Elizabeth: October 1587

400. Extract of Letter of [ ]. [Oct. 2.]

"That the Spaniard above mentioned (fn. 1) being addressed to Huntley, and by him brought to the King of Scottes, he made no reconning of his ouvertures, as a proceding [with] no sownd fondation, and meaning not to breake with England or embrace any practise to the disquiett of the same, [albeit] Huntley for his creditt hath required that he might be dismissed as from the King; which Huntley resteth merelye discontent with the King, for that he will not breake with England; the King having answered that he will heare him in what he hath to debate concerning the realme, but for that the affayres of England towch onlye himselfe he will not be ruled by any of theyre passion therin."

"Wheruppon Huntley is retired discontented to his contrye, and Fentry with him." Signature in cipher.

"The Spaniard above sayd brought the picture of the Infante of Spayne which we saw."

½ p. Copy.

401. Duke of Guise to the Executors of the late Queen of Scotland. [Oct. 15.] Cott. Calig., D. I., fol. 89.

I have heard very particularly from Nau, private secretary of the late Queen of Scotland, my cousin, how all things have fallen in England during these last troubles and misfortunes. Wherein, and by divers evidence, as well from his mistress's own hand as from the Sieur de l'Aubespine, ambassador for the King to the said country of England, he has so caused me to know the integrity and sincerity of his demeanour in the service of the said Queen, especially in this said last trouble, that I cannot fail to testify to you the entire satisfaction which I feel therein, it being very probable that all this stir has proceeded from the artifices of the English, or from the enmity which on the mistress's account they bore to her chief servants. My desire then and advice is, sirs, that as I have always known the said Nau for a worthy man, and an affectionate servant of our house, where he has had the honour to be brought up, you cause him to enjoy without any difficulty his wages and pensions, and all other rights belonging to his said estate of counsellor and secretary of the said Queen; and, moreover, that you cause to be restored to him all such goods as he shall be able to verify which he claims as belonging to him, being in the hands of other servants of the said Queen under whatsoever colour or pretext: especially some articles of gold and rings which he has declared to me were put by him for greater safety in the Queen's cabinet when he was thinking to escape; which articles the servants pretend to have been distributed among them by their mistress, without making it apparent except by their witness in favour of one another. And in case she had done thus, thinking peradventure that the said Nau coming to be executed the said articles would remain confiscated in the hands of the English, I think it good that you should cause him to be paid for them according as the value thereof shall appear to you; it being in no wise reasonable that after . . . reward he should come to be . . . The Camp at . . . 15 October 1587.

1¼ pp. French. Copy. Damaged.

402. Memorandum of Proceedings against Mary. [Oct. 16.] C. P., vol. XXI.

Memorandum that on 16th October in the year of Our Lord 1587 I received from the right honourable Sir Francis Walsingham, knight, principal secretary to her majesty, a book in writing, containing a report of the process and evidence given against the late Queen of Scots at Fotheringay, to be returned again to his honour when it shall please him to called for it. By me, Jo. Hammond.

¼ p. Indorsed.

403. Mr. Archibald Douglas to Burghley. [Oct. 18.]

"Because I knaw how unvilling your lordschip is to hawe your intendit affayris troubled wythe uther menis busines, I do forbear to repeyr onto your lordschip for ony materis, how weychttye soevir thay be, onto such tym as I may knaw that your lordschips lasar and mynd may weill intend to do some gud, in mateiris wherfor I com, whearof I can not be mayd cerateyn bot be your lordschips adwertisement, wherupon I salbe reddye to gyve attendanse."

"In this mydle tyme I haif takin boldnes to pray your lordschip that I may onderstond if it hath beyn your lordschips pleasour to cause ony anser be resolwed upon in the mater for which I did send onto yow."

"The letter I ressaved of layte from Scotland; my other letteris doeth stay thayrupon."

½ p. Holograph. Addressed. Indorsed by Burghley.

404. Justice Clerk to Mr. Archibald Douglas. [Oct. 24.] Harl. MSS. 292, fol. 62.

"I have redd youre lordshippes letter at length dated the xxiij of September last, and had awnswered the same or nowe if some other effaires wherewith I was burdened had not interrupted my laser."

"Sen it hes pleased you at so grate length to sett downe the service requisite to be done to his majestie in that cuntrey: the moyens to atteine to the same with the letts which have been casten in, whereupon evill disposed persones hes taken occasion to kyith theire malice to his grace's hinder, I will so nere as I maie awnswere everie poynte of your letter."

"And first I man agree with you that youre firste grounde—which is to bringe his majestie with quietnes to enjoye the right of that crowne after that Queenes deathe—is the best peece of service can be done him by anie man."

"Next youre seconde, that in the meane tyme his majestie be well used by her during her lifetyme, and the hartes of the people and nobilitie be keped."

"Doubtles it is the thinge his highnes moste earnestlie wisshes, and can not but well like of you if by youre meanes in thir heades he maie fynde his expectation and merite at that Queene and cuntreyes handes satisfied."

