Elizabeth: April 1563

Calendar of State Papers, Scotland: Volume 2, 1563-69. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1900.

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'Elizabeth: April 1563', in Calendar of State Papers, Scotland: Volume 2, 1563-69, (London, 1900) pp. 1-6. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/scotland/vol2/pp1-6 [accessed 24 March 2024]

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In this section

ELIZABETH.

1. The Privy Council to Fetiplace and Johnson. [April 1. 1563.]

We have read your letter written in Kantyre, brought to us by John Inglish, whereby it appears ye are sorry for your evil living for a year and more, though ye say it was through poverty, and now make humble suit for pardon, offering your service there. The Queen has been pleased at our request to show mercy, and we return the bearer to you herewith, letting you "to witt" that if ye do (as you easily may) some service in the north of Ireland against rebels such as "Shane Oneyle," or those that aid him, we shall do our utmost to procure your pardon. Therefore we would you let my lord of Sussex lieutenant there, understand how you will serve against such as he appoints you. Assuring you that unless you do, and leave your unlawful trade, you shall repent it perforce, and have that which obstinate and wilful subjects deserve.

1 p. Draft by Cecil. Indorsed: "1 April 1563. M. from the Counsell to Fetiplace and Johnson."

(Document referred to.)

The deposition of John Englyshe before "Master Secretory the xxiii of Marche."

Captain "Petypase and William Johnsoun [h] is master" will undertake to bring "Jhemes Maconele" or any noble man in the North isles of Scotland "were youre honerse thenkes good." The said captain and master say that two ships with munition and other furniture for war "comes" out of Spain this summer, as the above noblemen told them, "toule Louce Fauye," (fn. 1) or thereabouts, which they will do their best to take: "and for the Rafrese" (fn. 2) if it seem good to your honours, they will take it, but cannot keep it long without aid. My coming to Scotland was for money due to "Mr. Thoretoune and John Harecastele and one of Hull [Houle], and for goyenge to Loter kengter (fn. 3) wase to gete my none of the master, and as it [is] I have note gotene nothenge." Signed: John Englyshe.

¾p. Holograph.

2. Randolph to Cecil. [April 1.]

If your honour ever deserved thanks at Scotsmen's hands, it is now above any time. Seldom any good comes into this country to comfort "the carefull for Chrystes flocke," but you are the first advertiser.

Since the beginning of this Queen's sorrows, she has taken pleasure to ride up and down, hawking and hunting daily from place to place. On 19th instant (sic) I convoyed her to Falkland, and obtained leave to return to St. Andrews, finding myself "verie evle at ease." At my departure, she began to renew to me all her griefs and adventures befallen her since her husband's death, and how destitute she was of friends, and that I should not wonder to see her in such extreme sorrow, whereto she could not possibly put an end. I said what I could to comfort her grace, assuring her that to those that lived in the fear of Christ, all things should turn to the best, and of friendship she could not think herself destitute, seeing God had left her so near and dear a kinswoman as the Queen's Majesty my sovereign: of whose good will and hearty kindness, she has had trial since returning to her realm, and should find more hereafter. It pleased her to hear this with goodwill, till time forced me to take leave.

On the 25th of this present (sic) my lord of Murraye returned to this town "to see hys wyf beinge verie sycke." He also came to my lodging, and that night I received your letter of the 15th, with reports of the death of the Grand Prior and the apprehension of the Cardinal of Lorraine. We then had liberty to laugh "at our willes," and contented ourselves as well as if we had been assured of their truth. Lethington also had written a letter to his sovereign, which I delivered to my lord. It contained only (as I heard since) the common news of the Admiral's doings in Normandy, "assuringe nothynge for trothe." He reports very honourably of the Queen's majesty, and the lords of her council.

