especially are of great value and set many able-bodied subjects on work it were great pity they should not be industriously followed 17. But of all Minerals there is none like to that of Fishing upon the coasts of these Kingdoms and the seas belonging to them our neighbours within half a days sail of us with a good wind can shew us the use and value thereof and doubtless there is sea-room enough for both Nations without offending one another and it would exceedingly support the Navie 18. The Realm is much enriched of late years by the trade of Merchandize which the English drive in Forreign parts and if it be wisely managed it must of necessity very much increase the wealth thereof care being taken that the exportation exceed in value the importation for then the ballance of trade must of necessity be returned into Coin or Bullion 19. This would easily be effected if the Merchants were perswaded or compelled to make their returns in solid commodities and not too much thereof invanity tending to excess 20. But especially care must be taken that Monopolies which are the Cankers of all trading be not admitted under specious colour of publick good 21. To put all these into a regulation if a constant Commission to men of honesty and understanding were granted and well pursued to give order for the managing of these things both at home and abroad to the best advantage and that this Commission were subordinate to the Councel-board it is conceived it would produce notable effects VII The next thing is that of Colonies and forreign plantations which are very necessary as out-lets to a populous Nation and may be profitable also if they be managed in a discreet way 1. First in the choice of the place which requireth many circumstances as the scituation neer the Sea for the commodiousness of an intercourse with England the temper of the air and climate as may best agree with the bodies of the English rather inclining to cold then heat that it be stored with Woods Mines and Fruits which are naturally in the place that the soil be such as will probably be fruitful for Corn and other conveniencies and for breeding of Cattel that it hath Rivers both for passage between place place and for fishing also if it may be that the Natives be not so many but that there may be elbow-room enough for them and for the Adventives also All which are likely to be found in the West-Indies 2. It would be also such as is not already planted by the Subjects of any Christian Prince or State nor over-neerly neighbouring to their Plantation And it would be more convenient to be chosen by some of those Gentlemen or Merchants which move first in the work then to be designed unto them from the King for it must proceed from the option of the people else it sounds like an exile so the Colonies must be raised by the leave of the King and not by his Command 3. After the place is made choice of the first step must be to make choice of a fit Governor who although he have not the name yet he must have the power of a Vice-Roy and if the person who principally moved in the work be not fit for that trust yet he must not be excluded from command but then his defect in the Governing part must be supplied by such Assistants as shall be joyned with him or as he shall very well approve of 4. As at their setting out they must have their Commission or Letters Pattents from the King that so they may acknowledge their dependency upon the Crown of England and under His Protection so they must receive some general Instructions how to dispose of themselves when they come there which must be in nature of Laws unto them 5. But the general Law by which they must be guided and governed must be the common Law of England and to that end it will be fit that some man reasonably studied in the Law and otherwise qualified for such a purpose be perswaded if not thereunto inclined of himself which were the best to go thither as a Chancellor amongst them at first and when the Plantations were more setled then to have Courts of Justice there as in England 6. At the first Planting or as soon after as they can they must make themselves defensible both against the Natives and against Strangers and to that purpose they must have the assistance of some able Military man and convenient Arms and Ammunition for their defence 7. For the Discipline of the Church in those parts it will be necessary that it agree with that which is setled in England else it will make a schism and a rent in Christs coat which must be seamless and to that purpose it will be fit that by the Kings supream power in Causes Ecclesiastical within all his Dominions they be subordinate under some Bishop and Bishoprick of this Realm 8. For the better defence against a common Enemy I think it would be best that forreign Plantations should be placed in one Continent and neer together whereas if they be too remote the one from the other they will be dis-united and so the weaker 9. They must provide themselves of houses such as for the present they can and at more leisure such as may be better and they first must plant for corn and cattel c. for food and necessary sustenance and after they may enlarge themselves for those things which may be for profit and pleasure and to traffique withal also 10. Woods for shipping in the first place may doubtless