Elizabeth: August 1563

Calendar of State Papers, Scotland: Volume 2, 1563-69. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1900.

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'Elizabeth: August 1563', in Calendar of State Papers, Scotland: Volume 2, 1563-69, (London, 1900) pp. 17-21. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/scotland/vol2/pp17-21 [accessed 24 March 2024]

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In this section

20. Commission for the Borders. [Aug. 4.]

The Queen appoints Henry Lord Scrope of Bolton, warden of her West Marches, Sir John Foster, warden of her Middle Marches, Sir Thomas Gargrave, Vice-president of her Council in the North, and John Roxeby LL.D., chancellor of York and one of said Council (or any three or two of them), her commissioners to treat with those of Scotland on Border matters. Under her great seal. Windsor 4th August 1563. 5th of her reign.

2 pp. Latin. Draft corrected by Cecil.

(2) Another copy of same.

1 p. In different handwriting.

21. Instructions to the English Commissioners. [Aug. 4.]

You Lord Scrope shall cause Sir John Forster to come to you privately, without notifying the cause to any other, and then you two shall devise secretly with the Master of Maxwell as to his commission, which our good sister advertises us by her Secretary, shall be directed to him, Drumlanrig, the Justice Clerk, and Carnegy—and thereon, (as you Sir John Forster know,) you two shall secretly meet with Maxwell, to arrange places and times of meeting without any assembly of people; and if assistance be required, you may summon Sir Thomas Gargrave and "Mr Rowkesby" or one of them, to attend you.

After fully informing yourselves of the state of the East Marches—the causes undetermined, desperate etc.—the state of the other two marches being sufficiently known to yourselves, you shall proceed to treat with the Scots, the special purpose, as we mean it and trust the like on the other part, being to settle all the broken matters and quarrels on the frontiers, and maintain peace hereafter. And herein ye shall proceed not as parties, but join with the opposites (if like disposition be in them) as persons equally chosen for both realms, to redress as well things already passed, and devise some good order for future maintenance of the marches—among which we think none better than keeping more days of truce, and that by the wardens themselves, not merely by the deputies, and not slipping the days, as has often been. That there be no reset of rebels on either side openly or privily by the wardens, and that other good orders anciently devised, be renewed.

Ye shall conform to the dealings of the other commissioners and "not stick in trifles or ceremonyes more than they, but rather agree by lott or otherwise" for the places of meeting at first, and then follow in order. To abridge charges, ye shall sit no longer than needful, nor except matters so require, "you Sir Thomas Gargrave and Doctour Rowkesby shall either not be there or not tary long."

5 pp. Draft corrected by Cecil. Indorsed.

(2) Copy of same.

3 pp. In another handwriting.

22. Remembrances by Randolph. [Aug. 20].

(1.) Whether I shall by all means I can, withdraw the Queen and her subjects from the French or not? And your advice how?

(2.) What and how far I may promise to those I deal with?

(3.) As it has been moved to me that some respect be had to such as had pensions from King Edward—as "Mr Henrie Balvanes" and the Laird of Grange—and without offence done, were taken away by Queen Mary, they being friends to this nation—what answer may be made to them?

(4.) Also some consideration be had of the Laird of Ormiston.

(5.) Straiter order as to conveyance of money and horses into Scotland.

(6.) That for amity between the subjects of either nation, prisoners may be put to ransom.

(7.) What may be done or said to English men going into Scotland without passport?

(8.) As the Queen of Scots' letters have been opened at Berwick, and her servants stayed there: order to be taken for conveyance of letters to and fro, and I be no further charged, or have allowance for it.

(9.) How far and to whom I may commend Scotsmen passing into England?

(10.) Your honour's favour to Mr. Geningeson, controller of Berwick, for continuance in office, also some "support" to Mr. Colwiche in respect of his unrecompensed travail on the borders.

pp. Holograph of Randolph. Indorsed: "Remembrances of Mr. Randolph" (and by Cecil), "August 1563."

23. Instructions to Randolph. [Aug. 20.]

Memorial of certain matters committed to the charge of Thomas Randolph, "esquire," our servant, sent by us to "our good deare sister" the Queen of Scots, to be by him declared to her.

Having found you (as you shall declare) an agreeable minister to her in the amity between us, we have sent you in this weighty matter of her marriage. We have already opened our mind therein to her principal secretary Lethington. Omitting two points, (1) love between the husband and wife, (2) that her choice be liked by her people, the third which chiefly concerns us is, that her husband be not opposed to the amity of us two and our two peoples. Knowing that means is made by her uncle the Cardinall, of whose practises against ws we ar not ignorant, (fn. 1) for a husband in the Emperor's family for our sister, we affirm plainly that thereof appears no sincere meaning to preserve our amity; not that we think she meneth any thing against us, but of them we spek who we have named afor. (fn. 1) It would hinder our wish to favour by all means that we can to try and determine her right and title, whether she be or ought to be by the law of God and man, our next cousin in blood by our father, (fn. 2) and succeed us in this crown of England, if we shall depart this life without children.

