Border Papers volume 1: September 1592

768. Forster to Burghley. [Sept. 10.]

Enclosing news just received from Scotland. At my house nigh Alnwick. Signed: John Forster.

¼ p. Addressed. Indorsed.

Inclosed in the same:—

(News from Scotland.)

"Thair is thrie imbassadouris of Denmark daylie luikat for to arryve in this cuntrie. The effect of thair messag is yit unknawin, bot it is supponit thair coming is to crave the performance of thingis that was promeisit be contract to the Quenis Majestie. Fra this it is menit thai sall ryd to Ingland.

The Chancellar hes obtenit licens to depairt of this cuntrie, and his leving and possessiounis to be in the Kingis Majesteis protectioun. Thair is few knawis quhair he is at this tyme, for he is under greit feir of his lyf. His wyf and servandis ar in Edinburgh. It is supponit the Erle of Mar sall be chancellar.

The Kingis Majeste being mekill straitit with necessar effairis of this cuntrie, requyrit certaine nobill men to trawell for his releif, and quhatever thai did sould have place; of the quhilk number the Maister of Glamis was first nominat: and swa it appeiris he is in greitter credit nor he was in befoir.

The Wardane of the West Marche hes appoyntit ane raid of the forces within his wardanrie, to meit at Dumfreis the xxv day of this monethe with xv dayis victuallis, for the persuit of the outlawis and thair resettaris within that wardanrie.

It is supponit be mony that the Chancellor is presentlie in the West cuntrie, thinking to mak my lord Hammyltoun, Maxwell and utheris in that cuntrie his freindis and pairtie—and yit na certantie of this.

My lord Duik, my lord Hwme and thair haill freindis was in Calso on Monenday at evin last, for gaddering of the teindis of Calso and Sproustoun. Sir Robert Ker mening to mak stop, upone sum rycht as he allegit gifin to him befoir. Alwayis the matter is takin up, and ane servaud of his Majesteis appoyntit to gadder the teindis for baithe pairtteis, till fardar tryell be takin.

My lordis Duik and Hwme, come out of Calso on Twyzday to Jedburghe and be the way socht Hwnthill and sum uther places for the resset of my lord Bothwell or sum of his servandis, bot fand nane.

My lord Duik hes takin promeis of the Laird of Phairnherst, the Laird of Hunthill and the Proweist of Jedburghe, to be affoir his Majeste in counsell. (fn. 1) It is thocht thai sall be chargit for the resset of the Erlle Bothwell.

My lordis Duik and Hwme was in Macarstoun all Twysday at nycht. On Wedinsday at morne, my lord Duik raid to Dalkeithe—my lord Hwme to Dwnglas.

Gif the day appoynttit betuixt the Crownner and my lord of Spynie be not continewit, I beleif your lordship sall heir of uthir newis and alteratiounnis nor is yet knawin.

I heir nathing bot his Majeste is ever allyk bent in the Erlle Bothwelles contrair."

1½ pp. In a Scottish hand.

769. Lowther to Burghley. [Sept. 13.]

"Uppon the receipte of your lordshippes laste lettre (for which and your lordshippes grave advise to my selfe, I remaine with my best services wholly at your lordshippes devotion) I soughte to gett satisfaccion in the later pointe contayned in your lordshippes lettre, and have received for answere such as your lordship may perceive by the lettre (herewith inclosed) from Bothwell unto me in that behalfe. The which with th'other Scottes lettres unto me herewith also sent, I wholly comende and referre to your lordshippes view and consideracion. Myselfe attendinge such further direccion as heron shalbe thought meete to afoarde me." I have thought good to remind your lordship of the great want here of "caliver, speare, with bowes and arrowes," in case any sudden necessity for their use should happen. Carlisle. Signed: R. Lowther.

"This is Bothwelles answere for the roade at Faulkland and other attempes, beinge the cheife pointes of your lordshippes above mentioned lettre."

