wn in September 1605, and in November was sent back with letters to
Bower. Eight days later, Matthew took Sprot to Coldingham, to meet
Bower, and get his answer to the letters. It was a Sunday; these
devotees heard sermon, and then dined together at John Corsar's. After
dinner Bower took Sprot apart, and showed him two letters. Would Sprot
read to him the first few words, that he might know which letter he had
to answer? The first letter shown (so Sprot writes on the margin of his
recorded deposition) referred to the money owed to Logan, by the Earl of
Dunbar, for Gunnisgreen and the lands of Remington. Logan had expected
to get the purchase money from Dunbar in London; he never got more than
18,000 out of 33,000 marks. Sprot wrote for Bower the answer to this
business letter, and gave it to Matthew Logan to be sent to Logan in
London. Matthew, being interrogated, denied that he sent any letter back
to Logan, though he owned that Sprot wrote one; and he denied that Sprot
and Bower had any conference at all on the occasion. But Sprot had
asserted that the conference with Bower occurred after Matthew Logan left
them at Corsar's house, where they dined, as Matthew admitted, after
sermon. Matthew denied too much.

A curious conference it was. Bower asked Sprot to read to him the other
of Logan's two letters, directed to himself. It ran, 'Laird Bower,--I
wot not what I should say or think of this world! It is very hard to
trust in any man, for apparently there is no constancy or faithfulness.
For since I cam here they whom I thought to have been my most entire
friends have uttered to me most injurie, and have given me the defiance,
and say I am not worthy to live, "and if the King heard what has moved
you to put away all your lands, and _debosch_ yourself, you would not
make such merryness, and play the companion in London, as you do so near
his Majestie."'

Logan went on to express his fear that Bower's rash speeches had roused
these suspicions of 'the auld misterie ye ken of.' 'God forgive you, but
I have had no rest since these speeches were upcast to me.' Bower was to
take great care of this letter, 'for it is within three letters
enclosed,' and is confided to Matthew Logan (who travelled by sea) as a
trusty man.

Bower was much moved by this melancholy letter, and denied that he had
been gossiping. He had twice, before Logan rode south, advised him to be
very careful never even to mention the name of G