Elizabeth: March 1576

224. Mary to the Sieur Dolu. [March 10.] C.P., vol. X.

Has learnt by his letters of the 14th and 15th ult. of his arrival at London, and by that of the 2nd instant of the refusal they have made for him to come to her and bring his accounts, and to inform her particularly of the administration of his charge. Desires to be informed of the duty he has done to the present time, wherewith, truly, she is not very content for several reasons. Writes to Mons. de Mauvissèire to beg the Queen of England to grant her his passport. Thinks that so just a request will not be denied. If they make difficulty he is to let her have by Hanniball the 1000 crowns which he has brought her, and the money for the wages of her officers who are about her, the acquittances and discharges for which she will send him with her estates, and full answer to all that which he has written to her, by Floreat, her "tapissier," desiring for that effect that he would leave his agent at London to receive her despatch, without her affairs being communicated to everyone, as generally happens when her letters pass through so many hands. As regards the money he sent to the hands of the late Cardinal of Lorraine, her uncle, and other parties who are bound to him in his preceding accounts, she does not intend to discharge him thereof as he has not cleared up hers.

Therefore, he is to think of some manner of rendering her so good proof of his duty in this matter, that instead of his complaining of the little recompense he says he has received in her service, she may not continue dissatisfied with the diminution of her revenue and the losses she has sustained by his negligence. Sheffield. Signed: Marie R.

Postscript.—Is not to fail to deliver to James Lauder, her valet de chambre, 200 livres for his pension for the past year ended in December, according to the office she has made where he is employed.

1 p. French. Addressed. Indorsed by Walsingham.

225. Mary to Monsieur de Mauvissière. [March 12.] C.P., vol. X.

Has learnt by his letters of the 15th of last month what it has pleased the Queen of England to grant her upon what he and Monsieur De La Mothe propounded to her for her by the commandment of the King of France, for which she feels very much obliged to both, and begs him to thank them, excusing her to them for not being able to write to them by reason of her indisposition, which increases from day to day, so that the sooner she can use the baths of Buxton it will be the better for her, and for this reason she asks her physician to use the best diligence he can to set out thither, and to resort to him as soon as he arrives at London to have leave to pass forthwith to her, assuring herself that he [Mauvissière] will aid him.

Nau lately told him of the state of her health, much impaired by a tertian fever, which still keeps her in great weakness. Has been troubled since with an extreme pain in her bad side, and on Friday last there befel her a catarrh on the face by taking the air the same day that she had taken medicine, which makes her again lie in bed now. But hopes that it will be nothing, and that she will be quite well in the spring, after she has bathed.

Is very sorry that her treasurer has not been able to obtain his passport to bring her his accounts, and to inform her of the administration of his charge and government of her dowry, being the only matter and negotiation that he has to treat with her. Begs him to speak again to the Queen of England on her behalf, and to press her to permit her to understand the state of her affairs either by her said treasurer or by his agent, it being necessary that one or the other come hither to receive her states, which she has deferred till their arrival, and to pay the wages of her officers who are with her. Assures herself that Mr. Walsingham will help if he considers how much it concerns her to know the order they keep in the management of her affairs, since she has reserved to herself the superintendence of them, without wishing to change one of her relations. Furthermore, she offers to negotiate only with him who shall come, in the presence of such as they shall wish to appoint for that effect, to avoid all suspicion, which cannot be great, it appears to her, in a person of such quality.

As regards Hannibal's passport, it has already been granted to her, and she thinks they will not now make any difficulty, seeing that he is coming in place of her tapistry-maker, who will set out as soon as the other has arrived.

His letters have been given to her very tardily, and she cannot but think that they have been retained at the Court, inasmuch as she has received [one] from Dolu of the 2nd instant in the same packet as was made anew. What she finds more strange is, that he should have received her last letter, of the 12th of February, with the present she sent to the Queen, her good sister, by those who lately accompanied her works, of which she has not had any news.

Hopes that this will be at his first commodity, and that he will send her by the same means that which her secretary has sent by her commandment. Thanks him for his news, and is very glad of the happy issue that they hope for the troubles of France. Requests him to make her affectionate commendations to Lord Burghley, the Earl of Leicester, and his good friend Mr. Walsingham. Sheffield. Signed: Marie.

1¾ pp. French. Addressed. Indorsed.

226. Alexander Hay to Henry Killigrew. [March 15.]

Since your passing to Cornwall we have not here heard from you nor understood of your return, howbeit I am assured your welfare is earnestly wished for by many honest men here. I declared to my Lord Lindsay the goodwill you bore to satisfy him in the errand wherewith he charged you, and that default was not in you of the non-expedition. He writes himself to you, although the letter be of an old date. You will answer it as you find time. As to the poor man's suit against my Lord Robert [Stewart], the time were very proper if any would take the pains to come and pursue it, for my Lord Robert is still in Edinburgh Castle, and no great hope of his speedy delivery. Mr. Nicholas Elphinstone was "anys at poynt of his directioun, wer not M^r Secretary Walsinghame thocht not the tyme fully convenient." His grace has since written to my Lord Governor of Berwick specially touching the matter of the false coin of both our sovereigns coined on the Borders of England. It is thought by some that the matter shall not be well tried if some of good judgment and authority be not sent either from the Court or from York to enquire of that pest, which is judged to be far proceeded, and many to be touched therewith in Northumberland. The Laird of Carmichael is in Teviotdale, occupied to entertain quietness. Many means, as we hear, are sought and laid out to trouble things; specially of late they of Tynedale have made an incursion upon my Lord of Angus's lands of Jedburgh forest, but nothing, I understand, will be attempted otherways than to seek redress by justice. Here, praised be God, there is no manner of alteration. The Regent's grace has continued at Edinburgh since he returned from Dumfries and is now at Dalkeith. My Lord of Argyll and sundry other noblemen have accompanied him this winter. The misliking and murmuring of Edinburgh is much qualified, for his grace of benevolence has superseded the "justice aer" till October. Adam Gordon is yet in the Castle of Blackness. If anything concerning religion be of late set out I will look for it by your good means. Edinburgh. Signed: A. Hay.

Postscript.—It has pleased Mr. Secretary Walsingham to write twice to me since he went into Cornwall, whereupon I have taken the boldness to direct these letters to him. Your worship may well assure him of my lawful service "liand" in my poor power. I must further burden your worship to "caus deliver" my letter to Mr. Straquhyn.

1 p. Holograph. Addressed. Indorsed.