1. The Yards, 26 October [1560]

Adam, bishop of Orkney, to Archibald Napier of Merchiston.

Darrest brother, efter all hartle recommendation, pleis wit I ressavit ane wreting of youris fra James King, be the quhilk ye schew me ye haid wretin dyvers tymes to me, and mervalet that ye haid gottin na anser. Trewle other na that wreting I gat naine fra you this gryt quhyill, quhairfor think not onkuith that I wreit na anser of that thing I ressavit not. As to the knawlege of my being quhilk ye war desyrus of, it hes bene in continuall trawell and labour of bodye and mynd and evill helth thairthrow continualle sene my cumming in this cuntray, as this berar can reherss and informe yow sufficientle. Alsua quhat cummeris sume frendis hes sterit oup unto us, and how the samin standis with us presentle, James Meinyes will reherss yow. Prayand yow hartle to rekkin, that all the cummer that can be maid me sall not caus me to geif ouer that thing suld be my supple in tyme of neid, and that otheris weill deserving suld bruik efter me: bot gif thais that hes done me plesuir will resaiff sic thankfulnes of me as of thankfull mynd I am willing and glaid to do thame, I sall be abowt to do thame mair plesuir, and acquyt the benifet done to me mair thankfulle than ony in Scotland that ever ressavit sic guid deid. Prayand yow, that gif ye cum in commonyng with ony man thairanent, schaw how I haif offeret the justice clerk, haiffand upone this benefice xi hundreth merk of pension yeirle to be geiffin owt of the quantite of xx chailder beyr, quhilk is mair than I haif to sustene me one behind, and gif the victuall com to sic pryces as it hes bene guid chaip within this schort spaice, I wald not haif sua mekil behind my pensionis as other mycht pay that or susteine my selff. Quhairfor pray him to be ressonable and ramember him that he that wald haif all, all is able to tyne.