Elizabeth: July 1581

42. Mary's Instructions to the Bishop of Glasgow. [July 10.] Cott. Calig. C. IX., fol. 1.

[Gives directions with reference to the affairs of her dowry in France.]

11½ pp. French. In Nau's hand. Indorsed.

43. Lord Scrope to Walsingham. [July 14.] Harl. MSS. 6999, fol. 216.

Having on the 12th instant received his letters of the 8th with a letter to the Earl of Angus, and also his letter of the 11th which came to his hands yesterday, with two letters to the said earl, has not only delivered all his letters to the earl, who takes the same very thankfully, as he trusts he will perceive by his own letters sent herewith, but also has thoroughly considered of both his letters addressed to him with her majesty's directions in the same.

As touching her majesty's pleasure that he should use some spials of the Scottish nation by whom he should be from time to time informed of the state of things there, and specially whether presently there be any practice in hand for the altering of the form of religion there used, will leave nothing undone herein that may tend to the furtherance of her majesty's service. Finds by conference with the earl that, indeed, there is a practice among them for the altering of religion, and the same is confirmed to him by letters of great credit yesternight. Yet the earl believes that the nobility, for the most part, and the greatest number of the borough towns of Scotland generally are so well affected to religion, and will so much mislike of any alteration, that without some foreign aid it will be a thing very hard to bring to pass if any comfort or countenance be made or showed to the contrary.

Purposes shortly, as is willed by his letter of the 11th instant, to write to the King of Scots for redress of these late disorders and spoils committed by his subjects of Liddisdale in this wardenry. But having sundry times heretofore written in the like causes to his grace, has received no redress nor delivery almost by the space of these three years, to the great grief and impoverishment of her majesty's poor subjects, and therefore is in the less hope of reformation at this time. If it so fall out as heretofore it has done, will so deal for the defence of those under him as best he may do, and will therein follow the direction referred by the said letters to his discretion. Carlisle. Signed: H. Scrope.

1 p. Addressed.

44. Mr. Archibald Douglas to Walsingham. [July 21.]

Received his letter of the 15th instant on the 17th, on his way to York, making mention that the Queen of England is informed from France and other ways that he was a principal actor in the execution of the death of the King of Scots' father, whereby, as a person noted for the same, he could not do that good coming to the Court for the Earl of Angus that some other might, and desiring him, therefore, to forbear to come until he may have cleared himself of blame. There is no doubt but her majesty and the Council may receive slanderous information against him if they shall give ear to the report of enemies and not consider the innocency of their devoted friends.

Is persuaded that it is known to all Scotsmen, and to the most part of the nobility of England, that the Earl of Morton and he were accused before the King of Scotland and his Council of that unworthy fact. The earl by the fury of his enemies is taken away, and he remains alive to be calumniated to her majesty, and not suffered to have access to answer for his own innocency. In this respect his present state of living is worse than the earl, who with honourable fame among the best sort has ended the course of this transitory life. Their very accuser and judges before whom the earl answered, in their conscience ["conference"] understood that they were innocent. Only to make them odious and themselves to appear righteous in their doings was that form devised. The very cause from whence their troubles proceeded was a preconceived opinion that the Earl of Morton, who had served the King most truly in his tender years, was now able in the beginning of his years of discretion to "remember" him how greatly he was bound to the Queen of England for the great benefits that himself, his realm, and subjects had received, and to have persuaded him to remain thankful and follow her course, which was the only way for his preservation. This his well-advised intention was so contrarious to the designs of his accusers, and so different from the plot they have laid down to the danger of his reign and overthrow of religion, that nothing could satisfy their incensed fury but the Earl of Morton's life. As they have from the beginning made him companion to all the accusations and slanders laid against him, so is it their meaning that he [Douglas] should be participant of the "remanent" of his fortune, and as they while he was yet living forged lies, full of malice against him, and suborned lewd men to speak ill and untruly of him, so now, after his death, they do not forbear to raise new slanders against him and his house, casting out open speeches that his lordship should have confessed to the ministers in secret manner greater matter worthy of cruel death. When the ministers understood this they made answer that in their next sermons they would declare that no such matter was of verity, and his very words they would make open for staying of further inconveniences. When great confluence of people looked for the same, order was taken by his accusers that they should abstain from speaking of that wherefore they were gathered. In the meantime they have, in the name of the ministers, set forth a book containing infamous libels against the Earl of Morton, and forged lies against himself, all tending to make their doings and proceedings against him appear upright, the earl worthy of death, and him odious. Some of these books are sent into France to be printed; others secretly conveyed into England as if it were done by the ministers themselves. They will affirm, being required, that they never knew any such matter. Such is the present state of Scotland that they dare nor make answer by writing. If any of these forged devices have moved the Queen of England to think that he should forbear to come to the Court for a time, he prays him to consider that the delay of time and the not answering of these matters may produce a tacit affirmation that the Earl of Morton justly deserved his death, and if it shall be understood that by her majesty's commandment he is debarred from presence and answering for his innocency, it will be thought that she approves the ill to both. Doubts not he will consider what comfort this may produce to enemies, and what discouragement to friends, together with the danger of the Earl of Angus's credit at home.

