Elizabeth: December 1562

Calendar of State Papers, Scotland: Volume 1, 1547-63. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1898.

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'Elizabeth: December 1562', in Calendar of State Papers, Scotland: Volume 1, 1547-63, (London, 1898) pp. 670-675. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/scotland/vol1/pp670-675 [accessed 25 March 2024]

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In this section

1153. George Butshyde to Cecill. [Dec. 11.]

pardon my boldness in troubling your honour with my "reud and symple wretynge," but I am so greatly bound to you, that if I did not acknowledge it some way or other, "I war unwoorthye to be counpted a man." Mr Randolph has shown me your goodness, with out whose help I had ended my life a prisoner, "as I have doun most mysserablye thes xj yeres past withe Jamys Maconell," and now humbly offer your honour my service during my life. The cause of my remaining with Mr Randolphe is till I hear from my friends for the discharge of my debts to some merchants that were good to me: and till then I have promised not to leave the country. I trust by your honour's means, Sir Ralph Bagnall will consider what I have "yndeuryd" for his sake, and my needs accordingly. Edinburgh. Signed: George Butshyde.

1 p. Holograph; also address. Indorsed.

1154. Randolphe to Cecill. [Dec. 12.]

My desire to satisfy your honour how all things stand in this country, has caused me utterly to forget my own estate, which is presently "so meane and poore," that I am ashamed to utter it; and where to seek redress, with my small deserts, I know not. Since my return from the north, I find by my accounts, I am above 400 crowns in debt. At first it seemed as strange to myself as it doth now to your honour. I have besides spent 50l. yearly of my own. When I think to call down anything of my charges in time to come, I find daily new occasions to increase them. Continual attendance at Court, appointing myself fitly therefor and the honour of her Majesty, the resort of friends and acquaintances, charges sending letters (which one thing has cost me since coming to Scotland 40l., "and never had grote allowance") consumes me utterly. Yet to leave anything undone, that another in this place should do, I had rather die as poor as any that ever so served. This last journey to the north was costlier to me than if the Queens' interview had taken place. I never came in so dear a country, nor had so many misfortunes in so short time: I buried my best servant, left another sick behind me, my horses "marde," my charges so unreasonable that I spent all I have, so that less pleasure I never took of journey, nor worse country I never came in. My expenses in meat and drink only, exceeded my allowance, and I doubt greatly if it will be less here. The more supicions in men's heads of discord and breach of friendship, the more tales and rumours spread of this Queen's mislike of the Queen's Majesty's doings towards her uncles, and the more some mislike to see me yet ride, go in the street, or haunt Court as I do, the more I withstand their malice, and bear such countenance that I care not with what mind they look me in the face or think of my doings, so the same be for the Queen's Majesty's service. By such occasions I am burdened more than otherwise I should be, so I doubt not your honour will be mean for my relief. I "flye" as much as I can being in any man's danger here: and owe but to those who have more commodity by lending, than any other traffic they use. Edinburgh. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

2 pp. Holograph. No address. Indorsed (by Cecill's clerk): " . . . Mr Randolphe to my master."

1155. Randolphe to Cecill.

Since the divers complaints of Lord Dacres by the Master of Maxwell, some of late more grievous have come to her grace, whereto I have been made privy by herself and Council. It was thought good herself should write to the Queen's Majesty to put order, and I send your honour these letters, &c. received from her grace, also a letter to myself from the Master. I am also requested to write to my lords of Council to take order with Lord Dacre's slackness.

I wrote of Butshede coming to me from James MacConnell: he is for ever bound to your honour. He owes 20£. that he borrowed while with James, and remains here till he hears from Sir Raphe Bagnall in reply to his letter. "He came to me without ether monie in his purce or other apparell then the custome of those men is to weare wheare he was." I have furnished him with what he needed; and find the man honest in conversation, wise and discreet enough; he knows the country and Isles where he was both by sea and land marvellous well, and that is the cause why James was so loth to let him depart. He is a tall stout man, able to endure travel and pains.

Touching "James self," I had by his servant this message, that he is the Queen's Majesty's "affectioned servitour" to his uttermost, both with heart and body, saving only his duty to his sovereign. He has been of late solicited by Shane O'Nel to be his friend, with request to have his wife! again, who is James's bastard daughter: but the messenger reports he will agree to nothing or assist him, till Argyll, he, and I have talked together. James is sorry for the murder of two of his kinsmen by Master Bruerton in Ireland in his house without law or justice; of which matter he wrote also to Argyll, to signify to me. Both report that most part of Ireland is like to revolt, and the 74 hostages in Dublin Castle are escaped, and O'Nell is more "myschevieus" than ever. At New Year's tide James will be here with Argyll; as I know not how the Queen's Majesty's pleasure is to use him, I can only deal with him with good words.

