Elizabeth: November 1575

Calendar of State Papers, Scotland: Volume 5, 1574-81. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1907.

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

'Elizabeth: November 1575', in Calendar of State Papers, Scotland: Volume 5, 1574-81, (London, 1907) pp. 199-204. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/scotland/vol5/pp199-204 [accessed 24 March 2024]

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

In this section

208. Captain Cockburn to Burghley. [Nov. 4.]

"My werie speciall guid lord, it is lang sen I have bene accustomat to writ to your guid lordship; and now gif I trowit my service or writtingis mycht be plesar to zour lordship ye suld have anew of yame. I dout not bot zour lordship is bettir adverteist of the estait heir nor I can writ. Had nocht zour guid officiaris, as my Lord of Huntlingtoun and Mr. Culingrew [Killigrew] and uyeris pacifeit the apperand trublis, Ingland Scotland at this present had bene furneissand uncowthis and newis to France and uther cuntreis, all sic as had nevir ane penny in thair purses, and all Papistis and irne schoue weiraris and all maill contentis that luikit for weir boith with zow and ws, prayeit be God, are disapoyntit for yai belevit suirlie it suld have past redding. Thir personis abovewritten lykis littell of Mr. Culingrew. Your gret men on zour Bordouris callit him bot ane lettre beirar and he was callit in Berwick with sic as desyrit stump stamp my 'lord basket maker.' Notyeles at sindrie tymes he hes done guid offices in this realme, and he is marvellous weill luiffiit with all sick as feires God and lovis peace. My lord Regen is grace lykis weill of him and nocht without caus, for he hes pacifeit mony materis heir afoir thay come to wors. In witnes of his wirkis, quhat panis, quhat travellis and expenssis he maid to haist the wynning of the Castell of Edinburgh, quhair it was thocht be mony that ressavit the quenis majesteis wagis that it was our sone win. Sum sayis that the army was keipit togiddir on hir majesteis chargeis eftir it was win. Weill, my guid lord, praysit be be God, all is in guid tune. I mene sic ane man as is belovit with my lord Regentis grace, and sic as feiris God and luifis peace, and is belovit with oure ministeris, and that kennis perfictlie all oure Papistis irne schoue weiraris, and yat trowis and belevis in wechis and warlayis— ane hie witche is ane warla. I say for me gif ze culd find out sic ane to spare to send heir schoirlie it wald serve for mekill and mair nor your lordship luikit for, for quhen materis is past redding it is evill to mend. My Lord Regentis grace dois guid justice: there is mony gret men heir with him at yis present. All greis weill praisit be God. My Lord of Angus beis mareit upoun the erll of Rothes dochter on the xv day of December. My guid Lord of Hunnisdane hangis all oure thevis. He takis als gret plesur to caus hang thevis as uyer men in halking and hunting. Thair hes bene ane slauchter heir of xv men of the erll of Mentethis be ane gentill man callit ye Laird of Lekkie upoun ane suddantie, bot it will mak na stimp stamp." Edinburgh. Unsigned.

Postscript.—"All sic as luikit for stimp stampt and belevit it suld have bene ane hant cant warld ar sorie that the Laird of Carmichell is cum home. The twelf of this moneth thair meitis at Kelso my Lord Ruthven, the Lord Hereis, the Justice Clerk, and Carmichell with my Lord Hunnisdane and your commissioners. My Lord Regentis grace passes to the Bordours ye xvj day of this moneth, and hes tane up baith horsmen and futemen to pass on the thevis."

pp. Addressed: "To my verie speciall guid Lord my Lord Heiche thesaurer of Ingland." Indorsed by Burghley: "Captan Cockburn"; and (by Burghley's clerk).

209. The Regent Morton to Henry Killigrew. [Nov. 4.]

Now I have "deliberate" to ride myself to the Borders with some power for suppressing the insolence of the thieves, of whom a great number have not ceased to make nightly incursions into England and Scotland continually since the Reidswyre. My mind is to be at Dumfries, God willing, the 16th of this month, and besides my own travail, which will not be a little "fashieux" and expensive, I have levied some force both of horsemen and footmen to leave behind me for suppressing of the fugitives, if any shall remain inobedient after my returning; so that I mean to leave nothing undone, lying in me, that may repress the thieves, disturbers of the peace, and continue the quietness and amity to the weal of both realms.

I have agreed to the meeting, before that day, at Fowlden, on either side, at the Reidswyre, and understanding that my Lord Governor of Berwick takes with him and Sir John Foster, Mr. Marshal of Berwick, (fn. 1) and John Selby, I have appointed the Lord Ruthven, Treasurer of Scotland, Sir James Hume of Coldenknowes, Warden of the East March, my cousin John Carmichael, and the Laird of Trabroun to meet them, who I hope will shortly bring things committed to their order to a good conclusion.

