Mary: March 1558

435. The Queen to the Queen Dowager of Scots. [March .]

We have received your letter of 11^th February delivered by your councillor William Maitland of Lethington, and also heard his credence. While most desirous of a good and honorable peace, which you and your ministers first brake, yet, things standing as they are, we cannot treat with your allies, nor make ourself a mean thereof. We asked your councillor if he had commission to treat or conclude peace between our realms, whereto we would have given ear, but as he had none such, but seemed to be sent "otherwher," we could not permit that, and therefore send him back to you.

1 p. Corrected draft. Indorsed. Date covered up.

436. Memorandum on the state, &c., of Scotland. [1558.]

"Estat et puissance du royaulme d'Escosse."

[Extracts.]

Scotland contains all the north of the isle of Britain to the rivers Solway and Tweed and mountains of Cheviot—saving the town of Berwick taken "par armes" about 100 years ago.

It has on the West sea, 43 isles, called in Latin Ebonic or Hebrides, the largest inhabited. The principal is Mona, a bishop's see, long time part of England. In the north are the Orcades, 33 in number, abounding in barley, fish, and rabbits. "Pommonie" is the nearest and greatest, a bishop's see and royal castle. The farthest of all is "Thule."

The principal rivers, Taus in the north, Cluda in the west, and Forte in the middle, the best land in the realm is around them. Beyond is "Escosse sauvaige," the living, the tongue, and all about the people, very barbarous and rude, and thinly inhabited. The most part is the Earl of Argyll's, held of the crown.

The extent in circuit is hardly less than England, but it is far less fertile, through the vehement cold and winds, and the many rough [aspres] mountains; and the land is badly cultivated and planted, so that there is no wood, and they use coal, dug out of the ground. Labour is little done, and they have no "prare" (fn. 1) as in England, so they often leave their ground "pour paisson," instead of labouring it. They have good plenty of beeves, wethers and ewes, and at low prices. Their riches are small and there is little money. Their gold and silver is like that of France. Their manner of living is rustic, except the courtiers brought up in France. They are "assez fins, astutes et inconstans daffection."

They are ill disposed to strangers, save the noblesse, at present strongly favouring the French party. "Le poeuple y est a demy!" Those of the same family favour and honour it greatly. There is little justice done, specially on any of a noble house; for he who was offended will hardly resort to justice, for if the delinquent is made to suffer it, all those of his name will be his perpetual enemies, and by all means open or secret, have revenge on him or his family, caring little which, not stopping till they come to the chief, when the King, to attach a family to his service, often remits the penalty of death. Otherwise they feel aggrieved if justice is done on one of their blood.

They have few good towns, the principal Edinburgh, was ruined by the English about 1546, with the environs, specially the churches. With French aid, the Scots recovered their country, except Berwick, and the French hold the chief strengths—as Dunbar, and "l'isle des chevaulx (fn. 2) audevant du Petit Lith," near Edinburgh. The promontory of Broughty [d'Ambroch] on the Tay—the fort "de" (fn. 3) on the Forth near Lisco, and Aymouth newly fortified, 4 miles from Berwick. By these they command all the country, not openly, but as protectors of the realm, and the future marriage of their Queen to the Daulphin. None of those could resist a strong attack.

The Scots hold only the castle of Edinburgh on the rock near the town, with some 18 soldiers as guard, and the Bass rock, owned by a private gentleman; and in the rest of the country no strong towns, but a few little forts.

S^t Andrew is their patron saint, and their kings are wont on their money to have a thistle flory crowned, and a S^t Andrews cross, which they use in war. They are changing this cross on their money, to a "croix droicte potentee" sometimes "sans potence." Their kings have no order of knighthood, (fn. 4) but bear the orders of the Golden Fleece, S^t Michael, and the Garter, "selon le jour et comme leur vient a plaisir." At present there are three chevaliers of S^t Michael there, viz. "les Contes de Hameleton, D'Argueil, et de Cassel."

The King has no great domain. Most of the lands lordships towns and castles, belongs to the prelates and nobles, many of them richer and more powerful than the King—specially the churchmen. There are 2 archbishops, 12 bishops, and 60 abbeys good and rich, and many priories, but all these abbeys and priories are given "en commande" to protonotaries as in France, to the great ruin of the monasteries and churches of Scotland. The Archbishops are (1) S^t Andrews primate of Scotland; and (2) " Celluy de Glasco."

The bishops, are of Galloua, grand almoner of the kingdom, and administrator of all the royal chapels; of Wigton, of Dumblain, president, of Ross grand secretary to the Queen, d'Elgein, Dunkel, Brechin, d'Aberdonne, d'Orcane, Saunt Jan, Canonnrie, and d'Orne.

There are 60 abbeys as before said, among them some priories of great revenue provided to "les Bastards descosse."

