Border Papers volume 1: May 1587

513. Carvyle to Walsingham. [May 12.]

"Synce the receyte of your last letter of the fourthe of this instante, which I receyved the nynthe, and presently roade awaye with the pacquett and delivered the same to thandes of M^r Richarde Dowglas; uppon the delivery wherof I understand the Kinge was very glad to here that a Frenche ambassadour sholde come in to Scotlande. The x^th of this moneth the Master of Gray sent to the Kinge, requestinge to have secrete conferrence with hym, which was graunted, and presently thereuppon he was broughte downe from the castle to the pallace betwixt one and twwo of the clock in the after noane, guarded with the provohoste and fiftie shott; att the same tyme Sir William Steward was likewise brought downe after hym, guarded with two baylifes and fiftie halberd bearers and shotte together. The Master of Gray by the space of one hower, had talke with the Kinge, and shortly after, the Kinge and Councell sat downe together; and the Master and Sir William Steward were broughte before them, where the said Sir William did accuse the Master for Frenche affayers, for his pretence to kill the Secretary of Scotland as he showlde come towardes Edenbroughe from a howse of his calleed Lawther. Sir William did aledge that the Lorde Clawde Hambleton and thErle of Huntley showlde be acquaynted with the Master in those causes—for profe and affirmacion wherof he caused one George Steward servaunte to the Master of Casselles, to be brought in, who utterly denayed the knowledge of any suche matter, and offred to fighte with Sir William in the contrary. ThErle Huntley and the Lorde Clawde, beinge called, did likwise denye the knowledge of any suche matter; so as Sir William his accusation takes no effect, althoughe it be thoughte to be procured by the Kinge. Except the Master of Gray hathe uttered any thinge to the Kinge which sholde be hurtefull to hym selfe, he is in no daunger, for in the tyme of his conferrence with the Kynge, Sir Robert Melven and M^r Keithe were bothe called, as it is thoughts, to accuse hym of some Englishe matters. So it was nyne howers att nighte or they were sent from the courte in like maner backe ageyne to the castle, guarded as they came downe. The Master of Gray was the next day commaunded to be broughte to the courte ageyne before the Kinge and his Cowncell, at which tyme I came awaye. And even then a frend of myne in the courte sent me worde that the Abbie of Dunfermylane which was the Masters, was geven to the Earle of Huntley. What the seqwell of all these thinges will come, to your honour and M^r Archibald wilbe advertised within two or three dayes. The convention, notwithstandinge these trobles, holdes, and began the x^th of this moneth, and most of the nobilitie are assembled, savinge thErele of Atholl, who came no further then Saint Johnstons, because he was hurt with a fawle of his horse. ThErle Auguse was not come nor wolde not come, for that it was said the Kinge wolde take Dalkeith from hym, and geve hym a howse in lue therof, which was thErle of Mortons called Draffen. It is thoughte the Kinge hathe not forgot the last roade of Sterlinge. As for Anthoney Tirrell, I inquired for hym, and thre dayes before my comyuge into Scotland, he was shipped and sailed towardes Amsterdame, and therfore I have retorned my Lorde Treasurours letter back agayne to your honour. Browne (fn. 1) can do no good with the keyes that I delivered hym; but if it please your honour to appoynte any tyme when I shall go in to fetche hym and the casketes boathe, I am readie, and so is he, but then I must come no more in Scotlande. Uppon Sonday last att afternone, the Kinge and Curcelles and conferrence together in the garden thre howers." Berwick. Signed: Robart Carvyle.

2 pp. Addressed. Indorsed.

514. Forster to Walsingham. [May 13.]

I enclose the warden of Scotland's letter, whereby you will understand the late disorder committed here by Liddisdale, Easdale, Ewesdale, and some of West Tevidale, on which he has ridden to the King and Council, hoping to get the same reformed. The committers have not got much advantage, for I have 4 of their men in prison, while they took away 2 men and 2 boys, with little goods or cattle. It is very necessary to lay the 50 men at Harbottle to defend the country, till I see what the King and Council will do. The dearth of corn is so great here, that a man cannot be victualled under 12d. a day, and I desire to know her Majesty's pleasure therein. At my house nigh Alnwick. Signed: John Forster.

Postscript.—While writing, I hear that my Lords of Angus and Bothwell have warned all the lairds and gentlemen of Teviotdale to appear before the King with speed.

1 p. Addressed. Indorsed.

Inclosed in the above:—

(Cesfurde to Forster.)