1 p. Addressed. Indorsed.

Inclosed in the forgoing:—

(1) (John Colvile to Lowther.)

"The prais and revard of humanite visdome and vertew, is werey commendabill and gret, bot the exercis tharof is werey tedius. The perfytest pilatis ar cheiflie burthenit in most perlus voyages, the lerintest advocattis in most difficill causes, the best phisitians hes communly most to do, and generally verteus men ar never sufferit to be idill. Your worship for this caus man patientlie indur th'exercesis that men of your disposition hes sustenit at all tymes heirtofor, and of your humanite I hoip ye will admit a distressit stranger to regret the pitifull estat of ane innocent nobill man, weill affectit in all lesum maneir to your estat and to your self in particular, as ye may understand moir cleirly by the informacion heirwyth inclosit, send unto your worschip by commandment of the said nobill man. Unto whom if your plesour be to schaw ony favour, yow sall conquis him to be your freind and brother, and me to be your servand in lesum maneir, in all tyme cumming. My conscience and dewite movit me prefer that estat befor all foren natiouns, for as thair is none qwhar we can haif so fre exercis of religion, so on th'other part hir Majestes benefites in the tyme of my last trubill, bindit me tharunto. I confes I wes unworthy of that favour and remains unhabill to requyit the smallest part tharof, bot I sall never be unthankfull, for no calamite sall caus me seik releif or remane in that societe qwhare onything salbe meanit to hir prejudice, and what I vant in habilite I sall God willing, supplie wytht a most deutifull and a sinceir affection to hir service. . . From (fn. 2) the xxv of August 1592." Signed: Jo. Colville.

1 p. Holograph. Addressed: "To the rycht worschipfull Schir Richert Lowder knight warden of the Vest Marches foranent Scotland." Indorsed.

(2) (Bothwell to Lowther.)

"Your discretioun and humanite reportit wnto me be sindry of my cuntrey men had maid me, whom no acquantance, to presum this muche as to request yow extend your favour upon ane distressit nobill man injustly persequuted at home and abrod, among yow traducit, and yit in all lesum maneir weill affectit to hir Majestie your soverane lady, to hir estat and to yourself in particular. My request is (so it be your plesour) that my lettres may be savlie presentit unto hir Majestie and to my lord Thesaurer. And to th'end your worschyp may be the moir incuragit so to do, I haif causit my werey familiar M^r Jo. Colvile, ane faythfull frend and veilvillar to that estate as weill as unto me, to sett down in generall sum notes concerning my innocence in the cheif pointis wharin I am sklauderit, togidder withe suche matteris as is to be impertit wnto hir Majestie, qwhiche salbe moir specially oppinnit wp by sum of my awin (if so be hir plesour) at suche place and tyme as scho shall apoint . . . Fro (fn. 2) the xxv of August 1592. Signed: Your worschips lifulli to be usit, Bothuell.

1 p. Written by Colville. Addressed as No. 1. Indorsed.

(3) (Bothwell to Lowther.)

