noblemen of Scotland and Commons so think of the peace and contract of marriage, that is put in their heads are the King's Majesty's unfriends; that and that matter were perfectly once ended, that he would destroy and put away all the noblemen, and the old blood of Scotland; howbeit that I, and many other great men, know the contrary. Thereof I thought good (saving his Majesty's pleasure) whenever he sends any army to garrison, they make proclamation that he sends his army only to cause the Marches to cause him to be redressed of his goods. It would do me a great pleasure, and I should cause the gentleman to serve his Majesty at his pleasure, to the extent of his power, and if your Majesty would send any writing to the Laird of Drumelzaer he should enter a son of his to do such service and pleasure as other prisoners who were taken in the same manner.

Item, to shew his Majesty that it is not out of his Highness's remembrance how I was taken in his Highness's service for good affairs; and was holden in bond three quarters of a year, and a great part of my lands taken from me in Parliament, I being in ward; and one of my castles betrayed and taken, and all my property being there; which was all done to me for the service and good mind I was in doing to his Majesty, believing well that his Highness will remember and consider the same.

Item, to shew that a French Ambassador is come here, without any money, or any other help but many fair words; and says the cause why he

brought no money for the division was betwixt the Queen, the Governor, and the Lords; and says there will be great help in contract of

peace and marriage which was made and consented of three estates in Parliament to be observed and kept, and to do no hurt nor harm to any who would assist contrary, or take part therewith. This being done, I believe most part of the people would assist thereto. Also, if his Majesty thought expedient to send heralds to have charged the prisoners of new to have entreated one day of your honour and after the form of your bands; and to have sent one good writing to every one of them, making mention nothwithstanding they had failed times bygone his Majesty would remit it, and use them as noblemen ought to be used, being prisoners: for I believe you stand in fear that his Majesty is so displeased at them that he would but imprison them, and I believe the writing would put all that away; saving his Majesty's pleasure to do thereunto as his Highness thinks

best.

Item, to shew his Majesty how the Laird Drumelzaer, my kinsman and friend, is lately taken, wherewith I am greatly weakened by his absence; and, since his taking, that his son and heir, who has married my daughter, has a sort of run on him by his Majesty's subjects of the West Border, who have carried and taken from him all his gear. it were his Majesty's pleasure so to make a sharp charge to the Warden of the West as that they soon may join again; but the Lords give no credence

If

thereto. Also the King of France has taken up the Queen's silver which had come to herself, of her own leaving.

Item, to shew that Mr. David Panter* sent a writing to the Governor, saying that the King of France wills the marriage of the Queen's Grace to the Dauphin's son; and if that were not granted, he believed there should no help nor supply come out of France to us, with which the Lords and the Governor were evil contented, and nothing minded thereto. The French Ambassador has not propounded that matter as yet; and because, I believe, he hears the most part of the Lords' mind is not given thereto. Further, as any matter occurs his Highness shall be advertised.†

No. XXI.

(Talbot Papers, Vol. A. fol. 157.)

Indorsed, "The Copy of a Letter sent to the Earl of CASSILIS: from his Pledges."

My Lord, WE Commend all our service to your Lordship who is pleased to wait that we, all comfortless, do

* David Panter, formerly Secretary to the Earl of Lennox (who is here called the Governor), and at this time the Scottish Ambassador in France. He was appointed Bishop of Ross in 1544, and died about the year 1550.

† See note on No. XXV., which will throw some light on the subject of this paper.

Gilbert Kennedy, third Earl of Cassilis, who was one of the prisoners taken at Solway Moss. It appears by a subsequent letter that his kinsmen remained unredeemed, in the custody of the Archbishop of York, seyen months after this date. We are told by Douglas, in his Peerage, that the Earl afterwards acquired some degree of favour with Henry, by endeavouring to bring about the

complain of our miserable case; for we are charged for your entries in all haste possible,

for if you do not, we shall suffer death, and that right certainly. My Lord, remember that we, as friends and natural kinsmen, took on us with our will to come and gropper* our lives for your sake. Beside your Lordship to prove and shew yourself an honest man to the King of England's Majesty, like as are your promise of as much, and your bond written to us; and the contrary whereof you may be assured that it shall cost us our lives, which is at this time at a narrow point, if you come not betime. Now is the time come wherein the world shall hear and know whether you set by the lives of your innocent and brother, the truth of your faithful promise and honour or no. Yet if you will wilfully cast us away you can, and you may save us if you will: the pains of death will not grieve us so much as the pains of hell and damnation, if our souls will hurt you for the tinsel of us men, which is unwilling to slay us

with your own hand.

Always, my Lord, remember that the Lord of Colff hath four motherless children; take heed that you make them not fatherless for your cause,

match between Prince Edward and the young Queen of Scotland: that collection, however, is rather deficient in its account of this family, for it takes no notice either of Thomas, David, or Archibald Kennedy, who sign this letter, although the first was uncle, and the two latter brothers, to the Earl.

• Probably proffer in the original. Some passages in this, and in the preceding paper, appear to have been rendered unintelligible by the ignorance or negligence of the transcribers.

you which were not your

And also

remember your brother Dandy, of whom you have made great costs to do without

,

and me Archibald, your other brother; and all of us to be an example to all the world, and you do not well for us; for you have fee'd us with many fair words in time past, but now it comes to the point that you should do. For your honour, and the safety of our lives, see that you observe the King of England's great proclamation; and speed your entry for the satisfaction of our mulct, for danger that after will follow if you call the tenure of our lives dangerous, wherewith you are like to reward us for our kind heart to your Lordship; as God knows, who have mercy on our souls, (for our bodies are but tent* if ye enter not the sooner) and amen. Written at York, this 11th day of December, by your uncle and brother.

Also, my Lord, remember what pain and sorrow we do suffer, tarrying on your coming in all possible haste, to have some comfort of us that you will relieve us, and bring us out of this great despair.

THOS. KENNEDY, some time Laird of Coyff,
DAVID KENNEDY, of Cavix, the one.

ARCHIBALD KENNEDY.

* Lost - undone― probably an abreviation of atteint, or

attainted.