"As to the firste heade, that concernes his majesties tytle, sence I perceave by youre letter almoste the hole people doe acknowledge and confesse the same, I cannot suspect that her majestie, her Counsell and nobilitie, beinge of the wyser sorte, does not see the same, and therefore will leave all other pretended tytles to that crowne whilke ye have sett downe as phantasies of menne againste Gods lawe and mannes openlie known to the hole wordle."

"As to the impedimentes ye wrett of, I man awnsweare everie one of theme particularelie that the better ye maie make the truthe to appeare to suche as will geve place to the same."

"First, to the Earle of Huntleys lyinge in his majestie chambre and preaces papistrie, truthe it is I thinke he be ane papiste, but not so precise as he had not rather lyie in a faire gentlewomans chambre then either in the Kinges or yet where he might have ane hundrethe messes. His majestie, I blesse God, is that well grounded in matters of relligion, and that upon perfyte knowledge, that I wold not be afrayed of the learnedest papistes in Europe were hable to brangle him in the smallest poynte thereof. I speike it as one—howbeit not of the learnedest—yet having some taste and experience by hearing of the best versed in matters of relligion that is in Europe reasone."

"I doubte if her majesties chambre be so well keeped as neither papistes doe lyie neither yet hes accesse within the same."

"If either multitude of papistes, the greatnes of theire credyte or leaste learning to with stand theme have place, wee have more occasion to returne that argument where it came fro then they have heire."

"Next, as to Fentries beinge made secretorye, I assure you theire was never suche intention here, neither yet beleve I the gentleman to be that follishe as ever to have conceaved anie suche purpose."

"As for the returning of Robert Carye without awnsweare, bothe the tyme he came and the cawse of his message does but over fullye awnsweare the same."

"As to the intercepted letters of Jesuists goinge to Rome declaringe oure maister to be a papiste, that argument is so weake and the contrarie so manifeste to the hole wordle that I thinke it needes no awnsweare."

"As to the geving forthe that the Earle of Leicester and Thesaurer shoulde have sent in Scotland to have poysoned his majestie, they can not saye that anie suche purpose was geven forthe by his majestie, neither yet that ever his highnes did apprehende of theme anie thinge in that matter. If anie suche like brute or sclaunder have bene, it wilbe founde geven owt by Englyshmen."

"I am assured menne of honoure agreing with theire professed religion wold never cawseles have oversene theire God and theire honour so farre."

"As to the incursions of the borderis, that is a matter so frequent emongest theme that inhabites the Marches, speciallie after suche occasion of injurie offered by anie of the princes to others, and the people are so well frequented with suche like doinges, that I am assured that argument can not move mekle, cheiflie his majestie having taken so goode ordoure for his parte in directing lieutenauntes according to the last appoyntment at Barwake to see maters keeped in goode frame, which upon that syde failed."

"Be this my awnsweare you maie perceave howe juste occasion anie noblemenne or others culd have to bussie theire heades with anie suche indirect course againste his majestie, and howe farre God wold have succeded the same or they have founde greate suretie to theire selves. I thinke the wysest of that sorte was not hable to see thorowe it: the boaste of anie suche course is not hable to move his majestie one wheate: neither is he that destitute of moyen—howe litle so ever it shall please anie other to thinke of his grace—but if he were disposed for anie suche dealinge as is supposed they wold fynde in his grace more then they would like and no les then woulde doe his owne turne."

"I am in doubte of my selfe if I were worthie to be in his grace's place and had that moyen whilke I knowe he hes if I could be so continent after suche occasions as hes bene ministred. But I man attribute this to procede of God, who with the title he hes geven him of that crowne hes joyned ane naturall loving affection to that lande and people."

"If thearefore the policie of the craftiest shall not content to amende the injuries passed, but shall rather leane to the further compassinge of theire wordlie courses, I am not afrayed but God shall bringe theme and theire devyses to confusion, and that or it be longe."

"What goode occasion that Quene had to make offer to satisfie his majestie God and the wordle knowes, and I doubte not if she be towched with the guyltines of that cruell facte, bothe her owne conscience will sturre her upp to do the same suppose her particulare well—whilke if she respect the same aright—moved her not."

"Howe litle grounde could she fynde by the harragne pronunced in parliament to staye anie parte of her goode will it maie easelie appeare. For his majestie could doe no les favoure to his subjectes then to lennd them his eare. He merites the greater courtesie that hes so moderatelie caryed him selfe, having the offer of his hole subjectes in so juste a cause so voluntarelie geving, and for not accepting the same at that instante was and is ane verie harde opinion and conceate with theme. It was not proponed by waie of boaste as your intelligence geves you to understande. For as wee knowe, ye knowe what we are, so are we not ignorante besyde whome we dwell and what is theire to fraye us."

