the history of witchcraft, from which, perhaps, we may hereafter give some extracts of a more strange and striking description, if we find that these can be separated from the profane and revolting details -of which they contain more than enough to shock even such readers as have the most

voracious appetite for the horrible.]

Depositiounes of Isso Haldane suspect of Wychcraft, confessit be her the 10 of Maij 1623, as follows

terit in; thair scho stayit thrie dayis, viz. fra thurisday till sonday at xij houris. Scho mett a man with ane grey beird, quha brocht her furth agane.

Item-That same day John Roch deponit that about that same tyme he beand in James Chrystie the wrichtis buith, caussing the wricht mak ane cradill to him, becaus his wyff wes neir the down lying, the said Issobell Haldane com by, desyreit him not to be sae hastie, for he neidit not; his wyff sould nocht be lichter till that tyme fyve-oulkis, and then the bairne suld neuer ly in the craidill, bot be borne, bapteisit, and neuer sook, bot die and be tayne away: And as the said Issobell spak sa it cam to pass in euerie poynt. The said Issobell being demandit how scho knew that, answerit that the man with the grey beird tauld her.

Item-The said Johne Roch deponit that Mart Buchannane, spous to Dauid Reid, being in helth at her ordinare wark, the said Isso!! Haldane come to hir and desyreit hir mak hir for deith, for befoir Fastingis evin, q1k wes within few dayis, scho suld be taikin away: And as scho said, so it wes befoir that terme the woman died. -Being askit how scho knew the terme of hir lyfe, the said Iso!! answerit scho hed speirit it at yt. same man with the grey beird, and he hed tauld her.

(May 16.)-Patrick Ruthuen, skynner in Perth, compeirit and declairit, that he being wychit be Margaret Hormscleuch, Issobell Haldane com to see him: scho com in to the bed and streichit hir self abone him, hir. heid to his heid, hir handis ower him, and so furth, mumbling some wordis, he knew nocht quhat they war.-The said Issobell confessit the said cure, and deponit, that before the said Patrick wes wychit scho met him, and foirbad him to go till scho had gone with him.

(May 19.)-Compearit Stephen Ray in Muretoun, and deponit that thrie yeiris syne that Isso!! Haldane hauing stollin sum bere furth of the Hall of Balhouffye he followit hir and brocht hir bak agane: Scho chaipit him on the schulder, saying-Go thy way, thow sall not win thy self ane bannok of breid

for yeir and day: And as scho threttinit sa it cam to pas; he dwynit hauelie diseiseit.-The said Issobell confessis the away taking of the bere, the diseise of the man; and affirmeis that onlye scho said-He that delyuerit me from the farye folk sall tak a mendis on thé.

Item-The same day scho confest scho maid thrie seuerall kaikis, euerie ane of them of ix curneis of meill gotten fra ix wemen that wer maryit madynis; maid ane hoill in the crown of euerie ane of theme, and pat ane bairne throw it thrie tymes in the name of * + to wemen that pat the saidis bairneis thryse throw backwand wseing the saidis wordis.

*

*

*

Item-The said Issobell confest that scho went silent to the well of Ruthuen and returneit silent, bringing watter from thence to wasch John Gowis bairne: quhen scho tuik the watter frome the well scho left ane pairt of the bairneis sark at it, qk scho tuik with hir for that effect, and quhen scho cam ham scho wousch the bairne thairwith. Inlyk maner scho confest scho hed done the elyk to Johne Powryis bairne.

(May 27.)-The said Isso!! confessit that scho hed gewin drinkis to cure bairneis; amangis the rest that Dauid Moreis' wyff com to hir, and thryse for Goddis saik askit help to hir bairne thet wes ane scharge; and scho send furth hir sone to gather sochsterrie leaveis, quhairof scho directit the bairneis mother to mak ane drink: Bot the bairneis mother deponit that the said Isso Haldane, on being requirit cam to hir house, and saw the bairne, said it wes an scharge taikin away, Tuik on hand to cure it, and to that effect gaiff the bairne a drink, efter the ressait q' of the bairne shortlie died.

WILLIAME YOUNG, Scribe to the Presbytrie of Pearth, at command of the samyn, wţ my hand. JAMES DAUIDSONE, Notarie public, and Clerk to the Sessioune of Perth, at their command and directioun, with my hand.

+Scil. in nomine Dei Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti.

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