Elizabeth: August 1561

999. Lord James to Elizabeth. [Aug. 6.]

My earnest desire to see the intelligence betwixt these two realms long endure, moves me deeply to consider how, on one part, it may be increased, on the other, what are the chief impediments to be avoided. For the increase, I doubt not but conformity of religion, neighbourhood sustained by mutual good offices, and the very necessity of the case, will daily promote it. Indeed seeing for the subjects' part, the old enmity of these two nations is by God's providence miraculously converted to reciprocal good will, and both desire a friendly conjunction: I see not what could impede it, "if the headis culd so hartly be joyned in love as be the memberis," I mean your Majesty and the Queen my sovereign lady—"betuix whome I find mony natural causes, and strayt bandes of amyty, and but one rote [root] frome which ony variance can grow. You be tender cusines, boyth Quenes in the flour of your aages, much ressambling other in most excellent and goodly qualiteis, on whome God hayth bestowit most liberally the gyftes of nature and fortune." Your sex will not permit you to advance your glory by war and bloodshed, but in that of a peaceable reign. Neither of you is ignorant from what root the contrary affection proceeds; whereon before I touch, I shall crave pardon of my boldness, which proceeds only from the good will of him "who of all the subjects in both realmes, hayth, as apereyth to me, most interesse to wishe that your two Majesties wer joyned in most tender familiaritie. I wishe to God the Quene my souveraine lady hayth never by any advis taken in head to pretend interest or acclayme any titill to that your Majesties realme; for then I am fully persuaded you suld haif bene and continewed als dear freindis as you be tender cusines—but now sence on hir part some thing hayth bene thocht of it, and first motionit when the two realmes wer in warre togyther (your Majestie knoweth it) I feare that onles that rote may be removed, it sall ever bread unkindnes betuixt you." Your Majesty can not yield, and she may on the other part think it hard, being so nigh of the blood of England, so to be made a stranger from it! "Yff any myd way culd be pyked out to remove this differenc to both your contentementis, then it is lyke we culd haif ane perpetual quyetnes. I haif long thocht of it, and never durst communicat it to the Quene my souveraine, nor many of my cuntrie men; nor yett will heirafter follow it forthir nor shall seame good to your Majesty. The mater is hyghar then my capacite is hable to compas, yett upon my simple ouverture your hyghnes can lay a more large fundation. What yff your Majesties titill did remain ontouched, als wele for your self as thissue of your body? Inconvenient wer it to provyde that to the Quene my souveraine her own place wer reserved in the succession of the Crown of England? Which your Majestie will pardon me, if I take to be next by the law of all nations, as she that is next in lawfull discent of the ryght lyne of King Hendry the sevint your grandfather" —and in the mean time this isle to be united in perpetual friendship. The succession of realms comes by God's appointment at his good pleasure, and no provision of man can alter what he has determined, "but it must neidis cum to pas"! Yet it appears that without injury to any "party," this accord might bring us great quietness. "Every thing must haif sum begynnyng," and if I may receive answer from your Majesty that you can allow it, I will travail to bring my sovereign to some conformity; if you mislike it, "I will no farder mell [meddle] thair with . . . Protesting in the presence of God, that this my ouverture proceidit of no uther intent, nor tendeth to any other fyne [end], than to the contineuance of th'intelligence begun, which I wishe rather to do (?) than se in any poinct violated." Edinburgh. Signed: James Stewart.

2 pp. Closely written. Addressed. Indorsed.

1000. Lord James to Cecill. [Aug. 6.]

As I am persuaded nothing ever "lykeyt" your honour better than the good intelligence betwixt these two realms, "whereof (the praise to God) you haif bene ane cheif instrument," —so the fear of "inlacke" thereof has moved me to seek all overtures to preserve it, and made me bold to write my judgment to the Queen, whereof I send the copy, that finding it good, you may "lett the same to hir Majesties syght, not as direct to you, but as sent in Maister Randolphis pacquett" —or otherwise on consideration to withdraw it.

Unless God shall "moyen" (fn. 1) by this or the like, good intelligence between these two Queens, the amity begun can not long continue, to the grief of all such as mean uprightly. Edinburgh. Signed: James Stewart.

½ p. Addressed. Indorsed (by Cecill's clerk).