"It proceeded onlye whiche the Chancellar spake upon a juste doloure and extreme motion wherewith the hartes of the hole nobilitie and people founde theme selve so farre interessed as they were forced by the Chancellers mouthe to burste forthe with that which they thought and thinkes in verie deede."

"I assure you not onlye suche as did favour our Quene of olde, but those who otherwayes could have been content that God should have called upon her by ordinarie deathe, was so animate with that cruell indignitie, that theare passione did utter the selfe more in theme then in the others."

"I muste saye after the Scottes fasshion he is ane evill dunge bairne that darre not greite, and it is not the waye to atteyne to the frendshippe of this cuntrey and to have matters passed pute in oblivion till heape boaste upon injurie or to quarrell the Chanceller and his harragne, who spake no thinge but that which he was earnestlie pressed to doe be the nobilitie and estates theire convened."

"The Quene maie thinke of oure Chanceller as she pleases, but I am assured I have sene him a verie goode instrument in conserving the amitie of theise two crownes, and I knowe his maister thinkes be goode proofe that he can dischardge him selve of his duetye aswell to his service or the cuntrey where he dwells as anie Chancellare in this ile, whilke I am assured his majestie wold not doe if he knewe not perfytelie his affection to the conservation of peace and quietnes in this ile with his majesties honoure."

"Sen I am entered in wrytinge to you I cannot forebeare to let youre lordshippe understande that some thinke the remedies sett downe in youre letter to be verie dishonourable to his maiestie, speciallie that for ane pycked quarrell againste him that he shoulde wryte either to her maiestie of youre selve to make his purgation or declare his intente. For howebeit his actions sence that tyme had not geven sufficient profe of his more then honest—so I muste terme—intention towardes that Queene and cuntrey, yet is it more then reason that he shoulde not be moved or enduced by anie perswasion to make amendes for his motheres deathe."

"For to wryte before his honour be repaired is not onlye a forgevenes but ane argument to move bothe his owne people and all the wordle to suspect his honour toweird his graces mother, whilke appearauntlie were ane greater hurte unto his majestie then tenne thowsande deathes. Wherefore when ye shall happen to wryte anie thinge to move or enduce his majestie anie thing to that end for whiche you wryte, I as one of youre frendes prayes you to remember that you are ane Scottisman cometh of that race that was wounte to preferre the honoure of theire sovereigne and cuntrey to all the rest of the worlde, and be your upright counsell utter the same: besydes it is thought that you shall doe well to let his hieghnes feele in substance rather then in discourses the goode that maie come to his majesties service."

"It maie be my letter be more plaine then pleassaunte, but that is ane erroure that willfullie I committ to all my frendes, and therefore I doubte not but ye will take in patience. Yet I protest unto you before God that the thinge of ane in the wordle I moste earnestlie wisshe it was the continewance of the amitie betwixt thir crowns, and no thinge can greive more then to heare so litle appearaunce of substantious honeste dealinge towardis oure maister in that cuntrey."

"If it shall please God to move the hartis of that Quene and Counsell to thinke upon some solide forme and moyen howe to rendre his majestie his honour, and to utter their affections in verie deede and not superficiallie towardes his grace, I will leave no paine, yea to the losse of my life, to holde hande that it shoulde take effect. But if otherwayes it be I crave to be no dealer, and would desyre of you as ane frome whome I looke for frendshippe and goode will that ye will in sincerite wryte unto me if I shall continewe my selve in dealinge or if I shall retire my selve in goode tyme, for I wold be loathe to deale in that whilke should not have goode effect, and I to have thankes and honour for my service."

"If offeris should be thoughte meete to be made, or anie other meane that might reduce theise princes to goode conformitie, I would wisshe it were done with expedition, for bothe theire weales and for the goode of bothe theire cuntreyes."

"I will not trouble youre lordshippe further at this present, but will praye to God to sende a goode mynde emongest theme, that they maie eschewe theire owne hurte and oures, bothe which cannot be if matteris growe not to a better heade then they are at. Halyrudhouse."

2 p. Copy. Indorsed.

Cott. Calig., D. I., fol. 109.

Another copy of the same.

405. Mr. Archibald Douglas to Burghley. [Oct. 24.]

"I ressaved your lettir makand mention that the honourable off the Consaile had resolwed to gewe ansser to that whiche I had delivered from my maister, and that your lordschip had declared to me of before that it was necessarye that her majeste shuld be first mayde acquayntid thayr wyth."

"Which beand done it was hir hyhenes pleassour that it shuld be delivered werballye tomorrow at your house, in the eftirnone; desiring to know whethir I wold come and ressave it, be ressone your lordschip did leave it to my choise whither I wold so do or no."

"Treulye, my lord, hitherto I think your lordschip can testifye that I have not behaved my self in ony suche sort that your lordschip nedeath to put any greit dowbt wheathir I will come to any playce it shalbe your lordschips pleassour to appoynct me. And no moyr in this case shall theyr ony occasion be gevin be me."

