280 



To our trustie and Weil belovit Maister 'bert Bruce Minister 

 of the Evagell at Edinbur' 



Guide niaister robert besides the uelcum neues that by youre 

 last lettir ye; sent unto me ye painted out sa uiflie* thairin your 

 honest meaning to my seruice besyde the guide report I have other- 

 wayes harde of youre daihe travelhs for that effect nou during my 

 absence as I thinke myself behaidden quhill I live neuer to foryett 

 the same and nou maister robert sen by the season of the yeare ye 

 may persave that god willing your fascherie-f- in that is neir ane end 

 ye may fecht out the rest of your battell uith a greatter courage 

 nam perseveranti in finem &c I pray you ualken up all men to 

 attend my cumming and preepaire thaime selfis accordinglie for my 

 dyett uill be sooner able| nor is looked for and as our maister 

 sayes I will cum lyke a thief in the nicht and quhais lampis I fynde 

 burning prouydit with oyle thaise uill I cunn§ thanke to & bring 

 into the bankett house with me but thaise that laike thaire burning 

 lampis prouydit uith oyle uill be barrid at the duir for then will I 

 not accept thaire crying lorde lorde at my cumming that hes foryett 

 me all the tyme of my absence, hou properlie this metaphore con- 

 uenis with my purpose I leave to youre iudgement for goddis saik 

 take all the painis ye can to toone our folkis neill nou againes oure 

 hamecumming least we be all schamed afore straingeris and exerce 

 diligentlie youre neu office of redder and conponerll 1 think this 

 soulde be a holie iubile in Scotland and oure schippis soulde have 

 the uertue of the arke in agreeing for a tyme at least natnrales ini- 

 micitias inter feras for gif otherwayes it fell out (quod deus avertat) 

 I behoved to cum hame lyke a drunken man amongst thaime as 



• Lively. -j- Trouble. •■ % For aibli,ns, perhaps. § Learn, know, taste. — 



Jamieson. || Settler, orderer. 



