all, but written in choice Scots and addressed to Queen
Elizabeth's envoy, Sir Thomas Randolph, gives a less dignified but very
graphic description of his own circumstances and occupations. It is
written from Stirling during Morton's Regency, when peace prevailed and
even prosperity had returned in some measure to the distracted kingdom.

"To Maister Randolph, Squiar, Maister of Postes to the Queen's Grace
of England.

"Maister, I haif rescevit diverse letters frome you, and yit I haif
answerit to nane of them--of the quhilk albeit I haif mony excuses
such as age, forgetfulness, business, and disease, yet I will use
nane as now, except my sweirness (reluctance) and your gentleness:
and gif ye think nane of them sufficient, content you with ane
confession of the falt without fear of punition to follow on my
onkindness. As for the present I am occupied in writyng of our
historie, being assured to content few, and to displease many
therethrow. As to the end of it if ye gett it not or (before) this
winter bepassit lippen (trust) not for it, no nane other writyngs
from me. The rest of my occupation is with the gout quhilk halds me
busy both day and night. And quhair ye say ye have not lang to lyif
I trust to God to go before you, albeit I be on foot, and ye ryd
_the post_: praying you also not to _dispost_ my hoste at Newark,
Jone of Kelsterne. This I pray you partly for his awyn sake quhame I
tho't ane gude fellow, and partly at request of such as I dare not
refuse. And thus I take my lief shortly at you now, and my lang lief
when God pleases, committing you to the protection of the Almighty.
At Stirling, xxv. day of August, 1577.--Yours to command with
service,

G. BUCHANAN."

The mild, aged jest about preceding his friend out of life though he
must go on foot and Randolph had the advantage of commanding the Post,
and his recommendation of the erring postmaster at Newark, who was a
good fellow, throw a pleasant light of kindly humour into this letter.
And we thus hear for the first time of the History, the greatest work of
his life, which he seems to have begun in the tranquillity of the
palace-castle, notwithstanding the hostile influence of gout and
years--hostile above all to so great a piece of work. He was now over
seventy, and the end of his career seemed near at hand, although he had
but recently taken in hand so