Compare 1587 edition: 1 The Regent beeing mortally wounded, but yet deliuered from his runn [...]es, ridde vp to the Caſtell, and calling there vnto him the whole nobilitie, when he perceiued his ende to approch, hee vſed theſe wordes or the [...] in ſubſtance, as followeth.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 My Lords, it is not vnknowen vnto you al,The Earle of Lennox his words before his death. that my comming hither to take this regimente vppon me, was not of mine owne ſeeking, but at the requeſt of you all: and that which chiefe|ly moueda [...]e heerevnto, was, for the defence of the Kings perſon, beeyng yet as you ſee an in|fante, of whome by nature and duetie I was bounden to haue carefull conſideration, and that in hys minoritie, the good and quiet go|uernement of this common wealthe might bee aduanced, and iuſtice executed vpon thoſe that moſt cruelly dyd murther the late King, my ſonne the Kyngs father, and his vncle the good Earle of Murrey, late Regent, whoſe miſchie|uous and diueliſh deuiſes if in time you doe not preuent, by your wiſedomes and diſcretions, they will procure the ſmall ouerthrowe and de|ſtruction of you all.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 In this action as you ſee, I haue ſpente my bloud, and haue plaid the laſt part of my Tra|gedie, and nowe I feele death to drawe meere at hande, wherefore I require you all, for the due regarde that you haue of youre dueties, firſte to Almighty God, and next to the king, your moſt lawfull and naturall Prince nowe in theſe hys tender yeares, wholly to employ your ſeruice in his defence, with care to maynteyne the ſtate of this common wealthe, whereby you ſhall not onely accompliſhe youre dueties towards God, but ſhall be aſſured to find in your King in time to come (God lending him life) all that good whych you can iuſtly requite.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 And I ſhall further committe to your friend|ly protection, my poore ſeruantes, who for theyr good ſeruice haue well deſerued, and yet remaine vnrecompenced, deſiring you all to be good vn|to them.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 And laſtly, I deſire you to commend me to my Lady Margaret my deere Wife, now bee|ing in England, vnto whome I beſeech God to be a comforter.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 And now ſith my ſpirites begin to fayle, and that my life draweth neere to an ende, I take my leaue of you al, deſiring you to pray for me.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 Theſe wordes beeyng ended, hee called to God for mercy,The Earle of Lennox departeth this life. and continuing in prayer vn|to the ende, within a while after hee depar|ted thys life, and was buryed in the Kyngs EEBO page image 518 Chappell within the Caſtell of Striueling.