Elizabeth: March 1564

63. Randolph to Elizabeth. [March 8.]

After long time and many delays, it is now time to let your majesty know what answer I have received, not so much to my contentment as I hoped and looked for. The effect I send to your majesty's self, the circumstances I have written to M^r Secretary. "I am required by her grace to desyer your majestie in her name, that your highenes judge better of her meaninge than her wordes. Princes at all tymes (as she saythe) have not their willes, but her hearte beinge her owne, is immutable, and withowte evle meaninge towardes your majestie." She desires nothing more than continuance of your good will. Thus your majesty stands with this Queen, I trust as earnestly meant as "effectueuslye" spoken. Notwithstanding my hope as before, that her people will never be unmindful of their deliverance, "allwayes I muste and do more truste in the worde of a prince, then the mutable minde of unconstante people." Your majesty shall find my reports, as her grace or her people show themselves in their doings. As they change, so must I (though unwilling) alter my manner of writing. Edinburgh. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

2 pp. Holograph, also address (in Randolph's best Court hand). Indorsed (by Cecil).

64. Randolph to Cecil. [March 8.]

On Sunday 27^th February, I had "erneste and longe purpose" with this Queen, both of her own estate and my sovereign's (touching marriage), both in one condition, noble and young princesses, spending their years and losing time unprofitable to themselves, and wrongful to their countries, for lack of that issue God might send to them. She wonders at the occasions of my sovereign's stay, as much for her years, the wise counsel about her, sought of so many as she has been, and may be when she will, matched with the greatest. For herself, the remembrance of her late husband is yet so fresh, she cannot think of any other. Her years are not so many but she may "abyde," and most of all, she is neither sought nor desired of any. And for herself, or any for her, to procure any such thing as that, though it proceeded of never so good a mind, she could neither think it reasonable, nor well allow it. I was better content to hear her talk thus than to say much again, and seemed also to believe anything that was spoken. She uttered much of her affection to my Sovereign, as nearest in blood, and friendliest in heart: I seemed in no doubt thereof. Let the world say, men suspect, and bruits run, she says she will be most assuredly hers, and nothing that can ever fall out between them, shall alter her mind. In that opinion I confirmed her grace; but was somewhat earnest with her on that point touching my answer. 'In dowtefull matters' she said, 'good advisemente oughte to be taken, and howe cane I resolve upon that, whear upon I coulde yet never fynde in my harte to thynke, or open myne eares to here, and in a matter which is fetter for anye other to speake of then myself'? So it came at length to this—that I should next day confer with Murray, Argyll and Lethington, by whom I should know further of her mind. Next day Monday, and Tuesday also, "I applied these lordes," who had yet received no commandment. Wednesday the Queen herself went to the "Towbothe," to what effect you shall hear. On Thursday, they having knowledge of the Queen's mind, let me understand the same, as in effect I have put it in writing, and then showed it to themselves. Lethington made great protestation of her good meaning, intent and good will to satisfy my Sovereign's demands: "the case was harde and full of dyfficultie, fetter to be tawlked of amonge the Quenes selves, yf that myght be, then to be handelede betwene subjectes, that never wyll so francklye deale in their soveregnes affares as theie myghte do amongest them selves. I sholde not therefore wonder thoughe theie were all thre lothelye broughte to tawlke of that matter"! Yet their Sovereign, considering my mistress's good meaning and the good that might ensue, would leave nothing undone on her part, or that in reason she might accord to, the sooner if my mistress's mind were thoroughly known, which could not be by anything I had propounded, or that she could gather by anything she had heard spoken by me! I rehearsed to them all as before, what my instructions gave me assurance to say: and "lefte nothynge unspoken familierlye unto them of that which I knewe my soveregne wolde be at." They would acknowledge nothing "in particular," and said as my proposition was "onlye generall," their sovereign, for lack of full knowledge of my sovereign's mind, "coulde but gyve as uncertayne an answer, as I came with a dowtefull message." But that all should proceed "rowundlye and playnelye," their sovereign's mind was to content my sovereign, "with her owne honour and weale of her countrie," and gave me the answer I send you herewith.

