should  be  sent  back  hither  from  the  Christian  King.  As,  therefore,
all  is  going  well  here,  and  His  Majesty  cannot  decide  anything
important  for  his  own  advantage  and  the  close  union  of  the  two
realms  without  your  presence,  the  two  gentlemen  Dony  and  Melvil
praj'  you  to  hasten  hither.  Tliey  on  their  part  have  more  than
fulfilled  their  promise,  and  have  taken  great  pains  to  manage  and
persuade  the  King  in  many  ways  to  favour  the  lords,  and  their
eflorts  have  resulted  in  the  late  changes.  You  must  especially  state
that  Melvil  has  done  so  much  that  (putting  aside  the  King's
natural  good  inclination)  the  affair  would  not  have  been  effected  so
successfully  or  so  quickly  without  him.  God  grant,  therefore,  that
the  Christian  King  and  our  King's  friends  in  France  may  not  let
matters  drag,  and  thus  put  His  Majesty  in  peril  of  person  and
estate  for  want  of  prompt  succour,  such  as  the  Christian  King  and
his  (the  king  of  Scotland's)  kinsmen  may  consider  expedient.  If
this  good  opportunity  is  allowed  to  slip  it  will  never  occur  again.
You  know  how  subject  this  country  is  to  change,  and  will  recall
the  remark  I  have  often  made  to  you  of  the  tardiness  with  which
succour  is  sent  from  France.