be there had and minerals there found perhaps of the richest howsoever the mines out of the fruits of the earth and seas and waters adjoyning may be found in abundance 11. In a short time they may build Vessels and Ships also for traffique with the parts near adjoyning and with England also from whence they may be furnished with such things as they may want and in exchange or barter send from thence other things with which quickly either by Nature or Art they may abound 12. But these things would by all means be prevented That no known Bankrupt for shelter nor known murderer or other wicked person to avoid the Law nor known Heretick or Schismatick be suffered to go into those Countreys or if they do creep in there not to be harboured or continued else the place would receive them naught and return them into England upon all occasions worse 13. That no Merchant under colour of driving a trade thither or from thence be suffered to work upon their necessiries 14. And that to regulate all these inconveniencies which will insensibly grow upon them that the King be pleased to erect a subordinate Councel in England whose care and charge shall be to advise and put in execution all things which shall be found fit for the good of those new Plantations who upon all occasions shall give an account of their proceedings to
trust in a business of that nature and recommend it to one or more of them to inform you of their opinions and of their reasons for or against the granting of it and if the matter be of great weight indeed then it would not be amiss to send several Copies of the same Petition to several of your Friends the one not knowing what the other doth and desire them to return their Answers to you by a certain time to be prefixed in writing so shall you receive an impartial Answer and by comparing the one with the other you shall both discern the Abilities and Faithfulness of your Friends and be able to give a judgment thereupon as an Oracle But by no means trust not your own judgment alone for no man is omniscient nor trust only to your Servants who may mislead you or misinform you by which they may perhaps gain a few Crowns but the Reproach will lie upon yourself if it be not rightly carried For the facilitating of your dispatches my Advice is further that you divide all the Petitions and the matters therein contained under several Heads which I conceive may be fitly ranked into these eight sorts 1. Matters that concern Religion and the Church and Church-men 2. Matters concerning Justice and the Laws and the Professors thereof 3. Councellors and the Councel-table and the great Offices and Officers of the Kingdom 4. Forrain Negotiations and Embassies 5. Peace and War both Forrain and Civil and in that the Navy and Forts and what belongs to them 6. Trade at home and abroad 7. Colonies or Forrain Plantations 8. The Court and Curiality And whatsoever will not fall naturally under one of these Heads believe me Sir will not be worthy of your thoughts in this capacity we now speak of And of these sorts I warrant you you will find enough to keep you in business I begin with the first which concerns Religion 1. In the first place be you your self rightly perswaded and setled in the true Protestant Religion professed by the Church of England which doubtless is as sound and orthodox in the Doctrine thereof as any Christian Church in the World 2. In this you need not be a Monitor to Your gracious Master the King the chiefest of His imperial Titles is to be The Defender of the Faith and His Learning is eminent not only above other Princes but above other men be but his Scholar and you are safe in that 3. For the Discipline of the Church of England by Bishops c. I will not positively say as some do that it 's Jure Divino but this I say and think ex animo that it is the nearest to Apostolical Truth and confidently I shall say it is fittest for Monarchy of all others I will use no other Authority to you than that excellent Proclamation set out by the King Himself in the first Year of His Reign and annexed before the Book of Common-Prayer which I desire you to read and if at any time there shall be the least motion made for Innovation to put the King in mind to read it Himself It is most dangerous in a State to give ear to the least alterations in Government 4. Take heed I beseech you that you be not an instrument to countenance the Romish Catholicks I cannot flatter the world believes that some near in blood to you are too much of that perswasion you must use them with fit respects according to the bonds of nature but you are of kin and so a Friend to their Persons not to their Errours 5. The Arch-bishops and Bishops next under the King have the Government of the Church and Ecclesiastical Affairs be not you the mean to prefer any to those places for any by-respects but only for their Learning Gravity and Worth their Lives and Doctrine ought to be exemplary 6. For Deans and Canons or Prebends of Cathedral Churches In their first institution they were of great use in the Church they were not only to be of councel with the Bishop for his revenue but chiefly for his Government in causes Ecclesiastical use your best means to preferre such to those places who are fit for that purpose men eminent for their learning piety and discretion and put the