The late Expedition in Scotland. Sent to the Right Honourable Lord RUSSELL, Lord Privy Seal; from the King's army there: by a friend of his.
After long sojourning, my very good Lord!
of the King's Majesty's army at Newcastle,
for lack of commodious winds, which long
hath been at North East and East North
East, much to our grief; as your Lordship,
I doubt not, knoweth: the same—as God
would, who doth all things for the best-
the first of May [1544], the 36th year of
His Majesty's most prosperous reign, veered to the South and
South South West so apt and propice [propitious] for our
journey; being of every man so much desired, that there
was no need to hasten them forwards. To be brief; such
diligence was used that in two tides the whole fleet, being
200 sail at the least, was out of the haven of Tynemouth
towards our enterprise.
The third day after, we arrived in the Firth of Forth, a notable river in Scotland; having the entry between two islands, called the Bass and the May. The same day, we landed divers of our boats at a town named Saint Mynettes, on the north side of the Frith, which we burnt; and brought from thence divers great boats, that served us afterwards to good purpose for our landing.
That night, the whole fleet came to an anchor, under the
