Morning, the Weather beeing wonderfull pleasant and feasonable. But, before his Maieftie could leap on Horfe-back, his Hienes being now come downe by the Equerie, all the Huntif-men with the Houndes attending his Maiefty on the Greene, and the Court making to their Horfes, as his Hienes felf was; Maifter Alexander Ruthven, fecond Brother to the late Earle of Gowrie, being then lighted in the Toun of Falkland, haifted him faft downe to ouer-take his Maiefte before his On-leaping, as he did: Where meeting his Hienes, after a verie low Courtefie, bowing his Head vnder his Maiefties Knee (although he was neuer wont to make fo low Courtefy) drawing his Maicftie a-part, he beginnes to difcourfe vnto him, but with a verie dejected Countenance, his Eies euer fixed vppon the Earth, how that it chanced him the Euening before to be walking Abroad about the Fields, taking the Air, folitarie allone, without the Toun of Sanit Iohnftoun, wher his prefent Dwelling was with the Lord his Brother; and there by Accident affirmed to haue recountred a base like Fellow, vnknowne to him, with a Cloke caft about his Mouth; whome at as he enquyred his Name, and what his Erand was, to be paffing in fo folitary a Part, being from all Waies. The Fellow become at the fuddain fo amafed, and his Tongue fo faultered in his Mouth, that, vppon his fufpitious Behaviour, he begouth more narrowly to look vnto him, and examine him; and, perceauing that there appeared fome Thing to bee hid vnder his Cloke, he did caft by the Lappes of it, and fo findes a great wyde Pot to be vnder his Arme, all full of coyned Gold in great Peeces. Affuring his Maieftie, that it was in verie great Quaintitie: Vpon the fight whereof, as hee affirmed, he took back the Fellow with his Burthen to the Toun; where he privatly, without the Knowledge of any liuing, took the Fellow, and band him in a privie derned House, and, after Lokking many Durres vppon him, left him there, and his Pot with him, and had haifted himself out of Sanet-Iohnft oun that Day, by four Houres in the Morning, to make his Maieftie aduertised thereof, according to his bound Dutie: Earneftlie requesting his Maieftie, with all Diligence and Secrecie, that his Maieftie might take Order therewith, before anie knew thereof; fwearing and protesting, that he had yet concealed it from all Liuing, yea, from the Earle his owne Brother.

His Maiefties first Anfwere was (after Thanking him for his Good-will) That it could not become his Maieftie to meddle any wayes in that Matter, fince no Mans Treasure, that is a free and lawfull Subiect, can by the Lawe appertaine vnto the King, except it bee found hid vnder the Earth, as this was not. Whereunto he answered, That the Fellow confeffed vnto him, that he was going to haue hid it vnder the Ground, but could not take Leasure at that Time to enquyre any further of him. Whereunto his Maieftie replyed, That there was great Difference betwixt a Deed, and the Intention of a Deed; his Intention to have hid it not beeing alyke as if it had beene found alreadie hid. Maifter Alexander's Anfwer was, That hee thought his Maieftie over fcrupulous in fuch a Matter, tending fo greatly to his Maiefties Profite; and that, if his Maiefty deferred to meddle with it, it might bee, that the Lord his Brother, and other great Men, might meddle with it, and make his Maieftie the more a-doe: Whereupon the King, beginning to fufpect that it had been

