Mary: July 1557

417. Philip and Mary to Westmerland, &c. [July 2.]

Thanking them for their diligence as reported in their letter of 26^th ultimo to the Privy Council, and in reply, as the Scots seem only to mind delay, reminding them of the late mission of Sir Robert Carnegy from the Queen Dowager, whereon the commission was issued for the special end of peace, &c., not for such matters as were incident to the wardens' offices—that the "attemptate of 7^th July" so much stuck at by the Scots, was committed by a number of broken men of both sides, Gremes and others, and will be redressed in due time on the like being done to England. Among the which the case of Pelham more than six times worse than the Greames' matter, grounded on so evil a cause, committed in such a time and place, and against the Queen's own person, must first be redressed; the case of the Lord of the "Owt Iles," which the Scots would compare to Pelham's, being nothing like, nor do they know if he is a Scottish subject or not, and so no comparison between them. Therefore directing their commissioners, if the Scots show by deeds their wish to act fairly, so to deal with them, and firmly, yet avoiding falling out as far as possible. That they have directed Lord Shrewsbury to levy 600 horse to strengthen the West Marches by the 1^st of August next.

10 pp. Corrected draft. Headed: "By the King and the Quene." Indorsed.

418. Philip and Mary to [Lord Dacre]. [July 2. 1557.]

Directing him in case the Scottish commissioners agree to the reasonable conditions to be offered by those of England, to arrange for exchange of pledges on either side. Under their signet. Palace of Westminster, 3^d and 4^th years of their reigns.

1½ pp. Corrected draft. No address. (William lord Dacre was then warden of the West March.)

419. Thomas Martyn to the Queen of England. [July 13.]

Early yesterday morning the 12^th, the Bishop of Orkney sent one of his gentlemen to me to ask a meeting: when he repeated what he has often said here, "howe he loved and honored youre highnes above all pryncesses yn the wordle, nexte unto hys Mistrys, and he never made prayer for his oune mother, but he dyd the lyke for youre majestie," trusting the peace with Scotland should never be broken in your days. I "southed" him in all he said, especially as to peace, which your highness would keep inviolate, unless broken by your good sister of Scotland. 'God forfend that plague,' quoth he again to me, 'for except youre good Quene and owres shall take up this different betwixt these twoo greate and mightie pryncess, I see' quoth he, 'no lykehoode of peax nor ende of warre in Christendome.' To which I answered that your highness showed the world your desire for peace, in sending your ambassadors to Calais at great charge for pacification of the Emperor and the French King, which "neither dyd he then regarde at all, nor afterwardes beinge a truce made for v yeares, he would scase kepe it v moonths." 'It is trewe,' quoth the bishop, 'but yet I despere not but all shall be well, yf oure Quene' (meaning the Dowager), 'mought speke with the French Kinge, as she entendeth either at Michelmas nexte, or at Candellmas, and would be gladd to see her good syster of England yn the waye; wyche yf hit come to passe, maye be a greate meane to the quyete of all Christendome.' 'That metinge' quoth I, 'woulde I wyshe with all my hart: but it requyreth a good amytee and parfett peax yn the meane tyme—and how ye can parfourme that of your partes, I can not tell, ye being by expresse league bounde to invade England yf we shall ynvade Fraunce, and youre Quene beyng yn owre enemies handes and alltogither at hys commaundment. And what yf she shoulde commaunde Scotland to proclayme warre agaynst England, how dare ye doe the contrary ?' 'Upon my soule,' quoth the bishop, 'thair ys no souche thinge ment,' and here he noted two or three cases to prove that we being at war with France, yet Scotland remained true to us. And he wished, to assure peace, that now, and on departing, we should straitly charge the wardens, and proclaim peace on pain of death for a month or two, till the princes' pleasure. 'And yn that tyme' quoth he, 'I trust the tyme wyll be well spent to make any warres'! Though this overture liked me well, the rather as your highness's Privy Council required us thereto, yet I thought best to say we would confer and answer his lordship at the council board. When we all assembled in the afternoon, "they moved us no souche question, but upon the cominge of a post yesternight from Newebottell (belyke the Regent and the Duke agreyth not) Syr Robert Carnegye came unto me this mornyng early with the lyke message," desiring me to move my lords to meet them to-day, and if we did not agree to redress, yet to depart in peace as we came. Which we have done and certified your0,00,07,39| 16 16 0 0 highness's Council. The copy of our proclamation and manner of agreement, we shall send your grace at our departing, "wyche we recken shall be on Sondaye or Mundaye next." Carlisle. Signed: Thomas Martyn.

3 pp. Holograph. Addressed. Indorsed.

420. The Bishop of Durham to the Queen. [July 17.]

In our common letter to your Majesty, we have asked full credence for "our fellowe M^r Doctour Martyn," who can inform your grace of all particulars since our conference began: humbly beseeching your favour for him, whom we could not have wanted, for his learning, diligence, and labours have been such, that I think it shall be hard to find in your realm one more meet to treat secret, high, and weighty affairs, "when eny rowme meet for suche a man shall fall." Carlisle. Signed: Your majeste most humble servaunt subgiet and chapleyn Cuth. Duresme.

1 p. Addressed. Indorsed.

421. The Commissioners to the Queen of England. [July 18.]

Having done our utmost for your Majesty's honour, preservation of the peace, and quiet of our country, as far as our instructions warrant us, they being repugnant in some points to those of the Scots, we have prorogued further meeting till 15^th September, till your Majesty's further pleasure, and "your good sister of Scotlandes meaninge, maye be fully knowen: and (which we specially considered) the tyme maye be past over for the Scottes to make warre uppon us." And to prevent any breach of peace, both we and the Commissioners for Scotland, "standing to gether yesterdaie at the highe crosse at Carlisle, being the xvij^th of Julie, and the market daie," made open proclamation for peace, the copy whereof is herewith sent to your majesty: and the like was sent on Wednesday last to the wardens of both realms, that proclamation throughout should be made in one day before our departure, God willing, to-morrow. Meantime to prevent all rodes or incursions, we have straitly charged both the Scottish and English wardens, to take in their hands the principal "owtrydars" of both realms—trusting those orders shall be to your highnesses contentation. I Thomas Martyn shall inform your majesty of all our proceedings, to whom we the rest ask your majesty to give credence. Carlisle. Signed: H. Westmerland, Cuth. Duresme, Robert Hyndmer, Tho. Martyn.

1½ pp. Addressed. Indorsed. Damaged.

(1) Contemporary copy of same.

Inclosed in the same:-

(1) Joint proclamation of the peace, and adjournment of the next meeting of the Commission till 15^th September next at Rydingburne —17th July 1557.

1 p. Contemporary copy. Indorsed.

(2) Joint orders by the said Commissioners to the wardens of both realms, as to release of prisoners, taking sureties, &c. H. Westmerland, Cuth. Duresme, Robert Hyndmer, Tho. Martyn. Ro. bisshop of Orknay, Cassillis, Robert Carnegy.

1 p. Contemporary copy.