Cecil Papers: April 1586

Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 3, 1583-1589. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1889.

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'Cecil Papers: April 1586', in Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 3, 1583-1589, (London, 1889) pp. 138-141. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-cecil-papers/vol3/pp138-141 [accessed 19 April 2024]

April 1586

263. Captain James Bruce to Archibald Douglas.
1586, Apr. 2. Wrote before within this two months with David Smith, but he made no further voyage but to Hull. The principal who has his Majesty's ear at this present [is the] Secretary. Desires his service to Lord Leicester, and Sir Philip Sidney. It is believed that the first embassy that shall come to England shall be the Lord Justice Clerk.— Edinburgh, 2 April 1586.
1 p.
264. The Master of Gray to Archibald Douglas.
1586, Apr. 2. Whereas his lordship has often written to him, saying that his credit in those parts is likely to be weighed with the credit he has in this court, thinks it very true that in all countries a stranger is accounted of according to the means he has to serve their turn; and he would be accounted a simple fool who, knowing this, and having to do with the favour of a foreign nation, did not provide to serve their turn in more ways than one. Assures him that he has done this so far that, if it had been his misfortune to have altogether lost the credit of his master, he would have yet had means to have made a party in Scotland, besides being able to render many wise offices to those that are subject there.
If he pleased to wait on him at once, his credit with the King would be better than ever it was before, but, if he presses too far, he will get no leave to go away.—From Holyrood House, 2 April 1586.
3 pp.
265. Thomas Morgan to the Queen of Scots.
1586, Apr. 14/24. His captivity is like to be continued until the strict league between the King of France and the Queen of England be broken. Describes state of affairs in France, and mentions matlers connected with M. de Nemours, who married Madame de Rohan and afterwards Madame de Guise. Refers to a new practice lately entered into by “that ungracious State” to move a difference between the Catholic priests themselves. Some priests in banishment have entered into conference with Secretary Walsingham, yet they mean to profit their country and not to serve Walsingham's turn, whatsoever they may promise him. Knows two of the priests; one is Gifford, a kinsman nigh in blood to Francis and Thomas Throgmorton; the other is Gratley, a sweet soul of God, who reconciled the Earl of Arundel and many other members. Recommends Crawley, an honest Catholic gentleman, to her.—24 April 1586.
[Murdin, pp. 510–512. In extenso.]
266. Arthur Sendye to Sir Francis Walsingham.
1586, Apr. 20. Being here resident in the Court of Denmark, I thought it my part to advertise you of the “imbassage” which the King intendeth to send to her Majesty, which was kept so secret that, until six days before the Ambassador was ready to take shipping, it was not known but unto some especial men of his Court; and the King being desirous that they might arrive in England, or if it were possible at the Court, before it was known to her Majesty, commanded a restraint to be made of all ships, as well Hollanders as English, that none of them should. depart before the King's ships were past, and enjoined them to hold anchor twelve hours after their departure, which was the 20th April, when the Ambassador and his company, passed by Elsinore to the sea. The Ambassador is Henricus Romelius, the King's Chancellor for the Duchy, with certain gentlemen and three of the best ships, all things appointed in as great state as this country of Denmark useth; neither hath he sent any “imbassage,” as I understand, in the like sort unto any other prince at any time heretofore.—Elsinore, 20 April.
Endorsed :—1586.
1 p.
267. Richard Douglas to Archibald Douglas.
[1586], Apr. 24. Your last, bearing date 1st of April, came to my hands . . . . the 19th of the same month, being at my father's house at Whit[in]gham. Immediately after the receipt thereof I sent away my . . . . the Justice Clerk his letters according to your discretion to his lad . . . . And for your own, because it contained no great matter . . . . [concern]ing the Earl Bothwell, I made but little haste hither . . . . acquainted therewith, but because you referred me to the sta . . . . here to receive of him such answers as it pleased them to give, to him also did I refer my Lord. But, so far as I could understand, the ambassador has given as yet no answer but general . . . . as of before, saying, that he expects of my Lord Treasurer v[ery] shortly the formal resolution in my Loid's affairs, and upon that [answer] both my Lord's departing to the Duke of Parma, and my going . . . . does depend. I am assured the ambassador could advertise no f[ . . . ] in [my] Lord's matters than I made you acquainted with, nor yet so . . . . to have a letter of mark for his man George. Where my Lord motioned to me first, but because you . . . . did take it in hand, I was contented not to trouble you [with] any such suit. My Lord is over the water to be . . . . this night or to-morrow, awaiting in good devotion the ans[wer to] our last letters, and impatient to suffer any longer delay. [As] for me, if once I had spoken with you, whereof I have a great desire, for sundry matters concerning both your present state, and to come, I would leave off any further dealing in . . . . causes, and yet I wish with all my heart my Lord to . . . . fied in all things, both for his own desert and the . . . . mind I know he bears to you, from the which he cannot be diverted for no persuasion, whereof there has been not a few used to him by the means of your old friend beyond the water, and I think some of them might have come [to] your ears by some there who have been dealt with for that . . . . same purpose. As for Colonel Stewart's intentions I here . . . . a memorial both of his purposes and of his desires, to h . . . done somewhat therein at my coming to London, which I do not write to your lordship before my own coming, because I knew they were but inventions of his own, to have moved the State to be more favourable in his particular with the States of Holland. We are here, in the old manner, expecting war daily since the return of Carmichael, the arriving of his Majesty. You will not believe what a disappointment and jealousy this sudden decourting of Sir William Keith has wrought in the hearts of many in this country, not so much for the goodwill borne to Sir William, as for hatred of the Chancellor, who is thought to have been his overthrow, and in him of the Earl Marshal. The Master of Glamis is marvellously miscontented, and provides for himself as if this slight were intended against him, whereof the giving of the commandment of the Guards to Carmichael, which he is now in taking up, gives no small . . . . ent. The marriage betwixt the Earl of Errol and . . . . of Morton's daughter by the Master's means is drawn . . . . [For] my own part, soon after his Majesty's arrival and the departure of the strangers, I look for a marvellous confusion in this State, and with the old faction a number of the best affected both to religion and amity with that country is meddled, for evil will of the Chancellor, and, as they say, for their own surety. And thus, my Lord, awaiting answer of my last, promising in the meantime that, as occasion shall serve, you shall be advertised of all matters that I can understand here, I commit you to God's holy protection.—Edinburgh, 24 Ap[ril].
Addressed :—To the Right Honourable Mr. Archibald Douglas, one of the ordinary Lords of his Majesty's Session.
In bad condition; margin of first page eaten away. Two small seals.
2 pp.
268. Thomas Morgan to the Queen of Scots.
1586, Apr.29/May 9 Recommending her to make use of Babington, stating there is no good liking between Babington and Foljambe. It shall not be amiss if she wrote three or four lines with her own hand to Babington, declaring her good conceit of him; his father-in-law is a personage of account, and a good Catholic.—9 May.
P.S.—Babington will help her with conveyance into Scotland, and may be employed towards any personage in that realm.
Copy. [Murdin, pp. 513–514. In extenso.]
269. Treaty with Scotland.
1586, Apr. —. Heads of the treaty passed between Queen Elizabeth and James VI., King of Scotland. Thirteen Articles signed “Jacobus R.”
[See this Treaty, as finally settled, in Rymer, XV. 803–807.]
Endorsed :—April 1586.
pp.
270. The Earl of Lochleven.
1586, Apr.—. Warrant for the sale-conduct of the Earl of Lochleven through the Marches.—Greenwich, — April 1586.
Draft. 1 p.