I have looked for some answer before now to the notes that I delivered to you; which answer I pray you heartily that I may have with the first [post], or your opinion when I shall look for the same. You advise me to send thither Mr. Nicholas Elphinstone, "quhairwith" having advised, I see no cause whereupon to direct him, but if you think his presence there requisite, I pray you for your opinion for what occasion you think I shall direct him, "seing I wold be laith that his cuming suld be erandles, or that he suld returne unexped in thay thingis quhairin I wer to employ him, in quhilk cais it wer bettir nor to direct him."

I have within these two days received a tale from my Lord Hunsdon of your hawks that were taken from your servant in Northumberland, which he advertises came into Scotland and were in the house of the Laird of of Hunthill in Teviotdale, beside Jedburgh. That matter, you may assure yourself, shall be tried, and if the offence shall be found with Scottish men they shall not escape punishment. If it be the fact of Englishmen I must remit it to the "memorie" of you and such as have received the injury. My lord governor (fn. 2) bids send the hawks to him, but if they be gotten I trust they shall tarry your own direction.

I think I have cause to thank you for Carmichael's speedy release; howbeit I have not heard of it from yourself. Her majesty, I perceive by her letters, has been moved to be satisfied with my proceedings for the contentation of her highness in honour, and to conceive good opinion of Carmichael, which I trust he will study from henceforth to deserve, aye better and better, and for my part I think never to be unmindful of her majesty's gracious and favourable dealing at this time.

I have written to Mr. Secretary Walsingham something of the robbing of our Scottish merchants this last "oulk," beside Belfurde, passing through on my lord governor's (fn. 2) passport, whereof I trust you shall have heard before my letter comes to your hands. The matter begins to break out already. "I wilbe laith to be ane accusair," but, in respect of the circumstances, the matter is strange. Our thieves are neither accustomed to war-corselets of harness nor "fedderis" in their hats. Howbeit, it has been said that our merchants' horses and purses went after your hawks.

I have also written something to my Lord High Treasurer anent the counterfeiters of our money on the Borders of England, and have sent the names of the authors and aiders of that trade, against which there is a special Act in the Queen's majesty's own reign. This comes on the examination of Lawrence Nicholaii, the Italian goldsmith, who dwelt in Berwick, who, by direction of the Council, was lately delivered to me after your departure. Of which matter I must pray you to put his lordship in mind, that by his good means some good order may be provided against the authors of such an unlawful and treasonable trade; especially that a pair of stamps for 30s. pieces Scots, remaining in Heisleside's hands, and such other coining irons and tools for our money as he has, may be gotten from him and delivered to such as I shall direct for them, so that the same be not further used hereafter; "quhairwith" I wish a concurrence in the punishment of such offenders of both the nations; for, although the making of our money is only as yet confessed, yet they pressed him to have wrought English coin. Holyrood House. Signed: "Your loving and assurit freind, James Regent."

2 pp. Addressed. Indorsed by Walsingham.

Cott. Calig., C.V., fol. 70.

Extracts from the same.

210. Margaret Countess of Lennox to Mary. [Nov. 10.] C.P., vol. X.

"Yt may plese your majesti," I have received your token and mind both by your letter and other ways, much to my comfort, specially perceiving what zealous natural care your majesty has of our sweet and peerless jewel, (fn. 3) in Scotland, not little to my content. I have been no less fearful than careful as your majesty of him, that the wicked governor should not have power to "dowyll" to his person, whom God preserve from his enemies. No time I neglected, but presently, upon the receipt of your majesty's, the Court being far off, I sent our trusty, who had done so much as if myself had been there, both to understand the state present and for prevention of evil to come. He has dealt with such as both may and will have regard for our jewel's preservation, and will use a bridle to the wicked when need requires. I beseech your majesty fear not, but trust in God that all there shall be well. The treachery of your traitor is known better than before. I shall always play my part to your content, God willing, so that [it] may tend to both our comforts. I yield your majesty my most humble thanks for your good remembrance and bounty to our little daughter (fn. 4) —her who some day may serve your highness. Hackney. Signed: "Your majesti's most humble and loveying mothere and awn, M. L."

12/3 pp. Holograph. No address. Indorsed: "The Countesse of Lennox to the Q. of Scotes."

Postscript to the same:—

(Elizabeth Countess of Lennox (fn. 5) to Mary.)

