Elizabeth: December 1563

40. Chatelherault to Randolph. [Dec. 10.]

As I am advertised that Captain Forbes my servitor, "quhome ye knaw wes in France for my besenes, and now returnyng hame, wes constranyt to land into England, and is stayit be the capitane of Norhame," which if he had been known for my servant, I believe none of your Sovereign's servants would have done—I pray you very heartily to write to the said captain to put my servitor to liberty to come to me and report what he has done. If he is a prisoner, I pray you be caution for his reëntry on 15 days' warning, and I by this writing bind myself to relieve you, as one who has done me pleasure in times past. Give credence to my cousin Mathow Hammyltoun in what he shows you. Hamilton. Signed: Your luffing frind James.

½ p. Addressed: To Randolph as "agent" for the Queen of England in Scotland.

41. Randolph to Cecil. [Dec. 13.]

On the 5^th [day] after departing from Court I reached Berwick, where I rested one day, as well for my own occasions, as to be present by the officers' request, at debating some controversies among themselves, and to know why so little justice had been done since the Commissioners last took order. I found great lack of my Lord Governor's presence to keep order. Among other complaints, the Scottish wardens think themselves dishonoured by meeting inferiors, or men suspected "to be to greate bearers with offenders." This I write for Lord Hume and the Laird of Cesford for the East Marches: Sir John Forster will deal well enough with his.

At Dunbar I heard that Lethington was at Haddington, "takinge possession of the whole Abbasie which the Quene had geven hym; so that he is nowe equale with anye man that hathe his whole landes lienge in Lodian." I "chanced" on him there, and next day accompanied him to Edinburgh. "Ther I understoode that the Quene keapte her bedde, being somewhat dyseased of over myche travaile she tooke a nyghte or two before, dancinge over longe to celebrate the feaste of her nativitie, which was our Ladie Daye." (fn. 1) But I think rather it was a great cold she took (as she says herself), "beinge so longe that daye at her divine service." The next day Saturday (fn. 2) her pleasure was to speak with me at afternoon; "havinge some space attended her graces pleasure, my lorde of Murraye was sente for in unto her grace, texcuse my attendance, fyndinge yt fetter that I sholde retorne the morrowe, for that her medicine had sharplie handeled her that daye, and that she was not well at her ease. My ladie of Argile also was sente owte after hym, with the lyke message, and commandement from her grace to brynge worde unto her howe the Quens majestie my sovereigne dyd." I reported how I left her majesty, with words of goodwill, and required the Lady of Argyle to present my sovereign's token, reserving her majesty's letters till I had access to her grace. I understood that the "juell" was marvellously esteemed, often looked upon and many times kissed. So I was dismissed and willed next day being Sunday, to be there again.

"Sondaye" I dined with my lord of Murray, and immediately after was sent for to the Queen, and found her "lienge in her bedde." After divers purposes of our Sovereign, her Court, nobility etc. I delivered first the "beste wrytten letter" which after reading, she willed me to read it "for the credyt my sovereigne had put me in." I delivered her grace the "seconde lettre," which she read, and entered "strayte" in purpose of her uncles, and their good will to her majesty; I heard her with good will, not replying much. "I beleved no more (be yt spoken under correction) then before I dyd." The talk was of her majesty's thanks for the Cardinal's friendship towards Sir Nicolas Throkmorton. She showed me then the ring on her finger; "yt lackethe no prayses of her parte, but I commended more the mynde of the sender then the present self." Few in the chamber but spoke their opinions as well of the giver as the gift. 'Well' said she, 'two jouels I have that muste die with me, and willinglie shall never owte of my sighte,' and showed me a ring which was the king her husband's; thus much time was spent. Seeing at last she was not well, I desired not to trouble her: she thanked me, willing me to return after supper, which I did, and after a few words, seeing she was not well, offered to retire without further declaring my instructions. 'You do well,' said she, 'for that you fynde me not well at ease; we shall tawlke of the reste more at lengethe.' So I intend to spare her two or three days unless I be called, and now advertise your honour lest you marvel at my silence.

