g Memoirs of the Earl of Marr. yan. 4. 



cfi from the prircefs Ivlary, eldest daughter of king 

 James JI. made his appearance at the Scottish court ; 

 and foon,by his handsome person, agreeable addrefs, 

 and affectionate submifsions totheking *, superseded 

 the young Earl of Marr in favour and confidence, 



* In an original letter from Nicholas Arrington to the lord treasu- 

 rer Burleigh, preserved in the Cotton library [cal. 6. fol. a.] 4th April 

 1580, are the following curious particulars relating to Esme Stuart 

 Lord d'Aubigny : 



" I liave maid my repaire unto the Kinge of Scotts, being at 

 Straveling, and haithe delyvered unto him the Queen's Hienefs's let- 

 ter &c. The King's Hienefs 'jsafsing to his cabinet did reed the letter 

 once or twice over with good delybcracion, as Maister Peter Younge 

 his Seoul maister told me, &c. The my-nistrcs (clergy) ar presentlie, 

 if they have convencion to charge d'Aubigny and his followers, 

 Scottsmen, to make a resolute confession of their relygion, notwith- 

 standing anv dispenclacions This is thought to be be the procurement 

 of the earl Morton, (Sc. I had conference with the mynistres of 

 f denburg and Leith, at my pafsing to Stravelinge, who told me they 

 were determined to prefse tlie King to avoyd the court of suche as 

 wold not profefse unfenydlye the trew relygion. I did not hyiider 

 their good myninge the; ein. The doubt of this haith maid Monsieur 

 d'Aubigny in great dompts of lait, in so moche as he haith kept 

 his chambre as it were not weil disposed, &c. 



It is thought of many, that if certaine persons were from hyme, he 

 wold be wone in short tyme. Hee is content to heare and reede, and 

 ■ hathe alledged, that if hee shold come sodenlye to the relygeion it 

 wold be thoght it were done more of ambicion then of devocion. 

 Vet trewlie, so farre as I can learne, the greatest hynderance thereof is 

 the doubt he haithe of the lofse of his lyvinge in France, which is 

 thought to be more certayne than fais new f romocions in Scotland, 

 &c. 



The King is moche affected unto him, and dothe gyve hym books 

 of the scripture in Frenche, and uses all meynes to forward him there- 

 unto. Some of the mynistres holJit the opynyon that hee wantit 

 but 1 boringe. 



Here is greate myslykinge that the King is no bettere accompanyeil 

 with councellorS) an that he frejneuts the fields, and hunting Jot 

 moche. 