I said some what on every point thereof, doubted not this Queen's good will, having heard so much much by herself, confirmed by them. Of the "obscuritie" of my mistress's mind, "ther was inoughe sayde to them that had wyll to understande"! I was no way discontented with the answer, though it was "founded upon a falce grownde," my doubtful message—and might as well have been given "the fyrste or thyrde daye," as now at the end of three months, that I have waited for it! For allowing or disallowing it, I would not prejudice my sovereign's judgment, but would endeavour to give her a true report of what had been said to me. For my return, which they wished not to be hasty, I alleged my commandment—and they gave good reasons why my sovereign would not "dysallowe" my stay for a space (as you may gather by the answer) but chiefly that my sudden departure might confirm the late bruits.

So having thus ended with them, by their advice, in two days after I communed with the Queen's self; who confirmed all they had said, doubting not my mistress would take her answer in good part. On further conference with Lethington "aparte," he confessed the answer came chiefly of his part, that by often recourse, matters might be better weighed and examined, before they were published, "or all moste thoughte of by anye." Nor is there a fit man to be a "doer" in these matters whom he trusts but himself—and she has no will to have him absent, nor he to be away. As it please her majesty, I am desired to crave answer.

Her coming to the "Towbowthe" proceeded of the rumours as to the French coming, which were so believed by many, that divers letters were written to noblemen and others, to know what part they would take. So by advice of her Council, she let the people understand she had no such meaning, and blamed them for thinking so, seeing how she has used her self since she came to the country. Another occasion was, that divers bills have been given in to her grace by the poor who have actions depending before the lords of the Session, that no end could be got for great men's actions, that were either judges on the Session or had their friends there. Order is taken by her grace's command, that to expedite poor men's causes, the judges shall sit 3 days in the week, "as well afternone as fore none," and for that cause have their yearly "stipende" augmented. This being done Wednesday before noon, on Friday afternoon (fn. 1) she came again to the same place to hear some poor men's causes pleaded. She thinks this a good way to win the hearts of the "popular," and get her fame through the country. On Tuesday last, (fn. 1) she took journey to S^t Johnston, to remain till "all moste" Easter, then to Falkland, and so to S^t Andrews. She has great mislike of this town, and it is feared her mass will yet breed cumber in Scotland. The Cardinal of Lorraine has advised her to attempt to bring her people to receive an Interim: it is yet secret, her mind is greatly bent thereto. I know not what she means by putting a captain and 24 men into the "Inche" again—though Lethington assures me no evil is meant. May it please you to remember the safe conduct for the Bishop of Ross—I think daily better and better of him for justice's sake. Also the licence for Argyll's 3 geldings. The Queen shall find it well bestowed. My charges here so far exceed my allowance, that 100l. will not bring me out of debt since my last arrival. Pray be a mean to her majesty for me. If I could serve her for less, you should not be troubled thus. Edinburgh. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

Yesterday I convoyed Lethington as far as Musselburgh towards his father's house, "hole and well." To-day word is come here that he is extremely sick.

4¼ pp. Closely written. Holograph, also address. Indorsed (by Cecil).