fome

fome forraine Gold, brought Home by fome Iefuites, or practifing Papift's (therewith to fturre vp fome newe Sedition, as they have oftentimes done before) inquyred of the faid M. Alexander, What Kinde of Coine it was, and what a Fellow hee was that carried it? His Anfwere was, That, fo far as hee could take Leafure to fee of them, they seemed to bee forraine and vncouth Strokes of Coine; and, although that the Fellow, both by his Language and Fashion, seemed to bee a Scots Fellow, yet hee could neuer remember, that hee had feene him before. Thefe Speaches increased his Maiefties Sufpition,. that it was forraine Coyne, brought in by fome practifing Papifts, and to bee diftributed into the Countrie, as is before faid. And that the Fellowe, that carried it, was fome Scots Prieft or Seminarie, fo difguifed for the more fure Tranfporting thereof. Whereupon his Maieftie refolved, that he would fend backe with the faid Maifter Alexander a Seruand of his own, with a Warrant to the Prouoft and Baillies of Sant-Iohnftoun, to receaue both the Fellow and the Money off Maifter Alexanders Hand, and after they had examined the Fellow, to retaine him and the Treasure, till his Maiefties further Pleasure were knowne Whereat the faid Maifter Alexander fturred meruelouflie, affirming and protefting, that if either the Lord his Brother, or the Baillies of the Toun were put on the Counfal thereof, his Maieftie would get a verie bad Compt of that Treafure; fwearing, that the great Loue and Affection, he bare vnto his Maieftie, had made him to preferre his Maieftie, in this Cace, both to himfelf, and his Brother. For the which Seruice he humblie craued that Recompence, that his Maiefty would take the Paines once to ryde thither, that he might bee the first Seear thereof himfelf; which beeing done, he woulde remit to his Maiefties owne honorable Discretion, how far it would please his Maieftie to confidder vpon him for his Service. His Hienes being ftricken in great Admiration, both of the Vncouthnes of the Tale, and of the strange and stupide Behaviour of the Reporter; and the Court being alreadie horfed, wondering. at his Maiefties fo long Stay with that Gentleman, the Morning being fo fair, the Game alreadie found, and the Huntifmen fo long ftaying on the Fields, on his Maieftie, he was forced to breake off onlie with thefe Words: That hee coulde not nowe staye any longer from his Sporte, but that hee would confidder of the Matter, and, at the End of his Chafe, giue him a refolute Anfwere, what Order he would take therein. Wherupon his Maiefty parted ja Hafte from him towardes the Place where the Game was. Maifter Alexander parting from his Maieftie verie mifcontent, that indelaiedlie he raid not to SanIohnftoun, as he defired him; protefting, that his Maieftie would not finde euerie Day fuch a Choife of Hunting, as he had offered vnto him; and that hee feared, that his Maiefties long Delay, and Slowness of Refolution, would breed Leafure to the Fellow, who was lying bound, to cry, or make fuch Din, as would difappoint the Secrecie of that hail Purpofe, and make both the Fellow and the Treasure to be medied with, before any Word could come from his Maieftie: As alfo, that his Brother would miffe him, in Refpect of his Abfence that Morning, which if his Maieftie had pleased to hafte, he might haue preuented, arryuing there in the Tyme of his Brothers and the whole Townes being at the Sermon ; whereby his Maieftie might haue, taken fuch.

fecrete

fecrete Order with that Matter, as hee pleased, before their Outcomming from the Church. But, his Maieftie, without anie further Anfwering of him, leaping on Horse-back, and ryding to the Dogs, where they were beginning to hunt, the faid Maifter Alexander stayed ftill in that Place wher hee left his Maieftie; and, hauing two Men with him appointed by the late Earle his Brother, to carrie back vnto him the certaine Newes, in al Haift, of his Maiefties Comming, as heerafter more particularlie fhall in this fame Discourse be declared, hee directed one of them, called Andrew Henderfon, Chalmerlane to the faid Earle, to ryde in all Hafte to the Earle; commanding him, as hee loued his Brothers Honour, that hee fhoulde not spare for Spilling of his Horfe; and that hee fhould aduertise the Earle, that hee hoped to moue his Maieftie to come thither, and that hee fhould not yet looke for him, the Space of three Houres thereafter, because of his Maiefties Hunting, adding these Words: Pray my Lord my Brother to prepare the Denner for vs.