King often in minde thereof and let them be reduced again to their first institution 7. You will be often sollicited and parhaps importuned to preferre Scholars to Church-living you may further your friends in that way caeteris paribus otherwise remember I pray that these are not places meerly of favour the charge of souls lies upon them the greatest account whereof will be required at their own hands but they will share deeply in their faults who are the instruments of their Preferment 8. Besides the Romish Catholicks there is a generation of Sectaries the Anabaptists Brownists and others of their kinds they have been several times very busie in this Kingdom under the colour of zeal for reformation of Religion The King your Master knows their disposion very well a small touch will put him in mind of them he had experience of them in Scotland I hope he will beware of them in England a little countenance or connivency sets them on fire 9. Order and decent ceremonies in the Church are not only comely but commendable but there must be great care not to introduce innovations they will quickly prove scandalous men are naturally over-prone to suspition the true Protestant Religion is seated in the golden mean the enemies unto her are the extreams on either hand 10. The persons of Church-men are to be had in due respect for their works sake and protected from scorn but if a Clergie man be loose and scandalous he must not be patronized nor winck't at the example of a few such corrupt many 11. Great care must be takan that the patrimony of the Church be not sacrilegiously diverted to lay uses His Majesty in his time hath religiously stopped a leak that did much harm and would else have done more Be sure as much as in you lies stop the like upon all occasions 12. Colledges and Schools of learning are to be cherished and encouraged there to breed up a new stock to furnish the Church and Common-wealth when the old store are transplanted This Kingdom hath in latter ages been famous for good literature and if preferment shall attend the deservers there will not want supplies Next to Religion let your care be to promote Justice By Justice and mercy is The Kings throne established 1. Let the rule of Justice be the Laws of the Land an impartial arbiter between the King and his people and between one Subject and another I shall not speak superlatively of them lest I be suspected of partiality in regard of my own profession but this I may truly say they are second to none in the Christian world 2. And as far as it may lie in you let no Arbitrary power be intruded the people of this Kingdome love
to both the shipping of both in conjuncture being so powerful by Gods blessing as no Forrainers will venture upon This League and Friendship must inviolably be observed 15. From Scotland we have had in sormer times some Alarms and Inro esinto the Northern parts of this Kingdom but that happy Union of both Kingdoms under one Sovereign our gracions King I hope hath taken away all occasions of breach between the two Nations let not the cause arise from England and I hope the Scots will not adventure it or if they do I hope they will find that although to our King they were His first-born Subjects yet to England belongs the Birth-right But this should not be any cause to offer any injury to them nor to suffer any from them 16. There remains then no danger by the blessing of God but a Civil War from which God of his mercy defend us as that which is most desperate of all others The Kings Wisdom and Justice must prevent it if it may be or if it should happen quod absit he must quench that Wild-fire with all the diligence that possibly can be 17. Competition to the Crown there is none nor can be therefore it must be a fire within the bowels or nothing the cures whereof are these Remedium praeveniens which is the best physick either to a natural body or to a State by just and equal Government to take away the occasion and Remedium puniens if the other prevail not The service and vigilancy of the Deputy Lieutenants in every County and of the High Sheriff will contribute much herein to our security 18. But if that should not prevail by a wise and timous Inquisition the peccant humours and humorists must be discovered and purged or cut off mercy in such a case in a King is true cruelty 19. Yet if the Heads of the Tribes can be taken off and the mis-led multitude will see their error and return to their obedience such an extent of mercy is both honourable and profitable 20. A King against a storm must fore-see to have a convenient stock of treasure and neither be without money which is the sinewes of war nor to depend upon the courtesie of others which may fail at a pinch 21. He must also have a Magazine of all sorts which must be had from forreign parts or provided at home and to commit them to several places under the custody of trusty and faithful Ministers and Officers if it be possible 22. He must make choice of expert and able Commanders to conduct and manage the War either against a forreign invasion or a home rebellion which must not be young and giddy which dare not only to fight but to swear and drink and curse neither fit to govern others nor able to govern themselves 23. Let not such be discouraged if they deserve well by mis-information or for the satisfying