On the 25th her grace returned to Petlethie, a little house of the Earl of Murray's, 4 miles from this town. The 28th I received your letter of 18th with a letter to this Queen from the Queen's majesty; and next morning prepare myself towards her majesty and meet her on the fields hunting, having before signified to my lord Murray I had letters to her grace. She first asked me how her good sister did and what I heard of her majesty? I said I had a letter to her grace, but would not (except she pleased) interrupt her pastime. 'Nay' "saythe she," 'I shall have more pleasure to see her wrytinge then anye other pleasure that I tayke,' and staying her horse, read the letter not without tears. Then she said 'Monsieur Rand. I have nowe receaved no smale comfort, and the greatest that I cane, commynge from suche one as my dere syster, so tender a coussen and frende as she is to me—and thoughe I can nether speke nor reade but with teares, yet thynke you not but that I have receaved more comfort of thys letter' "(and incontinente puttethe yt into her bosome nexte unto her schynne)" 'then I have of all that hathe byne saide unto me since I harde fyrste worde of my uncles deathe. Nowe I truste' "saythe she," 'God will not leave me destitute, and for my parte I will shewe my selfe as lovinge, and as kynde unto my syster your mestres, as yf God hade geven unto us bothe one father and mother. Yt ys moste neadefull for us bothe, and I perceave yt to be Godes wyll yt sholde so be: for I see nowe that the worlde is not that, that we do mayke of it, nor yet are theie moste happie that contynue longeste in yt.' I gave her grace as good answers as I could, and so talked till we came to her "dyninge place." Those about her (specially the ladies) gave me "maynie a bytter curse," hearing nothing of what was said, or knowing what was in the letter. While at dinner, only those about that served her grace,—she took out the letter and read it again, saying to them, 'God will not leave me destitute; I have receaved the beste lettre from the Quene my good syster of Englande that ever I had, and I do assure you yt comfortethe me myche,' and many other like words. Then another packet came to me from Lethington; at this time the Queen knew nothing of the Grand Prior's death, nor was any man so "hardie" as to let her know it—some thinking best to defer it, others to let her know all her sorrows at once. "Madamoiselle Beton bothe hardieste and wyseste, gevethe the fyrste adventeur, as a thynge harde by my reporte, in good wordes humblye prayeng her majestie to tayke the workes of God with a meeke harte, and as myche as she myght, caste awaye her sorrowes. Here have we not a lyttle adoe: all the whole Courte seekethe but corners whether to retire them selves, some to ease their hartes with shedinge of a fewe teares, other not to be seen that had not so great sorrowe at their hartes that anye water wolde be wronge owte at their yes [eyes]." And some I assure your honour, I never saw merrier hearts with heavier looks, since I was born.

In that packet she received her uncle's "Testamente" and the prayer he made before his death. "Yt was well wasshed in the redinge with maynie a salte teare," and it moved many to pity that heard it read, but mostly to see her grace weep so pitifully. There was another letter from a servant of hers, late departed hence to France, called "Clernoc, a longe yonge man, evle conditioned, withowte a berde, one of her graces esquire trenchantes," giving the manner of her uncle's death. "He blamethe sore the Admirall and Monsieur de Beza," as persuaders of the young man to take the enterprise in hand; and says that the young man's heart failed him "iij dyvers tymes when he was in places to have executed his wyll; and retornynge unto the Admirall to excuse hym self, he sente hym unto Monsieur Beza, whoe with maynie good wordes sayinge unto hym 'Alles vous en, prenes courrage, les Anges vous assisteront,' he never retorned nor harde worde of hyme untyll he had hys purpose." Her grace gives this letter much credit, and takes occasion to speak against the Protestants. It tends also to the slander of the Admiral, and in special Beza, but is believed here of no man, but such as would have it so. Wherefore as there is no appearance of truth, and it proceeds from "a verie malicius and dyspytefull mynde," it is wished that the Admiral were warned, that the man may be known, and at least warning given to him to speak better at his return than he has written. That night her grace returned to St. Andrews, and after supper read the Queen's letter to my lords of Murray and Argyle, and to me. We continued so long in many purposes with her grace "that ve wrynge owte a lawghter or two," and as far as I see, this sorrow will break no man's heart here. I took my leave that night with many good words and thanks for that day's labour, and had also "some better countinances of the ladies, and more favorable lookes then I had at my fyrste arrivall in the morninge." We remain here for 6 days, and then go to Falkland again, where her grace keeps her Easter, and returns either hither or to Stirling till parliament. Yesternight the Lord of Arbroath, the Duke's second son, came to Court to attend on the Queen by advice of his father. "I know that ther is so myche suspicion that waye, that I cane not thynk whear unto yt will growe at lengethe."