If it shall be known to all such friends as know the ground from whence his trouble has proceeded that his credit is so far prejudiced in England that be cannot be suffered to make answer for his own innocency, he is afraid it will breed despair and wound the hearts of the Queen of England's friends in Scotland in such manner that it shall do harm, which he doubts not her majesty will prevent.

On the other part, he can be content that all men shall understand that his repair to the Court is to this end, if any other from France or Scotland shall justly complain of him or his behaviour past, to whom he shall not make sufficient answer for defence of his innocency before the Queen of England, her Council, or before whom she shall please to depute for the hearing of that cause, he will be content to be delivered to any complainant according to her royal judgment and dignity.

Prays him to declare to her majesty that whereas liberty was before craved that he might do good in the Earl of Angus's causes, he is forced to sue the same for defence of his own innocency, and to remain his friend in obtaining her favourable answer, and that with speed the same may be sent to the Lord President of York [Earl of Huntingdon], where he remains for the present; also that advertisement may be sent to Lord Scrope, for satisfaction of the Earl of Angus, for his repairing to the Court.

3¹/8 pp. Copy. Indorsed: "21 July. The coppie of Mr. Archib. Dowglasses letter to Mr. Secr …"

Cott. Calig. C. VI., fol. 175.

Copy of the same.

45. Walsingham to Mr. John Somers. [July 21.] C.P., vol. XI.

The inclosed cipher was found in a letter of the Queen of Scots that has been intercepted. I had committed it to my servant Philips to do it, but that he is now visited with sickness in some extremity, and therefore her majesty's pleasure is you should take some pains withal, which you shall have good leisure to do between this time and my going to Paris. London. Signed: Fra. Walsingham.

⅓ p. Addressed. Indorsed.

Inclosure with the same.

A letter in cipher to which there is no key.

46. Extracts from Letters sent by Mary. [July 26.] C.P., vol. XI.

A warrant from the Queen of Scots to the bishop of Glasgow to pay to John Hunter, prior of the Jacobins of Glasgow, his pension of 80 livres per annum.

A warrant to Anthony de Chaulnez, her treasurer of finance, to pay to Archibald Hamilton 200 livres for his yearly pension.

A warrant to the auditors of her treasury of account to allow to him the payment of 1039 crowns, etc., for silks brought to Sheffield by Jacques de St. Lez to the valet of her wardrobe.

An instruction from the Queen of Scots to the bishop of Glasgow to be showed to the French King of her griefs touching her dowry in France.

["10 July" entered in the margin opposite each of the foregoing paragraphs.]

In primis:—Her dowry by contract of marriage being 60,000 livres, she has wanted 14,000 livres upon the aid of Poictiers.

Secondly:—Many things delivered her for her dowry are not found to the value delivered, as Espargne, and the forest of Chisey in Poictou is overvalued 1426 livres.

Thirdly:—She has not been recompensed for the Duchy of Touraine, assigned to the Duke of Anjou.

Fourthly:—Whereas the county of Senlis was assigned in recompense of the Duchy of Touraine, she is impeached therein by the Duchess of Montpensier by letters patent of later date; and if it shall be required, that Madame de Montpensier may still continue this, and the Queen of Scots to be otherwise recompensed, she requires that the county of Rheims may be delivered to Madame de Montpensier, being within her husband's government.

Fifthly:—Her lands in Poictou by the armies there, and those in Champagne by the "reistres," have impoverished her dowry, as she has rebated to her farmers above 150,000 livres, and presently by Monsieur's journey into Flanders her lands in Picardy will be of small value.

Sixthly:—She complains that her officers at Poictiers be enjoined to build up the palace there, and the bridge of Sauzes, which decayed before her time.

Seventhly:—She complains that there is sale of the great timber in all her lands, whereby she loses the profits of pannage

Eighthly:—All benefices, etc., belonging to her dowry are given away by the King to her great loss; and of late the conciergerie of Plessis Towers has been given to others contrary to his grants. She complains also of wrongs done to her by Lodovic d'Adieceto in the purchase of the county of Chasteda Villen: likewise of the lack of the pension of 20,000 livres not paid her since 1570, which she desires to have for the entertainment of certain Scottish men banished into France, or else that the same pension may be granted over to her son, the Prince of Scotland.

Lastly:—She requires an assurance of three or four good merchants that she may have answered her her dowry of 120,000 livres.

Letters from the Queen [of Scotland] to Monsieur St. Cherwood, her maitre d'hostel and intendent of her affairs in Champaigne.

Others to Pugguillion, her premier maitre d'hostel and intendent of her finances.

Others to Monsieur d'Olu, her counseilleur and intendent of her affairs in Poictou.

Others to Monsieur de Vergier [Vergu], president of Tours and chancellor to the Queen of Scots.

Others to Monsieur Chalmer, counsellor in the Session at Edinburgh.

