Border Papers volume 1: April 1587

502. Woddryngton to Walsingham. [April 1.]

I receaved the enclosed from Robert Carvell, sent to him from M^r Richard Douglas, to be sent to your honour with all convenient speed. Berwick. Signed: Henry Woddryngton.

¼ p. Addressed. Indorsed.

503. Forster to Walsingham. [April 3.]

"This nyght I was crediblie enformed that the Kings jorney over the water to Fawcklande is altered, and that he is gone uppon Setterdaie last to the west partes of Scotlande, to a howse of the Lairde of Johnesons called the Lockwod, beinge accompanyed with v hundrethe horsemen; and there that nyght the Lairds of Buckclewghe, Cowdenknowes, and younge Cesforde, with dyvers other gentilmen of Tevidale, hathe appoynted to meate the kinge; and so did ryde with all his companye upon Sondaie last in the mornynge into the towne of Drumfreis, thinkenge there to apprehend the Lorde Maxwell for his disobedience and his mens to the kinge, in killinge of sum of his principall servands." This sudden coming of the King will encourage the disordered people to break, and I have ordered all within my bounds to be ready both day and night to stand to their defence—and have laid 50 shot at Harbottle till the Borders are quiet. At my house nigh Alnwick. Signed: John Forster.

½ p. Addressed. Indorsed.

504. Sir John Selbye to Walsingham. [April 7.]

"Yt may pleass your honore to receyve suche accurrantes as latly I receyved out of Scotlande, as from hyme that most gladly wold doe youe any acceptable servys. . . Soe most umbly taykes my leave this 7 of April." Signed: Jhon Selbye.

¼ p. Holograph. Addressed. Indorsed: "7 April 1587. From Captain Selby." Wax signet: a shield barry of 10, an annulet (?) in chief—elegant.

505. Occurrents Out of Scotland. [April 2–11.]

"From the Lord Scrop 2 April.—The Kinge of Scotlande came this morning to Donfrise accompanied with Bothwell, Angus, the Master of Glames, and other, to have apprehended the Lorde Maxwell, but he hearing thereof, departed the night before. But whether he is gon by lande or sea is not knowne.

From Sir Henry Wodrington 11^th April 1587.—It is greatelie suspected by the lordes abowt the Kinge, that Maxwell had secrete warning from the kinge the night before his coming. It is not apparant what course they will take there, whether peace or not—for that they have not receaved anie aunswer as yet owt of France, which they expect.

Maxwell is at this present in the towne of Aire with Jeames Stuarde late earle of Arrane, whose setting upp of Papistes in those partes is thought not to have bin withowt the allowance of the Kinge.

They entende to have a convention verie shortelie, but doubtfull where to houlde it. There is great contention between the northerne and southerne lordes, and the most of the northerne lordes came not with the Kinge."

½ p. Indorsed by Walsingham's clerk.

506. Huntyngdon to Walsingham. [April 12.]

I perceive by your letter of the 7^th that you have moved her Majesty for additional forces on the Middle March, and sent her warrants to me for levying 200 "shott" and payment of their service. As Sir John Forster now thinks that 50 will suffice to defend the March (notwithstanding his former opinion at our conference, and special request for my writing to you, which he has changed), I shall be glad to find it so, as he promises. I stay the muster of the Middle March till I hear from you. York. Signed: "Your assured friend, H. Huntyngdon.

I am bounde (as you knowe by othe) to performe a dewtye in courte verrye shorttelye, wherof I dyd not thynke tylle nowe. Yf I may bee sparyd, I desyre that with convenyent speede, I may understande so from you, as my absence may breede me no dyspleasure. Untylle Mundaye (fn. 1) after dynner, I wyll staye to take my journey."

1 p. Postscript holograph. Addressed by the Earl: "To my honorable friend M^r Secretary Walsyngham." Indorsed.

507. Forster to Walsingham. [April 13.]

I received yours of the 8^th as to the pay of the 50 "shott," whom I did not presume to levy till some order was taken therefor, but made the country stand on their guard. The state of the Border is quiet and has been so ever since the execution of the Scottish Queen, with little spoil but taking 2 or 3 persons about the water of Tyne, by some of the west country; one of the chief doers in which I have apprehended. The warden's clerk of Scotland was with me at writing, and says his master is returned from the King and ready to minister justice, and a day of truce is appointed at the Staweforde on the 2^nd May. "The Kinge hath dispached his busines at Dunfrise, and is retorned towards Edenbroghe, not cominge by Jedworthe as he was minded to have doon." The Borders of Scotland are quiet, saving that Liddesdale and part of West Tyvidale are not in obedience to the warden; so I think 50 "shott" are enough for defence for a time.

I was before my lord lieutenant at Newcastle, who used me very honourably, acquitting me of any charges, "and sayd he could not touche myne honestie or credit in any wise."

Nothing could be brought against me by the keepers of Tindale and Redesdale, and other under officers, except for some Tynedale and Redesdale men, who have as much to pay as to demand, so his honour could burden me with nothing while here. And if any secret information be lodged with him, I must be a suitor for licence to come and answer the same before her Majesty and Council. At my house nigh Alnwick. Signed: John Forster.

"Postscript.—I kept a warden corte at Alnewick upon Tewesdaye last, where dyvers persons bothe Englishe and Scots, were convicted for Marche treason and executed for the same.

There is greate darthe and scarcitie of corne in this contrie, so that this contrie is like to be undon, for there comes none in at Newcastle, but onlie forth of Scotland, which comes weeklie to Newcastle, Alnewick and Morpeth, to the greate relefe of the pore contrie."

1½ pp. Addressed. Indorsed.

