Elizabeth: July 1579

412. James VI. to Burghley. [July 3.]

"Richt trustie and richt weilbelovit cousing, we greit zow hertlie weill." We have directed this bearer, James Murray, our trusty servant, to our dearest sister, the Queen your sovereign; for some matters of ours, whereunto we doubt not you will not only be made privy, "bot zour advise with the first in answer used." We pray you therefore "effectuuslie" to further him to her good answer and speedy despatch, according to the credit and place you bear, and to the good affection which you have always shown to the entertainment of the good amity betwixt us. Stirling Castle. Signed: James R.

¼ p. Addressed. Indorsed (by Burghley's clerk). No flyleaf.

413. Lord Hume's offers to the King of Scots. Elizabeth. [July 12. 1579.] Cott. Calig., C. V., fol. 161.

"The offers of the Lord Hume to the Kinge and the Lord Regent's grace, referred to letres from the Lord and Ladie Hume to her majestie."

First:—is willing to confess his offence and defection from the King of Scots' obedience, and to recognise dutiful obedient service and obey him and his Regent faithfully, as becomes a most humble and obedient subject, and to find caution under such pains as the Regent and Council think expedient.

Item:—offered the marriage of his eldest son to be bestowed on any of the Regent's friends that he shall think expedient, he to be delivered to his grace and brought up till the completing of the marriage. Also offered the marriage of his eldest daughter to any of the Regent's sons, or any of his kin, surname, and friends he shall think convenient.

Item:—offered for the full restitution of his lands and living 10,000l. of Scotland. [With conditions as to payment.] Will do all that lies in his power for the amendment of his offence.

1½ pp. Copy.

414. Inventory of things sent to the Queen of Scots. [July 21.] Cott. Calig., C. V., fol. 163.

Inventory of accounts, watches, papers, rolls, and other necessaries sent in the box delivered to Jacques de Senlis, valet of the Queen of Scots' dowry of France, to take into England or to cause her majesty to have.

Copies of accounts rendered by the treasurer Dolu for the years 1572 and 1573 bound in parchment. Accounts of casual parcels not bound, rendered by the said treasurer for the year 1563. A chased watch and an alarm-clock gilt and trimmed, with its case, which cost forty-eight crowns. Another chased watch which cost fifteen crowns. Two "garnitturez," one of lace. Item:—another of lace. A packet wherein are letters written to her majesty [the Queen of Scots], with her answer and declaration. A packet wherein are the letters, requests, and supplications to her majesty as well from some of her officers as others. Letters written to her domestic officers. A long packet wherein are the preces of a consultation. A request presented to the grand council to have postponment for six months to advertise her of the state of a process. Paris. Signed: Du Verger.

2 pp. French. Indorsed: "An inventorie of stuff sent to the Q. of Scottes by Du Vergir."

415. Request to the Queen of England. [July.]

"Mr James Murries request to her majestie."

Since the departure of Mr. Robert Bowes, late ambassador in Scotland, the King of Scots has daily looked for the return of her mind and direction toward the state of the Borders, where sundry things stand presently questionable, remaining undecided between the wardens, which hinder on both sides. At the East Marches there has been no "daie of treue" kept since December, upon occasion of the earnest seeking of a bill to be filed upon certain honest men, the King of Scots' subjects, for the alleged receipt of a fugitive, although not near the time of the committing of any wrongful actual deed, a matter thought most hard to the best experienced borderers of Scotland to be brought in practice, and in reason not to be craved of his highness' officers, nor of reason to be yielded to by him.

The King's Warden of the Middle Marches has made delivery there for the slaughter of George Foster to the deputy warden of the East Marches of England, but is refused delivery for the slaughter of some of the King's subjects; upon which occasion further meetings and redress are left off at the East and Middle Marches to the encouragement of the wicked subjects of the realms to fall into present disorder if some present remedy be not provided. Therefore the King has thought meet to inform her thereof, and to require that undelayed remedy may be provided. Craves for judgment in the matter of the merchants of Scotland.

1⅓ pp. Copy.