the humors or ambition of others perhaps out of envy perhaps out of treachery or other sinister ends A steddy hand in governing of Military affairs is more requisite then in times of peace because an error committed in war may perhaps prove irremediable 24. If God shall bless these endeavours and the King return to His own House in Peace when a Civil war shall be at an end those who have been found faithful in the Land must be regarded yea and rewarded also the traiterous or treacherous who have mis-led others severely punish'd and the neutrals and false-hearted friends and followers who have started aside like a broken bowe be noted Carbone nigro and so I shall leave them and this part of the work VI. I come to the sixth part which is Trade and that is either at home or abroad And I begin with that which is at home which enableth the Subject of the Kingdom to live and layeth a foundation to a forreign trade by traffique with others which enableth them to live plentifully and happily 1. For the Home-trade I first commend unto your consideration the encouragement of Tillage which will enable the Kingdom for Corn for the Natives and to spare for Exportation And I myself have known more than once when in times of Dearth in Queen Elizabeths dayes it drained much Coyn of the Kingdom to furnish us with Corn from Forrain Parts 2. Good Husbands will find the means by good Husbandry to improve their Lands by Lime Chalk Marl or Sea-sand where it can be had But it will not be amiss that they be put in mind thereof and encouraged in their Industries 3. Planting of Orchards in a Soyl and Air fit for them is very prositable as well as pleasurable Sider and Perry are notable Beverage in Sea-Voyages 4. Gardens are also very profitable if planted with Artichokes Roots and such other things as are fit for food whence they be called Kitchin-Gardens and that very properly 5. The planting of Hop-yards sowing of Woad and Rape-seed are sound very profitable for the Planters in places apt for them and consequently profitable for the Kingdom which for divers years was furnished with them from beyond the Seas 6. The planting and preserving of Woods especially of Timber is not only profitable but commendable therewith to furnish posterity both for building and shipping 7. The Kingdom would be much improved by draining of drowned lands and gaining that in from the over-flowing of salt waters and the sea and from fresh waters also 8. And many of those grounds would be exceeding fit for Daries which being well houswived are exceeding commodious 9. Much good land might be gained from Forrests and Chases more remote from the Kings access and from other commonable places so as always there be a due care taken that the poor Commoners have no injury by such improvement 10. The making of navigable Rivers should be profitable they would be as so many in-draughts of wealth by conveying the commodities with ease from place to place 11. The planting of Hemp and Flax would be an unknown advantage to the Kingdom many places therein being as apt for it as any forreign parts 12. But add hereunto that it be converted into Linnen-cloth or Cordage the commodity thereof will be multiplied 13. So it is of the Wools and Leather of the Kingdom if they be converted into manufactures 14. Our English Dames are much given to the wearing of costly Laces and if they be brought from Italy or France or Flanders they are in great esteem whereas if the like Lace were made by the English so much thred as would make a yard of Lace being put into that manufacture would be five times or perhaps ten or twenty times the value 15. The breeding of cattel is of much profit especially the breed of Horses in many places not only for travel but for the great saddle the English horse for strength and courage and swiftness together not being inferiour to the horses of any other Kingdom 16. The Minerals of the Kingdom of Lead Iron Copper and Tynn
the Laws thereof and nothing will oblige them more then a confidence of the free enjoying of them What the Nobles upon an occasion once said in Parliament Nolumus leges Angliae mutari is imprinted in the hearts of all the people 3. But because the life of the Lawes lies in the due execution and administration of them let your eye be in the first place upon the choice of good Judges These properties had they need to be furnished with To be learned in their profession patient in hearing prudent in governing powerful in their elocution to perswade and satisfie both the parties and hearers just in their judgement and to sum up all they must have these three Attributes They must be men of courage fearing God and hating covetousness An ignorant man cannot a Coward dares not be a good Judge 4. By no means be you perswaded to interpose your self either by word or letter in any cause depending or like to be depending in any Court of Justice nor suffer any other great man to do it where you can hinder it and by all means disswade the King himself from it upon the importunity of any for themselves or their friends If it should prevail it perverts justice but if the Judge be so just and of such courage as he ought to be as not to be inclined thereby yet it alwayes leaves a taint of suspition behind it Judges must be as chaste as Caesars wife neither to be nor to be