508. Woddryngton to Walsingham. [April 23.]

On the 17^th I received your pacquet addressed to M^r Richard Douglas, and as directed, I sent Robert Carvell into Scotland therewith, who returning on the 22^d, brought some intelligences, which as he has already sent to you, I "cease" to signify. Berwick, Signed: Henry Woddryngton.

½ p. Addressed. Indorsed.

509. Carvyle to Walsingham. [April 24.]

"Synce my last letters, I receyved this pacquett, with a very earnest admonytion, to write unto M^r Archibalde for two horsses which he promysed to send to the Kinge, for they are dayely loked for. The other pacquet was sent from hence uppon the xxiij^th of this instante at teune of the clock in the foore noane." Berwick. Signed: Robart Carvyle.

¼ p. Addressed. Indorsed.

510. Woddryngton to Walsingham. [April 29.]

To-day a Scottish gentleman sent his servant to ask me to meet him in the "Bounds," and he would give me news from Court, which I did, and he declared as follows:—"The xxj^th (fn. 2) of this instant, the Lorde Claude Hamilton came to Edenbroughe about one in the after none, with two hundreth furnished with jackes, steale cappes and horsemens peces. And within an hower after, thErle Huntley came to Edenbroughe with thre hundreth furnyshed in lyke maner. And presentlye after his comynge, they two togyther went to the Kinge, and after conference had with the Kinge returned to there lodginges. And the same day at vij^en at night, the Kinge tooke horse and went over the water and remayned at the Ladye Burleys house till Wednesday (fn. 3) last, and that day dynied with the Master Gray at Dumfermlinge (as in my last I certyfied your honour) wherat the Master not a little rejoyced that the Kinge used him so famyliarlye, supposinge that all matters had bene pacyfied, and that he should have had courte againe, with the like credit and favoure he had before. And so cominge to Courte on Thursday (fn. 4) and having presence with the Kinge, Sir William Steward charged him to the Kinge that he was one of the greatest trayters towardes his Majestie that was in his realme—accusinge him that he was thonely man that drew the draught and made the practyse for the bringinge in of the banished lordes out of Englande, contrary his Majesties knowledge and expectacion, and thonely concealer of that practyse from his Majestie, and that he would prove yt upon him. Whereupon the Master challenged the combate, and offred to trye yt with the sworde, that he most falsely accused him. And after other suche like speaches used by Sir William in chardginge the Master, and he answeringe therunto, the Kinge turned himself from theim, commaundinge that the Master should be comytted to the castell of Edenbroughe, which this gentleman credibly enformes me to be of trothe that he is alreadye in pryson in the castell at Edenbroughe."

The lords about the King at present, are Huntly, Claude Hamilton and Crawfurthe; and Rothes, Montrosse and Athell with others of that faction are looked for. There is a convention appointed for 10^th May, but doubtful if it holds.

"The said gentleman credibly informed me that there is a shippe comed from Collonell Steward, for one Nesbet a gentleman in the shippe belonginge to the collonell landed at Heymouth yesterday, who beinge of his acqueintance, told him that he had lettres from the collonell to the Kinge, and from the Kinge of Spaine, the Frenche Kinge and the Prince of Parma, and accordinge to the Kinges advertysementes to his master the collonell, of the state of Scotlande, he had used all diligence in makinge the same knowne to the Prince of Parma, with whom his master was in great creadyt; and the Prince had restored him to all his wiffes living againe. And that within twoe monethes his master the collonell would himself be with the kinge; at whose returne other newes would be knowne then weare yet." Berwick. Signed: Henry Woddryngton.

2¼ pp. Addressed. Indorsed.

511. Woddryngton to Walsingham. [April 30.]

I received the enclosed this day by the hands of a servant of M^r Roger Ashton, to be sent you with expedition. I am now further advertised that both Sir William Steward and the Master of Gray are "commytted" till the 10^th of next month, when the convention of the nobility is to be held, whereat the matter betwixt them is to be examined and determined. Meanwhile the King is making agreement betwixt his nobility. Berwick. Signed: Henry Woddryngton.

½ p. Addressed. Indorsed.

512. [Scrope] to Walsingham. [April.]

Since my return from my lord lieutenant at Newcastle and arrival here on Tuesday last, I sent his lordship such advertisements as I then had out of Scotland, asking him to impart them to you, which I doubt not he has done before this. Also on the return of my messenger sent to Scotland to learn the certainty of what I had told his lordship, I hear "for a truthe, that Maxwell hath been both proclaymed warden in the Kinges name, and hath somoned the contrie to be in readines upon 24 houres warning with viij dayes wictuall. And as I am crediblie advertised, hath allso sounded a dromme for the taking up of 100 horsemen and 100 footemen. . . . I have thought meete to give warninge to all my whole wardenry to stande upon good garde and be in readines for any occasion." I likewise hear on good credit "that upon a lettre writtin to the Kinge from James Stewarde (late the chauncellour) and delivered to the Kinge at Dalkeith, he hasten[ed] from thence upon Wensday laste into Edenbourough and intended to passe over the water to Faulkelande. The saide lettre was saide to discover some practise for the Kinges delivery into Englande, by some of his counsell presentlie with him . . . There wilbe shortelie a verie greate convention at S^t Andrewes. The Larde of Bonbarrowe is saide to be dispatched and sent from the Kinge into Denmarke. And yt is bruted that other messengers shalbe shortelie sent into other nations. . . . My lorde lieutenantes being at Newecasetell hath wrought diverse good effectes, by the good care and greate travayll" Ends thus abruptly.

1 p. Contemporary copy. Indorsed by Walsingham's clerk: "Advertisementes out of Scotland. Aprill 1587." Probably from Lord Scrope.