Elizabeth: August 1579

418. Elizabeth to James VI. Elizabeth. [[Aug.] 1579.]

What order we have taken in these causes which you commended to us by your servant Fullerton will appear to you by that our Council has delivered to him in writing. If that good has not come thereof as we desired, and may be to your contentment, it is to be imputed to the looseness of the time, and not to any want of will in us to see that satisfaction done to your subjects which in equity and right is to be ministered to them. The great affection we bear to you, and the like care we have to entertain good amity between our realms and subjects, make these effects in us, not being affected in like sort to any the Princes our neighbours or their subjects as to you and yours; who, notwithstanding, have no just cause to complain of want of justice on our part in that behalf. But when corruptions are so general in these ages, no marvel if our wills cannot have their effects, nor good ordinances that success that is projected. These are the inconveniences that the wars of France and the Low Countries have cast us into—which the pretended necessity of Rochelle and Flushing have brought to this rankness. We have [laboured] and do labour by rooting up to amend them, and if provident care may work any redress, the fruits of our good meaning will appear to the desire and to the benefit of both our subjects.

1 p. Copy.

419. The Privy Council of England to the Council of Scotland. [Aug.]

By the return of Mr. Adam Fullerton, appointed from the King of Scots to solicit the causes of his subjects damnified by certain English pirates, they shall know at large the proceedings of the Queen of England, as well by the ordinary course of law as by other extraordinary means, towards the satisfying of his said subjects for loss and damages sustained by them. And albeit it has not taken that good effect which her majesty and they desired, by reason of the iniquity and malice of the time, through the civil wars in the dominions of her neighbours, which have drawn many of the subjects of England to enter into the services of other Princes, and by those means, under their licences, have committed great spoils without difference or respect of any nation, not sparing her majesty's own subjects, which she, notwithstanding sundry good orders taken, could not so fully provide for as was to have been hoped,—yet Fullerton may justly report to them the great care and extraordinary favour that has been used in England towards their nation, the like whereof has not been extended to the subjects of any other Prince; which they desire might be made known to the subjects of Scotland, to the end that upon any unnecessary discontentment by them to be conceived (not having such ample satisfaction for their losses as they expected) they enter not into any particular revenge by spoiling of any of her subjects, which, not prevented, might kindle some further disliking between their two sovereigns and the subjects of both realms than were for each other's safety, considering how greatly they are maligned and hated by the enemies of their religion, who might make profit of such a disunion. The Queen of England, therefore, to avoid all offences that might diminish the amity, and for preventing of the like disorders to be committed by pirates in time to come, has, with the advice of her Privy Council, given general order for the restraining of nourishers and maintainers of pirates; which shall be duly executed by severely punishing the transgressors, that no just cause of complaint shall, she trusts, be hereafter offered to the subjects of the King of Scots; who, she doubts not, will take like order in Scotland. Commend Fullerton's care, diligence, and dexterity during the time of his stay in England.

1¾ pp. Copy. At the head: "A lettre from the Lords to the counsell of Scotlande by M^r. Fullerton."

420. [ ] to Monsieur de Mauvisiere. [Aug. 17.] C.P., vol. XI.