Communing at good length with Murray, I find his good liking for the Queen's majesty's meaning to his sovereign. "I feare yf yt be refused, she wilbe thoughte to be in the wrange." Lethington wishes her majesty "had dyscendyd into more particularities," for he says these general dealings ever breed suspicion. I charged him with no less on his sovereign's behalf, or rather his own, as the "whole guider" of her affairs. For 2 months she has been divers times in great "melancolies," her grief is marvellous secret, and she often weeps when there is little apparent occasion. I trust she will take comfort of my sovereign's dealing.

The Council assembles here on 16^th instant: and on 20^th of next month, the Queen will be at Jedburgh herself to do justice on thieves against both countries. It is feared that Arran will return to his old madness. Within these 5 nights he rose out of bed in the night and took a knife to cut the throat of a poor fellow that attends on him. The Duke will be here in 3 days.

If Bothwell receive not favour shortly from this Queen, he purposes to sue the Queen's majesty, I know not for what. His and Sir Andrew Carr's long lying on the border at liberty, and sending so many geldings into Scotland, is little to our advantage. Edinburgh. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

3½ pp. Holograph. Address leaf lost.

42. Randolph to Cecil. [Dec. 21.]

On the 13^th I reported my proceedings. This Queen's disease (whereof proceeding I know not) daily increases; her pain is in the right side, judged to be melancholy. For her divers medicines taken of late she finds herself little the better. On Saturday she was out of bed, but took no great pleasure in company, nor in talk with any, so I have forborne to press her, though divers times at the Court, if her grace had liked. So my message being more to her advantage than any other, as she may judge by what she has already heard, I propose now "to be demaunded before I greatlie offer my self."

All the lords are now assembled; whether she will make any or the whole privy to the matter, I know not. So far as safely I may, I have communicated with Murray, Argyle and Lethington, and would I were as well able to find good liking of it in the Queen, as I do in them.

Three causes of the lords' assembly are already patent—

(I.) The Queen is herself grieved with France for three special causes—(1) Want of payment of her "douarie," (2) depriving Chatelherault of his duchy, and (3) bestowing the captain's "office of the Garde" on a Frenchman, who was ever wont to be named by the Prince of this realm. For these causes she is minded to send M^r John Hay, master of requests, to France, if her Council find it good.

(II.) The next cause of convention is to judge in a controversy between the Earl of Rothes and the Master of Lindsay, now Lord Lindsay (whose father died within these 4 days)—who shall be sheriff of Fife in inheritance, where neither of them has any right. The parties are great, and if not well ended, it is like to come to strokes.

(III.) The third is, the Queen is grieved with a letter Knox wrote to his brethren the preachers, to assist "two honeste men" of the congregation, whom she would have punished for troubling a priest that (while she was in Argyll) said mass to the rest of her household remaining in the Abbey of Holyrood.

Some think the Queen's sickness is caused by her utterly despairing of the marriage of any of those she looked for, they abroad neither being "verie hastie," nor her subjects here "verie wyllinge" or bent those ways. This "concete" say some, has been in her head five weeks and more. One other misfortune is fallen in Court: "the Quens potticarie gotte one of the Quens maydens a Frenche woman in credyt and nere abowte to her graces self, with chylde. Thynkinge to have covered his fawlte with medicines, the childe was slayne in the mothers bellie." They are both sent to prison and her grace so much offended, it is thought they shall die. Whether these things are so heavily taken that they can make her so sick, as within these 8 days men doubted her life, I know not—but have written thus much lest you wonder at my silence. Edinburgh. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

I have been moved by message from the Queen to write again, that inquisition be made what is become of Michilet her musician, of whom nothing has been heard here since his taking.

2¼ pp. Holograph, also address. Indorsed.

43. Randolph to Cecil. [Dec. 22.]

Since my other letter, Michilet (fn. 3) arrived here convoyed by a servant of Gerningham's very honestly. He brought nothing that belonged either to the Queen or himself, not so much as apparel to his back, but what Mr. Gerningham lent him money to buy.

If possible to recover these things, I am earnestly desired to move your honour to have them gotten. Edinburgh. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

½ p. Holograph, also address. Indorsed.

