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make a Prayer, whereby he might be comforted now in his trouble; which was done: the said Deponer, with many tears after the Prayer, affirmed this his Deposition to be true; and for the confirmation thereof, declared, that he would seal the same with his blood.

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• Machiavellian massacring of our dear friends, yea, howbeit it should be, to venture and bazard life, lands and all other thing else. My ' heart can bind me to take part in that matter, as your lordship shall find better proof thereof. But one thing would be done : namely, That your lordship should be circumspect and carnest with your brother, that he be not-rash in any speeches touching the purpose of Padua.'

And a certain space after the execution of the aforesaid Treason, the said Robert Logan of Restalrig, having desired the laird of Bour to deliver him the aforesaid Letter, or else to burn it; and Bour having given to you all Tickets and Letters, which he then had either concerning Restalrig, or others, to see the same, because he could not read himself; you abstracted the above-written Letter, and reteined the same in your own hands, and divers times read it, conteining farther in substance nor is formerly set down, according to the words fol

And the next day thereafter, being the 12th of the aforesaid month of August, upon the aforesaid Confession, the said George was brought forth and presented in Judgment upon Pannel, within the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, before sir Wm. Hart of Preston, his majesty's Justice, and there in a fenced Court holden by him that day, assisted by the honourable peisons following, his assessors in that errand: they are to say, Alexander earl of Dunfermling, lord chancellor, George earl of Dunbar, treasurer, John abp. of Glascow, David bp. of Rosse, Gawin bp. of Galloway, Andrew bp. of Brechine, David earl of Crawford, Mark earl of Lothiane, John lord Abicnethy of Saltoun, James lord of Balmerinoth, secretary, Walter lord Blantyre, John lord Hallyrudehouse, Mich-lowing: nel lord Burley, sir Rd. Cokburne of Clarkintoun, kt. Mr. John Preston of Fenton Barnes, collector-general, sir John Skeyne of Curihil, knight, clerk of register: was delated, nccursed, and pursued by sir Tho. Hamilton of Binning, koight, advocate to our sovereign lord for his highness's entries, of the Crimes contained in his Indictment, produced by the said Advocate; whereof the Tenour followeth:

George Sprot, notary in Ayemouth, You are indicted and accused, forsomuch as John, sometime earl of Gowrie, having most cruelly, detestably, and treasonably conspired in the month of July, the year of God 1600 years, to murder our dear and most gracious sovereign the king's most excellent majesty and having imparted that devilish purpose to Robert Logan of Restalrig, who allowed of the same, and most willingly and readily undertook to be partaker thereof: The same coming to your knowledge at the times and in the manner particularly after specified, you most unnaturally, maliciously, and treasonably concealed the same, and was art and part thereof in manner following. In the first, in the said month of July 1600 years, after you had perceived and known, that divers I etters and Messages had past betwixt the said sometime earl of Gowrie, and the said Robert Logan of Restalrig, you being in the rouse of Fast-Castle, you saw and rend a Letter written by the said Robert Logan of Restalrig, with his own hand, to the said John, sometime earl of Gowrie, of the tenour following:

* My Lord, my most humble duty and service heartily remembered. At the receipt of your lordship's Letter I am so comforted, that I can neither utter my joy, nor find myself sufficiently able to requite your lordship with due thanks. And persuade your lordship in that matter, I shall be as forward for your lordships honour, as if it were mine own 'cause. And I think there is no living Christian that would not be content to revenge that

