The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral - Electric Scotland

APPENDIX. 213
concept you haue of my writting rather then from any want that is in my
letters :
yett how soeuer it be I shall endeawoure to amend it soe muche as I cann. Yet
I crawe pardonne att this tyme being much occupyed : for assure youre self wer
it not th l theis last letters of youres haue beene too long vnansuered you schould
not haue hard of me att this tyme. Yet you must knowe th l the fault is not in
me for your letters wer written in Octob. 1611, and I receawed them not befor
the letter end of June, 1612, because as M re Bonner wrott to me he meant
continuallye to haue broght me them himself. And therefor I pray you haue me
excused to oure Coosene Alex r Burnet and by the way lett him know th* (Lord)
is no vsuall title for a physicioune heare. For this cause I cann not satisfye youre
request nor M re Alexres vpon a suddant, but be you persuaded and assur him the
same alsoe I will be myndfull of you bothe, althoe as you knowe my dis-
tractiounes ar gryt.
Blessed be God Loving Coosene who hath kepte you for so
good a choise and he for Christes saik blesse you together
l th you may ioyne
trewlye to set his glorie befor youre eyes. I meane th l the vnfeyned lowe of
youre harts may soe appeare in youre practeese and cariadg one towards another
in youre seuerall places, the one commanding the other obeying, th l the world may
sea th e
you liwe not after the commone custome of the world (whoe liwe for the
moste parte rather lyk good nightboures, then lyk man and wyf) but rightly
according to God his owne ordinance one helping another, one bearing withe
another (for lowe cowerethe a multitud of offences) and one loving cheerresing
another as ther owne flesche, for glorifyeing youre loving and mercifull God by
youre godlye conversatioune, whoe is the authoure of lowe and ordoure. To this
end Loving Coosene you must learne to gowerne withe gryt discretioune putting
a syd all bitternes, and althoe schoe schould erre muche yett in any caise schawe
noe grytly angrie coontenance and cheeflye befor others (yea lett th k be concluded
betuene you th l noe man nor woman euer sea or hear you grytlye angrie or bitter
one to another, whiche easelye blouethe the coles of discord in generosis pectoribus)
but secretly admonishe her withe all moyldnes first according to the word of God,
then withe humane wisdome schawing her the necessitye of youre liwing
together bothe youre profeets and what gryt dangers and inconveniences may fall
out yf suche and suche thinges be not amended, confirming the same by some
nighboure exemple of disagrieing cupples (as I fear you may haue anewe) and
alwayes conclud withe a lowing kisse, adding gentle, courteouse persuasiounes,
saying I knowe you doethe it of ignorance or of forgetfulnes and therfor I thoght
good to putt you in mynd secretly becaus thy good is my good and thy credit is
my credit and the contrarie, and therfor I desyr ye to admonishe me alsoe secretly
yf need be, and lett ws watche in the fear of God one ower another th l we giue
not others occasioune to talk of ws or th l we dishonoure not oure good God.