The volume is entitled ‘Staite bussines for the yeirs 1609, 1610 & 1611. Reg. Ja. 6’, and is marked ‘Denmilne 18’ and ‘A.2. 40’.

The contents are as follows.

(i) Letter of the Privy Council of Scotland (in a full meeting) to James VI after the holding by the King’s directions of ‘a convention of the Estates for the advancement of the trew ancient apostolick faith presenttie professit in this Kingdom and for suppressing the adversaris thaisof’ ‘which convention wes most solemnly keipit be the nobillmen and utheris selectit be yoʳ Majestie for that purpois’. Dated Edinburgh 28 January 1609. Printed in ‘Melros papers’ (Abbotsford Club, 1837), volume i, page 63; ‘Original letters relating to the Ecclesiastical affairs of Scotland’ (Bannatyne Club, 1851), volume i, page 182; and in ‘Register of the Privy Council of Scotland’, volume viii, page 554.

(ii) Holograph letter of Sir Thomas Hamilton, Lord Advocate, to James VI on the subject of the process against Lord Balmerino. Dated Edinburgh, 9 February 1609. Printed in ‘Melros papers’ (Abbotsford Club, 1837), volume i, page 65.

(iii) Copy of a letter of William Crichton, possibly to Sir Andrew Murray, concerning the affair of Lord Balmerino. Dated Avigon, 27 January 1609. ‘Original letters relating to the Ecclesiastical affairs of Scotland’ (Bannatyne Club, 1851), volume i, page 180.

(iv) Two scrolls of the indictment, [1609], against James, Lord Balmerino. One is the first rough draft and the other apparently that which was finally adopted.

(v) Letter of the Privy Council of Scotland to James VI concerning judgement in favour of ‘the Lord Colvillis oy’ pronounced by an English Court in “the questioun and subject of ‘post nati’ agitat thair before the Reverend & learned judges of that land”. Dated Edinburgh, 18 February 1609. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 159; and in ‘Register of the Privy Council of Scotland’, volume viii, page 557.

(vi) Letter of the Earl of Angus to James VI. Dated Paris, 16th February 1609. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 160. See also Adv.MS.33.1.1, volume 8, (xliv).

(vii) Letter of the Earl of Dunfermline to James VI returning thanks for his appointment as a Privy Councillor of England. Dated Edinburgh, 11 February 1609.

(viii) Letter of the Lord Chancellor of Scotland (the Earl of Dunfermline) and the Earl of Dunbar, to James VI, suggesting that the meeting of the Scottish Parliament be delayed to the 15th June. Dated Edinburgh, 1 March 1609. Printed in ‘Register of the Privy Council of Scotland’, volume viii, page 562.

(ix) Letter of the Privy Council of Scotland to James VI concerning the coal trade in Scotland. Dated Edinburgh, 20 March 1609. Printed in ‘Register of the Privy Council of Scotland’, volume viii, page 568.

(x) Holograph letter of Lindsay of Edzell to James VI, concerning the slaughter of Lord Spynie, and his feud with the Earl of Crawford. Dated Edinburgh, 30 March 1609. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 161.

(xi) Letter of the Privy Council of Scotland to James VI concerning a patent claimed for ‘the making of wasching sope for clothis and of blew azure wherewith the stiffing is mingled’. The letter also concerns some proceedings of the Earl of Crawford against Lindsay of Edzell. Dated Edinburgh, 23 March 1609. Printed in ‘Register of the Privy Council of Scotland’, volume viii, page 567.

(xii) Letter of the Earl of Erroll to James VI. Dated Edinburgh Castle, 8 March 1609.

(xiii) Letter of the Earl of Erroll to the Bishops and other commissioners of the Kirk. Dated Edinburgh Castle, 5 April 1609.

(xiv) Letter of the Privy Council of Scotland to James VI in favour of the King’s poor distressed subject William Henderson, whose ship and goods had been seized by the Spaniards and he sent to the Galleys, for which no redress had yet been obtained. Dated Edinburgh, 16 May 1609. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 165; and in ‘Register of the Privy Council of Scotland’, volume viii, page 579.

(xv) Letter of the Earl of Caithness to James VI. Dated Edinburgh, 27 June 1609.

(xvi) This number has not been used.

(xvii) Letter, [?November 1609], of William Fullarton of that ilk to James VI, complaining of the Earl of Crawford. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 167.

(xviii) Letter of Sir Thomas Hamilton to James VI concerning the processes of forfeiture against Lord Maxwell, and the ‘Memorie’ of Retalrig. Dated Edinburgh, 21 June 1609. Printed in ‘Melros papers’ (Abbotsford Club, 1837), volume i, page 67.

(xix) Letter of the Earl of Dunfermline to James VI which among other things praises the King’s two chaplains Dr. William Goodwin and Dr. John Milward, who were or had lately been in Scotland, and likewise praises the King’s ‘Booke laithie come to lycht’. Dated Edinburgh, 8 July 1609. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 168.

