Chronicle of Scotland by Robert Lindesay

The gowernour and cardinall beand aggreit in this maner the governour commitit him all haill to the cardinall and that he sould remane at his counsall. And to that effectt delywerit him his eldest sone in pladge and was put in Sanctandrois in his castell in keiping. Schone eftir this the lordis convenit at Stiruiling the xx [20th] day of August in the zeir of god I^m v^c xliij [1543] zeiris and thair convenit the zoung quein with gret solempnitie, trieumphe, playis, phrassis and bankating and great danceing befor the quene with greit lordis and frinche ladyis. And schone eftir this thair was ane parliament hauldin at Edinburgh the xxviij [28th] of August the zeir of god foirsaid¹ quhair thair the contractt of pace and mariaige maid betuix ingland and scotland was dissolweit in plane parliament aganes money of the hairtis of Scotland except allennerlie the quein and cardinall and thair factioun for it maid meikill weir heirschip and slauchter in scotland as ze sall heir heireftir. This beand done the quein returned agane to stirvilling with hir in cumpanie the erle of lennox² and the erle bothwell³ with mony vther lordis and gentillmen and speciallie thame that war owaris⁴ and lowearis for hir court was than lyk wenus and cupido in the tyme of fresche maij for thair was sic dansing singing playing and merines into the court at that tyme that no man wald haue tyred thairin bot at this tyme the erle of lennox persawing the governour and cardinall to be aggreit and so tender and familiar togidder that he dreidit no les nor he was dissawit and frustrat of his purpois.

Note 1. This Parliament of 28th August 1543 is not recorded,

Note 2. Matthew, fourth Earl of Lennox, father of Darnley.

Note 3. Patrick, third Earl of Bothwell, father of James, fourth Earl of Bothwell, husband of Queen Mary.

Note 4. "Owaris"? See Glossary.

Bot notwithtstanding at this tyme the earle Bothwell was ane zoung lustie gentillman fair and plessant in the sight of wemen, thairfoir he intendit to haue the quene in marieage alsweill as did the earle of Lennox. And thairfoir daylie thir tuo lordis persewit the court and the quene witht brawietie witht danceing singing and playing on instrumentis and arrayit ewerie day in sindrie abullzementis and prydit everie ane of thame quho sould be maist gallzeart in thair clething and behaif thame selffis¹ in the quens presentis, sumtymes in danceing, sum tymes in schotting, sum tymes in singing and iusting and rinning of great horse at the listis witht all wther kyndlie² games that might satisfie the quene or to her plesour. Bot the earle of Lennox warrit³ ewer the wther at all games because he was better practissit in weir nor the earle Bothwell was be ressone he was brocht wpe in France with his onkill Monser Daubony quho leirnit him in feit of airmes and dalie exerceissit him thairto, quhill he become practissit in the samin. Fforder he was ane strang man of personage weill schapin in portratour, that is to say weill braint in⁴ legis, and armes weill schoulderit, fair plessant faceit, with ane goode and manlie contienance and zeid brent and right⁵ wpe in his passage. Thairfor at that tyme he was most plessant ffor ane ladie. As [for]⁶ the earle Bothwell, he was fair and quhittlie and sumthing hingand schoulderit and zeid sumthing fordwart⁷ witht ane gentill and human continance, bot zet he was not thocht to do ane gentill woman so greit plesour as the other. Thir tuo lordis daylie exerceissit thame selffis in this maner as I haue schawin to zow, everie ane of thame beleiffand to obtein his porpois at the quens hand. Bot never-the-les scho did nothing bot gaif thame fair wordis, to the intent that they sould serve hir quhill scho saw hir tyme expedient to gif thame ane ansuer.

Note 1. I inserts "best."

Note 2. "Knichtlie," I.

Note 3. "Warrit" = worsted.

Note 4. "Braned in the," I. See Glossary.

Note 5. "Bent and vpricht," I.

Note 6. I inserts,

Note 7. "Zeid" = "geid"—i.e., went, I inserts "ovir" before "fordwart."