Elizabeth: May 1570, 16-31

Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Elizabeth, Volume 9, 1569-1571. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1874.

This free content was digitised by double rekeying. All rights reserved.

'Elizabeth: May 1570, 16-31', in Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Elizabeth, Volume 9, 1569-1571, (London, 1874) pp. 249-259. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/foreign/vol9/pp249-259 [accessed 25 March 2024]

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

May 1570, 16-31

May 16. 926. Thomas Randolph to Cecil.
Sends a book which he has received out of Scotland. Hears that the printer is like to smart for the printing.— Berwick, 16 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd. P. ¼.
May 16. 927. The Commendator of Dunfermline to Cecil.
Came hither on the 15th inst. with instructions from the nobility of the King of Scotland's council, which he would be glad to confer upon with him at such time as he shall think expedient.—London, 16 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd., with seal. P. ¼.
May 16. 928. The French Ambassador to Cecil.
Thanks him for advertising him of the good turn which the Queen of Scots' affairs have taken through the goodness of Her Majesty, and which he does not doubt was aided by his counsel. Desires if he has received any news out of France that he will communicate it to him. Also that he will attend to the complaints of certain of his master's subjects, which he forwards.—London, 16 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd., with seal. Fr. P. ½.
May 17. 929. Sir Arthur Champernoun to Cecil.
By letters from France he learns that the King has granted the demands of the Queen of Navarre's deputies, but touching the articles and conditions of peace nothing is yet known. The French King is going to St. Malo and Brest.—Dartington, 17 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd. P. 1.
May 17. 930. The Earl of Lennox to Cecil.
The King's rebels, their adversaries, would not tarry their coming at Glasgow, but departed to their great shame, and loss of a good number of their soldiers and captains slain and hurt out of the castle. They mind this night to be at Glas gow. Fears that he cannot continue to serve Her Majesty any time in this country without the help of some money.— Stirling, 17 May. Signed.
Add. Endd. P. ¾.
May 17. 931. The Earl of Sussex to the Queen.
Gives a summary of his negociations with the Lairds of Grange and Lethington, and the Lords of the Queen of Scots' party, whereby it appears that though they will agree to disarm if the other party do the like, and to put from them the Queen of England's rebels, they refused to deal with her in any matter touching their Queen, or to resist the coming of the French, or to send hostages into England. Has sent the marshal with forces at the request of the Lords of the King's party. Lethington uses ill offices to Her Majesty, and shows himself ingrate in word and deed. He abuses many with two persuasions, the one that the French aid will presently come, and the other that he knows all the Queen of England's secret intentions and dealings. He will be a perilous instrument against her in all he may. This day the whole power that the Earl of Morton and his side can make meet at Stirling, and go to-morrow with the Marshal to raise the siege at Glasgow. Sends a letter which he has received from the Lords of her party.—Berwick, 17 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd. Pp. 3¼.
May 16. 932. The Earls of Lennox, Morton, and others to the Earl of Sussex.
1. Have communicated with his servant Richard Wrothe and heard his instructions, and march forward to-day. Point out how hurtful the holding of the castle of Dumbarton has been to the quietness of the whole isle, being the receptacle of the rebels of both the realms, and being a place for strangers to land at. Desire him to let the Queen and her council understand this.
2. P.S.—Promise their assistance in case the Queen should command the siege of Dumbarton.—Edinburgh, 16 May 1570. Signed by Lennox, Morton, and other Lords of their party.
Add. Endd. P. 1. Enclosure.
May 17. 933. The Earl of Sussex to Cecil.
Detests Lethington as a traitor. Is assured by noblemen that he has said that he will make the Queen's Majesty "sytt on her tayle and whyne," a vile speech for such a varlet, and yet he gives out that she has written within ten days more gentle and loving letters to him than ever she did, and that he knows the bottom of her secrets. If he be so privy to those secrets the Queen is in a hard state.—Berwick, 17 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd. P. 1.
May 17. 934. The Laird of Lethington to Cecil.
Part of the English forces have come to this town and joined with five or six lords to suppress the rest. Marvels that the Queen of England is advised to cast off the amity of all Scotland for the pleasure of a few who cannot at length serve her turn in anything. All the Scotchmen that are in their company has not made them 200 horse. The other Lords are constrained to sue for foreign aid. This faction that aspires to rule without reason throws the whole burden upon him, and goes about to make him odious in England, yet he has dealt so plainly with England by his letters to the Earl of Leicester that they have cause to judge well of him. Fears that Mr. Randolph has been an evil instrument, and cannot believe that the Queen would have taken the course she runs if she had been truly informed of the state here, as he went about to do in his letters to Leicester.— Edinburgh Castle, 17 May 1570.