"I shall, be Goddis graice, keipe the houre and plaice appoyncted in your lordschips lettir, readye to ressave ony ansser whatsoevir hir majeste or the honorable of his Consale shall think expedient to be gevin, and to use it in the best sorte that God shal gewe me the graice for the benefit of boy the the realmes."

²/3 p. Holograph. Addressed. Indorsed.

406. Answer of the Privy Council to the Scottish Ambassador. [Oct. 25.]

"Answer to be made verballye to the Ambassador of Scotland."

"We the lordes and others of her majestyes counsell have well consydered the answer as it was reported by yow the embassador to have bene made by the King of Scottes uppon the reading of certayne letters written to him from your lordship, signifying our great and just misliking of certayne sharpe speches reported to have bene publikelye uttred to the King in his parlament concerning the death of the Queen his mother, and for answer which your lordship requireth we lett you knowe that we are very well satisfied with the answer of the Kinges majestie your master to us by yow reported so farre forth as concerneth the person of his majesty himselfe, expressing by the same his modest, honourable and princelye opinion conceaved of us, the noblemen and others the good subjects of England, knowing in our hartes that we never had any meaning to deserve the contrary by any our actions or counsells nor meane to have as long as we shall perceave his majesty disposed as he professeth to kepe good amitye with the Queenes majesty our soverayne and this realme."

"But yett we may not forbeare—untill we and other the states of this realme greved may be better satisfied—to continue our misliking of the speches used to the King by his Chancellor and others joyned with him, having no wayis given to theym any just cause of such a manner of proceding, accompting it very strange that any states of that realme, being in amitye with us or any othir kingdome, shuld in sich sort eyther condemne or taxe us and the states of this realme for any matter of state without some due inquisition and answer first made or some orderlye good profe to mayntayne theyr cause."

"And therfore, without any mind to offend the King by the remembrance hereof, wee the counsellors of this state are bold in the name of all the three estates of this realme to affirme and protest, as a matter well warranted by the deliberate judgment of all the same states, that there hath bene nothing done concerning the processe and state of the Queen of Scottes but the same is and shalbe mayntayned to have bene done sincerelye, justlye, honourablye and by good warrant of the lawes of God and of all Christian nations, whersoever the justification therof shall be reasonablye and honourablye required."

²/3 p. Copy. Indorsed.

407. Discourses between Elizabeth and Mr. Archibald Douglas. [Oct.]

"A summarie of the discoursses held by hir Majestie with M^r Archibald Dowglas concerning the affaires of the King of Scottes, which, becawse ther maie be some dowbt that whan the said M^r Archebald showld report to the King his master, some persons evill disposed to the continuance of the peace betwyxt both the realmes would labour to have him not credited in his report; thearefore hir majestie was pleased to have the substance therof putt into writinge, and theareto hath subscribed hir name; wherby the said M^r Archebald may be warranted to mak his report agreable hereunto."

"The Quenes majestie sayd that she wished she might thinke that such reportes as are made of the King of Scottes consultacions manifestlie tending to the diminucion of theare mutuall amitie, either should not be trewe in all partes, or if he have geven eare to anie perverse counsellours, sworne ennemies to the trewe churche of God and to the godlie peace of this noble iland, that yet he will be better advised, both by a more deaper considracion with himself, even for his own estate, and make a difference in his judgement betwixt persons that rashelie followe theire own partiallities, and others whoe in theire counsells doe preferre the honnour of God and the weale of their King afore all particuler factions either forreine or domesticall. For of such twoo sortes of persons hir majestie thinketh his counsellours are compounded, howsoever it maie be that the biggar part maie hope to overcom the better."

"And to enter into some particular hir majesty sayth that if yt showld be trewe that the Kinges ambassadours sent into Denmarke had commission from the Kyng, uppon treatie of mariage, to require ayde of men or shippes to make warre against England, and to sett excessive taxes uppon all Englishe subjectes, and to arrest their goodes in the Zownd, he was evill counselled thearto, even for his owne estate, to goe abowt to beginne a warre both withowt just cawse and against his best frend, yea, if the offence war no gretar but to procure enmitye betwixt the King of Denmarke and hir majestie, beinge in the sight of the world as fast professed frendes by manie straite bondes of amitie as any two monarches are in Christendome, it cannot be defended with reason."

"And though he had determyned by this meanes to have entred into a warr, wheareof it was not likelie he should have had anie assistance of the said King of Denmarke, yet he had now warrant to assure himself of anie good to succede to hymself, but rather he owght to have bene remembred by good counsell what danger he should have fallen into to have, by the lawe of England thorowgh such an attempt of any kynd of warre ageynst England, lost all the hope that he had of anie future good in the interest of this realme."

"Besides this he might have been remembred of all the evill successes fallen uppon them by Godes ordonnance and beyond mans expectacions that had sowght at anie time thes manie yeares to disturbe the common peace of England, either by rebellions at home or by forreine forces, or that have attempted anie mischeef or harme against the Quene of Englandes purson."