Forbois lately arrived at Bamborough [Banbroke] with some Scottishmen—one a merchant of this town and a young boy of 16, that came from the University. Clavering stayed them all, and word coming to the Queen, she caused me to write to him for their deliverance,' and promise on her behalf that if any are justly charged of breach of law or offence, they shall be re-entered to answer. I send also the Duke of Chatelherault's letter to same effect, desiring for my assurance to have it back. Murray and Lethington also desire that Forbois's last "fayle" in taking the pacquet may pass in the law of oblivion, seeing it is remitted by him who had good occasion to be offended. It is said he has brought with him 10,000 or 12,000 crowns of the Duke's money, owing him for Chatelherault. I think there is as much spoken as is in verity. He that brought it was also in Clavering's hands, but being a servant, not so narrowly searched as the rest,—but dismissed. They "tooke testimoniall" at Bambrough how long they had been at sea, and as the Queen was told, would have gone again aboard, but were not suffered, for the great bruits of late on the Borders of wars between the realms.

Mr Knox has often told me he is to blame for not writing to your honour of long time, and lately required me to convey a letter to you. I know his good zeal and affection to our nation, and his great travail and care to unite the hearts of the princes and people in perpetual love and kindness. I know that he mistrusts more in his own sovereign's part than he does of ours. "He hath no hope (to use hys owne termes) that she wyll ever come to God or do good in the commen welthe; he is so full of mystruste in all her doynges, wordes, and sayenges, as thoughe he were ether of Godes previe consell, that knewe howe he had determined of her from the begynnynge, or that he knewe the secretes of her harte so well, that nether she dyd or culde have for ever on good thought of God or of hys trewe religion"! Of these matters we commune oft; I yield as much as in conscience I may unto him, though we in some things differ in judgment. His fear is that new strangers be brought in to this realm. I fear and doubt the same, yet see no likelihood, nor can give any reason why, more than he. Whom she shall marry I cannot think, nor hear of none that go about her. Those that talk with me of Spain, can never make it sink into my head; for the Sweden, she says herself, she will not, and the others farther off are like to take great pains for little profit! So that by marriage I see not what number shall come to possess this realm again as before, or able to make party against so many "confirmyd Protestantes" as are now here. If the "Guysians" be victorious in France, the matter is more to be doubted, and that we fear most; "but God I truste hathe styrred upe suche a partie agaynste hym, that that shall passe his power, and no lesse befawle hym then in thende God sendethe unto all suche bludethrystie tyrantes as he is! As Mr Knox hathe opined unto your honour his feare: so am I bolde also to let your honour wytte my opinion, bothe what cawse he hathe not so dieplye to feare, nor so farre to mystruste in the goodnes of God, but that thys woman maye in tyme be called to the knowledge of hys trothe, or at the leaste that she have not that force to suppresse his Evangell here, or to breake that amytie and concorde that is so well begone, and I truste shall tayke suche progresse, that hys glorie maye be knowne, and the posteritie of bothe the realmes reyoyce for ever, and gyve hym thankes for the workers of the same." On Sunday last "he inveied sore agaynste the Quenes dansynge and lyttle exercise of her self in vertue or godlines." The report being brought to her ears, yesterday she sent for him, and talked long time with him; "lyttle lykinge ther was betwene them of thone or thother, yet dyd theie so depart as no offence or slaunder dyd ryse therupon." She willed him to speak his conscience, as he would answer before God, as she would also in her doings.

Certain "wycked friers" start out of this country for fear of punishment, and are received (it is reported) for "mynesters" in England. Mr Knox has written thereon to Sir Henry Sydney, and I shall also have occasion to write to your honour.

I saw this day a letter written to the Earl of Murray from the Laird of Cesford that the thieves begin to ride 40 or 50 in company with jacks and spears, and drive 100 head of cattle at a time. I am warned to be at the Court this afternoon hereon. You shall receive the Queen's letters by the next, for they are not ready. Edinburgh. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

6 pp. Holograph; also address. Indorsed (by Cecill's clerk).

