Elizabeth: January 1578

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

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'Elizabeth: January 1578', in Calendar of State Papers, Scotland: Volume 5, 1574-81, (London, 1907) pp. 268-270. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/scotland/vol5/pp268-270 [accessed 24 March 2024]

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In this section

292. Walsingham to Thomas Randolph. [Jan. 12.] Harl. MSS., 6992, fol. 90.

Her majesty is now fully [resolved to send] you into Scotland. For that the colour of your going thither is chiefly to visit the King and to convey a present to him, I pray you see if you can find any fit thing to be bought at London meet for his years and state. Some rare rapier or dagger were in my opinion the fittest present. To send him a jewel, unless it be of great price or very rare for workmanship —whereunto her majesty, I fear, will not be brought—[we]re but a scorn. Hampton Court. Signed: Fra. Walsyngham.

1 p. Holograph. Addressed. Indorsed.

293 Shrewsbury to Walsingham. [Jan. 25.] C. P., vol. XI.

Entreats him to deliver the inclosed letter to the Earl of Leicester. Troubles him with these few lines not being at more leisure by taking of physic. Sheffield. Signed: G. Shrewsbury.

½ p. Holograph, also address. Indorsed by Walsingham.

294. Memoranda by Burghley. [Jan.]

Scotland.—To send one to the King, and to have several letters to the King, the Regent, and to some other of the principals of the nobility; to show the Queen of England's desire to know of the King's health and to wish quietness in the realm; to offer her favour, counsel, and assistance to establish and increase the King's estate in quietness; to procure knowledge of the negotiation of the French or any others tending to alienate the minds of any in Scotland from the devotion to England; to learn what were requisite to be done by her majesty to prevent the practices of the contrary, and to give hope of her assenting to further the same.

Upon return of answer hereto her majesty will not spare any reasonable charges to assure that realm to her, and to prevent and withstand all contrary attempts.

It is good to search out particularly what is meant and practised concerning the marriage of the young King, and what disposition is thought to be in himself either concerning his own marriage, or concerning his disposition towards his mother.

1 p. In Burghley's hand.

295. Instructions to Thomas Randolph sent into Scotland. [Jan. 30.]

"Instructions given to oure servant Thomas Randolphe, esquer, etc., sent into Scotland to the King and the Regent, 30 Jannu. 1577."

To let the Regent know the great desire she has to be informed by him [Randolph], as an eye-witness, of the King's good health, and of his great towardliness in learning and other princely and rare parts she hears he is indued with; also to let him know her further pleasure touching certain things propounded to him by her servant Bowes.

On his repair to the King, after the delivery of her letters to him, he shall with all good words and speeches meet for his years and quality, express the comfort and great contentation she receives from the report she hears generally of his great towardliness, from whom she looks to receive (in respect of the care she has always had to preserve him and his realm in quiet, with no less zeal and affection than if he had been her own natural son) all good friendship and neighbourhood as a thing pertaining to honour, and gratuity to show himself thankful for the same.

Thinks it meet, at his being with the King, to deal by persuasions with such as are chief about him and have best credit with him to nourish a good opinion in him towards her for her careful and motherly dealing towards him for the sustentation of him and his dominions, whereof they have been eye-witnesses, and have largely tasted of the benefit of her doings in maintaining the quiet state of Scotland and the preservation of them in that liberty which they presently enjoy. For if it be well considered how the States of young Princes in the time of their minority are subject to invasions, civil dissensions, and other disorders, whereby ensue ofttimes such dangerous consequences, it shall then appear that if he had not had so friendly and good a neighbour as her, it might be he should ere this have tasted of some part of the inconveniences which Princes' young years draw with them; and therefore as good servants who duly regard the honour of their master, they should do well to put him in mind of her friendly dealing towards him, and to persuade him hereafter, in the years of his ripe understanding, to render her the fruit of that good amity which she has performed towards him and his kingdom in these his younger years.

After he has found how the Regent is affected towards her, is to let him know such matters as she delivered to him by speech, and thought meet to be recommended to him.

Whereas she has already, by her servant Bowes, interposed herself to mediate a reconciliation between the Regent and the Earls of Argyll and Atholl, he shall also persuade him in her name to have an especial care to grow to speedy composition with them, considering the inconvenience that is likely to ensue by their breaking out into further heats upon that occasion is such as carries with it not only the quiet of that State, which he ought so much the more to tender, because he is the head and principal governor thereof under the King, but also a manifest trouble to her own realm, a matter she ought carefully to avoid, and therefore cannot but recommend good union among themselves. If he finds in him a disposition to prosecute the matter in all extremity against them, he shall then let him plainly understand that she, seeing the peril that may ensue, whereby foreign forces will be drawn into that realm, will make herself a party against him in case he shall proceed in so violent a determination, especially seeing she does not wish the matter otherwise compounded, but that there shall be due regard had to the place and quality he holds, whereby he may not be had in contempt.

[In the margin;—"Added post signationem."] And because the quiet state of Ireland is oft infested by such disquiet members of the same, who, to maintain their particular quarrels, call to the subjects of the out isles of Scotland, which are under the jurisdiction and authority of the Earl of Argyll, she thinks it meet that he pray the Regent to take order that none of the inhabitants of the out isles be suffered to have any intelligence with the disordered persons and rebels of Ireland, nor pass over to them by way of succour, nor yield any aid whatsoever. As she looks to receive assurance from him that he will yield her due satisfaction, so shall he find her ready at all times to show herself thankful for the same.

Is to communicate these instructions to her servant Bowes, who is to impart to him such matters as he has negotiated there, that upon conference had together they may deal accordingly for the better furtherance of her present service. Because she cannot so reasonably determine upon every particular point which, peradventure, the necessity of that her service shall require, as she committed such particularities to the wisdom and direction of Bowes, so in like sort she refers the same to them both to take such course in these things— which she cannot precisely set down for want of good intelligence of all necessary circumstances—as they shall see to be best for her service.

As occasion may be offered, upon conference had with them about the King, and others, touching the Regent's carrying himself in his government, if it be not answerable to the hope they conceived and wish for the benefit of Scotland, is to exhort him in her name to have regard to it, acquainting him with such dislikes as shall come to his notice, and deal earnestly with him from her to have a care to satisfy the well affected therein, and to bear himself so that no discontentment may grow to the better sort; whereupon may in all likelihood depend the quiet and disquiet of that State, the decline whereof she would be very sorry should grow by any means or behaviour of his.

Is to recommend Lady Lennox's causes to the Regent to be considered of, as in law and equity may be thought fit, in which she hopes he will be answerable to the care she has to right the subjects of Scotland who have sustained any loss by any of hers.

4 pp. Fair Copy. At the head: "Elizabeth R."

Cott. Calig., C. V., fol. 140.

Original of the same. Dated Jan. 31st.

296. Elizabeth to [Robert Bowes]. [Jan. 31.] Lausd. MSS., vol. XXVI., fol. 6.

Sends him 2000l. which, with the consent of the bearer, Thomas Randolph, and by the advice of others whom he shall find best affected to her in Scotland, he is to bestow in way of pension upon such of that realm as he shall find meetest to be entertained for her service. Hampton Court.

¾ p. Copy. Indorsed: "Pensions from England to be distributed in Scotland by Sir [sic] T. Randolph—2000l."