"But omitting that matter so attempted in Denmarke as a thinge whereof hir majesty wold gladly be satisfyed, yet this that followeth will seme very hard to be ansuered, if it be trewe that is reported, that the Kyng is acquainted and hath secretly assented to sondrie combinations of divers of his owne subjectes to allure strange forces from Spayne and other places to cumm into his realme under collour afterward with them and his owne people to make invasion into England, and theare to doe as theie imagin some great wonders."

"As to this matter, though it be verie likelie that the King hath been acquainted with such an intencion, for soe such of his subjectes as be abroade in Spayne, France and the Lowe Cuntries either as fugitives, or Jesuites, or suborned messingers from Scotland, doe constantlie bost of the same that the Kinge is privie heareof, adding theareto, notwithstanding that he mindeth to showe himself for a time uppon sum respectes unwilling thearto; yet hir majestie is of hirself unwillyng to be perswaded that ever a yonge Kinge indewed with so manie guiftes of God and conversant in stories of all nations showld fall into soe monstruous an errour as to allowe of that which never had good succes in anie kingedome, that is, to call in forreine forces to come into his owne cuntrie wheare he hath noe cawse or nede of thir ayd; and thes forces to be suche as it shuld not be in his power to commaund them to doe otherwise than should serve their owne torne."

"Whatsoever collour will be added by the wicked devisours as to enter into England, yet theire first comming must be into Scotland, and in Scotland theie must be fedd and lodged, and ther they may spoyle the contrey, as it is ther manner wher so ever they come. And whether it will prove trewe in Scotland or noe that hath been manie yeares reported in Naples and Millan, that wheare the Spaniard setteth once his foote in anie forreine cuntrie theare doth never growe good grasse for the cuntrye."

"The next action, as is reported, to be intended by thes forraine forces browght in by the confeddracie of the papistes of Scotland, must be, as it is said, that the Kinge must, by ther ayd, change his manner of gouvernment. He must alter the state of religion, according to the Popes decree and the Counsell of Trident, and so change his lawes, reward offendours, and punishe innocentes. And howe the change of the abandonning of the trewe service of God maie appeare in the eyes of Almightie God that hath hitherto alwaies comforted him in the profession of the Ghospell, and detestacion of all Romishe idolatrie, is easely to be judged."

"But what suretie can thes wicked papistes promise to the King that such an alteracion can soddenly be made withowt resistance, or destruccion of manie families both of nobles and others."

"In this ther courss thes wicked counsellors thynk not the miseries which their confederates in France have, even by like conspiracies, browght into France, for from thence theie fetche theire example, by whome have continued thes many yeares the flaming civill warrs in France."

"The difference also is notable to be regarded in this sodeine changing of the formes of religion. The papist never planted his religion but with fire and sworde, for he alloweth noe contradiccion or tolleracion, whereof all mischeffes doe ensue."

"On the other syde, the planting of the Ghospell hath been altogether by preachinge, and by ordonnances agreable with the Gospell, whearof noe publique miseries doe followe."

"But what example is theare in anie storie of anie good that ever strange forces, except it weare for a necesserie defence against violence of sum others, wheareof Scotland hath lesse cawse to dowbt than anie iland in the worlde, being allured to cum into a realme, brought to the country? Noe one example to be fownd. But, on the other side, all stories are full in all ages of the ruins, depopulacions, yea destruccions of the nations to whose help theie weare called, and heareof a fewe examples very shortly maie suffice to prove this trew."

But howsoever these examples ought to terrefy any Kyng or counsellors to a Kyng to aventur uppon such a courss, yet it may be these turbulent counsellors at this tyme will seke to shyft this ther cause from any formar, and (that by an example of late in ther own countrye) the coming into Scotland, they will saye, of an English army at ij or iij sundry tymes, by the Queen of Englandes authorite, proved not perillouss but beneficiall, and therfor all entryes of straungers ar not—they will saye—to be condemned."

"In dede these men know they saye herin most truly, and if they war naturall children to ther fatheres who tasted of this great benefitt from hir majesty, extended beyond all example, they wold not now, in liew of thankes, offer such indignites. If any that be now so violent and rash counsellors to the Kyng war of that age to judg beter gud and evill at that tyme whan these English forces restored all Scotland to liberty by expellyng the French that had almost conquered the cuntryes, they may be ashamed to produce this for an example to serve to any purpouss for themselves."

"At that tyme the French war possessed of the principall holdes of the realme. The crown was sought to be knytt to the crown of France by collor of marriadg with the Scotch Quene."

