[A1593/4/18]¹

Judicial proceedings: summons of treason

And immediately thereafter the foresaid summons of treason raised at our sovereign lord's instance and executed against the said Francis [Stewart], sometime earl of Bothwell, being read in presence of the king's majesty and lords of articles, and the same being heard, seen and understood by them, and they therewith being ripely advised, the said estates find and declare the reason and cause contained in the same summons relevant against the said Francis, sometime earl of Bothwell; and therefore admit the same summons to the said advocate's probation, who, being personally present, declared that he should use his probation with all expedition. And the said advocate asked instruments of the relevancy of the said summons, and that the said estates had found the reason of the said summons relevant.

And likewise the said advocates produced letters of relaxation of the date 16 March and of the king's reign the 26th year, with the execution thereof bearing the said Francis, sometime earl of Bothwell to be relaxed at the market cross of Edinburgh from the process of horning led against him for whatsoever cause or occasion bygone preceding the date of the said letters; which execution is executed upon 26 March 1593 by William Porteous, messenger. And thereupon the said advocates asked instruments.