And if further pressed to say what ye think would best content us in her marriage, "ye maye of your self, saye that yow thynk by such indirect speches as we have used, that none cold better content us, than if some person of noble byrth within our realme, having also conditions and quallitees mete for the same,—yea perchance suche as she wold hardly thinke we could agre unto, (fn. 1) —might be found owt to content hir, and therwith be also agreable to us, and to both our nations, and therwith furder hir interest, if so she shuld appeare, that she be our next heyre."

Yet if you find "that the mention of a noble person of this realme shall not be lyked, than may yow discend furder, and saye that yow thynk some other noble person of any other contree, being not of such a greatnes, as suspicion may be gathered that he maye intend trooble to this realme, might be allowed—for ye shall allweise rest uppon this argument, that nether we nor our contry having regard to the late attemptes intended, when she was marryed to the French Kyng, can thynk any mighty prynce a mete husband for hir." And if she or her Council regard either amity or the favour of this realm to her, "ye maye well inferr by consequence, that no such mighty mariadg may be sought for." [On the final leaf is a clause expressly declaring that as there are others of the blood royal in England, Elizabeth must be well advised how to deal with Mary's claim to succeed her, to content them and her people of England, and broadly hinting that the question will depend on whom she marries.]

9 pp. Corrected draft in Cecil's writing, with additions by Elizabeth. Indorsed: "16 November 1563"—which Mr Lemon notes "as not relating to the document."

(2) Fair copy of the same.

2 pp. Closely written. Without the Queen's additions, (fn. 3) and otherwise caried.

24. Randolph's Memorial to the Queen of Scots. [Aug. 20.]

[Substantially in accordance with the foregoing instructions, omitting Elizabeth's additions, pressing more directly the danger to Mary's claim of succession from the rival English claimants, if her marriage be not liked there, and saying nothing as to the option of marrying a foreign nobleman, if not too great a prince.]

pp. Holograph. Indorsed: "1582" (sic).

25. Maitland to Cecil. [Aug. 21.]

By your letter of 5th instant I understand the surrender of Newhaven to the French, and the occasion; whereof I am most unfeignedly sorry, and would have wished that her Majesty at the very first, had given it up on honourable conditions, and not been driven in the end to this necessity. But like the rest of the world, her Majesty must be ordered by God's appointment, and yield to his pleasure. As the first part of your letter was "to me dolourous," so the latter part was somewhat comfortable, "althogh in so short tearmes, that I was not able thearby to conceave fully your meaning." If it be as I take it, it must fall out well for both realms—that is if your Sovereign means to grow shortly to some resolution with my mistress. The protracting of time cannot be but hurtful to both, "and that is alwayes best done, that is done in due season." You seeing more deeply in the matters of your own commonwealth than any stranger can, "may perhaps espy some commodity and advantage to have your maters with other princes hanging in suspens, althogh the contrary do appeare to me, but (as I have often tymes declared onto yow) well I know that the Quene my maistres estate is soche as may not long stand in doutfull tearmes with foreyn princes, and therfor must shortly resolve one way or other." I need not trouble you with many words herein, having many times before "conferred my jugement therin with your selff, as also frankly utered my mynd to her hyghnes selff, although I must confes it wes not at all tymes so weyed as I think the wecht off the caus did requyre." I may be thought partial in this matter, but howsoever it falls out, time will declare I have looked to the commodity of both realms. I pray God time be taken while it last, for I fear if the present be not well "plyed," the like shall not be offered hereafter!

Pray let us not intermit correspondence to and fro, and intelligence from time to time. Desiring my most hearty commendations to my very good lord my lord Robert. Dumfries. Signed: W. Maitland.

It may please you to see this other letter from my mistress delivered to the French ambassador.

2 pp. Holograph, also address. Indorsed.

26. Elizabeth to Murray. [Aug. 23.]

"To the Erle of Marr." As he has always bent himself to maintain concord betwixt England and Scotland, she has thought it not unmeet to assure him he shall find no lack therein on her part. Requiring him to have good regard thereto and give her sister whom he "so dearly and reverently" obeys and serves, his good counsel towards the same.

1 p. Corrected draft by Cecil. Indorsed: ". . . Copie of the Q. Majesties lettre to the erle of Murray." Stained by damp.

27. Maitland to Cecil. [Aug. 29.]

The Queen his mistress having directed the bearer Secretary Raulett to France on her private affairs, and to return shortly, he requests that he may have a favourable passport both by sea and land: for he fears as the case stands between England and France, that no French vessel will hasard to transport him. Looks every day to hear from him by Randolph or another. Requests credit for the bearer.

Borthwick. Signed: W. Maitland.

1 p. Holograph, also address. Indorsed: " . . . by Raulett."

Footnotes

  • 1. These italics are interlined by Elizabeth.
  • 2. Originally "grandfather."
  • 3. Original with sign manual in Cotton MSS. Caligula B x. fols. 208, 218.