"It had bein gevin me from yow to understand how cairfull your counsale is to knaw my trew meaning concerning the King my soverane, and how I may excus my lait cumming to Fakland as nocht to appeir of intention to craif his Majestes lyif. The excus is easy, for the matter of the self is cleir, and all probabilite dothe yeild sufficient argumentis to my advantage. First, my deutifull respect to my soverane and cheif: his gracius favour till now of lait most bountifullie bestowit: nixt to succeid in his place I can nocht, and the favour of suche as hopis for the same is doutfull: his preservacion then is my swirtie and his dethe must nedis import my decay, and who can be so mad as willinglie to work his awin destruction? Bot to spek moir pertinently, what I haif interprysit hathe nocht bein be me allone for my particular attemptit, bot the same wes settellit and concludit by the speciallis of the nobilite upon urgent occasions: as his Majestis preservation, generall benefit of the hoill realme, and our awin savteis, in respect the favorites had wrocht agans ws suche indigniteis as our better affected myndis then thairs towardis his Majeste culd nocht indure, for we socht the libertie and quietnes of our prince and estate; thai finding no profeit bot be fisching in drumly watteris, hes blawin the belleis of discord continually halding his Majeste occupyit on sum one or other of the vorthiest of his subjectis, meaning tharby no thing bot to incres thair bas condition be our decay—for preventing heirof we thocht expedient to use the self same remeid whiche our progenitouris heirtofor and we our selves of lait wyth the rest of the best affectit subjectis wythin this realme, wer forcit to use. The Brig of Lawder of awld, and the Roidis of Ruthven, Sanctt Andros and Stirling, ar recent exemples: whiche from our interpryis differit nuthing bot in succes. The custom of our cuntrey is to esteme thame tratouris that tynes the feild, and quharsoevir guid fortown inclyns, the voice and favour of the pepill adheris tharunto. So our laufull and most just interpryis growndit upon the respectis forsaid, is condemnit nocht so muche of iniquite as of unhappy event. Bot I hoip no indifferent persone will misconstrue our intencions tharin, for prasit be God, the principallis of ws is all yit levand. Thocht ane part of ws be captyve, yit no thing can be fund in thame meriting suche reproche and sklander, and suche of ws as is fre, sall by our actions and guid behaviour manifest our innocence in that point to the hoill vorld. And if evir it sall pleis God we be restorit to our awin places about his Majeste, we sall proif moir cairfull of his honour and weiltair, moir confortabill to the perturbit estat, and moir affectionat to th'amitie betuix the two crownes, nor ever our enemeis had bein. And all theis pointis salbe moir strenthenit be ws in one yeir then our evillaris culd haif done in all thair lyftyme. . . From Edenbrugh this 9 of September 1592." Signed: Bothuell.

"Sen my cumming from your bordour I am advertesit that one of the princypallis of this court is decoverit to be a practeser for the Leage, and hes wtteritt him self to be suche a one, persuading otheris to his opinion. Bot heirof yow salbe moir specially informit by Spott or at my awn return. Report this for a treuthe."

2 pp. Written by Colville. Addressed as No. 1. Indorsed.

770. Woddryngton to Burghley. [Sept. 11.]

"Wheras the piere at the haven mouthe, the which by viewe therof taken, hath done great good to the haven, for that it hath caryed awaye a mightie deale of sande owt of the ryver, which nowe beinge owt, doth all rest on the backside of the piere next unto the sea, so as yt can not come in agayne (wheras before, as one tyde forced yt owt, another brought it in againe, and so chokt up the haven mouthe, which is nowe cleare),—is in great decay and broken, the which for necessities cause if it be not amended before the winter stormes do come, which are now at hand, it wold have bene caryed quyte away, stones, timber, and all (as by the survey therof taken and herewith sent to your honour wyll appeare), I have caused it to be taken in hand to be amendid for the better stay of the same. In like sorte the bridge over Twede is in such ruyne and decaye, that for the tyme, I have for the stay of the same, set some worckmen in hand with yt. But . . . ther must nedes further order be gyven for the mending therof, or els yt can not stand another yeare." Not withstanding the present repairs, if any great storm happens this winter, it is very doubtful that it will fall. There is also a tower or platform in the castle "torne and riven" from the foundation to the top, which must be repaired or it will lay open all that side of the castle towards Scotland. I have sent your lordship a survey of these and other decays, referring the same to your consideration. There is nothing set down but what is "of necessytye." Berwick. Signed: Henry Woddryngton.