Copy. Endd. P. 1.
May 18. 935. Queen Elizabeth to the Czar of Muscovy.
Has received his letters and expresses her willingness to enter into a league offensive and defensive with him. Also if through any mishap he should be driven to change his country she promises him free ingress and egress to and from England, and will appoint a fit place where he may remain as long as he likes at his own charges.
Draft. Endd. Pp. 2.
936. Another copy of the above. — Hampton Court, 18 May 1570.
Draft corrected by Cecil. Pp. 3¼.
May 18. 937. The Earl of Sussex to Cecil.
Has received advertisement from the Marshal that the Duke and his company left the siege at Glasgow as soon as they understood that he had set forth out of Edinburgh. Every man has gone to his own dwelling. They have gathered a few shot into Draffin, a strong house of the Duke's, but situate in a hole so that it is commanded on every part. Desires him to report the premises to the Queen that she may see that her party in Scotland is not wholly under foot. Lethington finds great fault with the taking of Home Castle. The Duke and his company lost two of their chiefest captains at Glasgow.—Berwick, 18 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd. P. 1.
May 18. 938. The Privy Council to Lord Cobham.
The Spanish Ambassador having made grievous complaint that certain pirates have seized three hulks upon the seas and taken two of them into Dover, he is directed to speedily apprehend the said pirates and to cause the hulks and goods to be put under sure custody by inventory.
Draft, corrected by Cecil. Endd.: 18 May 1570. Pp. 1½.
May 19. 939. Sir Henry Norris to Cecil.
Understanding that the French King was following his pastime in Britanny, he sent Daniel Rogers thither to advertise their proceedings, and to understand where he might have audience. Can write no more concerning the treaty of peace. The Marshal Cosse is gone from Orleans with 2,000 horse and 4,000 French footmen. The Admiral's greatest force is in Dauphigne. The Bishop of Ross being at liberty and having so troublesome a head, thinks it were well for Her Majesty's quietness to rid him the country. The Queen of Scots treasurer has required him to forward 4,000 crowns to his mistress. Has refused on account of its being so great a sum. Has forwarded 1,000. Desires to know whether he has done right.—Paris, 19 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd., with seal. Part in cipher. Pp. 12/3.
May 20. 940. The Commendator of Dunfermline to Cecil.
Desires him to hold the Queen in remembrance for the payment of the 200 harquebussiers who served the late Regent and who now serve the King, which extends to the sum of 2,000l. If they get not hastily payment they are able to serve the adverse party. In times coming they shall be counted in the number of the 1,000 footmen desired in his memorial.—Kingston, 20 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd. P. ⅓.
May 21. 941. War in Grenada.
Letter from the camp of Don John of Austria containing information respecting the progress of the war against the Moriscos.—21 May 1570.
Endd. Span. Pp. 12/3.
May 21. 942. Audience of the French Ambassador.
The French Ambassador desired the Queen in his master's name to withdraw her forces from Scotland, and also said that though he knew the Queen of England's intention of restoring the Queen of Scots, yet seeing her affairs go from bad to worse he began to take the delays as manifest refusals. Also that no one could find it strange that he took this matter so much to heart, the friendship of the Queen of England being of so much consequence to him, and the defence and protection of the Queen of Scots touching his honour. The Queen after replying to the Ambassador on the spot, caused the Lords of her Council to answer on the following day that she thought that in order to satisfy the King's wishes he should send a gentleman of rank into Scotland to the Lords of the Queen of Scots' party to desire them to surrender the English fugitives or at least to abandon them, in which case the Queen would be content to retire her forces from Scotland, provided that a mutual disarmament was agreed upon between both parties in that kingdom. The Queen also promises to proceed with all diligence in the matter of the restoration of the Queen of Scots. The Ambassador is required to write to his master to refrain from sending forces into Scotland.—21 May 1570.
Endd. Fr. Pp. 1½.
943. Another copy, dated 22 May 1570.
Endd. Fr. Pp. 1½.
May 22. 944. The Queen to the Earl of Sussex.
Though she cannot mislike to have that party that depended upon her aided and maintained from ruin, yet she could have wished that her forces should not in such sort have entered so far within the country, for thereby she perceives by the French Ambassador that the King, his master, will accelerate his succours into Scotland, and then a kind of war will fall out betwixt him and her. Though she cannot precisely direct him to revoke her forces from Glasgow, yet she plainly gives him to understand that she means not that they should go to Dumbarton or any further into that realm. Intends to treat again this day with the French Ambassador to devise how he can procure a disarming and the delivery of her rebels, which if he will take upon him Sussex will have a direct occasion to retire her forces.