65. Randolph to Cecil. [March 12.]

Yesterday I received a letter from Lethington and therein one from his sovereign to the Queen's majesty, and have sent them both to her majesty. This perchance may be the occasion of both. Some of her own people that think themselves wise and have good intelligence, have said "that I am but fosterde here with fayer wordes, farre from the harte, which in tyme maye torne my soveregne to skethe, and evle happe to myself, for that there ys nothynge mente as yt is spoken." If I was as hastie of belief or as hidden in my reports, "as theie are unadvised (rashe I maye not saye, for that yt commethe of a good mynde) in their judgementes," I might soon overthrow the well laid foundation of perpetual amity between "two greate countries," and put them in worse terms than ever. For of late suspicion is arisen between this Queen and her people: on her part, that she has not her will or may do as she "lyste"—on theirs, that there is some matter "a bruinge" either against England their friend, or to overthrow religion; and they seeing me daily in court, fed with fair words and courtly talk, fear lest I am forgetful of my duty, or not so vigilant as I ought in such matters of importance, as not to warn those that profess Christ in this country, of any danger like to befall them. Her people are thus moved that they begin to mislike her strange behaviour (as they call it), "her ernestnes in her religion more than yt was accustomede;" and her grace, knowing that such sayings are brought to me, but not what I believe of them, or have reported to your honour, thought it best for herself to write to the Queen's majesty, and for me to confirm the same, as Lethington has done to me. But as I cannot say so much as he knows, I have thought best to send his own letter, that her majesty being thus assured both by this Queen and her Secretary, of no evil intended—if it fall out otherwise hereafter, she may have wherewith to charge them both of other meaning than their writings import. It is now said to me again, that she now entertains England, to have her will of Scotland: I cannot see but it is best they live friendly together. I will not be so "injurius" as to think worse than I see great occasion–but what is meant by putting men again into the Inche? or how she intends to establish her Interim, I know not: but whensoever she goes about that, "she maye be put from her masse and all"! I have never talked with Lethington of this Interim, for I heard it "by an other meanes then hym; whoe thynkethe that there are not iiij in Scotlande that knoweth her mynde therin."

I was "bolde" in my last, and must continue my suit, that trusting shortly to leave this place, I may be able to discharge my credit before I go. I trust by your good means to her majesty to be "holpen." Edinburgh. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

Lethington has leave for 8 or 10 days to tarry on this side the water on his own affairs. He has augmented his living by the Queen's preferment almost 3000 marks sterling in Lothian only. His disease was only a "collicke," and he is now well.

As my lord of Bedford comes shortly to the border, I have leave while having no great business with her grace's self, to be with him: to whom also she purposes to send the Justice Clerk with me, the day of truce, to signify her mind to her wardens for justice.

2 pp. Holograph, also address. Indorsed (by Cecil).

66. Randolph to Elizabeth. [March 12.]

On Tuesday last 7^th instant, the Queen departed this town for S^t. Johnston. By the way to the water side, it pleased her to talk with me of your majesty and of those matters I wrote last to your highness. She found fault with her self she had not written to your majesty, but promised that within 4 days I should receive a letter, which came first to Lethington's hands, who sent it to me from his father's house, with his own to myself, which herewith I send, that your majesty may be as assured of his mistress's mind under his own hand (being so privy of all her doings and meaning as no man like unto him) as I have reported of her own sayings. Thus your majesty having both her grace's letter, and her Secretary's testimony, may the better assure yourself of the truth of what I have written, or have the juster occasion to be offended, if all things in them correspond not. Lethington would have me write much more of his mistress's good will, than I see need, if all be true that he has written him self—"which I beseeke your majestie maye be reserved as a witnes for me agaynste hym selfe, yf it be founde other wise then his lettre importethe at anye tyme here after;" and that this "deade" when remembered to him, may stir him up to work by persuading his sovereign, "that which he wolde your majestie sholde beleve." I never had more earnest talk with him "in my lyfe," than within these four days. "Yt passethe the writte of man" to think there should be such dissimulation in man as in him, except his mind, heart, and will, be to perform that which his mouth speaks: that is, with all his power to labour for the unity of these two realms in perpetual amity. Edinburgh. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

2 pp. Holograph, also address (in Randolph's best Court hand). Indorsed (by Cecil).

Inclosed in the same:—

(Maitland to Randolph.)