"Understanding that thir oppin attemptatis and incursis committitt be Liddesdaill is lyklie to caus the haill Bordouris brek, gif spedie remeid be nocht provyditt, and thairfoir I have takin occasioun to ryde in to his Majestie and counsaill, quhair I trust to gett sum solide ordour takin with thame. And for this caus man continew the metingis onelie viij dayis, quhilk is the xxiij and xxiiij of Maii instant. This baldnes that Liddisdaill hes takin, appearis to me to cum be the persuasioun of sum of Teviotdaill quhay invyis your lordschipis estaitt and myne, and making of redres for the attemptatis already committitt. . . Frome Kelso the xij of Maij 1587." Signed: Cesfurde.

½ p. Addressed. Indorsed. Wafer signet as before.

515. Sir Cuthbert Collingwood to Walsingham. [May 21.]

"Pleasithe your honor to be advertissed that Robart Car and Adame Collingwoode two of my alliances, haithe convayed of laytt throwe Northumberland sundrie Jesuytes and semanary prestes into Scotland, and was at Edenbrughe with Bost the Iingleshe Jesuyte, att the last convencion, whar they met with sundrie Scotes Jesuites—as Gordon, Haye, and Durye—and brings bak thar lettres to thar frends in Ingland. Thar ar two Ingleshe Jesuites aryved at Aberden in Scotland sence Easter last, and from thence they ar comed to the Lard of Fentre house. They brought letters from Godfray Fulgem to his frends in Darbeshire, the better to aquaynt tham thar. The Kinge of Scotland haith promysed lybertie of conscience to strangars within his countre, notwithstandinge his proclamacion; so much was affermed me by by one of the best Protestantes in Scotland, and a curteor. The Papest prestes ar glad of the disgrayse of the Master Graye, and of the generall agrement of the noblelyte of Scotland; they hope it will shortly advance thar causes.

For God sayk, remember the pitefull complaynt and lamentable estayt of this ruinose and waysted cuntre, who at this instant is put in suche feare by meanes of thre day forayes which the thewes of Scotland ran within the Mydle Marche sence the vj of May instant, besid other thre forayes that was run sence Christmas last, and no redresse nor justice had for anye [of] tham—that all men goods are fled furthe of the hie lands (Syr John Forster goods only eccepted). Thar was four Elwoods of Leddesdall tayken at one of the forrayes that ran the ix of May instant (wharin thar was four hundreth men) and brought befor Sir John Forster—but they ar lyk to escape unpuneshed, les it shuld break the baund of kyndnes betwext hime and the Elwoods of Leddesdall, extant under all thar handes. If any Ingleshe man offend any fugytywe or theff off Ledesdall, he is stryght delyveryd for dubles and trebles, if he dwell within the Mydle March. Sundry of my nyghbors of the borders within the Mydle March, ar forced to lewe dwellinge of the borders, and we that yet remayne must folloue shortly after, if timly reformacion be not bad and spedely applyed. Thus humblye cravinge perdone for interprisinge to trouble your honor with this ruged hand and rud matters." Eslington. Signed: Cuthb^t Collingwood.

1 p. Holograph. Addressed. Indorsed by Walsingham. Signet gone.

516. Carvylle to Walsingham. [May 29.]

I received your letter dated the 17^th instant, with a pacquet therein addressed to the Secretary of Scotland, which reached my hands on the 22^d at night. I sent it off the next morning early, but as yet have no answer. "I have not ageyne spoken with Robert Carr, but this daye I have sent hym worde to mete me; and uppon conferrence with hym, your honour shalbe advertised. And nowe as touchinge the present state of Scotlande and newes from thence—I can not so well sertefie, as it is written to M^r Archibalde to ymparte unto your honour, by the letters of the Larde of Lesterick, which I receyved this day att five att afternoane. And he willed me by worde of mowthe, to procure your honour to sende thaunswer with expedition. Uppon Thursday laste (fn. 2) the Kinge went to the Toalboathe accompanyed with the Earle Bothwell, and there caused a decree to passe for thabbie of Coldingham in Bothwell his behalf; and this day an officer of armes came to Coldingham to make the Kinges pleasure knowen, to remove the Priour. The Scotishe embassadours which are to go for Denmarck, have theire dispatche, and staye only for a wynde. The Kinge hathe sent for thErle Atholl, to accorde the Earle Huntley and hym, as well as the rest. Captyne James Stewarde who was Earle of Arron, was comaunded from the Kinge to enter into warde to the castle of Lithco, and there to remayne duringe his Majesties pleasure with his ordenary trayne. But he disobeyed the Kinges comaundyment, and wrate unto the Kinge, that synce the Kinges goinge to Donfriese, what with feare of his life, Gods visitation by sicknes and povertie, he was not hable to maynteyne hym selfe in warde. And thereuppon the Kinge wrate uppon the same letter, that he should shift for hym self, and gave the letter to the Secretary." Berwick. Signed: Robart Carvylle.

1 p. Addressed. Indorsed.