(xx) Letter of the Lord Chancellor of the Privy Council of Scotland and ‘James Hay’ to James VI concerning a lease of the customs granted by Exchequer to a new set of tacksmen. Dated Edinburgh, 20 July 1609. Printed in ‘Register of the Privy Council of Scotland’, volume viii, page 589.

(xxi) Petition, [?1609], to James VI entitled ‘The inhabitants of the lait Bordors of Scotland’. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 179.

(xxii) Letter of the Privy Council of Scotland to James VI concerning a charge made against Lord Scone connected with the letting of the customs. Dated Edinburgh, 11 August 1609. Printed in ‘Register of the Privy Council of Scotland’, volume viii, page 593; and in ‘Melros papers’ (Abbotsford Club, 1837), volume i, page 69.

(xxiii) Letter of the Earl of Dunfermline to James VI on the present state of Scotland, and praising very highly the Earl of Dunbar, whom he compares to Hercules. Dated Edinburgh, 12 August 1609. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 171.

(xxiv) Supplication of Jane Stewart, Lady Lindores to James VI. Dated Pitcairlie, 3 August 1609. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 170.

(xxv) Letter of the Earl of Rothes (father of the late Lord Lindores) to James VI. Dated Ballinbreich, 3 August 1609.

(xxvi) Letter of the Privy Council of Scotland to James VI concerning a proposed grant of the ‘Mynes of Alloune’ in Scotland to Sir David Foulis. Dated Edinburgh, 14 September 1609. Printed in ‘Register of the Privy Council of Scotland’, volume viii, page 569.

(xxvii) Letter, undated, of the Earl of Roxburgh to James VI concerning John Murray of Lochmaben and his claim to the temporalities of the Kirk of Dumfries. Printed in ‘Original letters relating to the Ecclesiastical affairs of Scotland’ (Bannatyne Club, 1851), volume i, page 221.

(xxviii) Letter of the Earl of Angus to James VI requesting leave to visit Scotland on his private affairs. Dated Paris, 30 October [?1609]. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 174.

(xxix) Letter of Sir Alexander Colquhoun of Luss to James VI complaining of the oppressions committed upon him and his tenants by the Clan Gregor. Dated Rossdhu, 13 November 1609. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 178.

(xxx) Petition, undated, of ‘George Gordoune’, Lord Gordon, then in ‘the Prince[‘]s’ service abroad, to James VI. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 177.

(xxxi) Copy of the oath of allegiance taken by the Marquis of Huntly upon the 13th and by the Earl of Erroll upon the 17th of November 1609. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 175.

(xxxii) Holograph letter of the Marquis of Huntly to James VI. Dated Stirling Castle, 18 June [?1610]. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 189.

(xxxiii) Supplication of the Provost and Town Council of Glasgow to James VI. Dated Glasgow, 11 November 1609.

(xxxiv) Letter of the Privy Council of Scotland to the Earl of Dunbar concerning the examination of John Fairfoull for praying for the ‘banished brethren’. Dated 17 November 1609. Printed in ‘Melros papers’ (Abbotsford Club, 1837), volume i, page 74 ; and in ‘Register of the Privy Council of Scotland’, volume viii, page 608.

(xxxv) Letter, 10 December 1609, of Lord Wharton(?) to James VI on occasion of the death of his Lordship’s son.

(xxxvi) Letter of the Lords of Session to James VI in favour of Peter Rollock, late one of the Extraordinary Lords of Session. Dated Edinburgh, 11 January 1610. Printed in ‘Melros papers’ (Abbotsford Club, 1837), volume i, page 76.

(xxxvii) Letter of the Privy Council of Scotland to James VI reporting on the state of Ayr Harbour, and other matters. Dated Edinburgh, 1 February 1610. Printed in ‘Register of the Privy Council of Scotland’, volume viii, page 555; and in ‘Melros papers’ (Abbotsford Club, 1837), volume i, page 77.

(xxxviii) Copy of a letter of Neil Macleod (illegitimate son of the late Rosie Macleod of the Lewis, D.G.) to the Privy Council of Scotland concerning an English pirate (Captain Peter Love) lately taken by him. Dated Lewis, 16 October 1610.

(xxxix) Letter of the Earl of Erroll to James VI, asking for his liberty. The letter also concerns the education of his son. Dated Edinburgh Castle, 15 February 1610.

(xl) Letter of the Earl of Lothian to James VI on being appointed a Privy Councillor in Scotland. Dated Newbattle, 16 February [1610].

(xli) Letter of the Marquis of Huntly to James VI. Dated Stirling Castle, 15 February 1610. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 183.