I received yesternight the enclosed letter from the Queen to the Queen your Sovereign, to be delivered to you, and command to say many things on her behalf. Being not present to say them by "toung," this is the sum: She loveth and trusteth none better than her good sister. Dilate and amplify the argument as largely as you can, I propone it nakedly to you: "it shall be your part to play the oratour and set it out with all the cullouris off rhetorique yow can, and yet shall yow say no more then I am charged to say to yow." Lethington, 10^th of March 1563. Signed: W. Maitland.

1 p. Holograph, also address (to Randolph as the Queen's "Agent").

67. Randolph to Cecil. [March 18.]

I doubt not long before this, your honour has received this Queen's answer touching my negotiation with her grace, and since that time, a letter from her self to my Sovereign. Meantime Clerneau the Cardinal's servant arrived here, who hearing the Queen was at S^t. Johnston passed over the water at Leith—coming not here—whereby her majesty's letter of 5^th came not to my hands till yesternight, Friday 17^th. Thus being amply informed of her majesty's mind touching "the specialitie of the personne whome her majestie wysshithe to be accepted of this Quene," therefore, instead of going to Berwick at my lord of Bedford's arrival as I purposed, I find it best to repair to the Court, declare my Sovereign's mind, and see what answer will be given thereto. For though this Queen perchance will think I should be satisfied with her former answer till I hear again from my sovereign, yet shall her grace know the Queens majesty's plain dealing, that the like must be showed of her part, or other meaning in her words suspected. This is all I can write before my departure tomorrow—when after knowing her mind I shall not stay to advertise it and thereafter proceed to the Border to meet my lord.

Of Clerneau's news I have heard nothing that is unknown to your honour. This Queen is loth to have it bruited or thought that the Cardinal of Lorraine was a suitor for her in marriage to the Emperor's son. He has written a letter himself to her, "testifienge the contrarie." More hear of than believe this, as I am assured your honour is one. M^r Knox has been twice proclaimed in the Church, to be married on Palm Sunday (fn. 1) to Margaret Steward daughter to Lord Ochiltree [Ocletrie], "whearat the Quene stormethe wonderfullye, for that she is of the bludde and name." If she keep promise, he shall not "byde" in Scotland—but if I am not deceived, there will be much ado before he leave it! "In thys I wyshe that he had donne otherwyse." Edinburgh. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

Please have in mind the bishop of Ross's safe conduct.

2 pp. Holograph, also address. Indorsed.

68. Randolph to the Queen. [March 30. 1564.]

Immediately after receipt of your majesty's letters from Windsor the 5^th "Marche" I repaired incontinent to the Court, and finding her grace "at good oportunitie, and willinge to here what newes I had broughte:" I let her understand that where before she had blamed me for ever coming to her with generalities and "obscure termes," now I was come so fully instructed that she should find nothing in me but "simple playnenes and syncer meaninge"—assuring myself of the same in her grace. After saying some what of your majesty's good will, signified in many ways, but never more than in this marriage, offering the choice of your majesty's subjects, "I named in speciall the Lord Roberte, sayinge no lesse of hym, then your majesties lettre imported." Hereon we talked very long; "yt pleased her grace to here me with meetly good patience." Her resolution was, that she would think more of the matter, for I had taken her "upon the suddayne." The circumstances I have written at more length to M^r Secretary, of whose good rehearsal to your majesty I assure my self better than of my own "schill" in writing it. I did your majesty's commendations to my lord of Murray, who most humbly thanks your majesty for remembrance of him "as your majesties moste affectined serviteur." I left nothing unspoken that your majesty's will was should be said to the lord of Lethington, and took my lord of Murraye witness thereto, "whoe in that poynte affirmyd your majesties judgemente of hym." He (fn. 1) takes all such admonitions in very good part from your majesty, saying you will praise him in the end. "He will nowe tayke an nother stomacke upon hym. He had longe tawlke with her grace the nighte before I cam my waye;" and told me in the morning, he had longer purpose then of her marriage than ever before, and "from that day forwarde" would be bolder than ever. He assures me (and says he never knew it before) that the Emperor is a continual earnest suitor to the Cardinal for his son—offering 2,000,000 "franckes" yearly during his life, and 5,000,000 after his death, "to lyve with her in Scotlande as fewe in number as shall seme good to her and Counsell." He is willing your majesty should know this as a great secret and "unfaynedlye trewe;" adding that the Emperor looks for a resolute answer by the end of May. To believe all were over great "lyghtenes" in me; and yet to doubt my friend's word were too much distrust, when he says it is spoken for friendship's sake. Yet I must assure your majesty it does not agree with a letter "which latlie I sawe of the Cardinall, wheare he protested that he was never suter to the Empereur, which the larde of Ledington saythe is trewe, but the Empereur was ever suter unto hym." Farther than this I cannot yet inform your majesty.

