A True RELATION Of what is Discovered concerning the MURDER Of the Archbp of St. Andrews, And of what appears to have been the Occasion thereof.  
ONE Lovel of Cunuchie, being Vassal to the Bishopric of St. Andrews; the late Archbishop, upon the account of some few duties resting to him, did gift to his own behoof, the Escheat of Lovel of Cunuchie, in prejudice of his numerous family and many Creditors. One Haxstoun of Rachillet being one of these Creditors, and at that time a Favourite of the Archbishops, prevails with him upon his giving Bond to the Bishop for 1000 l. Scots, or thereby, to assign the gift in his Favours. Thereafter the Archbishop conceiving prejudice against him, Registrates Haxstouns Bond, surprises him at St. Andrews; having called for him, takes him with Caption, and keeps him Prisoner in St. Andrews for several months, until one Mr. Falconer a Conform Minister obtains his liberty. But Haxstoun having stronger resentments of his Imprisonment, than of the liberty to which he was restored, at his liberation in presence of witnesses, Vowed and Swore, God damn him if ever he went to Church as long as there was a Bishop in Scotland; And that if he lived he should be revenged on the Bishop's person.  
This Haxstoun was a vile person, had nothing of good in him, and was scarce admitted to the Society of Sobermen; He was not once only a Favourite, but servant of the Bishop, having Collected part of his Rents. However now the Archbishop (who was enemy to any thing that had interest in Haxstoun) Commands Captain carstair's, Garret, and one Scarlet a Tinker, to apprehend John Balfour of Kinloch, brother-in-law to the said Haxstoun, (no Presbyterian, though an enemy to the Bishop, upon the injury done to Haxstoun his brother-in-law) who resisted the said carstair's, and wounded some of them; And thereupon was cited before the Council, (though carstair's had no Warrant to apprehend him, only to gratify the Bishop), where not daring to appear, he is denunced and intercommuned, and made a stranger to his own House for two Years; wherewith, and with the robbing and spoiling committed by Bailiff Carmichel, the secret Councils Sheriff depute in Fife, The said Haxstoun and Balfour, being enraged and inflamed with the desire of revenge upon the Archbishop, they did upon the third of May instant, with eight or nine other Ruffians, (three of them called as they say, Balfours) wait his return from Edenbrough to St. Andrews, and there near a house called Magus, in an open Muire, and within two miles or thereby of St. Andrews, they pursue him; the Coachman and Postilion perceiving, advertises him, and drives with all their might to escape; So that for near three quarters of a mile they could not overtake them. At last Balfour and Haxstoun being better mounted than the rest, Balfour comes up with the Postilion, commands to stop, and he refusing, strikes him over the face with his Sword, dismounts him, and disorders the Coach-horse; Haxstoun comes to the Coach and Fires several Pistols at the Bishop; but none of them, although they hit his body, did pierce him; they pierced through his Clothes, but left only blunt marks upon his body, somewhat like to burning.  
Whereupon Haxstoun drags him out of his Coach, strikes him over the left Eye with a deep wound, who thereupon fell, and gave him several other mortal strokes upon his head, and cuts in his arms, rifles his pockets, and his Daughters (who was with him in the Coach) of their Gold Watches and Papers, disarms his servants without hurting any except the Postilion, who was wounded at first; and that his Daughter received a wound on her thumb, grasping to save her Father; and then flee all together.  
This is the account both of the persons, the occasion of their wicked act, and the circumstances of the act itself: Which is discovered and made known by the Examination of the Bishops own servants upon Oath, and a servant of the house near the place where the fact was done, where Haxstoun and Balfour left their Coats before they attacked the Bishop; and after it was done, came and brought them away.  
The Bishop's servants depone, That a man mounted on a bay House struck the Postilion and turned the Coach; and that he mounted on the white, dragged the Bishop out of the Coach, and killed him with his Sword.  
And the servant in the House depones, That it was John Balfour of Kinloch was mounted on the bay Horse, and Haxstoun that was mounted on the white. That these two persons had a personal spite and hatred at the Bishop for the causes before, all know, and the Records witness. That the Bullets did not pierce his body, was seen by the Chirurgeon, William Borthwike, who was sent by the Council to view his Body.  
FINIS.