Elizabeth: September 1578

380. Albert Duke of Bavaria to Mary. [Sept. 6.] C.P., vol. XI.

Most serene Princess, our dearest cousin, etc. If he [the bishop of Ross] had brought that much awaited message which we have long hoped for with the greatest desire, concerning the liberation of your royal highness, he could then have added nothing to our true joy. But we pray from our heart that God by some good fortune will shortly change your most unhappy state, which we see must now be borne with patience and moderation. But we prefer that our action rather than our letter should bear witness to our regard and goodwill towards the reverend Lord [bishop] of Ross and all other Catholic subjects of your royal highness.

This we wish you to be persuaded of, that we will never fail you in anything where we can well and opportunely do anything either for the bishop [of Ross] and Abbot Ninian [Winzet] or any other catholic of the Scottish nation, for the love of your royal highness; inasmuch as we think that we of our piety owe this for the old benefit conferred in plainting and promoting the Christian religion throughout our provinces and almost the whole of Germany. Castle of Bunckhusium.

¹/8 p. Latin. Copy.

Cott. Calig., C. V., fol. 132.

Extract from the same.

381. Shrewsbury to Burghley. [Sept. 10.] C.P., vol. XI.

Has received his most friendly letter by this bearer, his fellow, Gasken, and surely it comforts him greatly to hear from so noble and dear a friend. Burghley may no less assure himself of him than of his dearest friend. Thanks him for his occurrents. Assures him that he is very seldom advertised from the Court of news, yet he craves to be made privy to anything for the better discharging of his duty to her majesty. The Countess of Shrewsbury, as one who thinks herself greatly beholden to him, desires to be most heartily commended to him and his wife. Is glad to hear he has passed over this summer without any great annoyance of their enemy the gout. Chatsworth. Signed: G. Shrewesbury.

1 p. Holograph, also address. Indorsed.

382. Réné de Lorraine, Duchess of Bavaria, to Mary. [Sept. 12.] C.P., vol. XI.

Madam, the return of the bishop of Ross on his journey from Rome through this country has been the cause that I have had the contentment to learn from him particularly as well of your estate as also of your deportment. This has been as agreeable to me to hear as any things the most desirable that could happen to me in this world, assuring you that my joy would be much increased if with your good deportment your liberty and deliverance had been confirmed besides. I hope in God that even as He who never forsook anyone in affliction will likewise visit you with His grace, so that we shall soon have the good fortune to hear news, so much desired, of your early liberty. This I pray God to grant and give you forthwith, as daily I make prayers and orisons to Him.

As regards this, that it has pleased you to thank me by the said bishop for the endeavour I have made for the abbey of Ratisbon, I can assure you, madam, that I am very sorry not to have the authority and means for such efficiency (de telle efficasse) which could declare to you the affection that I have to render you greater service in matters of greater consequence, which shall never be spared in all that presents itself for your service. Munich.

¹/8 p. French. Copy.

383. Embassage to Scotland. [Sept. 15.] Add. MSS., 33, 531, fol. 175.

"The thre heades proponit be the Englishe ambassadour to the Counsell, 15 Sept, 1578, and ansuer thereto."

(1) His advertisement received from the Queen of England and her Council of their great contentment at the appeasing of the late trouble here, and their desire to see a perfection therein, which may proceed by the following forth of the execution of the late accord, in nominating of the eight noblemen, whom her majesty wishes may be indifferent, apt, and of the most able to do good in the matter, showing that in any case wherein her advice might be thought requisite for the better pacification of the troubles, she would gladly give the same, and to that effect send to the King of Scots the Earl of Huntingdon, Lord Hunsdon, and some others of good quality to further the appeasing of the said troubles, or otherwise if it shall please his highness to direct commissioners to the Queen of England, she would call her whole Council and, by them advised, would give the best advice she could for the final appeasing of the troubles, as far as might be to the contentment of all men, but chiefly for the King's weal and commodity.

(2) How Lord Hunsdon and Sir John Foster meeting at Berwick, and Lord Scrope concurring with them, have thought good that the wardens shall meet oft and make delivery for all attempts on both Borders.

(3) His report of the complaint of the lords for some things, albeit done by them against the accord, as in their displacing the Laird of Coldingknowes from the charge of wardenry of the East March.

The King of Scots thanks the Queen of England for her goodwill to further the pacification of the trouble in his realm, and has been desirous to nominate noblemen most able to do good in the matter of the reconciliation of the nobility for the actions and griefs among them, as he trusts the four of his own choice are. The other four of the ten nominated by them, his highness chose himself, as seeming most apt. If there be any of them more meet, will he accept them? If there be any matter wherein his highness' advice is necessarily required, his highness will crave the Queen of England's advice.

1½ p. Draft. In a Scottish hand. Stained by damp.

384. Bishop of Ross to the Cardinal of Como. [Sept. 27.] Cott. Calig., C. V., fol. 132, b.

Setting out hence through Germany, I saluted the Archduke Ferdinand, etc. Then when I presented myself to the Duke of Bavaria and exhibited to him his holiness' brief, and explained the other causes of my coming, and especially that of the Queen my lady, etc., his highness took his holiness' brief, with a cheerful air, and declared that he was ready to expose everything for the restitution and propagation of Catholic religion, nor to spare the risk of his life, and to defend the cause of the Queen, my lady, and the affairs of the rest of our nation, and to prosecute them with all grace and favour.

In my second audience before his imperial majesty, when I had expounded the chief heads of the state of the Queen of Scotland, and —I will not say—the strongest reasons for her captivity (for there can be none among them), but rather the very slight causes, the very great hope also of her delivery, and the entire state of our realm, and the very great love of the Prince towards his dearest mother, and last of all, not so much the hope of succession to the realm of England as the line of succeeding, and all the rights of the Queen gained by the common desire of her predecessors, the Emperor's mind began to be so moved therein, and the recounting of all of them was so pleasing to him, that he said that he was bound with so great a desire and zeal for knowing these things that he most greatly desired that all these things be set down in writing in such order as I could expound them, in order that he might retain them more easily, and that he might be able readily to interpose his authority to help and sustain those things which preserve the cause of so pious a Queen, and I afterwards asked him, in the event of the Queen of England's death, to maintain the part of the Queen of Scotland, the lawful heir, and to accompany the Prince of Scotland, her son, with love and kindness: which the Emperor there frankly promised, and that when an opportunity was offered, he would not be found wanting.

1¼ pp. Latin. Copy.