c.1627 Letter from John Hamilton of County Down

1627, December 25^th. — Right honourable, Having this occasione of your servant I ame bauld to remember my deuty to yours wourthie mother, to yours saielfe and laday, with all the rest of that honorabill famely. Pleis yow, the overthraw gifing to the Deuik is marvelouse grit. Thaire is ane grit army preparing in Ingland quhairto yit not knawing. For this effeck thair is ane Parliament [to] be in Scotland schortlie. My lieutennant, James Wachope, with many uthers offisars ar laitlie arrivit frome Germany to lewie sogers for the use of the King of Denmarck. He hes gifing Court Tily ane marvelousie grit defaiet. Tylie is Army biing passit ower the river of Allfe [Alster] the King of Denmark causit in the nicht for a lontyme labour and wourk till he cuttit the rivar and maied it rin within Tyly is army quhar thaire his holl canone was drownit with a grit pairt of his army. The rest flying could not fall bot one the army of the King quhar they all for the most pairt war put to the suourd. Thus we have hard frome Dublein, sence from Ingland, [and] now Jamis Wachope, as we ar informit, reportis the same. He hes bein this fourtnicht past in Port Patrick and cane nocht wune over, bot thaire come ane bot from Loche Rying quharin thaire was ane mane boithe spak him saielfe and did sie Jamis Wachope. Quhat neuis I sall have you sall heir frome me as occasionis fallis out. I ame affrayid I sall nocht returne home now till Mairche, that I may carry with me all my pipill. Pleas yow, gud Sir, thaire is niver ane soger of myne athar went avay from any leutennant or deid sence thair pairteur bot ane Wilzame Boyd, sone to Dawid Boyd in the Airdis. I heir he was ane insolent youthe; he deiit of ane flux. The namis of thous ar killit and prisoners I have sent yow, bot favour me soe muche that I may have it agane quhen yow sall send any over to thir pairtis. I ame and all yours humbell trew servant, J. HAMMYLTONE.