James VI. to the Lord Newbottle.1 Trusty cousin and counsellor, we greet you heartily well. Having often times before, both by word and writ, pressed Mr. John Preston of Fentonbarns to satisfy and make payment to George Heriot the younger, of that sum expressed in our precept of the first and readiest of our taxation, seeing our dearest bedfellow's the queen's jewels were engaged for this sum, and that it touched us so nearly in honour, yet has he ever excused himself with the collection and keeping together of that sum destined to the despatch of our ambassador to France, for removing of the which his farther delay and excuse, we have thought good hereby to will and desire you that ye fail not to cause the said George be answered of that sum debtful to him, and contenit 3 in his precept of the first end of that sum reserved to the despatch of the said ambassador, or any other part of our taxation, being presently, or that shall happen, to come first in your or your substitute's hands, and that ye prefer his payment to all others for the relief of our said dearest bedfellow's jewels engaged, and our honour and promise cause; 2 1 Original Manuscript preserved in the archives of the Heriot Foundadation Schools, Edinburgh. The name of the goldsmith here mentioned has been rendered familiar to the public by Sir W. Scott's "Fortunes of Nigel." It was the Queen's practice, when desirous of procuring an advance of money, or some new trinkets, whether for personal use or for gifts, to pledge with him the most curious of his jewels. See Dr. Steven's Memoirs of Heriot, 8vo. 1845. 2 Indebted. 3 Contained. 4 Before. whereunto we doubt not but ye will have a special regard, as ye will merit our thanks, and do us acceptable pleasure and service. So we commit you to God. From Falkland, this thirteenth of June, 1599. James VI. to Mr. Hambleton.1 JAMES R. Mr. Ambleton, although I never doubted, and was ever sufficiently informed of your good will borne towards me in all lawful sort (for otherwise I never did nor shall require it) by all your honest subjects of England, that sincerely profess the only true religion, professed and by laws established in both these countries; (the band of conscience being the only sure band for tying of men's affections to whom they owe a natural duty); yet having the same renewed and confirmed unto me by your late advertisements, I have thought good by this presents, all written with mine own hand, to set you down a meeting for them in this point; that is, that you shall in my name assure all the honest men you can meet with, that are affected that way, and that on the princely word of a princely king, that, as I have ever, without swerving, professed and maintained the same religion within all the bounds of my kingdom, so may they assure themselves that how soon it shall please God lawfully to possess me with the crown of that kingdom wherein they are subjects, I shall not only maintain and continue the profession of the Gospel there, but withal not suffer or permit any other religion to be professed and avowed 1 Harl. MSS. 787, art. 3. Hambleton was one of James's followers resident in England in 1600, the date of the present letter. VOL. II. F within the bounds of that kingdom. But because you have been at your last being with me particularly acquainted with my intentions in this point, as also that yourself is so well known and approved unto them there, you shall by tongue more particularly inform them of my mind herein, resolving them of such malicious calumnies and unjust imputations as have been from time to time, by my undeserved enemies, contrived against me. And thus I bid you heartily farewell. JAMES R. James I. to Sir John Harrington.1 Right trusty and well-beloved friend, we greet you heartily well. We have received your Lantern with the poesy you send us by our servant, William Hunter, giving you hearty thanks, as likewise for your last letter, when we perceive the continuance of your loyal affection to us and your service. We shall not be unmindful to extend our princely favour hereafter to you and your particulars at all guid occasions. We commit you to God. JAMES R. Holyrood House, 3rd April, 1603. James I. to the Lords of his Privy Council, upon his entering England.2 6th April, 1603. Right trusty and right well-beloved cousins and coun 1 MSS. in University Library, Edinburgh. This was in return for the present of a curious lantern made him by Sir John, accompanied with verses. 2 MSS. in Mus. Ashmol. Oxon. James I. thus speaks of his accession to the English throne, in a letter to the king of France : sellors, we greet you well. This day is Roger Ashton come to us with the money sent you, for your diligence wherein used we give you our hearty thanks, and have thought good to let you know that we are thus far on our way, having made our entry into this town about four or five of the clock in the afternoon, and from hence we purpose, within a day or two, to remove to Newcastle, and so to hasten toward you as much as conveniently we may, and will be at Burghley, as you advise, we hope, in short time, and there be glad to see you. But touching your opinion that so far we should come as it were in private manner, and that thither you would send us such provision as you should think to be needful for our honour, we have thought good to let you understand that we could be well contented so to do, were it not that our city of York lieth so near in our way, as we cannot well pass by it. And being a place of so much note in these parts of our kingdom, and the second city thereof, and the country so full of nobility and gentlemen of the best sort, we do think it fit for our honour, and for the contentation of our subjects in those quarters, to make our “You will have heard from your own ambassador with us, that in consequence of the said queen having departed this life, we have been called to the succession of the said crown, as well by right of consanguinity as by the universal consent of the nobility, the good cities, and other people of the realm, with so much cheerfulness and promptitude, that we heard almost sooner the notification of our right, than the report of her death. And for this we confess we have very great reason to praise the providence and bounty of God, in having, contrary to the appearance of things, and the expectations of men, established us peaceably in the possession of that which of right belonged to us."MS. Cotton. Calig. E. x. art. 81. For entry there in some such solemn manner as appertaineth to our dignity. Wherefore we require you that all such things as you in your wisdoms think meet for such a purpose, and which you intended to have sent to Burghley, that you will cause them to be sent to York, so as they may be there before we make our entry, and serve to do us honour at the same. your own persons we can well be content to spare your travail, the journey being so long, and expect you at Burghley, except any of you that is able to abide such travail shall think fit to come to York to us. As touching our guard, because we are informed that the custom of this kingdom hath been that they should attend the corpse of the prince deceased until the funerals, we can be well contented therein to do that and all other honour that we may unto the queen defunct. And likewise for the point of her interment to be done before our coming or after, we do refer it to your consideration, whether shall be more honour for her to have it finished before we come, or to have us present at it. For that we do so much respect the dignity to her appertaining, being not only successor to her in the kingdom, but so near as we are of blood, as we will not stand so much upon the ceremonies of our own joy, but that we should have in that which concerneth her all that to be done, which may most testify the honour we do bear towards her memory. Wherefore as we refer this point to your consideration, so do we desire to hear therein your advices speedily, that we may frame our journeys thereafter. Further, forasmuch as we do intend to bring into this |