(xlii) Letter or warrant of James VI to Sir Alexander Hay, Secretary of State in Scotland requiring his immediate attendance at Court. Dated Whitehall, 10 February 1610.

(xliii) Letter of the Countess of Crawford to James VI. Dated Edinburgh, 17 February 1610. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 184.

(xliv) Letter, undated, of Sir Robert Melville to James VI in favour of the Earls of Dunbar and Dunfermline then at Court. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 196.

(xlv) Letter of the Earl of Abercorn to James VI ‘anent the Plantatioun of Ireland’ and his own grant of Strabane. Dated Blackstone, 12 April 1610.

(xlvi) Letter, 5 May [?1610], of the Earl of Argyll to James VI.

(xlvii) Copy of offers, [1611], made by John Spottiswoode of that ilk to the kin and friends of the late Matthew Sinclair brother German to Robert Sinclair of Longformacus. For answers to the offers see (xlviii). Printed in ‘Spottiswoode miscellany’ (Edinburgh, 1844-1845), volume i, page 26.

(xlviii) Answers, [1611], to the offers made by John Spottiswoode of that ilk to the kin and friends of the late Matthew Sinclair brother German to Robert Sinclair of Longformacus. For the offers see (xlvii). Printed in ‘Spottiswoode miscellany’ (Edinburgh, 1844-1845), volume i, page 27.

(xlix) Letter of the Lords of the Privy Council of Scotland and of Session to James VI recommending to the King patronage of the unpublished woks of the late Thomas Craig. Dated Edinburgh, 18 August 1610. Printed in ‘Melros papers’ (Abbotsford Club, 1837), volume i, page 84.

(l) Letter of the Privy Council of Scotland to James VI concerning a Commission containing some very unusual clauses, claimed by the Master of Tullibardine against the Clan Gregor. Dated Edinburgh, 6 June 1611. Printed in ‘Register of the Privy Council of Scotland’, volume ix, page 616.

(li) Letter of the Earl of Dunbar and Dunfermline concerning the injury done to Scottish trade by English pirates with many particulars as to the pirates of the period. Dated Edinburgh, 27 July 1610. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 193.

(lii) Letter of the Privy Council of Edinburgh to James VI concerning a Challenge of Combat between the second son of Lord Cranstoun and Sir Gideon Murray. Dated Edinburgh, 10 August 1610. Printed in ‘Melros papers’ (Abbotsford Club, 1837), volume i, page 80.

(liii) Letter , undated, of the Earl of Glencairn to James VI. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 192.

(liv) Letter of the Earl of Dunfermline to Sir Alexander Hay, Secretary of State, then on his way to Court. Dated Edinburgh, 3 December 1610.

(lv) Letter of the Earl of Erroll to James VI. Dated Edinburgh Castle, 17 April 1611.

(lvi) Letter of the Privy Council of Scotland to James VI concerning that ‘late comittit ryott by the Erle of Lothiane’. Dated Edinburgh, 16 May 1611. Printed in ‘Register of the Privy Council of Scotland’, volume ix, page 609.

(lvii) Letter of the Commissioners of the King’s Rents to James VI concerning a claim of relief made by some of the name of Maxwell, who were cautioners for the late Lord Maxwell in his tack of the customs of cattle and goods passing between the two kingdoms on the west march. Dated Edinburgh, 16 May 1611. Printed in ‘Melros papers’ (Abbotsford Club, 1837), volume i, page 85; and in ‘Register of the Privy Council of Scotland’, volume ix, page 608.

(lviii) Letter of Lord Cranstoun to James VI concerning lands disputed between him and Sir Thomas Penruddock. Dated Baire, 25 May 1611.

(lix) Letter of the Privy Council of Scotland to James VI concerning James Johnstoun who had been condemned to lose his hand for ‘schoiting of pistolettis’. Dated Edinburgh, 3 May 1611. Printed in ‘Letters and state papers of James VI’ (Abbotsford Club, 1838), page 199.

(lx) Letter of the Privy Council of Scotland to James VI concerning the feud between the Lairds of Spottiswood and Longformacus. Dated Edinburgh, 4 July 1611. Printed in ‘Register of the Privy Council of Scotland’, volume ix, page 622; and in ‘Spottiswoode miscellany’ (Edinburgh, 1844-1845), volume i, page 23.

(lxi) Letter of James VI to the Privy Council of Scotland (sent by Lord Burley) concerning the law of usury in Scotland. Dated Royston, 18 February 1611.

(lxii) Letter, 28 November 1611, of the Earl of Dunfermline concerning a dispute between the Marquis of Hamilton and the Laird of Lee (James Lockhart) as to the execution of one James Watson and the liberation of Janet Forrest his spouse.

(lxiii) Certified copy, 27 November 1611, of the deposition of Gideon Weir, Notary in Lanark, concerning the dispute between the Marquis of Hamilton and the Laird of Lee.