But his Maieftie was no fooner ridden vp to a little Hil aboue the little Woode, wher the Dogs were laid on in Hunting, but that, notwithstanding the pleasant Beginning of the Chase, hee could not stay from mufing and wondering vpon the Newes. Whereupon, without making anie Bodie acquainted with this Purpose, finding Iohn Nefmith, Chirurgian, by Chance ryding befide him, his Maieftie directed him back to bring Maifter Alexander with him; who being brought vnto his Maieftie, and hauing newlie directed, as faid is, one of his Men, that was with him, back to my Lord his Brother, his Maieftie, vnknowing or fufpecting that any Man liuing had come with him, then tolde him, that hee had bene aduyfing with himself, and, in Respect of his last Wordes fo earnest with him, hee refolued to ryde thither for that Erand in his own Perfon, how foone the Chace was ended, which was alreadie begun; lyke as his Maiefty, vppon the verie Ending of these Words, did ryde away in the Chafe, the faid Maifter Alexander euer following him at his Back; no other liuing being with his Hieneffe, but hee, and Iohn Hammilton of Grange, one of his Maiefties Maister-stablers, the reste of the Court being all before in the Chase, his Maieftie onlie being caften back, vpon the Staying to fpeak with Maister Alexander, as is before said. The Chafe lafted from Seuen Houres in the Morning, vntil Alleuen and more, being one of the greatest and forest Chases, that euer his Maieftie was at : All which Tyme, the faid Maifter Alexander was, for the most Part, euer at his Maiefties Back, as faid is. But there neuer was anie Stop in the Chase, or so small a Delay, that the faid Maister Alexander omitted to round to his Maieftie, earnestly requesting him to haift the End of the Hunting, that he might ryde the fooner to Sanit-Iohnftoun: So as, at the Death of the Buck, his Maieftie, not ftaying vppon the Curie of the Deir, as his Vfe is, fcarcelie took Time to alight, awaiting vppon the Comming of a fresh Horfe to ryde on, the Greatneffe of the Chafe hauing wearied his Horse. But the faid Maifter Alexander would not fuffer the King to stay in the Parke, where the Buck was killed, whil his fresh Horse, which was alredy fent for, was brought out of the Equery to him, although it was not two Flight Shot of Bounds betwixt the Part, where the Buck was killed, and his Maiefties Equerie; but, with verie Importunitie, forced his Maieftie to leap on againe vpon

that

that fame Horfe, that hee had hunted all the Day vppon, his frefhe Horse beeing made to gallop a Myle of the Way to ouertake him; his Maieftie not ftaying fo much as vppon his Sword, nor whil the Duke and the Earle of Mar, with diuerfe Gentlemen of his Companie, had changed their Horfes; onlie faying vnto them, that hee was to ryde to Sanct-Iohnstoun to fpeak with the Earle of Gowry, and that hee would bee presently back againe before Euen. Whereupon, fome of the Court galloped backe to Falkland, als fast as they could, to change their Horfes, and could not ouertake his Maieftie, whill he come within four Myle of Sanit-Iohnstoun. Others raid forward with their Horfes, weried as they were, whereof some were compelled to alight by the Way; and, if they had not both refreshed their Horses, bled them, and giuen them fome Graffe by the Way, they had not carried them to Sanit-Iobnftoun. The Caufe of his Maicfties Seruands following fo faft, vndefired by him, being onlie grounded vpon a Sufpition they had conceaued, that his Maiefties Intention of Ryding was for the Apprehenfion of the Maifter of Oliphant, one who had latelie done a vyle and proud Oppreffion in Angus; for repairing of the which, they thoght, that his Maieftie had fome Purpofe for his Apprehenfion. But the said Maister Alexander, feeing the Duke and the Earle of Mar, with diuers other of the Court, getting fresh Horfes for following of his Maieftie, earnestlie defired him, that hee would publifh to his whole Traine, tha, fince he was to returne the fame Euening, as is before said, they needed not to follow him; efpeciallie, that he thought it meeteft, that his Maieftie fhould stay the Duke and the Earle of Mar to follow him, and that he should onlie take three or four of his owne meane Seruands with him; affirming, that, if anie nobl Man followed him, hee could not answere for it, but that they would m that whole Purpose. Wherupon his Maieftie, half angerlie, replied, That wold not miftruft the Duke, nor the Earle of Mar, in a greater Purple that; and that hee could not vnderstand, what Hinder anie Man could make in that Erand. But these last Speeches of M. Alexanders maid the King to begin to fufpecte what it could meane; wherevppon manie diuerfe Thoughts begouth to enter in the Kings Minde. But that his Maieftie could neuer ful, ect anie Harme to be intended against his Hienes, by that young Gentleman, with whome his Maieftie had bene fo well acquainted, as hee had, not long before, beene in Sute to be one of the Gentlemen of his Chalmer: So as the fartheit, that the Kings Sufpition could reache to, was, that it might bee, that the Earle his Brother had handled him fo hardlie, that the young Gentleman, being of a hie Spirit, had taken fuch Difpleasure, as he was become fomewhat by himfelf, which his Maieftie coniectured afwell by his raifed and vncouth Stairing, and continuall Penfiueneffe, all the Time of the Hunting, as likewife by fuch strange Sort of vnlykelie Difcourfes, as is alreadie mentioned. Wherupon, his Maiefty took Occafion to make the Duke of Lennox acquainted with the whol Purpofe, enquyring of him verie earnestlie, What he knew of that young Gentlemans Nature, beeing his Brother in Law? And, If he had euer perceived him to be fubiect to any high Apprehenfion? His Maieftie declaring his Sufpition plainelie to the faid Lord Duke, that hee thought him not well fetled in his Wits; VOL. I. alwaies