I most humbly thank your majesty that it has pleased your highness to remember me, your poor servant, both with a token and in my lady's grace's letter, which is not little to my comfort. I can but wish and pray God for your long and happy estate till time I may do your majesty better service, which I think long to do, and shall always be as ready thereto as any servant your majesty has, according as by duty I am bound. I beseech your highness' pardon these rude lines, and accept the good heart of the writer, who loves and honours your majesty unfeignedly. Signed: E. Lennox.

p. Holograph. No address, &c.

211. Sir Owen Hopton to Walsingham. [Nov. 18.] C.P., vol. X.

Has sundry times examined Hamilton wherefore he was sent to Scotland. Has sent the interrogatories he ministered to him. Beseeches him to be especially good to those who have best deserved in confessing their faults, for if those who are obstinate that they will confess nothing may be as soon discharged as the others, it will, he fears, be a hard example for others hereafter. The Tower. Signed: Owyn Hopton.

1 p. Addressed. Indorsed by Walsingham.

Inclosure with the same:—

(Examination of Alexander Hamilton.)

16 November, 1575.—"Interogatories to be ministred to Mr Hamelton."

(1) Wherefore he was sent to Scotland about a year past? How long he tarried there, and with what persons of honour and credit he had conference besides the Regent? (3) What letters or messages he carried from the Queen of Scots or any other? (4) What he is further able to say touching those things whereof he has been already examined? wherein, if he does not declare a further truth, it will be a cause of his further punishment.

18 November, 1575.—"The answeres of Mr Alexr Hammylton to the interrogatories above specified."

(1) He was not sent to Scotland; but his father being then sick sent a letter for him. Which letter came to his lord's (fn. 6) hands, who delivered the same to him. Sent the writing to Mr. Secretary Walsingham, desiring a passport to visit his father; which his honour granted, and he immediately went thither with a writing from his lord to the Regent.

(2) He departed from Handsworth on Michaelmas Day was twelve months, and the eighth day thereafter he came to the Regent by Dalkeith before he saw his father or any of his friends, and there he desired the Regent to try him of that late suspicion whereof he was accused by a Scottish boy. After his grace had conferred with him he caused him to ride to visit his father, and appointed him to return to his grace within twelve days; which he did. Whilst his grace took further trial of the suspicion he appointed him to go to the university of St. Andrews, where he continued deadly sick till January, and then returned to the Regent, who could find no matter at all against him. Moreover, he prayed the Regent to write to his lord to disburden him of his promise which Walsingham caused him to make, that he should return. Was content to remain in Scotland, but the Regent did not think that best, and sent him again to his lord with a letter. So he returned on the 7th of February to Rotherham [Roddram], where he tarried with his lord's servants whilst his lord sent for him. All which time he had no conference with any saving the Duke's grace [Chatelherault] and his sons, who were then at Hamilton, where his father dwelt, and also with Lord Livingston, to whom he spoke for certain hawks for his lord.

(3) Carried neither letter nor message from the Queen's majesty of Scotland to any person there, nor from them to her, for he was not permitted to come where her majesty is since Whitsuntide was twelve months. Neither from any other did he carry any letter or message.

(4) Has already said what in truth he can.

pp. Indorsed: "1575, The examination of Alexander Hamilton taken by Mr Lieutenant the 16 of November."

212. Walsingham to the Regent Morton. [Nov. 22.] Add. MSS., 33,531, fol. 155.

Received his letters of the 4th instant, by which he perceives he takes in very good part the imparting to him such foreign news as they receive from the Queen of England's ministers abroad, and are for sundry respects most necessary to be understood by his grace, supplying the place he does. According to his request, the Queen of England has given order that the wardens should assist him in clensing the frontiers and Borders of both realms of malefactors, whereby the common peace may be the better preserved.

Perceives by his letters to Mr. Killigrew that he stands in some doubt to send hither Mr. Nicholas Elphinstone, for that he [Morton] fears his voyage would be fruitless. Notwithstanding, he [Walsingham] and some of his grace's friends, who wish some sound knot of friendship to be knit between the two realms, cannot but encourage him to send him hither; not doubting but by the good direction he shall receive here from such as are affected to the said friendship touching the course of his negotiation, there will fall out such good effects thereof, that his grace, he hopes, will have no cause to repeat the sending of him hither. Could wish that he might be here about Christmas. The Court, at Windsor. Signed: Fra. Walsyngham.

2/3 p. Addressed. Indorsed.

Footnotes

  • 1. Sir Robert Constable.
  • 2. Hunsdon.
  • 3. James VI.
  • 4. Lady Arbella Stewart.
  • 5. Daughter of the Countess of Shrewsbury.
  • 6. Earl of Shrewsbury.