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My Lord, you may easily understand, that such a purpose as your lordship intendeth, cannot be done rashly, but with deliberation. And I think for myself, that it were most meet to have the men your lordship spake of, ready in a boat or bark, and address them as if they were taking pastime on the sea, in such fair suminer time. And if your lordship could think good, either yourself to come to my house of Fast-Castle by sea, or to send your brother, I should have the place very quict, and well provided after your lordship's 'advertisement, where we should have no scant of the best venison can be had in England. And no others should have access to haunt the place during your lordship's being here, but all things very quiet. And if your lordship doubt of safe landing, I shall provide all such necessaries as may serve for your lordship's arrival, within a flight-shot of the house. ‹ And persuade your lordship you shall be as sure and quict here, while we have settled our Plot, as if you were in your own chainber: for I trust, and am assured, we shall have word within few days from them your lordship knoweth of; for I have care to see what ships comes home by. Your lordship knoweth I have kept the lord Bothwell quietly in this house in his greatest extremity, say both king and council what they liked. 1 hope, if all things come to pass, as I trust they shall, to have both your lordship and his lordship at one good dinner afore I die. Hec jocose, to animate your lordship: I doubt not my lord but all things shall be well. And I am resolved, whereof your lordship shall not doubt, of any thing on my part, yea to peril life, land, honour and goods; yea, the hazard of hell shall not affray me from that, yea, although the scaffold were already set up. The sooner the matter were done, it were the better; for the king's buck-hunting will be shortly; and I hope it shall prepare some dainty cheer for us to dine against the next

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year. I remember well, my lord, and I will | never forget so long as I live, that merry sport which your lordship's brother told me " of a nobleman at Padua: for I think that a Parasteve to this purpose. My lord, think nothing that I commit the secrecy hereof and 'credit to this bearer; for I dare not only venture my life, lands, and all other things I have else, on his credit, but I durst hazard my soul in his keeping, if it were possibly in earthly men; for I am so persuaded of his truth and fidelity. And I trow, as your lordship may ask him if it be true, he would go to hell-gates for 'me; and he is not beguiled of my part to him. And therefore, I doubt not but this will persuade your lordship to give himn trust in this matter as to myself. But I pray your lordship direct him home with all possible haste, and give him strait command, that he take not a wink sleep, while he see ine again, after he come from your lordship. And as your lordship desireth in your Letter to me, either rive or burn, or else send back again with the bearer; for so is the fashion, I grant.' Which Letter, written every word with the said Robert Logan his own hand, was subscribed by him after his accustomed manner, with this word, Restalrig.

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pound of silver. Nevertheless, albeit you knew perfectly the whole practices and progress of the said Treason, from the beginning thereof as said is, as well by the sight of the said Letters, as also by your Conferences with the said James Bour, called Laird Bour, and Robert Logan of Restalrig; yet during all the days of their life-time, who liued till the year of God 1606 years, or thereby, and so by the space of six years after that, you knew the guiltiness of the treasonable Conspiracy aforesaid, you most treasonably concealed the same; and so you was and is art and part of the said most heinous, detestable and treasonable Conspiracy, and of the knowledge and concealing thereof; and therefore you ought and should incur, underlie and suffer the sentence and pain of High-Treason. To the token, that ye have not only by your Depositions subscribed with your hand, and solemnly made in presence of many of the lords of his majesty's Council, and of the ministers of the Borough of Edinburgh, of the dates, the 5th, 15th and 16th days of July last by-past, and 10th and 11th days of August instant, confessed every head, point, and article of the Indictinent above written, but also, by divers other your Depositions subscribed likewise with your hand, you have ratified the same, and sworn constantly to abide thereat, and to seal the same with your blood, which you cannot deny.

And albeit by the contents of the aforesaid Letter, you knew perfectly the truth of the said most treasonable Conspiracy, and the said Robert Logan of Restalrig, his foreknowledge, allowance, and guiltiness thereof; like as you were assured of the same by his receiving of divers Letters sent by Gowrie to him, and by his sending Letters to Gowrie for the same purpose, and by sundry Conferences betwixt the said Robert Logane of Restalrig, and the said James Bour in your presence and hearing concerning the said Treason, as well in the said month of July immediately preceding the attempting of the said Treason, as at divers other times shortly thereafter, as likewise by the revealing thereof to you by the said James Bour, who was upon the knowledge and device of the said Treison, and was employed as ordinary messenger by the said Robert Logan of Restalrig, to the said sometime earl of Gowrie, in the traffick of the said damnable Treason, whereby your knowledge, concealing and guiltiness of the said Treason was undeniable: yet, for further manifestation thereof, about July 1602 years, the said R. Logan of Restalrig shewed to you that Bour had told him, that he had been somewhat rash to let you see a Letter which came from the earl of Gowrie to the said Robert Logan of Restalrig, who then urged you to tell what you understood by that Letter. To whom you answered, That you took the meaning of it to be, that he had been upon the counsel and purpose of Gowrie's Conspiracy. And he answered you, Whatever he had done, the worst was his own: bat if you would swear to him, that you shouli never reveal any thing of that matter to any person, he should be the best sight that ever you saw; and in token of farther recompense he then gave you twelve