Draft in Cecil's writing. Endd. Pp. 1⅓.
May 22. 945. The Earl of Sussex to Cecil.
Forwards a letter which he has received from the Earl of Morton and his company. Has not heard from the Marshal since his coming to Glasgow. The ordinary charges here be about 6,000l. the month.—Berwick, 22 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd. P. 1.
May 18. 946. The Earls of Lennox, Morton, and others to the Earl of Sussex.
The enemies of quietness being now dissipated and sundered they will procure by all means that neither shall they have commodity to assemble, nor Frenchmen or other strangers have access to them. Advise that Dumbarton should be beseiged by the forces under Drury; with whom they promise to concur in whatsoever he shall do, and desire that ordnance may be sent by sea to Stirling.—Stirling, 18 May 1570. Signed by Lennox, Morton, and the other Lords of their party.
Add. P. 1. Enclosure.
May 19. 947. The Earl of Sussex to the Earls of Morton, Mar, &c.
Has received their letter for the sending certain great ordnance to Stirling for the battering of Dumbarton Castle, and would be very glad to satisfy their request, but cannot well do so before he knows the Queen's pleasure. Finds it also a hard matter upon such a sudden to send forth all matters appertaining to such an enterprise as engines and other warlike necessaries and powder. Would be loath to attempt the matter without a sufficient number of great pieces, which upon a sudden can hardly be done.—Berwick, 19 May 1570.
Copy. P. 1. Enclosure.
May 22. 948. Charles IX. to Queen Elizabeth.
Requiring redress for two of his subjects whose vessels have been seized by the English. — Ploermel, 22 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd. Fr. Broadside.
May 22. 949. The French Ambassador to Cecil.
Will come to the Court, according to Cecil's direction, at 2 p.m. this day.—London, 22 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd., with seal. Fr. P. ¼.
May 23. 950. The Queen to Sir Henry Norris.
1. Advertises him at length of the late negotiations with the French Ambassador for the withdrawal of her forces from Scotland, and the restitution of the Queen of Scots to her estate; also of her answer which she desires him to communicate to the French King.
2. The principal scope he is to bear in mind is by all means possible to induce the said King to forbear sending any forces into Scotland.
Draft, corrected by Cecil, and partly in his handwriting. Endd. Pp. 7¾.
May 23. 951. Christopher Duke of Mecklinburg to the Queen.
Desires that she will bestow some annual pension upon him as the Papists are taking many of the neighbouring princes into their pay.—Gudebusch, 23 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd. Lat. Pp. 1¼.
May 24. 952. Sir Henry Norris to Cecil.
The bearer coming from the Admiral being apprehended for safety of his life, broke the letters which were sent to divers, reserving but one sent to the Cardinal of Chatillon, written on a linen cloth in cipher. The King is at Mont St. Michel, where he intends to keep the Feast of Corpus Christi. Has sent to know whether he shall repair there for audience. Gives the movements of the Princes and the Admiral. Encloses a letter from the Cardinal of Lorraine to one of his dear friends. Begs that he will be good to Mr. Huddlestone that he may procure the renewal of the lease of a certain farm.—Paris, 24 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd., with seal. P. 1.
May 4. 953. The Cardinal of Lorraine to—.
As to the peace dicessum est re infecta, which raises their hopes. There is an assembly of great persons where all will speak freely. The terms granted are certain towns as cities of refuge, but not restitution of offices. The haut justiciers and tenants of fiefs de haubert may have free exercise of religion in their own houses but nowhere else. They demand six weeks for deliberation.—Chateau Briant, 4 May 1570.
Copy. Fr. P. ½.Enclosure.
May 24. 954. The Earl of Sussex to Cecil.
Forwards letters from the Earl of Morton and the rest to the Commendator of Dunfermline. There is no force levied in any part of the realm at this present against such as pursue the Queen's rebels. They hear only in words that the French be presently looked for.—Berwick, 24 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd. P. ½.
May 26. 955. The Earl of Sussex to Cecil.
Sends a note from the Treasurer, wherein he will find that the Queen has been charged with 140 horsemen more than the 1,000 appointed. The certainty of this being now known to him, he has taken order for the discharge thereof to the ordinary numbers. The Marshal is upon his return to Edinburgh. There is no man in Scotland who raises head against him.—Berwick, 26 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd. P. 2/3.