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

771. Lowther to Burghley. [Sept. 17.]

Your letter of the 9^th arrived today, and I acquaint you of the time of receipt that you may consider the diligence of the posts. Agreeably to your directions, I shall show such favour as I can to the Chancellor if he come in here, and see to M^r Orphures matter of the bill laid upon him for the roade at Falkland. I think it true that the Chancellor stands yet in the King's favour as your lordship has been told, and at this present he has employed the provost of Clanclowden with the King, by whose means if he can return to court with safety, he will leave these parts. Yet some think he will be impeached by those at court, even if he has the king's "furtherance" to return. It is certain he has lain at Dunlangrick these eight days, and that the laird of Spott is with him yesterday or this day from Bothwell, "to temper some kynde course betwixt Bothwell and him." The friendship between the chancellor and the provost of Clanclouden is very strong, and cannot be broken"—for all the Dowglasses woulde draw Glenclowden from the chancellour, but they cannot. "I praye your lordship to wryte a straite and sherpe letter unto me, comaunding me to laye the watches and cause straite water watches and plumpe watches to be duely kepte within this wardenry, especially in Gilsland and Buecastell." Carlisle. Signed: R. Lowther.

"The Lord Maxwell and the cheife barrons in this his office do not well agree, they caryinge no frendly affeccions towardes him."

1 p. Addressed. Indorsed.

772. Lowther to Burghley. [Sept. 18.]

"It appeareth that accordinge to my former lettres to your lordship the Chancellour hath licence to leave the courte and countrey. Yf he enter at these partes, I shall observe your lordshipes direccion for well intreatinge of him. All others, for avoydinge of trouble to your lordship I referre to the viewe of the lettre herewith inclosed." Carlisle. Signed: R. Lowther.

I humbly pray your lordship to send me your warrant to the receiver "for suche fee as shall please her Majesty by your lordshipes good meanes, to bestowe uppon me."

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

773. Lowther to Burghley. [Sept. 28.]

'The provoste of Glanclouden come from the courte to his owne house uppon Frydaye laste in the nighte. The Lord Chauncellor shoulde have mett him at Greenelaw on Teusdaye followinge, but it is thoughte he helde not th'appointement. Agreable with my laste (this morninge sent towardes your lordship) the Kinge was expected at Peebles on Tuesday laste: but the younge larde of Tynnell, deputie warden (who went forwardes towarde the Kinge on Sondaye laste) returninge from thence to Dunfreis, on Tuesdaie before noone in greate haste, broughte comaundement from the Kinge to the warden to be in redynes uppon an howeres warninge to repaire unto the kinge with the wholl forces of his wardenry. Wheruppon he hath both made proclamacion of the same, and also sent oute his missyves to the borowes to give notice of the kinges pleasure therin." Not knowing how this may end, I beg your lordship's direction how to use the force here to prevent "unlooked for inconveniences," or await "such profitable services" as her Majesty may appoint.

"By lettres from her Majesties ambassadour in Scotland, dated the 18^th hereof, he wryteth unto me that Maxwell had him informed by lettres, that Bothwell was not onelye receipted emongst divers of the Grames on this English border, but also received and entertained in this towne on the viij^th of this moneth (beinge the faire daye for this cittie) and at night was conveyed oute of the towne by Thomas Carleton—which lettre of informacion Maxwell sent unto the king, and the Kinge sent the same to the English ambassadour, who sending the coppie thereof unto me, prayed me so certenlie to advertise him of the trueth thereof, as mighte leade his course for the kinges satisfaccion." I have answered, as the truth is, that the story is "surmised and most false—Thomas Carleton protestinge that he never saw Bothwell with his eyes knowinge him from another man." He has offered to prove this before the king if required. As to Bothwell's reset with the Grames, I have replied that I have spoken with none of them "by reason of the greate waters and flouds." Carlisle. Signed: R. Lowther.

1 p. Addressed. Indorsed.

774. The Treasurer of Berwick. Michaelmas.

Declaration as to his fees for 3 years ended at Michaelmas 1592.

Extracts.

"The third year endinge at Mychaelmas 1592 was payd by your honors apointment to M^r Treasurer for the relevinge of M^r Raff Bowes forthe of prison."

1 p. Official hand. Indorsed.