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Which Indictment being read openly in judgment to the said George Sprot, before he was put to the knowledge of an inquest, he confessed in the presence of the said Lord Justice and whole Assessors above-named, the same and every point thereof to be true and of verity. And therefore the justice ordained the same Indictment to be put to the knowledge of a condign Inquest of the honest, famous and discreet persons under-written. They are to say say: Win. Trumbill of Ardre, Wm. Fisher, Merchant, Burgess of Edinburgh. Robert Stuart, there, Edward Johnston, Merchant, Burgess there, Harbert Maxwell of Cavens, James Tennent of Linhouse, Wm. Trumbill, Burgess of Edinburgh, John Hucheson, Merchant, Burgess of Edinburgh, John Leyis, Merchant Burgess there, James Somervell, Merchant, Burgess there, Wm. Simintoun, Burgess there, John Cunnison in Diriton, Thomas Smith, Merchant, Burgess of Edinburgh, J. Cowtis, Burgess there, and G. Brown in Gorgymill. Which persons of Inquest being chosen, sworn and admitted, after the Accusation of the said George Sprot, before them, of the said treasonable, heinous, and detestable Crimes conteined in the Indictment aforesaid, and reading of the said Indictment of new again in his and their presence; the said George Sprot of new confessed in the audience of the said Inquest the aforesaid Indictment, and every point thereof, to be true and of verity. Whereupon the said sir Thomas Hamilton of Binning, knt. his majesty's advocate, as before, asked Act and Instrumment: and in respect thereof protested, in case the said Inquest cleansed him of the said

Crimes for wilful and manifest error, And been ever so good and gracious to his subjects: therefore the whole forenamed persons of In-protesting that if he had a thousand lives to renquest removed all together forth of Court to the der, and were able to suffer ten thousand deaths, Inquest House, where they being inclosed, by it were not a sufficient satisfaction and recomplurality of votes elected and made choice of pense for his offence. And that God had prethe said Harbert Maxwell of Cavens, to be served him from many great perils, when his Chancellor, or Foreman. And having with great life was in extreme danger, to bring him to this deliberation gravely considered the effect and public Declaration of that detestable aud horwhole circumstances of the said Indictment, and rible fact, in presence of all the people, uttered constant judicial Confession made by the party by him in these words following: To my own pannelled, as well before the said Lord Justice shame, and to the shame of the devil, but to and his assessors, as thereafter in presence of the the glory of God.' And for satisfaction of the Inquest themselves, they all voted upon the whole consciences of all those that have or can make effect of the said Indictment. And being ripely any doubt of the truth of this so clear a matter, and well advised therewith, re-entered again in he acknowledged that his haunting with Restalcourt, where they all in one voice, by the mouth rig, who was a man without religion, and subof the said Chancellor or Foreman, found, pro-ject to many other vices, as also his continual nounced, and declared the said George Sprot (according to his own Confession judicially made in their presence and audience) to be guilty, culpable, filed and convict of art and part of the said most heinous, detestable and treasonable Conspiracy conteined in his Indictment above-written, and of the knowledge and concealing thereof. For the which cause the said Justice, by the mouth of the Dempster of Court, by his Sentence and Doom decerned and ordeined the said George Sprot to be taken to the Marketcross of Edinburgh, and there to be hanged upon a gibbet till he be dead, and thereafter his head to be stricken from his body, and his body to be quartered and demeaned as a traitor, and his head to be affixed and set up upon a prick of iron upon the highest part of the Tollbooth of Edinburgh, where the traitor Gowrie, and others of the Conspirators heads stand; and his whole lands, heritages, tacks, stedings, rooms, possessions, goods and geere to be forfeited and eschet to our sovereign lord his use, for his treasonable and detestable crimes above specifyed. Which was pronounced for doom.

