‘MY VERY GOOD LORD,--I have received your letter, dated at Berwick, the 26th of this instant, the sum whereof is to utter unto me such occurrents as by report have gone to your Lordship of my doings, to the end that by my affirmation or reproving of them, your Lordship may understand what credit may be given to the said reports. The whole matter rests in two heads--the one that I have declined from mine old friends in this realm, which heretofore have desired the amity of England; the other that I have given countenance, or gone further, with others that have showed another course of their doings, and capitulated with the French. Both the points are general, and therefore the more difficult for me to answer them particularly. Yet for your Lordship’s satisfaction, I will not leave you altogether unanswered. As to the former point--that I have declined from my old friends--I trust none of themselves will blame me of inconstancy in friendship; and by the contrary, sure I am such as have of old used friendly dealings with me, and were worthy of themselves with whom an honest man might maintain friendship, are yet still with me in the same degree of amity they were wont to be. No occasion hath proceeded of me, by my behaviour, to the breaking thereof; as also that all my friends, so far as I know, are yet still desirous of the amity of England. If any man in this realm will charge me herein particularly, when, by his own letter or speech to myself, he will utter his mind, I shall answer him accordingly. As to the other point, I have not altered my accustomed form of dealing with the nobility of this realm, nor used me otherwise towards them than becomes a man of my mean estate. I have not given countenance to any that, to my knowledge, mean unhonestly either to Scotland or England; nor yet have gone either further or nearer with any that in their doings have showed an undutiful course. Who have capitulated with the French, or after what sort, I know not. A Frenchman, indeed, was lately here, sent, as he affirmed, from the King of France. With him I spake, upon his desire; and therein, I think I have done nothing against my duty. For, this realm being at peace with all nations, I see no cause why the subjects of all nations may not freely resort amongst us, and have communication with us in peaceable manner, principally Princes’ avowed servants. In all his conference with me, I assure your Lordship, he used no language with me prejudicial to the amity betwixt these two realms. How others have in particular dealt with him, I know not. But for mine own part, I wish no occasion be offered, on either part, to disturb the quietness of this Isle; and whosoever shall offer best means for the maintenance thereof, his doings I shall best allow. For conclusion, as I have ever naturally been affected towards the amity of England, and, in particular, at my poor power, have borne a special