Ff

alwaies defiring my Lord Duke not to faile to accompanie hina in to that House, where the alledged Fellow and Treasure was. The Lord Duke wondered much at that Purpose, and thought it verie vnlikelie; yet he affirmed, that he could neuer perceaue any fuch Appearance in that Gentleman's Inclination. But Maifter Alexander, perceyuing his Maiefties priuie Conference with the Duke, and fufpecting the Purpose, as it appeared, came to the King, requefting his Maieftie verie earnestlie, that he shoulde make none liuing acquainted with that Purpose, nor fuffer none to go with his Maiefty, where he should conuoy him, but himselfe onlie,vntill his Maieftie had once feene the Fellowe and the Treasure: Whereunto his Majeftie haif-laughing, gave Anfwere, That he was no good Teller of Money, and behooved therefore to haue fome to helpe him in that Erand. His Replye was, That hee woulde fuffer none to fee it, but his Maiefties Selfe, at the firft; but, afterward, hee might call in whom hee pleased. Thefe Speeches did fo encrease his Majefties Sufpition, that then he begouth directly to fufpect fome treasonable Devife; yet, manie Sufpitions and Thoughts ouerwhelming euery one an other in his Minde, his Maieftie coulde refolue upon no certaine Thing, but raid further on his Iourney, betwixt Truft and Diftrust, being ashamed to feeme to fufpect in Respect of the Cleanneffe of his Maiefties owne Conscience, except he had found fome greater Ground. The faid Maifter Alexander ftill preafing the King to ride fafter, although his owne Horse was scarcelie able to keep Companie with the King, for Wearineffe, hauing riden with him, all the Chafe before. But, as the King was come two Miles from Falkland, the faid Maister Alexander stayed a little behind the King in the Way, and pofted away the other Seruand, Andrew Ruthven, to the Earle his Brother, aduertifing him, howe farre the King was on his Waye to come thither. Then, how foon foeuer the King come within a Myle to the Toun of San&t-Iohnston, he faid to his Ma:efty, that he would pofte in before, to aduertife the Earle his Brother of his Maiefties Comming; who, at his Incomming to him, was fitting at the Middes of his Denner, neuer feeming to take Knowledge of the Kings Comming, whill his Brother told it him, notwithstanding of his two Servands aduertifing him thereof before: And, immediatlie vppon his Brothers Reporte, ryfing in Hafte from the Borde, and warning al the Seruands and Friendes to accompanie him to meete his Maiefty, met him, to the Number of three or four Score, at the End of the Infb, his Maiefties whole Companie and Traine not exceeding the Nomber of fixteene Perfons, and al without any Kinde of Armour, except Swords; no, not fo much as Daggers, or Whingears. His Maieftie ftayed an Houre, after his Comming to the faid Earles Lodging, in San&t-Iohnftoun, before his Denner come in The Longfomneffe of the Preparing of the fame, and Badneffe of the Cheare, beeing excufed, vppon the Sodainty of his Maiefties Comming vnlooked for there. During the which Tyme, his Maieftie enquyred of Maifter Alexander, When it was Tyme to him to goe to that priuate House, for that Erand, whereof he had informed him? Whose Anfwere was, That al was fure enough, but that there was no Hafte yet, for an Houre, whill his Ma