Monsieur, although I ought to fear to trouble and importune you among the great and important occupations with which you are daily employed, yet I should fail in the obligation that I am under to you by the share that you have been pleased to give me in your news; and after having humbly thanked you, I will tell you that, thanks be to God, the Queen my mistress has not any occasion for worry and discontentment in regard to the Prince, her son, all those who for some years past have had the honour of approaching his excellency, being able to render sufficient testimony of his duty, entire affection, and obedience towards the Queen his mother; also her majesty has not any doubt of it, consoling herself with that which the Earl of Morton and those who are at his devotion make daily appear to be the depth of their intention, as well for the death of the Earl of Athol and the rigorous pursuit that is made of the ruin of all the Hamiltons as for the close captivity in which they keep this poor young Prince with menaces and at very great hazard of his life, if he makes any demonstration of wishing to resent their past offences; and, nevertheless, they make use of his name, and strive to make him appear, and be considered cruel and unnatural, principally towards the Queen his mother, to assure their impunity. I regret that it is not permitted to me to exonerate you freely therefrom, and the gentlemen of the Council there, or at least for their writing in this fashion I cannot exempt them from the suspicion that one has of them, whatever protestations that they have made to you to the contrary, there being too great appearance and probable arguments to judge of them sinisterly in comparing the present with the past, in such sort that the Queen of England not intervening for the preservation of my said lord the Prince from between the hands of his enemies, seeing the authority and credit that she or hers have with them, there is no doubt that the blame will rest on her throughout Christendom if any misadventure happens, not for having consented to it, which it would never occur to me to imagine, but for enduring and seeing done that which she could and ought to have hindered. I am very pleased that M. Walsyngham has spoken to you of it so sincerely, inasmuch as the Queen my mistress would be justly offended, if by a secret despatch he had traversed the effect of this visitation, as the rumour has run, and as some Scotchmen have wished to allege, excusing themselves from the refusal that was made to me. I esteem him as a personage so straightforward and honourable that he would not wish to proceed in that way, nor so unworthily against a poor Queen and no prisoner, on an occasion so recommendable, and that to clear himself he will work for the consent to the last request of the Queen my mistress, according to his duty towards his. Good could issue therefrom to all this island, of which I would have commenced to give him proof, if I had had the honour to be admitted to the presence of his excellent majesty. In conclusion, monsieur, those who favour the party by them set on foot, the son against the mother, and who, of the two, give their adhesion to the first, have not done anything for him when they have refused to hear me, losing the occasion that they will not recover, peradventure, for a long time, for having in good part that which they labour to maintain, and will never have by force. And their common enemies, both of whom work by such means to separate them and to divide them will make as little profit thereby, being only able to reap from it the danger in which he finds himself who attempts to break a tree in two pieces. The friendship and mutual affection [of the Queen] and of monseigneur her son, is no less strong, quick, and constrained as much by the blood which renders them one as by infinite obligations born with them. And in my opinion I consider the one so wise and the other of so good a disposition that they will never leave room between them for a third, especially their common enemy. As for that which concerns my private affairs in this voyage, I have learnt long since that the mariner discharging his charge according to the rules of his art and foreseeing what is required, cannot be blamed if his vessel does not arrive at the port, nor even if it is broken or otherwise suffers shipwreck, the conduct, and not the event, depending upon his experience. I will not say, as the ancient Greek upon this proposition, that to row in a vessel damaged and broken is more dangerous, difficult and doubtful of success than in a sound one which in full sail steers of itself to the port. But I shall be well assured upon the testimony that the others will render of it, and have done in this voyage faithfully and exactly all that I have been commanded, and have been able to serve for the contentment and satisfaction of those who have interest in it, and peradventure more than the humour of those with whom I have intercourse could bear, although I would not wish "cum ratione insanire." I thank very humbly M. Walsyngham for his goodwill towards me, and the evidence that he has given you, desiring more than ever to have this honour of conferring with him some time in your presence. This will be when it pleases him. I send you a letter from Monsieur de Virger which was found in his packet for you, and those that her majesty has written to my Lord the Cardinal of Ferara for your abbey of St. Pierre, with which you will receive, if you please, my very humble recommendation in praying God to give you, monsieur, long and happy life.

2¾ pp. French. Copy. Indorsed: "Minutez. M. de Mauvissière du xvij^me Aoust, 1579."

421. The Abbot of Dunfermline to Walsingham. [Aug. 18.]

"A lettre from the Abbot of Dunfermling to M^r Secretarie Walsingham, for the staie of appointing commissioners untill the comminge thither of the Lord Governor of Barwick."

Whereas by the Queen of England's answer to the King of Scots by James Murray, amongst other matters, she declared her pleasure that for remedy of the griefs on the Borders she will assign persons to join in commission with others to be named by his highness, the King and his Council are very well contented therewith, and will gladly resolve and certify her presently. But, understanding her purpose to despatch the Lord Governor of Berwick shortly to visit the King, he would, as well in the nomination of his commissioners as in appointing of the time and place, have the advice of the said Lord Governor on his coming to Scotland, for the special interest and knowledge he has in those matters. Stirling Castle.

1 p. Copy.