Seeing this Queen willed me to do her commendations to my lord of Bedford, and to declare that her officers should concur with him in justice, I trust your majesty will allow me to be here a few days, to acquaint his lordship with the manners of those with whom he shall have to do. Berwick. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

At my departure her grace gave me a letter to your majesty saying, "I finde greate courtoysie in the Quene your mestres, my good systar; I maye not fayle to answer her in all good offices of frendeshipe; ther shalbe no lesse performed then is spoken or written of my parte."

4 pp. Holograph, in Randolph's best Court hand. No address leaf. Indorsed (by Cecil): "30 Martij 1563, . . " and so dated by Randolph.

69. Randolph to Cecil. [March 30.]

Since my last of [] instant, I have been at S^t. Johnstons with the Queen, and there declared at good length what I had received in writing from her majesty, naming after many, my lord Robert. This came so suddenly upon her, and so shortly after her last answer to me—as to some man being appointed to Berwick to treat with her officers there—that she seemed to doubt what to say, meanwhile changing her purpose twice or thrice. She asked me if I had talked with Murray or Lethington of that matter or not since my coming? I said, as truth was, I had not. She asked again if I had heard from the Queen's majesty since the last answer she gave me? I said no! the time was too short, but as her grace had complained of my treating with her in general terms, I had sued her majesty to enlarge my commission, and seeing her grace could not understand "in that large discription that was made, and so sette forthe that no man that harde yt coulde doute what person was mente"—that I might specially name him whom the Queen's majesty thought fit to match with her grace, so that she without long delay might resolve her mind. Thereon her grace said thus—'Monsieur Randolph, you have taken me at an advantage: I thoughte lyttle of anye suche matter at thys tyme as you nowe propounde, but looked sonner to have harde what good peace is concluded betwene the kynge my good brother, and your mestres, then so shortlye to intreate agayne of suche matters as these'! I said the time was long since my sovereign had made the first overture on her marriage, and I doubted not she had thought of it, and as she lacked not trusted advisers, she could not be so long unresolved, and therefore if it pleased her, "she coulde gyve answere at one instant." 'Thynke you' said she, 'thys to be a matter so easlye to be resolved upon'? I said as the matter was great, so was the time long since it was first moved. 'Naye' said she, 'your mestres hathe byne a longer tyme.' I said I feared my sovereign had "over sone" resolved as I doubted, never to marry, which I lamented, advising her grace not to take example, but in time embrace her majesty's offers, so fair large and honourable, lest on refusal her majesty's mind should turn "otherwheare." 'Well' said she, 'do you remember what your mestres wrote unto me touchynge my mariage, that unto iij poyntes I oughte to have speciall regarde, whearof honour was the speciall, and do you thynke that yt may stonde with my honour to marrie a subjecte'? I said that was one point, but there were others, and to respect honour only could never make a perfect marriage, and greater honour there could not be, than to match herself with one "by meanes of whome she maye perchance inherit suche a kyngedomme as England is"? 'I looke not' said she, 'for the kyngedome, for my syster maye marrie, and is lyke to lyve lenger then my self. My respecte is what maye presentlye be for my commoditie, and for the contentemente of frendes, whoe I beleve wolde hardlye agre that I sholde imbase my state so farre as that'! For "presente commoditie," I doubted not there was enough—for friends, I assured her, there were none greater or more careful of her state than my sovereign; and for the others whom her grace means, I cannot but think when they weigh the case and hear all that can be said, they will find good reason for "your" grace's accord to her majesty's advice. 'I acknowledge' said she, 'my systers good wyll: I knowe by good reporte those vertues to be in the man you commende, but that ys not inoughe.' I asked what more was required? 'I thoughte not' said she, 'to have talked so longe at thys tyme of these matters, but seinge we ar thus farre enterde, I wyll sytte downe and reason homlye with you.'