1001. Summons to the Scottish Estates. [Aug. 6.]

The Lords understanding both by common bruit, and their Queen's letters from Paris of 12 July, her intention to return to Scotland, and looking for her arrival before the end of this month, pray [the lord addressed] to convene with the rest of the nobility at Edinburgh on the 31^st instant, as they hope her highness will land there, to receive her honourably. Though by chance, while unlikely at this time of year, wind and weather hinder her Majesty keeping "the first triste," this is to be no stop to his coming, that order may be taken for quietness in the realm—for as he sees "sum tumult alreddy rasit in the principall burcht, (fn. 2) quhilk may be sum precedent to forther inconvenientis, and sone quhen the nychtis begyn to grow long, the Bordouris wald be providit for" —or her Majesty, if strangers with her saw this out of order, might think her nobles negligent and careless. They have written to her Majesty thereon, and of the day appointed. Edinburgh. "Your lordshipis loving freindis."

1 p. In a Scottish hand. Indorsed (by Lethington): "Copy off the lettre for convocation off thestates"; (by Cecill): "6 August. Copy of the lettre from the Lordes of Scotland to assemble the states in Scotland, 1561."

1002. John Knox to Elizabeth. [Aug. 6.]

"Grace from God the father throught our Lord Jesus, with perpetuall encrease of his holie spiritt." Please your Majesty, it is here "certainlie spoken, that the Quen of Scotland travaleht earnestlie to have a treatiss intitilled 'The ferst Blast of the Trompett,' confuted by the censure of the learned in divers realmes; and farther, that she lauboreht to inflambe the hartes of princess against the writar. And becaus that it may appear that your Majestie hath interest: that she myndeht to travall with your grace, your graces counsall, and learned men, for judgement against such a common ennemey to women and to thare regiment." It were but foolishness in me to prescribe to your Majesty what is to be done in anything—especially in what men think touches myself— "but of on thing I think my self assured, and tharefor I dar not conceall it,—to witt, that neyther doht our soverane so greatlie fear hir owen estate by reasson of that book, neyther yet doht she so unfeanedlie favour the tranquillitie of your Majesties reing and realme, that she wold tack so great and earnest panes, onles that hir crafty counsall in so doing, shot att a farther marck. Two yearis ago I wrote unto your Majestie my full declaration tuoching that work; experience since hath schawen that I am not desirus of innovations, so that Christ Jesus be not in his menbris openlie troden under the feitt of the ungodlie. With farther purgation I will not truble your Majestie for the present. Beseching the Eternall so to assist your highnes in all effares, that in his sight ye may be found acceptable, your regiment profitable to your common wealht, and your factes to be such that justlie thei may be prased of all godlie, unto the cumming of our Lord Jesus, to whose mychty protection I unfeanedlie committ your Majestie." Edinburgh. Signed: Your Majesties servand to command in godlines John Knox.

1¼ pp. Holograph: also address Indorsed (by Cecill): ". . . M^r Knox to the Q. Maty."

1003. Randolphe to Cecill. [Aug. 9.] Cott. Calig. B. x. fol. 37.

I received your letter of the 1^st written at "Osyes (fn. 3) " in Essex, and one to Lord James from his kinsman "S^t Come" from France—both agreeing that the Queen's purpose in home coming is not changed. It will be "a stowte adventure for a sycke erased woman" on the sea, and how she shall be received by many who are persuaded she means their ruin. There is little "preparance" yet, and scarcely any man expects her. On showing your letter to Lord James, Morton and Lethington, they wish as you do, she might be stayed, and were it not for obedience sake, "some of them care not thoughe theie never saw her face!" They try to prevent the wicked devises of her mischievous papist ministers—but it will always be found "that filij hujus sœculi, &c." They do what they can for "the religion" and amity with their neighbours—and need look to themselves, for their hazard is great. as they see. There is no safety for them, but in our Queen's favour —for friends abroad they have none, and few trustworthy at home. They mean to try what she will assure them of, in return for their offers; and this the Queen of Scots fears above all, and has ordered S^t Colme in her name to forbid any such thing till her return—as two are reported already here from England for the purpose.

They are grieved with her "refusall" and fear her thrusting Englishmen out of the country. By my late talks with Lord James and Lethington, I see they think after next Convention I should go to you with their determinations for your advice. So soon as it please the Queen's Majesty, I would be glad to quit this place for one of more quiet, and as I have continued here by your honour's mean, pray your good advice.

I doubt this Queen's money more than her fair words, and yet cannot conceive what great thing can be wrought with 40,000 crowns, for she has little or no treasure here, nor ready means to get it. Lethington does all he can to satisfy you of things here—he thinks it best she come not—but if she do, to let her know she shall find obedience and service if she embrace Christ, and desire peace with her neighbours. Your honour understands that M^r Knox is determined to abide the uttermost, and others will not leave him till God have taken his life and theirs together. It might please you to comfort him by letters, "that the Quenes Majestie dothe not utterlie condeme hym, or at the least in that poynte that he is so sore charged with by his owne Quene, that her Majestie wyll not allowe her doynges." It will be a great comfort to him and others. His daily prayer is for amity with England, and that God will not suffer men to be so "ingrate" and to "rune hed lynge" to destroy them that saved their lives and gave their country liberty. Edinburgh. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

Whytehede was freed from prison 2 days before your letter came —the Admiral's court testified his innocence against the Portugales. I will complain to the Lords of his delivery.