"At that tyme the government and principall offices of the realm, as the chancellorship and such lyk, war in the Frenchmans handes. The heyres apparant of the realm war saved by fleing out of France, and in the end the realm was filled with armyes and garrisons of Frenchmen: the castells of Edenburgh kept from all Scottishmen, Leth fortefyed with an army of French: Dunbarr, Blackness, Inchkyth and sundry other castells held by the French; and this was the tyme wherin the Scottes, being oppressed with a forrayn force, sought ayd by the English, which is on respect war no straungers to Scotland, but neighbours without division by sea, of the self same iland and language; and in effect they and the Scottes joyned ther bodyes togither as brothern of on howss ageynst the French."

"In the recitall of this great benefitt shewed by hir majesty at that tyme, and afterwardes contynued at other nedefull tymes, sence the Kynges coming to his crown, might be by the tonges of some others a report made of actions of wonderfull pyete, syncerite and liberallite of the Quene of England to that countrye and the present yonge Kyng. But if the Kyng will heare the truth hereof, lett hym be informed by the noblemen that than had any office; or by ther children that then attended on ther fathers; by the bourgesses that than barr rule in ther corporat towns; by the lardes and cheff gentillmen that than bare arms."

"The actions ar not so old but ther lyve ynough to remembre them, and not only to condemn but to roote out these unkynd imps. But now how can ther be any resemblance made, to allow the callyng in of Spaniardes into Scotland at this tyme, wher nether kyng nor subject hath cause to mak complaynt, wher nether French nor English nor any other nation mak pretence to offend the lest child in Scotland. And amongst all other strang accidents this seemeth most strang, that such a nation as the Spanish is must be chosen out of all Christendom that of all Christian nations is most odious to the world for pryde and cruelty."

"But thes confederated papistes of Scotland are soe deprived of the naturall sense theie owght to have of theire native cuntrie, as withowt anie respect to kinge or cuntrie theie presume altogeather that with their warrs theie will be sure of victories, insomuch as canunt triumphum ante victoriam."

"They build uppon the Popes benedictions and maledictions, against which theie hold that hell gates cannott prevaile. They promise to themselves manie victories in England, by the mightie forces of Spayne, against which theie would perswade ignorant people that there is no resistance. And whie should theie nowe thinke that in England these strange forces shall have manie victories, whan thes 500 yeres and more strange forces never had power to take and hold anie part thearof against the crowne of England? And if England weare ever stronge of multitude of hable people, it nowe is maniefoldes doobled in strengthe and nombre in respect of former ages."

"The hartes also of all manner of people generallie, excepting a fewe papistes disparkled withowt reputacion, power or commaundment, are at this daie soe setled to live and die with theire Quene whoo hath ruled nowe them towardes xxxtie yeares, a time not to be verefied to the third part of hir progenitours thes 500 yeares, as it is a strange thing that anie havinge sence should vant it so light a matter as to vanquishe a whole Englishe nation with one army, that hath whan they war but barbarooss wasted and weared the best legions of the Romayns."

"But yet if the care of this nation weare not soe universall for the sole defence of the title and honnour of theire Quene as yt is, yet none can be soe grosse as to thinke that the nation itself would leave theire cuntries, theire howses, ther landes, theire wyves, ther children, to the cruellty of a Spaniard."

"Shall it be soe soddeinelie, soe rashelie, so impiouslie incensed to the eares of a yonge Kinge that is in peace with all the world, that maie enriche his crowne by peace, and hath no offer of warre made to him that forreine forces shall doe him and his realme good? As though if naturall reason showld not denie yt, yet the supreme God, the God of hostes, in soe unjust a quarell would disapoint it."

"Will the King thinke that England shall ever yeld to have a kinge to cum to the crowne by conquest? No, no. The good wills of the universall nation must most aptlie agree with a king to cum to the crowne by course of lawe, by good will and by peace, and not by tyranny. The nation of England that beare anie favour to the King of Scottes, as the Quenes nearest cousin of the blood roiall of England, would rather looke that if anie forreine ennemie should offer injurie to any portion of the crowne of England, that he would rather offer his aide with his own person to hir majestie against such ennemies, as of late by a treaty he did bind himself, than contrariewise to allow strange forces to invade the realme."

"The common opinion of all good and wise men in England is, and hath been, that the King of Scottes should seke to attayne his expectation after hir majesties time by kind usage of the nation of England. But if he shall followe anie contrarie course he must also looke that the nation of England must change theire course and provide otherwise for the suretie of them and their posteritye."

"A multitude of other reasons theare might be to move the Kinge to condemne, yea, to chastise and represse thes blood-thirstie Spanish Romanistes. But to descend shortly to the reprooff of ther most important argument it shall suffice to remember the Kinge of the falss fundation of ther most grosse deceaving argument, by which it maie be thowght he is cheefelie abused. It is malitiouslie invented to stirre upp the Kinge to embrace this desperatt action, that it behoveth him hearebie first of all other thynges to revendge the deathe of the Quene his mother, and, secondlie, to recover his right as heire to hir for the crowne of England; from the which theie falssly beare hym in hand that by hir deathe he is secluded."