Extractum de libro Actorum Adiornalis S. D. N. Regis per me D. Johannem Cohburne de Ormestoun militem, Clericum Justitiariæ ejusdem generalem. Sub meis signo et subscriptione manualibus.

The Doom being pronounced, the said George was convoyed to a privy house, where he remained at his secret meditation, and afterwards in conference with the ministers and others, unto the time all things was provided necessary for his execution: and being brought to the place where he was to die, he in public audience of the whole people, at the three sides of the scaffold, ratifyed the former Depositions made by him concerning the treasonable practices intended and devised betwixt Gowrie and Restalrig, for the murdering of our most gracious sovereign, and bereaving his highness of his life, and his own knowledge and concealing of their guiltiness. For the which he bumbly craved God and his majesty forgiveness, being most sorry and grieved that he had offended God and the king's majesty in concealing such a vile, detestable and unnatural Treason, enterprized by them against his gracious sovereign, who hath

VOL. II.

being in company with the laird of Bour, who likewise was irreligious and without fear of God, and his being ingyred by them into their matters after his first sight of Restalrig's Letter written by him to Gowrie, brought him from one sin to another, and consequently upon this grievous crime, for the which most justly, worthily and willingly, he is now to render his life. And thereupon he desired all the people there present to beware of evil company, and namely of the society of those who are void of religion; saying to them, That this was the most glorious day that ever his eyes did see. In the midst almost of these Speeches, he had prostrate himself, and fell upon his knees in presence of the whole people, making a very pithy Prayer, in the form following:

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'O Father, how shall I call thee Father, that am so unworthy to be called thy son? I have wandered astray like a lost sheep, and thou of thy mercy hast brought me home unto thee, and hast preserved my life from many dangers until this day, that I might reveal these hidden and secret mysteries, to mine own shame, and thy glory. Thou hast promised, that whensoever a sinner from his heart will repent and call to thee, that thou wilt hear him, and grant him mercy.'

And thus he continued a good space in a most fervent prayer, to the great admiration of all the standers by. And having ended the same, one of the Ministers prayed again, and the Prisoner joined with him, That God would

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forgive his sins, and receive his soul to mercy.' After which, Sprot standing up made divers requests: 1. That what he had delivered by his Confession on the scaffold, might be put into his Process, that the world might take notice of it. 2. That such as were present (as they might have opportunity) would be suitors unto the king, that his majesty would forgive him this offence; for the which, he said, he craved pardon of God, of his sovereign, and the world. And 3, he desired those of the ministry which were present, that wheresoever they came they would proclaim in the pulpit his Confession of his crime, his sorrow for the same, and his full hope that God would pardon him. And to the end that this might be performed, he took the hands of such ministers as stood near about him,

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so binding a promise on them. And here, | being told by the said ministers and other persons of quality, that being so near his departure out of the world, it concerned him to speak nothing but the truth, and that upon the peril of his soul: he answered, That to the end they should know, that he had spoken nothing but the verity, and that his Confession was true in every respect, he would (at the last gasp) give them some apparent token for the confirmation Then fitting himself to the ladder, the Executioner cometh to him, and, as the manner is, asking forgiveness of him; With all " my heart,' saith he, for you do but your office, and it is the thing I desire; because suffering in my body, I shall in my soul be joined to my Saviour. Afterward, ganging up the ladder with his brands loose and untied, being on the upper part thereof, he desired liberty to sing the 6th

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Psalm, and requested the people to accompany him in the singing thereof. Which being granted, he took up the Psalm himself with a very loud and strong voice, far by his accustomed form, being before his coming to the scaffold a weakspirited man, of feeble voice and utterance; and was assisted with the number of a thousand persons at the least, who accompanied him in singing that Psalm. After the ending whereof he again openly repeated and ratified his said former Confession: and with that, recommending his soul to God, he fastened a cloth about his own eyes, and was cast over the ladder, so ending this mortal life. Before his last breath, when he had hung a pretty space, he lift up his hands a good height, and clapped them together aloud, three several times, to the great wonder and admiration of all the beholders. And very soon thereafter he yielded his spirit.