On back. —I must not omit this, though I would not put it in my letter—Huntly's wife has conferred with her "familiers," who promise her "that the Quene shall never set her foote in Scottyshe grounde." If false, I would she were burned for a witch.

3¼ pp. Holograph: also address. Indorsed (by Cecill's clerk).

1004. Maitland to Cecill. [Aug. 10.] Cott. MSS. Calig. B. x. fol. 150.

That Lord James and he have been 40 days in the north, advancing "the Relligion," &c. &c., hence his long delay in writing. Approves of the " staye " of M. Doysel. Discusses the evils if the Queen returns, the elation of the Papists and its effect on the lukewarm Protestants, &c., &c. Prays him that the inclosed letter "comme not to lycht." Will make it his "utermost study" that no seed of division take root between Chatelherault and Lord James, on whose concord their cause depends. Begs him if it happen that the Queen's Majesty write to Chatelherault, that she, or Cecill by her command, say somewhat to Arran his son, to further matters. Edinburgh. Signed: W. Maitland.

8 pp. Holograph. No address leaf. Wafer signet: a shield with lion rampant. This has been transferred from the missing address leaf.

1005. Maitland to Cecill. [Aug. 15.]

Yesternight came hither from France a Scottish gentleman Captain Ainstruther, sent by our sovereign. He left her Majesty (he says) at Mern 6 leagues from the Court at S^t Germains, where she had left the King and was coming to Calais to embark. He has letters to most of the noblemen, wherein she complains that the Queen has not only refused passage to M. Doysel, and the safe conduct she courteously required for her self, but openly declared she will not suffer her to come home to her own realm! Yet such is her affection to her country, and desire to see us, that she minds not that threat shall stay her, but takes her journey with 2 galleys only and no forces, accompanied with her three uncles, the Duke D'Aumalle, the Marquis D'Albaeuff, and the Great Prior, one of the Constable's sons, Monsieur Danville and their trains—and to trust her person in our hands. Meantime, thinking the Queen's Majesty will "practique" with her subjects here, she has written to divers, specially those most affectioned, to continue intelligence, and no wise receive an "ambassade" or renew any league with her Majesty, till herself" be present with ws." The bearer says she will arrive before the 26^th instant. What this message means I cannot judge—"but I marvell that she will uter any thing to ws which she wold have kept close from yow! and if two galayis may quyetly passe, I wishe the pasport had bene liberally granted. To what propos shold yow open your pak and sell none off your wares, or declare yow ennemyes to those whome yow can not offend ? " It passes my dull capacity to imagine what this sudden enterprise means. We shall trust no more than we see, and yet fear the issue for lack of charges and sufficient power. If things go amiss, we shall feel the first "dint." It were well the Queen kept some power at Berwick, so long as we stand in doubtful terms; it will discourage the enemy and make us the bolder. I pray you advise me in this dangerous case, whereto my "wit" is not sufficient— "as well in the commen cause as my particular, who am taken to be a cheeffe medlar and principall negotiatour of all the practiques with that realme. Thogh I be not in greatest place, yet is not my danger least, specially when she shall comme home, having so late receaved at the Quenes Majestes hands (as she will think) so great a discourtesy!" Ainstruther has also commission to receive from the French captains Dunbar castle and Inchkeith fort, and send home the soldiers. I hear the Queen means to draw home the Earl of Lennox from England, and make him an instrument of division, setting him up against the Duke of Chatelherault. I trust the Queen's Majesty will have good regard thereto. Let me hear from you often—if every 4 or 5 days a line or two, it would be my greatest comfort. And as I must now be "jalouse" of my letters, make mention how many you have received this month—this is the third —when I shall know they have reached you. Edinburgh. Signed: W. Maitland.

2½ pp. Holograph: also address. Indorsed (by Cecill): " . . . L. of Ledyngton."