44. Deliverance by the General Assembly. [Dec. 29.]

"At Edinburgh the xxix^th day of December 1563 . . . Anent the request and supplication geven in the generall assemblie by John Baroune minister of the kirk of Gawston, bearing in effect how Anne Goodacre being his maried wyfe, had of her owne wickednes and evill counsell, departed frome his house here in Edinburgh in June last bipast, withoute his licence (he being in the Galston short way from this town) towardes the realm of Englonde," notwithstanding his letters to her charging her to remain, and also the requests of "dyvers brethern" in his name, to await his return: not the less she departed to England to his "great greif and heartes sorowe." Wherefore he most humbly requested the most honourable privy council there assembled, with the rest of the nobility, the superintendants, ministers, commissioners of provinces and kirks, to give him their advice and direction, by what means he might be at liberty from "the foresaid wicked woman, according to the precise reull of Gods worde"—as at more length in his supplication. The Assembly ordained letters to be directed to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York in their name. subscribed by the Superintendant of Lothian, John Knox, "M. John Craig" ministers of Edinburgh, and the "scribe of the assemblie," requesting them cicissitudinis causu. to cause edicts to be proclaimed in their bounds, or personal citation executed against said Anne, to compear before the Superintendant of Lothian and kirk session of Edinburgh in 60 days thereafter, "by her self, and not by her procurator, to answer to sicke thingis as the said John Baron her husband should lay to her charge, and further to answer as law will; with certification that if she compere not the said day and place, the said superintendant and session will procede and minister justice against her at the said Johns instance according to Gods worde etc." Given in the General Assembly of the kirk of Scotland, "and fourth session thereof." Extracted from their register by me John Gray "scrybe" to the same. Signed: J. Gray.

Broadsheet. Holograph. Indorsed: "Request of John Baron to the General Assemblie of the church of Scotland against Anne Goodacre his wife."

45. Randolph to Cecil. [Dec. 31.]

I doubt not your honour looks to hear how I have proceeded with the Queen's grace. Divers times since my last letter, I have been at Court, twice in her sight, but both times, she lying in her bed conferring with her council, convenient time (as she said to me) served her not to talk with me as she desired—but willed me not to be much absent, as she would shortly talk with me and others whom she had made privy to my sovereign's propositions. On Sunday morning 26^th, I was warned to come to Court after dinner, and on coming, found in her chamber, besides ladies and gentlewomen, many of her council, herself yet keeping her bed and talking with Murray and Lethington. Their purposes ended, her grace began thus with me—' I longe nowe M^r Randolph, to here what answer you have broughte me from my good syster your mestres; I am sure that yt cane not be but good unto me, seinge yt commethe owte of so good a mynde as my syster bearethe me.' I commended her grace's good opinion of my sovereign, who I assured her, thinking daily more and more on her grace's estate, and weighing what was fittest in her marriage, could in no point alter her former judgment and advice, that it was neither expedient for her country, nor fit for herself, to match in any of those houses where it appeared that dissension may grow and enmity be nourished, as before time has been. And for her Majesty naming any one, or judging who are fit, except such as would maintain amity, "she cane not," and willed me to proceed no further, saving that she "thoughte that none fetter coulde be founde then some noble man of her realme, in whome, bysydes maynie other good vertues that myghte be in hym," he should have special desire to unite the two countries in perpetual concord. To this effect I talked a good while and at length she said—'I assure you the Quene my good syster is no better willinge to contynue amytie then I am, and yf we had so well knowne one another as nowe we do, I thynke the matter had byne owte of dowte. Touchynge her desyer of my mariage, I maye conceave more (fn. 4) then in playne termes your mestres wyll signifie, or you lyste to utter, but howe well the worlde wolde allowe of that, I knowe not.' To that I said—"that he that ruded all his actions by the jugemente of the worlde, dyd not moste commenlye governe hym self beste," for the world judged more of reputation, dignity, and honour, than what concerned amity between princes, peace between subjects, love among neighbours; "as was seen in her Majesties laste mariage, which nowe tyme hathe dyscovered to have byne one of the greateste inconvenientes that myghte be to her estate," both for enmity nourished, and her country like to have fallen into hands that had possessed themselves of her holds and strengths. She scarce heard these words "with patience," and so I tarried no longer on them.