Letters to Monsieur de Chaner, counsellor, treasurer, and receiver general of the finances of the Queen of Scots. Nota, Monsieur Arnould is his brother. Nota, that Monsieur de Ruisseau is brotherin-law to de Nau, the Queen's secretary; which Ruisseau is intendent of the Queen's affairs in Vermandois.

Monsieur Blacknaies, "medicine" of the Queen of Scots; Monsieur d'Audlours, secretary; Seigneur de Senlis, premier taileur.

2½ pp. Indorsed: "July 1581. Collections out of certeine French lettres, etc."; and by Burghley: "From the Q. Scottes, sent to France."

Cott. Calig. C. VI., fol. 183.

Copy of the same.

Cott. Calig. C. VII., fol. 292.

Another copy of the same.

47. Duke of Florence to Mary. [July 28.] C.P., vol. XI.

The Earl of Westmorland, who is going to serve his Catholic majesty in Flanders, passing by here, I would not let the occasion pass of letting your majesty know the affection I have always borne to you, and the great desire I have for your prosperity and greatness. Florence. Signed. El gran Duca di Tuscana.

¾ p. Addressed. Indorsed.

48. Angus to [Walsingham]. [July 29.] Cott. Calig. C. VII, fol. 296.

Please your honour, the famous report that I have heard of your honour's happy journey to the realm of Scotland for the preservation of the whole good subjects thereof from the heavy burden and yoke of careless strangers, wherein they were involved at that time, when it pleased Almighty God of his goodness to call her majesty to [the] royal crown of this realm and make her the instrument of their said deliverance, and your honour the happy messenger thereto, moves me to assuredly believe that your honour will not forbear to "confer" the dangerous state of that time with the present state of that realm, which at this time carries with it the like perilous qualities in all respects as then "remanit," only this reserved, that the remedy appears to be a great deal more easy at this time that at that time the effect proved, and the assurance of friendship more permanent, if it may please her majesty "to deill into it."

Your honour may perceive that the overthrow of religion is threatened, the intention to draw away the King my sovereign's good mind and thankful inclination from her majesty is imminent, and [there is] open intention to extinguish the memory of so great benefits her majesty has bestowed for the King my sovereign's preservation from his infancy.

For the better opening of these inconveniences and their apparent remedies I was of mind to have directed my cousin Mr. Archibald Douglas to her majesty. Which opinion I have changed, because of a letter directed from her majesty's secretary willing me to forbear to send him at this time. In his place I have thought convenient to send the bearer hereof, my servant, with a letter to her majesty humbly craving that I may be licensed to repair to her majesty's presence for the declaration of my own cause, and for the better order taking for the performance of such matters as shall be resolved upon by her majesty and honourable Council. "Maist hertlie praying" your honour for the furtherance hereof. Carlisle. Signed: Angus.

1 p. Holograph. No address, etc.

49. Hunsdon to Burghley. [July 31.] Cott. Calig. C. IX., fol. 24.

Received his letter of the 27th "thys 30," at Aukland, the bishop of Durham's. Is sorry that this great matter of marriage can take no better resolution either off or on. Fears these delays will be neither for her majesty's profit nor surety. Being long at Berwick without any exercise, found himself very apt to some great inconveniences and some sickness. All his wardenry being as quiet as he can wish it, and having no service to be done there, leaving Mr. Marshal and others of her majesty's Council there, was so bold as to make a journey through Northumberland, and so to some of his friends in the bishopric [Durham]. Being at Durham, in Doctor Belamy's house, fell into great extremity of pain from Sunday morning till Monday at 10 o'clock, at which time he "voydyd a stone besydes a grete deale of gravell which I voyde dayly," having never been touched therewith before. But seeing that riding breaks it thus from him, he will not suffer it to congeal within him, and so having found so great ease and help by his riding, is now returning to Berwick.

Touching Mr. Archibald Douglas; the writing that he [Hunsdon] sent to Mr. Walsingham of the Earl of Morton's death was sent to him from Alexander Hume of Heuton Hall, who sent him word that he had it from the ministers.

Mr. Walsingham wrote to him three weeks since that her majesty was induced to give him leave to come up; but stayed upon a letter of Lord Scrope's for the attempt that the Elwoods did in Bewcastle, which, indeed, was a matter of small moment. The King of Scots has sent 200 soldiers to Cesford for present redress of all offences made against England—whereof he has small cause to complain, and has promised present redress to Lord Scrope, so that there is no appearance of any misorder to be committed on the Borders; but rather an inclination to preserve the amity between the two realms. Incloses a copy of a letter from the Laird of Cesford sent four days since to Mr. Selby. Because he hears that her majesty is unwilling to have him return, will not offend her in seeking for leave.

On the death of Mr. Wilson, on the commendation of a great sort of gentlemen well given in religion, was bold to write to the Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Leicester, Mr. Walsingham, and others of his friends in the commendation of Doctor Bellamy to be dean of Durham, in whose commendation the bishop writes. Is bold to be an earnest suitor in his favour. Aukland. Signed: H. Hunsdon.

2¼ pp. Holograph. Addressed. Indorsed (by Burghley's clerk).