1006. Elizabeth to Mary. [Aug. 16.]

The Lord of S^t Colme [Cosme] brought us your letters dated the 8^th of this present at Abbeville, signifying, that although by our answer to you by M. Doyzel, ye doubted our amity, yet after "certaine purposes passed" betwixt you and our ambassador, ye assured us of your good meaning, and required credit for S^t Colme, who has declared to us the same excuse for not ratifying the treaty, as yourself did to our ambassador—whom we have briefly answered, as he can show you. If he shall not so do, lest you thought your reasons had satisfied us, "sommarely" we assure you your answer is no satisfaction, we only require performance of your promise, whereto ye are bound by your seal and hand—in your own power as Queen of Scotland—which yourself "in woordes" confess, concluded by your late husband's and your own ambassadors, to which your own nobility and people were privy, and without which no amity can continue. Yet seeing by report of the "bringar," that ye mean forthwith on coming home, to follow the advice of your Council there, we suspend our "conceipt of all unkindnes," and assure you we be fully resolved on performance thereof, to unite in sure amity, and live with you in the "knot of frendshipp," as we are in that of nature and blood. And herein we are so earnestly determined, that if the contrary follow "(which God forbid)" the world shall see the occasion to be in you, not in us; as "the story witnessith the like of the King your father our uncle," whom evil councillors advised against meeting our father at York to conclude a "perpetual bonde"; whereof we know witnesses remain with us, and some (we think) with you. For the report that we had sent our admiral and navy to impeach your passage: your servants know its falseness, and that we have only 2 or 3 small barks at sea, to apprehend certain Scottish pirates haunting our seas under pretence of letters of marque; whereto we were almost compelled by the complaint of the Spanish ambassador. On this matter we earnestly require your consideration at coming to your realm—the rather for "respect" that should be betwixt Scotland, our realm, France, Spain and the "House of Burgundy." Recommending us to you with request not to neglect "theis our frendly and susterly offers of frendship, whiche before God we meane and intend to accomplishe." Under our signet. Heuyngham, 16 August, 3^d year of our reign.

Broad sheet. Fair contemporary official hand. Addressed.

(1) Original draft of the same.

3 pp. In Cecill's writing. Much corrected and altered. The clause as to James V. refusing to meet Henry VIII. at York, is struck out. Indorsed (by Cecill's clerk): "M. to the Quene of Scotland," &c.

1007. The Master of Maxwell to Elizabeth. [Aug. 22.]

On the 21^st of this instant, I came to treat with your grace's commissioners here, according to the tenor of the letters I received from your Council, and have found them so well inclined to redress of offences, &c., "as I rest weill satisfyit," not doubting but execution shall follow, as Lord Dacre the opposite warden, their honours and I have agreed. As I and all my true countrymen are most bound to pray for your Majesty's long continuance in royal estate, for the benefits we have received in delivery from the bondage of the stranger, so I trust we shall never be found unmindful, but declare such honest service to your Majesty as appertains.

The Queen my sovereign is lately come to her native country, on whom I intend to wait with all diligence, as bound, and give my "sempill and plane oppinyoun and advis" for continuance of this amity, "bayth to Godis glorie" and the weal of my native country. "Traisting in God, hir Majestie vill consider the samyn; and geif nocht, yit I for my part and, as I think, syndrie of the nobilitie and utheris gud subjectis of our realm, will do that we haife professit unto your Majestie in the conclusioun of this last amitie"—advertising your highness after my return from her grace. "Maist humlie beseikand your grace, for the lufe of Almychty God, to accept my part as I sall bayth meyne and wyrk in to it." Carlisle. Your Majesties hummle and obesand servand honestlie. Signed: Jhone Maxwell.

1¼ pp. Addressed. Indorsed.

1008. Elizabeth to Mary. [Aug. 25.]

The King of Spain having sundry times of late written to us that not only the subjects of the King of Portugal, but also his own of Spain and his Low Countries, are spoiled by pirates, some English, but most Scots, haunting our south and north seas: and this last July has earnestly renewed the complaint by his ambassador, adding that if the seas were not better preserved under our leagues, he must arm a force himself. Wherein, though we have taken order forbidding aid in our ports to such rovers, the ambassador seemed dissatisfied, as the time of fishing is now present—without our sending some barks to the seas, which report that the most of them have withdrawn into your east and west ports. We pray you will make strait order to apprehend them, or the seas will be again annoyed when our vessels return to port. Pirates are common enemies to all states, so we require you to redress "the collor of them" in your country, viz. the "pretence of a lettre of marque"; and hearing some noteable pirates in Scotland are our subjects, viz. "one named Marychirch, item another named Jhon Whythed, a third called Jhonson,"—we pray that the presenter hereof our servant Thomas Randolph, may solicit their delivery at your hands, and aid for their safe conduct "without rescuss" to our town of Berwick. With full credit herein for our said servant. Under our signet.

2 pp. Corrected draft by Cecill. Indorsed.