87. The Process and Trial of ROBERT LOGAN, of Restalrig, for High Treason, in conspiring with John Earl of Gowrie, to murder King James 1. 7 JAMES I. A. D. 1609.

IN the year 1508, the earl of Dunbar, walking in his own garden, and conversing with a country gentleman, who lived near the place, falling accidentally to discourse on the matter of Gowrie's Forfeiture; this gentleman told the earl, that he being lately in company with one Sprott, a Notary, who lived in Eyemouth, who was ordinarily employed in the laird of Restalrig's service as a notary and trustee, and who was long acquainted with this gentleman who was speaking to the earl; told the earl, That this Sprott had told him things concerning that Treason which he had never heard before; but that he had never told it, so long as those concerned were alive. The Earl was curious to have the information, which the gentleman told him, and was in short:

That unquhil Robert Logan of Restalrig, then dead, was a co-partner and contriver with the earl of Gowrie, and his brother Mr. Alexander, in all that affair; and that Sprott had several letters, yet lying by him, which he had found amongst Restalrig's Papers, and some papers belonging to one, commonly called laird Bour, the greatest confident of any man that Restalrig had, and who was also intimate with Sprott the notary.'-Whereupon the earl of Dunbar acquainted the King's Advocate, and Sprott was seized and carried into Edinburgh; who, before several lords of the Council, did, with great remorse of conscience, acknowledge, "That he knew perfectly that Robert Logan, late of Restalrig, was privy to, and upon the fore-knowledge of Gowrie's treasonable Conspiracy and for the greater assurance of his knowledge, deponeth, That he knew, that there were divers Letters interchanged betwixt them, anent the treasonable purposes aforesaid, in the beginning of the month of July 1600; which Letters, James Bour, called laird Bour,

servitour to Restalrig (who was employed mediator betwixt them, and privy to all that errand) had in keeping; and shewed the same to Sprott, in the place of Fastcastle.'-And deponed, "That he did abstract (i. e. steal) quictly from James Bour, the principal Letter written by Restalrig to the earl of Gowrie, which Bour had brought back from the earl of Gowrie (as was the custom amongst them at that time); and that when James Bour employed him (Sprott) to look over his Papers; that he did keep the same, and that it was yet in his keeping, and was in his chest, among his writings, where he left it when he was taken;' (and accordingly, the letter was found there by the Sheriff-depute who was ordered by sir Wm. Hart, Lord-Justice of Scotland, to seize the said chest, and search for this Letter, which was found, and delivered to the king's advocate).

Whereupon the king's advocate produced the summons of Treason, which was raised by warrant under the seals, on the 5th of Feb. 1609; against all the defenders and others concerned, to compear before our sovereign lord, or his Commissioner, and the estates of parliament, and justice-general, on the 12th day of April, 1609, to answer, &c. And likewise produced the verifications of the Execu tions, which were sworn to, by the heralds, messengers and witnesses, in plain parliament: all which are contained at length in the Records of parliament; as are also the letters of relaxation and executions thereupon; relaxing Robert Logan, eldest son to umquhil Robert Logan the accused, from the horn, and all perils thereby: which relaxations were registrated in publick Records before the day of compearance: and then the Lord Advocate produced for verifying of the dittay and crimes, the prin

cipal letters, and did put them in the ClerkRegister's hands (where they lie among the public records); as likewise the Depositions of the witnesses, taken by the Lords of the Articles, in common form.

All which being produced in presence of his majesty's Commissioner, and the estates of parliament, upon the day of 1609, the defenders cited, and not compearing; the Advocate desired the Estates declaration on the relevancy: the true extracts whereof are as follow:

