Edward VI: July 1547

20. Anonymous To [Wharton]. [July 2. 1547.]

The Governor intends with 20,000 men to be "it is said to Langmoune, I beleeff in the Mers," but I cannot tell. I shall do my best to advertise you further. Give the bearer credence as to myself. Your lordship knows whom "fra."

A small slip of paper. Scottish hand. No address or indorsement. Trace of seal.

21. "Ye wat quha" To [Wharton]. [July 2. 1547.]

I have conveyed my lord of Glencarn for your lordship's sake, within "his aweng stranth, and I hayf tent (fn. 1) the Maister of Maxwell for the dweng of it." It is certain the army of Scotland is coming forward, "the starkest host and the monest, and wyth the best order that was sen Flodwn." I cannot write what day the Governor comes to Pebbles, "for I war rycht wa for till mak ane lee, for thar is no proclamation mad on thair dyat, and the Maister Maxwell kepis it clois fra Anandall and is stentand Gallwa, and I trust that on Monondaye or Tysdaye the Governor sall be in tell Pebbellis," and I will advertise it by this bearer, for he will be less suspected. Signed: Ye wat quha.

A small slip of paper. Holograph. No address or indorsement. Trace of seal.

22. Glencairn To Wharton. [July 2. 1547.]

"I caym to my place of Glencarn this Saterday be 6 howris quhar as Drumlanryk caym to me and spak wyth me, and I find hym warray weyll myndyt for to hayf gwd wayis dressyt betwix thir rewmes, and to that affeyk I hayf mayd hym to wryt to the Gowernor that twa or thre nobell men may cum and commown with your lordship." Also I am departing to speak with the Earl of Cassillis and Sheriff of Ayr, to cause one or both to ride with all diligence to the Governor and shall advertise how things proceed.

Praying you to suffer Granton to come home, as I showed you at departing. Glencarne. Signed: Glencarne.

On small slip of paper. Holograph. Addressed. Trace of seal.

23. "Ye wait quha" to Wharton. [July 5.]

The purpose your lordship knows of is near hand. All manner of men coming forward. Argyll and James Cannocht are landed a little "fra" Glasgow with 4000 men, and are "campand" waiting other 2000. Great is the moan poor men make for "thir Irismen; thay waist and distroyis all menis gudis quharever thay cum." Huntly keeps his day, Friday the 8^th July, with 8000 men on Roslin moor. Earl Marschall, Lord Forbes and all the North, both Orkney and the Isles, are marching forward, and all will encamp about Peblis on Sunday the 10^th instant. Divers tells me they will pass to Carlisle. The ordnance passes from Edinburgh on the 8^th—there is "twa cannonis, ane culvering mazon, ane culvering battard, ane pasvoland, and twa uder pecis of brase quhais namis ar strange, als gret as cannonis, with xx^th uder sma brasin pecis, cartyt one lytyll cartis." 500 men are paid for a month to keep them.

An English herald has been with the Governor to stop this gathering, and is dispatched with his answer, men judge a sharp one. I cannot tell the number till all are mustered. This bearer came with me from Nithsdale and when the other returns, I will send him. If I had a horse or nag I would follow the army, drawing near my own country men, and send either James or David "Twyne" with each day's purpose to your lordship. So haste the bearer back, and you shall know all their intents and journeys. Edinburgh. Signed: Wait quha.

2½ pp. Holograph. Addressed. Indorsed.

24. Commission by Edward VI. [July 8. 1547.]

Appointing Cuthbert bishop of Durham and Sir Robert Bowes lord warden of the Middle Marches, his ambassadors to meet those of the Queen of Scots, and ratify and confirm the treaty of peace and marriage begun in his father's time, and settle all other differences. Honour of Hampton Court. Under his sign manual and Great Seal. Edwarde.

2 pp. Latin. Broad sheet. Fair contemporary copy.

(1) Another copy in a later hand.

25. Instructions to the Ambassadors. [July 18.]

Though the Scots since the death of the King's father, have behaved unkindly and broken their solemn treaties, yet the King to avoid effusion of Christian blood, desires nothing more than to continue in honourable peace with his neighbours. But as they will likely practise to gain time, the ambassadors must deal so discreetly that unless the Scots roundly promise to keep their treaties and lay in hostages, their refusal may show them in fault.