416. Elizabeth to James VI. [July 28.]

"Right highe, right excellent and mightie Prince, our deerest brother and cossen"; we have heard what your servant Mr. James Murray, lately sent to us, had to deliver us in your name for the Border causes, to whom we have made such answer therein that we assure ourself you shall have cause to rest contented therewith, by which we doubt not but that it shall appear to you that there has been no default in our ministers of the Borders to see due execution of the ancient ordinances taken heretofore for the maintenance of the public peace, to the mutual benefit of both realms. And because it seems that the differences depending between the ministers of both Borders are such that they cannot well be determined without commission, we have declared our full mind to your said servant in that behalf. And whereas he moved us in like sort for support to be yielded to you in case of distress, as well against foreign as civil attempts either against your person or State, as we have at all times had special regard to the preservation of your State and person, etc., so you may right well assure yourself we will not desist from these good offices whensoever you shall be occasioned to make trial of the great good affection we bear as well to your crown as to the preservation of your person, of whose well doing we are no less careful than of our own. Greenwich.

1 p. Copy.

417. The Queen of England's Answer to Mr. James Murray. [July 29.]

"The Queenes majesty's answer to certen pointes propounded by M^r James Murrie on the behalfe of the King his sovereigne."

Her majesty carrying a continual care to preserve common peace and quietness on the Borders, upon order accorded that every warden within his whole charge should yield redress and make delivery of all offences past and arising in either realm, has from time to time commanded her Wardens and ministers of the Borders to see due execution of the same, in hope the like execution should have been done by the King's ministers in Scotland. But, upon questions falling out in a bill of late preferred for receipt of a fugitive, the "daies of trewes" in the East Marches have been stayed since December, giving her majesty just occasion to think the same strange, and differing from the order prescribed, seeing the ordinary course of the law appears to warrant the demand in the bill, and the manner of trial craved in the same as holden lawful. Nevertheless, her majesty is pleased that the question in variance be deferred to the decision of special commissioners from either realm.

For the great outrage done in the slaughter of George Foster, her majesty looks that the King, according to his letters, will command indilate delivery to be made of other actual and principal offenders filed in that bill; and her meaning is thereon to give order to make semblable delivery for slaughter of any of his subjects upon any bill exhibited and filed orderly, according to the course of the laws. Thinks it strange either to demand delivery for any slaughter before the bill thereof be filed, and yet to stay and surcease the meeting of the Wardens in the Middle Marches upon so slender a cause, adventuring thereby right great inconveniences to ensue thereon.

For remedy of all these griefs, and that timely redress may be made for slaughter, "refes," and attempts done, and hereafter to be done, her majesty is pleased to assign sufficient persons to join in commission with others to be named by the King, to meet at such time and place as the King shall appoint. Wherein her majesty looks for speedy advertisement of his resolution, as also to know the quality of the said persons.

Her majesty's Warden of the Middle Marches has lately made delivery to the opposite Warden of sundry bills of great value upon promise to have been satisfied for others. During these four years past the inhabitants of Liddisdale, in Scotland, committed great offences, and have not answered for any part thereof, notwithstanding the same had been oftentimes promised by the King and Council, and called for at every meeting. By this late stay of the meeting of the Wardens—founded on the slender cause expressed—the whole cause of justice is delayed, and her majesty's subjects right grievously prejudiced. Touching the request for support; as her majesty has heretofore been ready to yield assistance from time to time—tendering nothing more than the safety of the good King, her brother—so will she hereafter be most ready to assist him as well against home as foreign enemies; and to that purpose she minds shortly to despatch the Lord Governor of Berwick (fn. 1) to Scotland as well to visit the King as to be informed of his necessity either of present or future support. As for the merchants' causes which have been followed and solicited here by Mr. Fullerton, the King's agent, forasmuch as there is answer given in writing to him, her majesty thinks it needless to make any further repetition of the same.

2⅓ pp. Copy.

Eg. MSS., 1818, fol. 63.

Original of the same.

Another copy of part of the same. [With No. 447.]