Sir Thomas Hamilton of Binnie, kt. Advocate to our sovereign lord, in his highness's name, for proving of the points of the said summons, and reason and cause of Treason and Lese Majesty contained therein, repeated divers missive bills, all written and subscribed by the said umquhil laird of Restalrig. All the Depositions of the witnesses, examined before the Lords of Articles before; and before the lords of secret council, George Sprott's Depositions, and conviction and execution to the death, for the same cause of Treason as Gowrie: together with divers writs and other probations, which were presently produced, before the said estates, by the said Lord-Advocate, in our sovereign lord's name, for proving of the foresaid summons of Treason, and the reason and cause of lese majesty contained therein: of the which missive bills and depositions produced by the said advocate in our sovereign lord's name, for proving the said Summons of Treason, and reasons therein contained, against the said Robert Logan and his foresaids; the tenour follows:

"Right Honourable Sir; my duty, with service remembred: Please you understand, my lord of Gowrie, and some others his lordship's friends and well wishers, who tenders his lordship's preferment, are upon the resolution you know, for the revenge of that cause: and his lordship has written to me anent that purpose; whereto I will accord in case ye will stand to and bear a part; and before ye resolve, meet me and Mr. Alex. Ruthven in the Canongate, on Thursday the next week, and be as wary as you can indeed Mr. Alex. Ruthven spoke with me, four or five days since; and I bave promised his lordship an answer within ten days at farthest. As for the purpose, how Mr. Alex. Ruthven and I has set down the course, it will be a very easy done turn: and not far by that form, with the like stratagem, whereof we had conference in T. S. But in case you and Mr. Alex. Ruthven forgather, because he is somewhat uncautious; for God's sake beware with his racklessness as to this of Padua ;. for he told me one of the strangest tales of a nobleman of Padua that ever I heard in my life, resembling the like purpose; I pray you, sir, think nothing, although this bearer understand of it, for he is the special secretary of my life; his name is laird Bour, and was old Manderston's man for dead and life, and even so now for me. And for my own part, he shall know of all that I do know in this world, so

long as ever we live together; for I make him my houshold-man: he is well-worthy of credit; and I recommend him to you. Always to the purpose I think best, for our Plot, that we meet all at my house of Fast-castle: for I have concluded with Mr. Alexander, who I think shall be meetest to be conveyed quietly in a boat by sea; at which time, upon sure advertisement, I shall have the place very quiet and well provided; and as I receive your answer, I will post this bearer to my lord: and I pray you, as you love your own life, (because it is not a matter of mouse) be circumspect in all things, and take no fear but all shall be well. I have no will, that either my brother, or yet Mr. N. R. my lord's old pedagogue, know any thing of the matter till all be done that we would have done; and then I care not who gets wit, that loves us. When ye have read, send this my letter back again with the bearer, that I may see it burnt myself; for so is the fashion in such errands: and if you please write your answer on the back hereof, in case ye will take my word for the credit of the bearer, and use all expedition; for the turn would not he long delayed. Ye know the king's hunting will be shortly; and then sha!! be best time, as Mr. Alexander has assured me, that my lord has resolved-to enterprize that matter. Looking for your answer, commits you to Christ's holy protection. From Fastcastle, the 18th day of July, 1600." Sic subscribitur, Yours to utter power ready,

RESTALRIG."

"Laird Bour, I pray you haste you west to me about the errand I told you; and we shall confer at length of all things. I have received a new letter from my lord of Gowrie, concerning the purpose that Mr. Alexander his lordship's brother spoke to me before: and I perceive that I may have advantage of Dirleton; in case his other matter take effect; as we hope it shall. Always, I beseech you, be at me the morn and even; for I assured his lordship's servants, that I shall send you over the water, within three days, with a full resolution of all my will, anent all purposes; and I shall indeed recommend you and your trustiness to his lordship, as ye shall find an honest recompence for your pains in the end. I care not for all the land I have in this kingdom, in case I can grip of Dirleton; for I esteem it the pleasantest dwelling in Scotland. For God's cause keep all things secret, that my lord, my brother, get no knowledge of our purposes; for I rather be earded quick. And so looking for you, I rest till meeting. (Sic subscribitur,) Yours to power ready, RESTALRIG.

"From the Cannongate, the 18th day of July. P. S. I am very ill at ease, therefore speed you hither."

"Right honourable sir; all my hearty with humble service remembered. Šince I have taken in hand to enterprise with my lord of Gowrie, your special and only best beloved; as we have set down the plat already, I will request you, that you will be very circumspect

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