1009. Elizabeth to Randolphe. [Aug. 25.]

Sending him copy of the letter to the Queen of Scots, which he is to deliver, previously informing himself where the pirates there named are, and how to move her in redress against those sailing under letters of marque.

He is to let M. Dampvile and the Grand Prior understand that she has sent to the French ambassador in London their safe conduct to return to France through her realm. He will do well to find out what the Queen means as to ratifying the treaty. He is to remain in Scotland to understand the affairs there.

¾ p. Draft by Cecill. Indorsed: "M. to Thomas Randolph."

1010. Randolphe to Throckmorton. [Aug. 26.]

Pardon me though I am shorter than I would, having so much in store that I would you partook of. On the 19^th instant at 10 o'clock the Queen landed at Leith, with 2 galleys only, her three uncles, M. Danville, and other gentlemen. The noblemen here were all absent except Lord Robert—her arrival so sudden that none expected her. Incontinent on the news, the Duke arrived first, next Lord James, then Arran. Since that time, the repair has been great of all sorts, all men welcome and well received, good entertainment, great cheer, and fair words. I find no great alteration in things: all men "persyste" in the same mind that they were of before they saw her —the protestants "stowte in defence of Godes cawse," and the papists "nothyng incurraged for anye thynge that yet theie have founde." If you say to me, it is yet "but newe dayes," I answer that when I see occasion, you shall hear as I find it. She was 4 days without Mass, the next Sunday after arrival she had it said in her chapel by a French priest. There were only at it besides her uncles and her own household, the Earl of Montrose, Lord "Grehame." Lord Hume would not be there; "the rest were at M^r Knox sermound, as great a number as ever was anye daye." The Earl of Cassillis was that Sunday at "the preachynge," and the Monday at the "Masse": it is said that since he has repented it, "and this ys but Twesdaye!" I have not yet received my commission, and can write nothing of her Majesty; I look daily for it. The second day after her arrival, she asked, "what I made here, and when I dyd departe?" I looked then to have been sent for. Now we stand in better terms than before— especially since the lord of S^t Colme's arrival with her safe conduct 4 days after she was landed. She neither met nor saw ship on the sea for all the bruit that was of her stay that should have been.

It was concluded on Monday that all matters touching religion should stand as she found them: "she herself to use her howse with owte reproche of persone. I see no hope of other in her then when you lefte her. Yt dothe me good to remember that ther are yet but two byshopes arrived—Androws and Donkell—bothe in longe gownes and typpettes with hattes upon their heddes, but scharce dare put their noses owte of their doores for feare of after clappes. The preste that saide the Masse, when he had his god at the hyghteste, had almoste for feare: I saye no more for reverence!" Lord James does most "with (sic) here, next in credit is Lethington. Ambassadors are appointed to France, England, Spain, &c."—their names you shall know when I am better assured. "Duke Domale" and M. Danville pass through England, the Prior by sea, the Marquis will winter with us. Bothwell is forbidden the Court, for the difference between Arran and him. Huntly came here, "xvj horses in poste." Not one absents himself, "or that is not well taken with for the fyrste face, savinge John Knox that thonderethe owte of the pulpet, that I feare no thynge so myche, that one daye he wyll marre all! He rulethe the roste, and of hym all men stonde in feare—wolde God you knewe howe myche!" I am amended myself, "but nowe agayne in erneste." The Frenchmen are dislodged from Dunbar and the Inche; Dunbar is committed to the custody of Lord John of "Coudingham," the other I know not. Proclamation is made on the Borders for justice and amity. This is more than I thought my time would have served me. Whatsoever it please you, I am at your command. My humble commendations to my "very good ladie." Edinburgh. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

2 pp. Holograph; also address: "To the righte worshipfull Sir Nicolas Throgmorton knyght ambassador . . . in France!" Indorsed: ". . . from M^r Tho. Randolphe" (and in same hand) "Alex. Bog 12 September." Armorial quartered wafer signet: 1 and 4 a bend engrailed between 2 stars (?): "1561" at foot.

1011. Chatelherault, &c. to Queen Elizabeth. [Sept. 1.] Cott. Calig. B. x. fol. 155.

Having commodity by the present departure of the Secretary, directed to your highness by the Queen our sovereign, we have committed to him certain things tending to continuation of the amity between the realms. Praying your Majesty to give him as firm credence as to ourselves. Edinburgh. Signed: James Hammylton, James Hammylton, Mortoun, Atholl, Suthyrland, Huntly, Mersheall, Cassillis, James Stewart, Erskyn, Ruthwen, James lord Ogilwy, Seton, Innermethe, R. Boyd, Wcheltre, Sant Jhon.

1 p. No address leaf.