"Uppoun which two growndes theie seake to perswade the Kinge in all hast to breake frendshipp with the Quene of England, to yeld to no justyce uppon hir frontyars, and consequently to make warre ageynst the whole realme; and finally to sett all uppon a hazard, having noe other assurance of successe but as the Popes excommunicacions shall prevaile, and the Spanish forces shall prosper in unknowen cuntries."

"And yet it is manifest that theare lewde disposition to breake peace with England hath not proceaded of the accident of the Quenes deathe, for longe before hir deathe or late troobles, for the space of three or fowre yeares, a nombre of thes confederated wicked counsellours have laboured continuallie to cawse the loose Borderers to spoile in England, not onelie by accustomed stelthes, but by open incursions by daie, and with trompettes and enseignes, wheareof complaint hath been made thes manye yeares, but noe redresse had, which had been done if hir majestie had not otherwise, uppon hope of ye Kinges fayre promisses, caused tolleration of revendg."

"But for some good and just answer concerning the Quene of Scottes deathe, certenly the Quene of England hath had manifest wronge in that hir messyngers and awnsweares have not been hard, whearein she did offer to make sufficient proof of hir innocencie and of hir deape and as harty greefes as any war in Scotland. For hyr deth theare are most manifest, unfained and irreprovable argumentes; soe as than it is a direct injustice to seeke revenge against the Quene of England, being not guiltie thereof."

"If then the revendg shall be sowght against all England, howe manie shall be wronged that cannot be accused? If the blame showld be laide wheare the cawse grewe, lett justice be hard speake, and than thes enterprisers and revendgers shall heare and se prooved that the originall cawse of hir trowbles and deathe proceaded from such actions as weare invented, norished and prosecuted by the wicked counsells even of a nombre of thes that nowe talk so lowdly of revendge, and by pernitious practises of hir own servantes, yea by Spanish, Frenche and Scottish provocacions, mixed with the gall of a nombre of Englishe traitours that attempted not onlie the murder of the Quene of Englandes person by manie devises, but also to have invaded and made conquest of the realme with forreine forces and aide of the traitours at home."

"They shall also than perceive that thowgh hir majestie never minded hir death, yet the states of the realme, seing the perills so iminent, thowght better by order of lawe to have hir that was guiltie to [chang] hir lief than to have hir majestie that was theire lawfull Quene and most innocent to be bereved of hir crowne and lief, and the realme also invaded by strangers, by the manifest procurement of the Quene of Scottes."

"And for the second argument, wholie grownded uppoun a meare untrewthe, which is that by the process against hir and by hir deathe the Kinge is said to have been secluded from his right that he should claime as hir heire: of this untrewthe theare is noe better reproof than the grownd of the lawe, the view of the proves and process whearebie she was condemned, and the affirmations of all the judges and states of the realme for the indemnite to the Kyng, which is readie to be approved whan the same shall be reasonablie required."

"And for some plainer proof heareof it is notorious howe the Quenes majestie hir self in the verie beginning of this action in her parlement charged all hir judges and counsellors that, considering theare was noe cawse so much as of suspicion of the King of Scottes privitie to his mothers attemptes against the Quene of England and this realme, theare should be noe point inserted to the charge of the Scottishe Quene that might by anie possibilitie concerne the Kinge in anie prejudyce of right or title whatsoever."

"And the grownd of this awnsweare is not nowe newlie devised, for uppon request made longe afore hir deathe by M^r Archibald Douglas, as making sume dowbt heareof, in the name of the Kinge his master, hir majestie did in the presence of the principall officers and counsellours of hir realme, at an assemblie of Counsell made for that purpose, cawse him to be resolved thearein by the sentences of all the learned judges of the realme severallie pronunced. And yet for his better satisfaccion in the learning which he professeth, being the civill lawe, at an other time the same was also affirmed to him by the principall doctours of the civill lawe, being sworne officers in their severall juditiall places, after longe debate had by waie of argumentes uttered by the same M^r Dowglas, pretending on the King his masters behalf sum dowbles in this case."

"Soe as this pretence maie appeare to be grownded at this time uppoun meare untrewthe, and being offred soe to be proved if theie will thearein persist, no other awnsweare will serve but that theare sooles are to be charged with theire owne burden for ther excessyve deadly mallyce."

"It resteth nowe therefore for the Kinge to consider which of thes two waies he will embrace; whyther to continue peace with hope of felicitye by Godes ordonnance, which he maie surelie doe, notwithstanding all those proud combinacions made to the contrarie; or to enter into an endless warre withowt just cawse, withowt all hope of good, as long as he shall strive against Godes will, and contrarie to all naturall reason; and lastlie with multitude of dangers by all lyk examples."

"And if it shall please God to direct him to choose the best waie, he can have noe cawse of repentance, having the Quene his frend, and all the nation of England favourable to him, with all respectes of honour. And for his maintenaunce to commaund his subjectes to live in peace, to honour and obeye him with as much or more reputacion than ever anie of his progenitours hath had, he maie be assured of all the support therto requisit that reasonablie he maie ask of hir majestie.