1156. Randolphe to Cecill. [Dec. 24.]

Lately a gentleman of this country named "Manon" (fn. 1) Hogge, was advertised that his son Alexander Hogge was apprehended at Tenby [Tynebie] in Wales for suspicion of piracy in a ship named the Sundaye, and by order of law divers in her are executed, and others, including his son who is owner of the ship, reserved for the Queen's mercy. The said Manan (fn. 1) Hogge having sued divers of the noblemen here to be mean to the Queen and your honour for his son's pardon, and delivery of his ship being his only substance, on condition of service hereafter in taking pirates on this coast, which he promises to do,—the said lords having required me instantly to write to you of their hearty desire, considering the father's honesty, grief at his son's offence, and wish to bring him to virtue and honesty of life—therefore, and for the good will I bear the gentleman, I am a humble suitor to your honour therein. Edinburgh. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

pp. Addressed. Indorsed.

1157. Randolphe to Cecill. [Dec. 30.]

I thought little to have troubled your honour with my writing now, saving for this Queen's request to me last Sunday, viz., to write to my sovereign, that she thinks it very long she hears not from her, fearing either her Majesty is not in perfect health, or conceives "so diepe a dyspleasure" against her uncles, that the same is extended further than to their own persons! To both "purposes" I gave such answer as I thought good, chiefly hoping well of her Majesty's health, and next, that whatever her uncles' doings were, so long as her grace bore a good mind to my sovereign, and took no part with those with whom she is justly offended, I doubted not her Majesty's mind would be found more assured to her grace than I could speak or think. At my departure she willed me to make her hearty commendations to her good sister.

I learned that day, that the night before she had received letters from France—one from the Queen mother, "with moe gentle wordes then ever she dyd wryte before. We tooke suspicion (knowinge before what unkyndenes ther was betwene thys Quene and her good mother not longe before her departeur owte of France) that for some occasion she courriethe favour." Men here begin to dream of this Queen's marriage with Spain; the Papists "I trowe," speak it as they would have it. But I am assured that whensoever any such thing shall "burste owte (as I wyll not saye but yt is in her harte, and farther as in tyme you shall knowe) posteriora erunt pejora premis." Another letter was from M. Doyzel of the King's being in Paris, and her uncles were in good opinion of many men for their valiant acts in recovering so many towns as had rebelled. Then news came by sea that the Prince has taken Paris, and has the King in his government; letters there were none to be seen hereof, and therefore it was less credited. For verity of all news, we depend only on such as come from you. Except it be the "Kynge of Moscovia," there is not a prince in Christendom that has fewer news from France than this Queen. Since Chattellet arrived, she has had but one paquet and 2 letters. Of things here not much to write; on Friday next many nobles will be in Edinburgh, when it will be known when Parliament shall be.

This day the Queen is in Dunbar to be merry with my lord John of Cowdingham—on New Year's [Newers] day again in Edinburgh. The 10th January she will be at "Castle Cambell in Fyfe" at the marriage of St Colme to Argyll's sister. Mr Knox is "so harde unto us, that we have layde a syde myche of our dansinge. I dowte yt more for heavines of harte that thynges procede not well in France, then for feare of hym"! Thrice in the week there is an ordinary sermon in the Earl of Murray's lodging within the Queen's house, "so nere to the masse, that two so mortall ennemies cane not be nerer yoynede, with owte some deadlye blowe gyven ether upon thone syde or thother! One of the Quenes prestes gotte a couffe in a darke nyght, that made some what a doe. Her musitions bothe Scottes and Frenche, refused to playe and synge at her masse and even songe upon Chrystemas daye; thys is her poore soule so trobled for the preservation of her syllye masse, that she knowethe not whear to torne her for defence of yt"! Bothwell is departed by sea either to Flanders or France; and yesterday a sergeant of arms was sent to summon the Hermitage, but is not yet returned. The Border wardens are charged to see good rule kept, for it is thought the Liddesdale men will ride now Bothwell is away, for whose sake they abstained. The Duke has again written to me earnestly for Captain Forbes: I have answered no more is done than he deserved, and he shall shortly be at liberty.

At the laird of Ormeston's house, attending the Queen's return from Dunbar. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

Lord Grey's death is lamented by many for his good justice on the Border. I have found Mr Treasurer "frendlye" to me at your request, for which I most humbly thank you. I run daily into his debt, not knowing how to come out of it, but as your honour thinks fittest.

pp. Holograph. No address or flyleaf.

Footnotes

  • 1. This name in Randolphe's hand.