The Lords were all at Council. "The gentlemen were commaunded to gyve leave, onlye a fewe ladies lefte." 'Nowe M^r R.' said she, 'dothe your mestres in good erneste wyshe me to marrie my lord Roberte'? I assured her it was so. 'Is that' said she, 'conforme to her promes to use me as her syster or dawghter, to marrie her subjecte'? I said it might, "for that ther was not a worthyer man to be founde." 'Yf I were' said she, 'ether of them bothe, and at her dysposition, were yt not better to matche me whear some alliance and frendeshipe myghte insue, then to marrie me whear nether of them coulde be increased'? I said the chief alliance my sovereign desired was to live in amity with Scotland, whereof other princes might receive more annoyance if enemies, "then yf theie sholde severallye allie themselves to other," rehearsed also the good to her realm, and how her people desired it. 'Are you' said she, 'so assured of my subjectes myndes, that you dare assure that'? To that I said, the wiser I esteemed her subjects to be, the farther they would see into their prince's and their own commodities—peace first—to enrich their country next—and to have justice and law observed, not least. Her country (under her grace's correction) "that was wonte to be verie troblesome, full of contention, I wyll not say commotions agaynste the autoritie," shall for ever live in obedience with so friendly a neighbour as England. 'You myghte' said she, 'have saide the same of your owne countrie.' I confessed it partly, and therefore desired union. 'The Quene your mestres beinge assured of me, myghte let me marrie whear yt maye beste lyke me, and I all wayes remayne frende to her as I do.' I doubted no breach for her time, but posterity was not provided for. 'What yf the Quene my syster sholde marrie her self and have children, what have I then gotten? whoe wyll judge thys to be wyselye done of me, or who wyll allowe yt? or yf she wolde gyve me were yt never so myche, what assurance have I'? I said no doubt my sovereign had thought of these beforehand, and would not so deal neither with her grace, "nor hym whome worthylie she commended, and so well estemed for vertu sake, but he sholde receave honours and prefermentes conforme ther unto." 'These thynges' said she, 'ar uncertayne, and yt is not sauftie for me to gyve anye suche adventeur. Thoughe I have lyttle cawse to mystruste your mestres, or to thynke otherwyse then well of her: yet in matters of suche dyffecultie, good and longe advisemente muste be taken, as I for my parte in thys intende to do. I have' said she, 'conferred with no man here in, and in these matters cane saye lesse then in anye other.' I said nothing concerned her grace more, and desired her to take "shorte advise" with such as Murray, Argyll, and Lethington. She said she would, and talk with me again after supper. This purpose lasted so long, that the lords came in—"some suspected her to be angrie, other merviled to fynde me so longe ther," and Lethington "was sorrie that I had not spoken with hym of the matter before." Her grace went to supper and was "merrie inoughe." Immediately after, I came again with these three lords, having meantime told them of "my afternones tawlke with the Quene." Then she called them to her, and showed them my new commission, and after they had conferred "a whyle," I was called. After divers "merrie purposes" from herself and Murray, as his in speciall thys, "Whye do you not perswade your owne Quene to marrie, but troble our Quene with mariage, that yet never had more thoughte therof, then she hathe of her dynner, when she is hongrie"? At this she rather laughed than gave answer, and left us. Then Lethington said his mistress had told them three, as to my new commission to deal more particularly, which she allowed well, and if I had been plainer before, I might have had a "more perfet" answer—wherefore her grace desired me to content myself with that answer I received last, till I heard again from my mistress. I told him I trusted I should "receave other answer than that, yt was no newe thynge that I proponed—no not unknowne to herself!—but in speciall to their lordships." I desired them to tender her weal and her country's, "and not to put of that with delayes and suche excuses as have other meaninge then apparance." I was no stranger, and dealt as one wishing good to their country. 'Well M^r R.' said Lethington, 'the Quene takethe not evle with your message, nor we assuredlye for our partes. You muste abyde tymes, and so am I assured your mestres wilbe contente. At the fyrste motion, to conclude suche a mariage, I trowe you thynke cane not be: the Quene wyll speake with you agayne tomorrowe, or let you here from her agayne by me, touchynge thys matter.' She had before said to myself that next morning I should know her mind by Lethington, and said many good words of my sovereign, praying me to continue their love by my good reports, and therwith gave me a letter to her majesty.

