Elizabeth: July 1573

Calendar of State Papers, Scotland: Volume 4, 1571-74. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1905.

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'Elizabeth: July 1573', in Calendar of State Papers, Scotland: Volume 4, 1571-74, (London, 1905) pp. 598-600. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/scotland/vol4/pp598-600 [accessed 24 March 2024]

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In this section

707. Huntingdon to Burghley. [July 5.] Lansd. MSS., Vol. XVII., fol. 31.

I have most heartily to thank your lordship for your letters and the occurrents which you sent me of the French affairs, whereof here were strange reports and divers, as men were affected. I am glad to hear your lordship has some liberty to refresh yourself abroad. If it be true, as is reported to me, that your lordship is coming to Stanforde, I would I might as conveniently see your lordship there as I have goodwill to do. If your lordship comes to see your house at Lyddyngton, the forest of Leefelde is not far off, where I trust your lordship will take your pleasure as largely as I have authority to grant, and shall best please yourself, and so I heartily pray your lordship to do. If I had any better thing to offer, your lordship should command it.

[As] for the state of these north parts, I thank God for it, I see no cause at present to certify your lordship other than well of it. No, that which has been so lately done at Edinburgh has set a good stay, and if it be followed in such sort as your lordship knows is meet, with the bestowing of some few pensions, it will in time, I hope, break the necks of all possible practices, and so shall our good sovereign reign over us many more years yet to come, by the grace of God. York. Signed: H. Huntyngdon.

1 p. Holograph, also address. Indorsed (by Burghley's clerk).

708. Elizabeth to the Regent Morton. [July 19.] Add. MSS., 33,531, fol. 115.

Right trusty and well beloved cousin, we have received your letter of the 26th of June sent by Henry Killigrew, and have heard what he can say, and read your memoir also sent by him, for the which we thank you; first, for your upright and sincere doings in those matters wherein our force joined with your King's for the quiet of that realm etc. God hath prospered (as appears) those who mind well. For bringing the Borders also to good conformity by repressing of thieves, outlaws, and disordered people who commonly be nourished thereabout to disquiet both the realms, we have taken order with our wardens to join with you.

As touching the delivery of Hume Castle and Fast Castle, we never meant to appropriate them to us; and seeing now by the laws of the realm they be fallen into the King's hands, we do not mean to detain them from the King our cousin, but to deliver them to him freely. The ordnance which was taken with the said Castle, the Earl of Sussex claims as his by the law of arms, and what the captains have at their costs sown there about either of the said castles, it is reason it should be theirs who have sown it, or else that they be reasonably compounded with and satisfied for it before the castles be rendered. Further, we understand that Fast Castle does not appertain to Lord Hume but in right of his wife, who (we are informed) did not consent, but was much grieved and displeased with her husband's doings in these matters against the King, and therefore by no reason can forfeit her right. Wherefore we must needs think, till we can understand reason to the contrary, that the poor lady ought to have good assurance for saving of the right of Fast Castle to her and her heirs, and some consideration of her living during the life of her husband. We pray you in this case with all speed certify us of your mind.

For the prisoners taken in the Castle of Edinburgh, who have been the chief disquieters of that realm, seeing the offences were done in our cousin the King's realm, and against him a[nd] his laws, we refer the judgment and ordering of those matt[ers] to him and to the laws of that realm; except only for Robert Melvill, whom we have known heretofore to have dealt very sincerely with us when things stood in doubtful terms, the which sincerity and frank dealing we cannot yet forget, nor so soon be brought, therefore, to think that he should fall into so great inconveniences as others who have not used the same, and therefore we pray you that the rather for our sake there may be favour showed to him, and no extremity used against him until you shall be further advertised by us, and we better informed. We are glad you like to follow our advice in the articles of St. Johnstone referred to us. We minded nothing in them but as we do in all things—the quietness of that realm and the preservation of the King our cousin's honour and surety. As for the Countess of Argile, as we were required, we wrote, if by lawful divorce all such fear be put away as was pretended, we are well content that things be done by order and law.

For the bishop of Rosse and Farnihurst, whom you require to be delivered, they be not in like case. The one came to us under safeconduct to go and come after the manner (as he thought) of an ambassador; who, although he has been an evil counsellor and doer in divers things here in this our realm, both against us and that realm also, yet he hath also opened so frankly and sincerely those evil dealings and counsels whereof he was privy and a party, and as afterwards appeared to be wholly true, and verified by others, that we cannot well condescend to deliver him to any extremity, but we rather wish that you would be content to let him enjoy such benefice and grace at your hands as others have obtained, and that you would suffer him to have his living again in Scotland, as you have done to others, if he shall submit and conform himself to your good orders, as others have done who were as great enemies and offenders as he. As for Farnihurst, we do not understand where he is, but suppose that he is upon his own on the Borders. We do not mind to support him or any such evil man to his Prince and country.

For the body of Lethington, who died before he was convicted in judgment, and before any answer by him made to the crimes objected to him, it is not our manner in this country to show cruelty upon the dead bodies so unconvicted, but to suffer them straight to be buried and put in the earth, and so surely we think it meet to be done in this case, for (as we take it) it was God's pleasure he should by death be taken away from the execution of judgment. So we think consequently that it was His divine pleasure that the body, now dead, should not be lacerated nor pulled in pieces, but be buried like to one who died in his bed, and by sickness, as he did. Given under our signet, at Croydon. Signed: "Your verey lovinge frende, Elizabeth R."

pp. Addressed: "To our right trusty and right welbelovid cousin the Earle of Morton, Regent of Scotland." Indorsed. Stained and torn.

709. Anonymous Letter from Scotland. [July 26.]

The persecution of God's truth in his people there [Flanders], and the calamity of that good country, are not only lamented by us, "bot gude will borne to releif a parte of zour burding gif our habilitie answerit our affectioun." Some number of our men of war are already repaired thither, others upon the coming of your servant Captain Ormestoun are in preparation, but the third sort there are yet moved by zeal of religion and for the defence of the just quarrel by you maintained, [and] are desirous to hazard themselves with you therein if they were certain of your pleasure and resolution, and what assured entertainment they might look for at their coming. They are not of such as have always "lavit" by wages in the former wars, but rather some in the rank of nobility, who willingly have done valiant and good service in the cause of religion and repressing of the civil sedition here, and "thinking" the quarrel with you, are likewise willingly inclined to follow the "weiris kair" with one tried company of good horsemen; and for that purpose is the present captain, Robert de Montgomery, a gentleman of approved truth, good credit, and long experience both here and in foreign countries, expressly directed towards you to understand the condition of your affairs, make his overture to you, and to return speedily with resolution of your pleasure, that thereupon the expedition may be made as shall be thought convenient. Thus witnessing hereby to you the qualities of the messenger and the honourable and zealous intention of those from whom he is directed, we rest always ready to do favour, friendship, and goodwill "lyand" in us to the common cause by you maintained. Stirling.

2/3 p. Indorsed (by Burghley's clerk): "From Sterling in Scotland."