[Here he repeats his "owne poore case" as in his letter of 10th March. Complains of his growing charges in so dear a country, "tumblynge ever to and fro," without six days' rest, both winter and summer. Thought rather to have asked leave for his return, than to have troubled him thus.]

I send your honour "a thynge latlye prented amongeste us, estemed here of no smale importance, but to my judgement, I have seen thynges of as greate wayte." In matters of religion we keep what we have got, and hope for "wonders" this parliament. It will not be the worse, if things fall out well in France. Lethington before his departure procured a commission to the Earl of "Montgommerie [Eglinton] the verieste, ranckeste, and despytefulleste papyste of a lorde in Scotlande," and has gotten thereby an evil bruit and much envy. It comes of a good desire he has to do good to all men, but it succeeds ill. After I had written thus much, the Queen sent to me to stay the post, till she had leisure to write to the Queen's majesty, which letter I enclose with one other to Lethington. St. Andrews. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

pp. Holograph; also address. Indorsed.

3. Randolph to Cecil. [April 10.]

On the 7th instant Rawlet this Queen's secretary arrived, reporting very honestly of his good usage. He brought many letters to the Queen from France, full of lamentation and sorrow— two from the Queen mother, one rehearsing her "greves," the other signifying the state of France as then, in what sort things were accorded, and what was further intended to appease the discords there: "not mystrustinge but that yf reason coulde not be had at the Quene of Englande handes, but that the realme of France sholde fynde her reddie and willinge to supporte and defende the righte therof, as by frendeshippe and olde alliance betwene the two realmes she is bound." The words of her letter are "not farre from these—'En quoy jespoir que sil ja besoign que vous ne refuseres de nous assister et les donner a queue (fn. 4) (for these wordes I not the whole) selon la faveur encientment porte et la longe alliance entre le royaulmes de France etc.'" How these words agree with her doings, your honour can consider—and by her writing thus to this Queen (as I assure you is true) you may assuredly know that nothing shall be undone of her part to move controversy between this Queen and our Sovereign. This Queen herself mused much how this new kindness came about, that she received two long letters, "wrytten all with her owne hande, seinge that all the tyme since her retorne, she never receaved half so maynie lynes as were in one of the lettres, which I cane my self testifie by the Quens owne saying and other good assurance." I can assure you further she has said that she knows now that the friendship of our Sovereign may stand her more in stead, than that of her "good mother" in France—and as she desires them both, she will not lose the one for the other. "I maye also further assure your honour that whatsomever thoccation is, thys Quene hathe somewhat in her harte, that wyll burste owte in tyme, which wyll manifeste that some unkyndenes hathe passed betwene them that will not be easlye forgotten." In talk with my self, she says that the Queen mother might have used matters otherwise, and doubts much the success of her great desire to govern alone, and in all things have her will. So seeing them in such terms, I thought it better to confirm her in that mind, than say any words in favour of the other—who yet shall receive as friendly writings from this Queen, as she wrote to her. Whether the Queen mother will speak to Lethington of the purpose she wrote of to the Queen, I know not; but if she do, it shall be hard if you get no "savour" of it at his return, or I perchance, by some means here. It may be she only wrote to try what answer this Queen gives, or learn her mind to our Sovereign.

Since Rawlet's return, the Queen hearing that peace was concluded and that all strangers should "woide" the realm, asked me what should become of my country men in "Newehaven"? I said we were no strangers to France, and did but re-enter our own old possessions, whereof no man doubted our right, "no not her Grace self, yf she sholde be judge." 'I kenne,' said she, 'what you meane, but in good faythe I wolde you had Callice agayne, and theie had their Newe haven.' We could not agree then on the purpose, nor was I willing to speak much of it in the hearing of those present.