Touching the declaration of her title, and how the Queen's majesty will proceed therein, I declared point by point as in my instructions. Of that she thought "righte well," and it seemed to me better than of the former. She said—'You have, Maister Randolph, some further matter to saye unto me, I am sure then thys! Let me knowe playnlye what your mestres mynde is, that I maye the better devise with my self, and confer with other, and so to gyve you a more resolute answer, then by these generall wordes spoken by you I cane.' I answered I had said as much as I was charged with, but if it pleased her to give me leave, I would say my opinion or simple judgement on any matters her Majesty doubted of; but as this was one of great importance, touching herself in special, I let her know that my Sovereign would be content she should send some of her most trusty servants to confer with her majesty, who would thus learn her highness's mind, and take resolution thereon as most expedient. Then she said 'I have maynie mo thynges to inquire of you then these we have spoken of; and these require tyme to be considered of, whearfore we wyll tawlke more at leasure, my self beinge better at ease and these busynes ended, for which cawse I have assembled my nobles.' So I took my leave "reteringe my self a syde." Incontinent she called for My lord of Argyle, and this was one of their many purposes—'Randolphe' saith she, 'wolde have me marie in England.' He says merrily, 'Is the Queen of Englande become a man?' Whose is ther in that countrie,' saith she, 'whome you wolde wyshe me to [marie]?' He saith, whom she could like best, and wished there were so noble a man there as she could like. 'That wolde not please the Duke,' saith she. 'Yf yt please God, and good for your majesties countrie' saith he, 'what recke whoe wer dyspleased!' They had more purposes, but he could not perceive by any word she spake, what her mind was. What he thinks and whom he likes best, he has sufficiently declared his mind. If the Queen purpose to send any nobleman to the Queens Majesty, I will do what I can that he may go, as I know he would gladly take that voyage. Since then her grace has kept continually her chamber, not very sick as appears by her face and speech, but as she says, by a pain in her side, "for which cawse she purgethe ofte," and I press seldomer to come to her presence. On Wednesday (fn. 5) I was sent for before the Council; imagining that her grace had broken the matter to them. But it was only for a Dundee ship taken by one of the Queens majesty's, whereof you shall hear further.

Divers have been in hand with me to know whom in England the Queen's majesty will give in marriage to the Queen? To some, I say it is not in her power, to others that I wish this Queen would stand at her appointment. My life is a pastime among this people curious for news. Except a very few (to whom I dare talk more safely and largely) none suspect anything is meant of my lord Robert, but either of his brother or my lord "Darlie." The Queen herself I am assured "conceavethe further, and I beleeve yf yt come unto her choice, ther is not one of those two that she wyll tayke." Since I wrote of the cause of her sorrow, I have learned that it began when "Cammell" last returned with La Crok's answer from the Cardinal, because he would not come with it himself, and as I conjecture, "that matter is not lyke to tayke place." I hope shortly to know further of the Queens grace's determination: "to morrowe beinge Newe Yeres daye, I am wylled to be at the Courte." Edinburgh. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

The Lord Treasurer of Scotland, for getting a woman with child, must on Sunday next, do open penance before the whole congregation, and M^r Knox "mayke the sermonde." Murray willed me to write this to you, "for a note of our greate severitie" to offenders. The French "potticarie" and the woman he got with child, were both hanged this Friday, causing much sorrow in Court. We have had many evil fortunes by our "Frenche fowlkes," and yet I fear we love them over well.

My lord of Argyle desires by your means a licence to buy 3 geldings for his own use—his first request, but I trust he will deserve much more. His name is "Archibalde Cammell," and I trust it may be sent as soon as may be.

When at Alnwick with Sir John Foster, Bothwell desired to speak with me, and desired to purge himself of any evil mind to me—which I passed over lightly. He then would have me sue this Queen for him, which I said I might not meddle with, and had never done, but if he sued my sovereign, he should not lack noblemen to help him. His purpose is, if he get no favour here, to sue the Queen's majesty for liberty to leave England. He does little good here, and your honour I trust, hears of the resort to him, and his being secretly at Norham, by others that know better than I do.

5 pp. Holograph, also address. Indorsed (by Cecil). Armorial wafer signet (as before).