11²/3 pp. Draft much corrected by Burghley.

Cott. Calig., D. I., fol. 142.

Copy of the same.

408. Devices on the Queen of Scots' Bed. [Oct.] C.P., vol. XXI.

A stock of a vine and a heavenly hand holding a vessel full of wine which it is sprinkling over the said stock, and there is written Mea sic mihi prosunt.

A lion taken and overthrown in a snare, and five or six hares and rabbits: above is written as a motto, Et lepores devicto insultant leoni.

A lioness, and her little cub near to her: there is as motto, Unum quidem sed leonem.

A leopard holding in his mouth a hegdehog which he can neither swallow nor cast out, and for a motto, Premit et hæret.

Two spheres, and an upright sword in the midst, at the point whereof is a crown; the motto; Unus non sufficit orbis.

A high, raised pyramid, around which is a bough of ivy; the motto, Testante jurebo [sic].

A crescent at the end of the sword; there is, Donec totum impleat orbem.

A haven of the sea, and a heavenly hand throwing a stone into it, and Donec emerserit undis.

A hedgehog in a somewhat tempestuous sea, the said hedgehog almost covered with stones; and for a motto, Ne volutetur.

A ship quite upright in a tempestuous sea, sails torn and ropes rent, ready to sink; Numquam nisi rectam.

A mill-wheel in running water; this Spanish device, Llena di dolore vada desperanza.

A dove in a cage, and an eagle above ready to devour her when she shall come forth; this device in Italian,. "I am in evil plight, but I fear worse."

The nine heavens and the star of Mercury following the sun; Comite Mercurio.

A buckler, as it were suspended in the air, above a crown; Aut hanc aut super hoc.

A tree called the pitch-tree and a fallen cedar as in this sketch (fn. 2); and for a motto, Ploret picea quod cedrus cecidit.

An eagle's wing among many little feathers partially reddened and perfected; there is, Magnatum vicinitas.

A vine stock and a hand with a pruning knife cutting the said stock; there is, Virescit wlnere virtus.

A large oak at the bottom of a valley torn and broken by the force of the wind, and a bending shrub; there is for motto, Ut superis visum.

A pillar of gold, partially gaping, which a man is cleaving by dint of wedges and hammers; there is, idem intus et extra.

Two crowns in earth and one in heaven composed of stars with flames of fire issuing from them; Manet ultima cello.

Another almost like it, except that the one above is like those that are in the earth; there is, Aliumque moratur.

An R. at the foot of a cross, his sceptre and crown beneath, and on a field of deep enamel double RR.; there is written, Undique Ra Ra.

Three birds in the air pierced by an arrow: Dederit fortuna Deusve.

A tree laden with sceptres, crowns, mitres, crosiers, red hats, chains, precious stones, cords, wallets, papal bulls, bread: a woman at the foot with her eyes bandaged, and a rod in her hand wherewith she strikes the said tree; the motto, Ut casus dederit.

The order of the Annunciation, with the four capital letters F. E. R. T.

The rising sun; for motto, Quæ cecidere resurgunt.

A circle, and a triangle within it; the motto, Trino non convenit orbis.

A great oak, and all the winds blowing above it: around the said oak, Basta ch'io vivi.

The pole-star and the mariner's compass, with the loadstone turned straight towards the pole: around the said compass is "Her virtue draws me" for a device.

A salamander in the fire; there is, Nutrisco et extingor.

An eclipse of the moon; there is for device, Ipsa sibi lumen quod invidet aufert.

Some plants of saffron, fairly high; there is, Fructus calcata dat amplos.

A furnace in which are gold and mercury separate from one another; In fide societas.

A mill-wheel turning in the water; the motto, Moveor nec rapior.

The moon, very bright on the side which looks toward the sun; dark on the side which has the earth opposite; the device, Terrena obcecant.

Many springs of sweet water about to fall into the sea; the motto, Sic dulcia in amarum.

A little bird in a cage, and above an eagle ready to devour it in case it should come forth; the motto is, 11 mal mi preme, my spauenta il peggio.

A tilled field, producing instead of ears of corn points of spears and some helmets; the motto is, Dabit Deus his quoque finem.

Ambo utroque tenent, a cow held by two hands.

Pietas revocabit ab orco, a mountain in the midst of which there seems to be a cavern casting forth fire.

Quid nisi victis dolor.

Pervigiles virtus excubias superat.

A sun half eclipsed, Medio occidit die.

The palm-tree laden, Ponderibus virtus innata resistet.

Non quæ super terram; a very tempestuous sky, two hands in the air not holding one another.

The thistle crowned; Asperitate securus.

A palm-tree, at the foot a tortoise trying to climb upwards; Dat gloria vires.

A sun and the star Mercury; Tantus mihi fulgor ab illo.

Per vincula, crescit; the pine tree.

2½ pp. French. Indorsed.