ght, Lord of
_Abercairney_, and that I would return within two days at the most: but
it fell out quite contrary; for it was and five and thirty days before I
could get back again out of these noble men's company. The whole
progress of my travel with them, and the cause of my stay I cannot with
gratefulness omit; and thus it was.

A worthy gentleman named Master _John Fenton_, did bring me on my way
six miles to _Dunfermline_, where I was well entertained, and lodged at
Master _John Gibb_ his house, one of the Grooms of his Majesty's
Bed-chamber, and I think the oldest servant the King hath: withal, I was
well entertained there by Master _Crighton_ at his own house, who went
with me, and shewed me the Queens Palace; (a delicate and Princely
Mansion) withal I saw the ruins of an ancient and stately built Abbey,
with fair gardens, orchards, meadows belonging to the Palace: all which
with fair and goodly revenues by the suppression of the Abbey, were
annexed to the crown. There also I saw a very fair church, which though
it be now very large and spacious, yet it hath in former times been much
larger. But I taking my leave of _Dunfermline_, would needs go and see
the truly noble Knight Sir _George Bruce_, at a town called the
_Culross_: there he made me right welcome, both with variety of fare,
and after all, he commanded three of his men to direct me to see his
most admirable coal mines; which (if man can or could work wonders) is a
wonder; for myself neither in any travels that I have been in, nor any
history that I have read, or any discourse that I have heard, did never
see, read, or hear of any work of man that might parallel or be
equivalent with this unfellowed and unmatchable work: and though all I
can say of it, cannot describe it according to the worthiness of his
vigilant industry, that was both the occasion, inventor, and maintainer
of it: yet rather than the memory of so rare an enterprise, and so
accomplished a profit to the common-wealth shall be raked and smothered
in the dust of oblivion, I will give a little touch at the description
of it, although I amongst writers, am like he that worse may hold the
candle.

The mine hath two ways into it, the one by sea and the other by land;
but a man may go into it by land, and return the same way if he please,
and so he may enter into it by sea, and by sea he may come forth of it:
but I for variety's sake went in by sea, and out by land. Now men may
object, how can