May 26. 956. Sir Valentine Browne to Cecil.
Sends herewith a brief collection of the charges as well of the army since the 1st of April, as also of sundry supplies of horsemen and footmen laid upon the Borders at several days and times during the winter. Prays him to be a means to enable him to discharge his endebtedness for the provisions bought in London, so that he may trusted hereafter.—Berwick, 26 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd. P. 2/3.
May 26. 957. Zacharias Vhelingus to Cecil.
Informs him of the strong desire of his master Duke Christopher of Mechlinburg to serve the Protestant cause, and suggests that he should receive an annual pension from the Queen of England.—Lubeck, 26 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd., with seal. Lat. Pp. 2¼.
May 27. 958. Sir Henry Norris to Cecil.
Has not yet received answer touching his audience, but trusts that it will be imputed to the incommodity of the time rather than to his own default. There are joined with the Marshal de Cossé, 8,000 Swiss of a new levy. He has besides 4,000 French footmen and 30 companies of men-at-arms, and his meaning is to join with M. D'Anville, and then essay the fortune of battle. The Admiral is at Montbrisson in Auverne. The quarrel betwixt D'Anville and Monluc is rather increased, Monluc having again with most spiteful words replied upon D'Anville's letter.—Paris, 27 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd., with seal. P. 1.
May 27. 959. M. De Lumbres to Cecil.
Complains of the arrest of one of the Prince of Orange's captains, as the state of war has been recognised by many Kings and Princes. If the captures made under colour of this state of war are to be considered thefts there will be no security for any of them, as their battles and other exploits of arms must be regarded as murders and assassinations.— London, 27 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd., with seal. Fr. Pp. 12/3.
May 28. 960. The Earl of Sussex to Cecil.
Knows not what may move the Queen to wish that her forces had not entered so far into Scotland, when it is manifest that if they had not so done her party had been suppressed, and all Scotland had been presently French. If the French do but brag of sending a force into Scotland they have missed their mark, and if they intend it indeed it is grounded upon a longer practice than can be gathered since his sending the Queen's forces thither, which could not be known to the King when his ambassador used that speech to Her Majesty. The Earls of Lennox and Glencairn and Lord Semple brought to Glasgow 4,000 horse and foot, well appointed, after the manner of Scotland, The other noblemen were a company of chosen men and of a great number, so that they thought themselves of sufficient force to give battle to any power the adverse party could make.—Berwick, 28 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd. Pp. 2¾.
May 29. 961. M. De Lumbres to Cecil.
Sent two gentlemen to the Privy Council to desire the release of M. de Schrouville, one of the Prince of Orange's captains, who is unjustly detained in prison at the suit of a certain Spaniard. As owing to the absence of the greater part of the Council the request was not presented, he desires to know when he may see Cecil at his house about this matter.—Ogton, 29 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd., with seal. Fr. P. ½.
May 30. 962. The Earl of Lennox to Cecil.
Commends the behaviour of Sir William Drury with the captains and soldiers under his charge. Refers him to the bearer for his proceedings and for the late accident which has chanced by the taking of the Lord Semple, whom they intend to remove to Dumbarton, but he trusts that they shall be visited by the way.—Glasgow, 30 May. Signed.
Add. Endd. P. ¾.
May 30. 963. The Earl of Morton to the Commendator of Dunfermline.
Perceiving by his letter of the 23d from Kingston that he looks for no full answer from the Queen and Council till they have word of their proceedings in Scotland, he sends him an account of what has passed since the coming of the English army. The Duke, with the rest of that faction, departed from the siege of Glasgow Castle, having lost 30 slain. Informs him of the different places they have dispersed to. The Lords of the King's party have appointed with all the gentlemen of Clydesdale who have promised to serve the King, to send in pledges to that effect. Have won the castle of Hamilton, and burnt it, together with the Duke's palace and town of Hamilton, with a great part of the Hamilton's houses, and never saw man in all this time to offer a stroke in their contrary, howbeit their forays came oftentimes ten miles abroad. Whereas Lethington told the Marshal of Berwick that they could not make 200 men to accompany them, they mustered near Glasgow to the number of 4,000 foot and horse, and he thinks there were no fewer, all gentlemen and householders, who remained in Glasgow. If the General might tarry any longer space with them he thinks the greatest part of all Scotland should be recovered to the King's obedience, and bind themselves to keep the peace between the two realms. The town of Edinburgh made a muster at the same time to the number of 1,500 men, well accoutred in armour, besides as many more servants and prentices who were in the town. They have been sworn, every man in particular, to the King's obedience and service, and promised that they will none of them procure the loosing of the arrest and stay of ships and goods in France and the Low Countries at the Queen of Scots' or her Ambassador's hands. The Duke's houses of Kinneil and Linlithgow are demolished by powder. At his special request the town of Linlithgow is saved, for the which they have given pledges for being in the Queen of England's will, for the reset of her rebels, and promised that none of them shall be received in the town.—Edinburgh, 30 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd. Pp. 2½.