Lethington was long with her grace that night, and next morning I received this answer from him with great protestation of his mistress's good meaning "withowte fraud or mynde of evle"—that the matter came upon her "unlooked for," and being of great importance could not "strayte" be answered. As she could not with honour in "so shorte advysemente" grant to it, so would she not so little esteem it, as strait reject it: "and therfore desiered to have farther knowledge what the Quens majestie wolde do, what sholde be the conditions, and what thassurance? For the person hym self, she coulde have no myslykynge of hym of whome the reporte was so good, and by her good syster was so recommended." Wherefore, as she requested last, she desires the Queen to send some one—as my lord of Bedford—to Berwick to confer with such one as herself will appoint. This is her grace's answer as near as I can give it. I am advised not to be "dyscouraged," and will leave nothing undone to forward my sovereign's wish, craving your good advice therein. "Maynie terrors I have to deale in so wayghtie a cawse: I see Liddington, so wyse a man, all moste trimble to tawlke in the matter." Your honour I am sure is often in doubt what to do. "Of me yt maye be well sayde, 'whoe is bolder than blynde Bayarde? hys harte served hym well, but hys syghte fayled hym to guyde hym the waye'!" I doubt not your honour will have the matter "to frame well," and must assist me with your advice.

Her grace left S^t Johnston "that daye" for Falkland, and by the way I told her what answer I had from Lethington. 'Well' said she, 'procure as sone as I [you] cane that I maye here agayne from my good syster, and lette her dowte nothynge of my good wyll."

I took my leave to go to Berwick to welcome my lord of Bedford, and by the way met a pacquet from your honour with the Bishop of Ross's safe conduct. I am glad the Queen's majesty so well likes to take her journey to the north, and will do what I can to move this Queen to meet her. I most humbly continue my suit for augmentation of my diets—only extreme need forces me to be "importune." Berwick. Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

I trust you will pardon my haste, and forgive many errors in my writing—"this towne is not for the Muses." In recompense of the Spanish words you wrote to me, I send you a "dosayne" from the Baske. I confess his luck was better than my goodwill was it should. I showed this letter to this Queen, because of late she delights to read Spanish, and said I trusted for the "scorne" I had received, that her grace now knew better "for what kynde of man she dyd, that no man could gette justice upon hym when he was in her realme." I have often sued for Argyll's licence for 3 geldings—it is for good cause, and he well deserves it. Berwick. "Date as before." Signed: Tho. Randolphe.

May it please you, as your letters import my sovereign's good will for the interview, that I may know her will to me "in effecte."

8 pp. Holograph, also address. Indorsed (by Cecil): ". . . answer made to the messadg of Rand. for the Lord Robert."