Among the earls, are (1) the "Conte de Hameleton duc de Chastelherault en France plus proche a la couronne, estant de surnom Stuart quy est le nom de la Royne moderne": (2) of Argyle, (3) of Cassillis, treasurer general—all three chevaliers of the French order, (4) Huntly, chancellor (5), Rotosse "puissant seigneur pour le pays, (6) Bauduart [Bothwell], Admiral; (7) Craffort, Marshal; (8) Mortham [Morton]; (9) D'Attelle, (10) Glencarne [Bellencarne]. These are the most puissant, "mair tous iceulx ne sont puissantz d'argent senon de vassaulx." After these come "vicontes, barons et millors" and then the "lardz," same as "messires" in England, and last the "populaire."

The King can make no "imposts, tailles ne gavelles sur le plat pays," nor demand money of his people, and has no men in pay; but at his command, every man must muster armed under his chief at the place and day prefixed, on pain of losing his fief—and the order is this—the King commands the earls, they command the barons and castellans—the baron his "lardz," the lairds "a leurs metterridos," those taxed to them, "proprietairen quilz appellent mictins a ceulx tenantz deulx et ceulx vivans soubz"—and thus each man according to his degree, rises on horse or foot with his servants, carrying his victuals and money to the camp for 6 weeks—the entire length of their service in the field. The prelates and churchmen must do the same each under his superior prelate—and their vassals save churchmen, serve in person.

The towns and villages send also their proportion of men for their commune "selon leur cottes et assiettes." In the state there are sometimes 4000 or 5000 horse and 20,000 or 25,000 foot [piedtons] more or less, under lieutenants, captains, marshals, &c. appointed by the King. They are but light horsemen, fighting more "par forme descarmouche que en chocque ou ordre de bataille."

The French King holds these forts with one or two companies "de fanterie Franchoise," chiefly arquebusiers, under captains paid by himself, also has Scottish light horse in his pay, and his lieutenant takes cognisance of all. Every gentleman and borderer serves to his own profit or peril to keep his own, without pay. Each country robs and pillages the other, and the English and Scots so hate each other, that they hold no intercourse save by leave of their princes or wardens on the borders.

7½ pp. French. Contemporary hand. Indorsed (in another): "Estat, ordre et puissance d'Escosse." Marginal notes in this latter hand,

437. Memorial as to the North. [1558.]

"Advertissement pour la Royne touchant les affaires du Noort."—

[Extracts.]

As the next and chief attack by the French King on England will be from Scotland, to which end his fortifications are directed, and cause of quarrel must arise by the marriage of the Daulphin of France and the Queen of Scots, it is most needful now to fortify Berwick the chief "bouluaire" of England.

And this to be most speedily and cheaply done—by widening and deepening the ditches, "thirer les terres" in the town to strengthen the rampart, and heighten the platforms—fill the fosses with water and thus prevent escalade, &c.

Then to make bulwarks and traverses, &c. at sight of engineers, the most costly part of the work.

Munitions both of war and "vivres" to be provided for at least 3 months for 5000 or 6000 soldiers, seeing the great circuit of the town, and the need of the poor townsmen. All the Scots' desire, and the French design, is on Berwick being formerly Scottish, and they think they can get it now, being weak, as I warned the Earl of Westmerland and my lord Everes the governor to look to it, at the last attempt "a la Sainct Remy de lan 1557"—when they intended it, if they could have passed the water in flood from the rain and winds, as I heard tell. Norham, Warke, or other places around, must also be fortified against a joint atttack; for the French have brought a great number of cannons powder and ladders to Aymouth which they have fortified contrary to the last treaty between England and Scotland, and should be dismantled.

The Scots being now strengthened with the French, trained arquebusiers and with modern weapons of war—England must do the like, and retain some good soldiers, Spaniards or Germans, to harden in war the new "enseignes" of England, by frequent exercise.

The officers and men of the garrisons should be often changed from one place to another, to prevent fraud in the captains, and accustom the men to labour, &c.

There being many native Scots in the north having intelligence with the enemy, an edict should be made, commanding all such whatever their quality, within 15 days to appear before the chief officer of the nearest town, give their names, birth, age, means of living, &c. that they may be dealt with as circumstances require.

If the war continue against Scotland, it were good with aid of some foreign foot and horse, to attack and ruin Aymouth, "tant prejudiciable" to Berwick, before the French get more strength.

As for Dunbar, a village and castle on the sea—it is weak, the castle is old, full of old buildings, and whoever is stronger on land could batter it with 10 or 12 pieces, and gain it.

For this year the Scots ("quelque bonne mine quilz facent"), have no hope of fresh succour from France—as that King needs all his men and money to defend his realm.

And (as I have often heard from our people there) there are not in all Scotland 1800 "testes Francoises," though they wish to be thought more than 4000. The chief French captains are La Bourse, Maillot, Ladre and others.

The Scots have not more than about 200 horse on the Borders. There is great scarcity of corn, and bread is double what it is in England, "aussy foing et ane [avoine?]." (fn. 5)

Horses are also very dear—double English prices—"Encoires tous pelis."

A great and feasible exploit with Flemish aid, would be to take the isle of Pommoona principal of the Orcades, whereby the fishing would be secured for England and Flanders.

7 pp. French. In same hand as last. Indorsed (in another): "Advertissement pour le coste du Nort." Marginal notes in this latter hand.