2½ pp. Fair contemporary copy.

26. Overtures By Glencairn to Somerset. [July. 1547.]

[Under ten heads not numbered.]

Having spoken with your grace, and declared my desire to serve with my body kin and friends in setting forward the King's marriage, wherein I was an instrument and commissioner, and also sent my letter to this effect by Patrick Colquhoun, yet your grace desires my further advice in writing as follows:—(1) I am ready to join your army if you invade. (2) If not, I advise further treaty to save blood, and Sir Adam Otterburne being "over sober a personage," I would if your grace authorised me, solicit the Earl of Cassillis, George Douglas, the sheriff of Ayr, and Drumlanrig, or any two, to join with him to forward the godly purpose—preparations for war the while going on.

(3) I will go to Scotland, with "apparant traist," and raise 1000 men of my friends and surname, and 1000 more assisters and favourers of the Word of God, and break and divide the country till your army comes, holding Kyle, Carrick, Cunningham and Renfrew—you allowing me 160 horse for our protection.

(4) Besides fortifying S^t Andrews or Leith for the East seas, your grace may fortify a strength called Ardmore (fn. 2) on the West seas, within 18 miles of Stirling, one of the best havens in Christendom—desiring but 3 of your ships to lie there, and with 400 Scots and but six men of "ingyne" over them, I will fortify it with earth in 8 days, when your men can enter and keep it—building a town, for there is a natural rock round about, "schore deip," where ships may lie at all times. The fort can stop all vessels from Glasgow, Renfrew and Dunbarton, passing without licence, and moreover have all the country to the gates of Stirling.

(5) The Earl of Cassillis being privy to my coming to England, bade me do for him as for myself.

(6) Being bound in 40,000 pounds Scots to deliver S^t Andrews to the Governor,—which I will rather pay than that the garrison desert the King,—if I incur this loss, your grace will be so good to sustain me and my friends in this realm.

(7) I am not come here for the Earl of Levenax, but only to serve as your grace directs—but if you think our joining may further that godly marriage, I am ready for our old love and kindness, to apply myself with him.

(8) I pray you write to the Deputies of Calais and Boulogne to give my son free passage here, for I intend to withdraw him from France "or (fn. 3) suspitione ryis upoun me in Scotland."

(9) I warn you that one Ninian Cokburne gentleman in the castle of S^t Andrews, privily sees the Governor and reports their doings. Signed: Glencarne.

3 pp. On the margin of each item, Somerset's opinion is noted in another hand. Indorsed: "Glyncairnes overture."

27. James Henrison To Somerset. Edw. VI. [July. 1547.]

Having had communication with my countrymen to the end some of your sea fortresses may be supplied, our rulers otherwise occupied, "kirkmen and resisters to godlynes suppressyt, Sanct Andrus fortyfyd": there is one, for reward and with small charge, may get by your grace's help "thyr fowre most stronge holdis of the most reche countre of Fyff,—Inchgaw, Louchlevin, Ravinshwch, and Rasyt." Another, not knowing this, says he hopes to keep off intelligence and help of France on the west seas elsewhere than "at Kirkewbarie or Sanct Mary Ile," whereof I made the Warden get your grace the "plattis"—if your grace deal liberally with him. If it please you, I would go to the Borders hereon, having a living to dwell on there to sustain me and others in the King's service, till I may be provided for in my natural country—for not only is "gret numbre of custummers and sersurs, (fn. 4) hwrtfull to strangers, and good name of inhabiturs: bot also the wntollerable pollyng and shaving of innkepers." I would pray God your grace call to mind the great charges of lieutenants, wardens, captains, pensioners, posts, garrisons and intelligence, "with thaire litele ravard onto fryndis," great hurt to subjects, and small to enemies,—and that it pleased you to bestow one year's fruits on such as gave their sons and friends in pledge, and would do more service in one year than others in all these long wars. Praying your grace's pardon, for after a "welthtye lyff, I am nocht cummyt hyre to ane powre to lye." Also exhorting your grace for a precept for payment of my pension, "seing I gat non sence the sext of Februarij that Maister Pikcan payit me of the Kingis Majestyes kofferis,"—for I have served as well at my own charges as others with greater allowance, "if all thingis war knawin." Signed: Jamis Henrison.

1½ pp. Holograph. Addressed. Indorsed.