Yesterday Good Friday, I received your letter of the 2d instant. So soon as my lord President of York sends any man to me, I shall leave nothing in my power undone therein. I heard long since of the murder, but never of any of them coming here.

Where you assure me peace is made, I trust also to hear the conditions are such as that God may be glorified and his word set at liberty through the whole realm: otherwise I am assured that there will be more discord than ever. The book it pleased you to send me, has well satisfied many here. I put it into the Queen's hands, who read part her self, and heard the rest. "Whear men are evle perswaded in any matter, yt is harde to remove them owte of their opinion." For want of that book, which I cannot "honestlye" crave again, I pray you bestow one or two more on me. The Queen knows now that Bothwell is sent for to London, and sent one of her gentlemen to enquire the cause? I answered that I knew no other but his takers were in controversy about him, and it should be judged there. I know she thinks much he is not sent to Scotland; if he were, it is feared he would be reserved "for an evle instrument." If Lethington has not been plain with your honour herein, he is in the wrong to his friends here, but most of all to himself, "yf ther come such a volter in thys realme, that ever that man come agayne into credyt." (fn. 5) There is not a more spiteful man to England than Sir Andrew Carre, who hearing that the Queen knew his practices with Huntly, procured his entry to England and is now in Tynemouth. Murray was lately advertised from the Border, that 400 men of Redesdale had made a raid, hurt 3 men, took 7 of the best of Liddesdale, drove above 100 oxen and "keye," besides spoiling 16 houses, the chief actors being John Hawle and the Captain of Harbottle. I answered my lord, that I thought it was false—but if done, it was by device of the Scots themselves, and should be remedied by the wardens without troubling the council; but promised and have written to Sir John Foster to learn the truth. Bothwell had good resort to him where he was, both of Scots men and women. I hear by my lord of Argyle that Shane O'Neill has had lately 2 or 3 of his stoutest men slain by my lord Deputy. James MacConnel is presently in Ireland with "Carliboy" his brother, as the Earl thinks, to conclude with the Lord Deputy. Argyle looks daily for one from O'Neill to him—if he come, I shall see him and know his errand. The Queen purposes this year to take progress into Argyle: but I hear no word of our voyage to England. "Her grace thys tyme of Easter hathe lefte not one jote of her solemnities unobserved: I see nether amendement in her religion nor hope therof—her onlie staye is the Cardinall of Lorayne, for whome nowe ther is no small mone made, and dowte of daynger that maye fawle unto his person." Captain Colborne attends his despatch. Our Court removes within 3 days, and within 8 shall be at St. Andrews again. Falkland, upon Easter Eve. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

5 pp. Holograph; also address. Indorsed. Wafer signet (faint).

4. Mary to Elizabeth. [April 23.]

Requesting safe conduct for John Achesoun her master "cunyeour," with 3 in company, to pass and repass through her realm to France for a year. Under her signet. St. Andrews. Signed: Your richt gud sister and cusignes Marie R.

Broadsheet. Addressed. Indorsed.

Similar on April 26 for Thomas Forbes and six others to pass through England to France for six months. St. Andrews Signed: (ut supra).

Broadsheet. Addressed. Much damaged.

5. Randolph to Cecil. [April 30.]

Being required by the Queen's grace, I beg your honour's favour for this gentleman Captain "Forbois," ready to depart to France, where he is promised the chief place of a "man of armes." You know the beginning of our acquaintance and his former services, which he has promised to continue: and I would be sorry that anything before misliked in him, should be called to remembrance. It may please you to favour his buying an ambling gelding to take with him. St. Andrews. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

1 p. Holograph; also address. Indorsed. Wafer signet, quartered as before.

Footnotes

  • 1. Lough Foyle?
  • 2. Rachrin?
  • 3. Letterkenny?
  • 4. Italics underlined.
  • 5. This sontence written on margin.