2.1.
Robert King of Scottes
to Henry Kyng of Englaund greeting.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 Thy greate magnificence,The tenor of a letter as it is written in the Scottiſh tong. humilitie, and iuſtice, are righte patente to vs, by gouernaunce of thy laſt army in Scotlande, howbeit ſic things had bene vncertayne to vs a|fore. For though thou ſeemed as enemie with moſt awfull incurſions in our Realme: ȝit wee found mair humanities and pleaſyres than dam|mage (be thy cũming) to our ſubdittes. Special|ly to yame that receyuit thy noble father ye Duke of Longcaſtell the time of his exill in Scotlande. We may not ceys yairfore, wuhile wee are on life, bot aye luyf and loif thee as maiſt noble and worthy Prince, to ioys thy Realme. For yocht Realmes and nations contende amang them|ſelfe for conqueſis of glory and laundes, ȝit na occaſion is amang vs to inuade athir Realmes or lieges with iniuries, bot erar to cõtend amang our ſelfe, quhay ſall perſew othir with maiſt hu|manitie and kindneſſe. As to vs we will meis all occaſion of battell, quhare any occurres at thy pleaſure. Forther, bycauſe we haue na leſſe ſollici|tude in preſeruing our children fra certayne deid|ly enimies, than had ſometime thy nobill fader, we are conſtreyned to ſeeke ſupporte at vncowth Princes hands. Howbeit, the inuaſion of enimies is ſa greate, that ſmall defence occures agaynſte yame without they be preſerued by amitie of no|bill men. For the warld is ſa full of peruerſit ma|lice, that na crueltie nor offence may be deuiſit in erd, bot the ſamine may be wrocht be motion of gold and ſyluer. Heirfore, bycauſe we knawe thy hieneſſe full of mony nobill vertues, with ſic pyſſaunce and riches, that na Prince in our daies may bee compard thairto. We deſire thy huma|nitie and ſupport at this time.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 We traiſt it is not vnknowen to thy Maie|ſtie, howe oure eldeſt ſonne Dauid is ſlayne miſerably in Priſon be oure Brother the Duke of Albany, quhome wee cheſit to be gouernoure (quham wee were fallen in decrepit age) to oure ſubdittes and Realme, beſeekaund thy hienes thairfore to be ſa fauorable, yt this bearer Iames EEBO page image 372 our ſecound and allanerly ſonne may haue targe to leife vnder thy faith, and iuſtice, to be ſome memory of our poſteritie, knawaund the vn|ſtable condition of mans life ſa ſodanly altered: Now flutiſaund, and ſuddaynely falling to vtter conſumption.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 Forthir beliefe well, quhan Kings & princes hes na other beild bot in thair awyn folkes, thayr empyre is caduke and fragill. For the minde of common pepyll, ar euir flowaund and mair in|conſtant than wind. Ȝit quhen princes ar robo|rat be amitie of othir vncowth Kings thair bre|thir and nyghtbouris, na aduerſitie may occurre to eiect thaym fra thair dignitie ryall.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 Forthir gif thy hienes think nocht expedy|ent (as God forbeid) to obtemper to thir owr de|ſires.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 Ȝit we requeſt ane thyng quhilk was ratifijt in our laſt trewes and condition of peace, that ye ſupplication made be ony of the two Kings of Ingland and Scotland ſall ſtaund in manner of ſaufe conduct to the bearer. And thus we deſire to be obſeruat to this our allanerly ſonne, And the gratious God conſerue thee maiſt noble Prince.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 After that King Henry had cauſed theſe let|ters to be opened and redde, hee aduiſed himſelfe thereon with great deliberation, but in the end, he determined to ſtay this Iames Prince of Scot|land as his lawfull priſoner,Iames the Prince of Scotland ſtay|ed as priſoner in England. for that he was thus taken in time of warres, and that moreouer, there were diuers Rebelles of Englande ſuccou|red within the boundes of his fathers domini|on, to the high diſpleaſure of the ſayde Kyng Henry.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 But ſuch was the fauour ſhewed in his brin|ging vp,His bringing vp. that his captiuitie turned more to hys honor, profite, and commoditie, than any other wordly hap that might by any meanes haue o|therwiſe chaunced vnto him.An happy cap|tiuitie.