May 31. 964. The Queen to the Earl of Sussex.
Whereas of long time great suits and labours have been made to her to come to some appointment with the Queen of Scots for her liberty and restitution, and large offers have been made in her own name, and those of the Kings of France and Spain, to reduce which into more certainty she has required license to send into Scotland to procure some of her nobility to repair into England to treat of her causes, she has assented thereunto. Means to provide for the surety of the young Prince and the nobility professing obedience to him, and is desirous to have their opinions therein, and has secretly opened her mind to the Commendator of Dunfermline, who has required her to cause the same to be from herself some other way opened to the nobility from whom he was sent. She therefore desires that either Randolph or himself will impart this to the said nobility, with a full assurance from her on the honour of a prince that she will in no wise accord with the said Queen without good assurance for all their sureties, and require them to send some one to her fully instructed, and that in the meantime they cease from all hostility, and if any attempt is made against them she will assist them. Leaves the manner of opening this matter to him as a thing that will much discomfort them if it be not very warily handled, though she knows that some other princes respecting only worldly policy would otherwise deal herein and not lose the opportunity. The charges of her army being very great, she thinks good that he shall in some secret and indirect sort diminish them by licensing some to depart, and cassing others so that no open notice be given abroad of the same.
Draft in Cecil's writing. Endd.: 31 May 1570. Pp. 3½.
May 31. 965. The Queen to Randolph.
Having yielded to hear what offers the Queen of Scots can make to her, she has at length declared her intention to the Earl of Sussex, whom she has required to impart certain things to be communicated to the party that favours England by him.
Draft in Cecil's writing. Endd.: May 30, 1570. P. 2/3.
May 31. 966. The Queen to the Earl of Morton and others.
Perceives their disposition to be advised and directed by her in the government of the realm, for which she heartily thanks them, and allows thereof; and assures them that notwithstanding any sinister report, she will have due regard of their estates and sureties as shall be at more length declared to them by order of the Earl of Sussex.
Draft in Cecil's writing. Endd.: 31 May 1570. P. 1.
May 31. 967. The Earl of Sussex to Cecil.
Encloses a copy of his letter to Lethington, and also the Earl of Morton and the other noblemen's letter to himself.—Berwick, 31 May 1570. Signed.
Add. Endd. P. ½.
May 30. 968. The Earl of Sussex to Lethington.
Has received letters from him touching the delivery of his brother and the restoring of his goods taken by Rowland Forster, and promises his best help to recover them. Has seen his writing, wherein he affirms that he has meant good offices to the Queen of England. It seems that he has been a principal procurer to draw French force into Scotland, and it will be hard to conceive how that action and his good offices to the Queen may concur. Writes plainly because he would be plainly dealt with again. Was desirous to procure a demission of the Queen's rebels and a surcease of arms on both sides, but receiving no answer he was driven to set forward her forces. Since which time he has received a note of the articles brought by Wrothe, and his answer to them, which articles neither agree with those which he sent or with the answer which Wrothe delivered. The rebels and such as took their part being dispersed, he intends to revoke his forces. Desires Lethington to deal with the Duke and the others to continue quiet, and he will deal with the other side to do the like upon the following conditions: The disarmament to be bonâ fide; the Queen's rebels to be put from them; certain sufficient persons to be sent to the Queen of England to open their intentions, causes, and determinations to her; and both sides to bind themselves to perform the premises until the return of their messenger from the Queen. If both sides shall accord to these articles he promises that he will not use the Queen's forces against any person in Scotland, except those who have invaded England or been maintainers of her rebels.— Berwick, 30 May 1570.
Copy. Signed. Endd. Pp. 3. Enclosure.
May 29. 969. The Earl of Morton and others to the Earl of Sussex.
Give him special thanks for putting the state of the common cause in full security. Commend the wisdom and celerity of Sir William Drury, and ask that he may be allowed to remain with them and help them to take Dumbarton Castle.—Linlithgow, 29 May 1570.
Signed. Add. Endd. P. 1. Enclosure.