suspected to be unjust and Sir the honour of the Judges in their judicature is the Kings honour whose person they represent 5. There is great use of the service of the Judges in their circuits which are twice in the year held throughout the Kingdome the trial of a few causes between party and party or delivering of the gaols in the several Counties are of great use for the expedition of justice yet they are of much more use for the government of the Counties through which they passe if that were well thought upon 6. For if they had instructions to that purpose they might be the best intelligencers to the King of the true state of his whole Kingdom of the disposition of the people of their inclinations of their intentions and motions which are necessary to be truly understood 7. To this end I could wish that against every Circuit all the Judges should sometimes by the King himself and sometimes by the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper in the Kings Name receive a charge of those things which the present times did much require and at their return should deliver a faithful Account thereof and how they found and left the Counties through which they passed and in which they kept their Assizes 8. And that they might the better perform this work which might be of great importance it will not be amiss that sometimes this Charge be publick as it useth to be in the Star-Chamber at the end of the Terms next before the Circuit begins where the Kings care of Justice and the good of his People may be published and that sometimes also it may be private to communicate to the Judges some things not so fit to be publickly delivered 9. I could wish also that the Judges were directed to make a little longer stay in a place than usually they do a day more in a County would be a very good addition although their wages for their Circuits were increased in proportion it would stand better with the Gravity of their imployment whereas now they are sometimes enforced to rise over-early and to sit over-late for the dispatch of their business to the extraordinary trouble of themselves and of the people their times indeed not being horae juridicae And which is the main they would have the more leisure to inform themselves quasi aliud agentes of the true estate of the Countrey 10. The attendance of the Sheriffs of the Counties accompanied with the principal Gentlemen in a comely not a costly equipage upon the Judges of Assize at their coming to the place of their sitting and at their going out is not only a Civility but of use also It raiseth a Reverence to the persons and places of the Judges who coming from the King Himself on so great an Errand should not be neglected 11. If any sue to be made a Judge for my own part I should suspect him but if either directly or indirectly he should bargain for a place of Judicature let him be rejected with shame Uendere jure potest emerat ille prius 12. When the place of a chief Judge of a Court becomes vacant a puisne Judge of that Court or of another Court who hath approved himself fit and deserving would be sometimes preferred it would be a good encouragement for him and for others by his example 13. Next to the Judge there would be care used in the choice of such as are called to the degree of Serjeants at Law for such they must be first before they be made Judges none should be made Serjeants but such as probably might be held fit to be Judges afterwards when the experience at the Bar hath fitted them for the Bench Therefore by all means cry down that unworthy course of late times used that they should pay moneys for it It may satisfie some Courtiers but it is no Honour to the person so preferred nor to the King who thus prefers them 14. For the Kings Councel at the Law especially His Attorney and Sollicitor General I need say nothing their continual use for the Kings Service not only for His Revenue but for all the parts of His Government will put the King and those who love His Service in mind to make choice of men every way fit and able for that Employment they had need to be learned in their Profession and not ignorant in other things and to be dextrous in those Affairs whereof the dispatch is committed to them 15. The Kings Attorney of the Court of Wards is in the true quality of the Judges therefore what hath been observed already of Judges which are intended principally of the three great Courts of Law at Westminster may be applied to the choice of the Attorney of this Court 16. The like for the Attorney of the Dutchy of Lancaster who partakes of both qualities partly of a Judge in that Court and partly of an Attorney General for so much as concerns the proper Revenue of the Dutchy 17. I must not sorget the Judges of the four Circuits in the twelve Shires of Wales who although they are not of the first Magnitude nor need be of the degree of the Coyfe only the Chief Justice of Chester who is one of their number is so yet are they considerable in the choice of them by the same Rules as the other Judges are and they sometimes are and fitly may be transplanted into the higher Courts 18. There are many Courts as you see some superior some provincial and some of a
lower orb It were to be wished and is fit to be so ordered that every of them keep themselves within their proper spheres The harmony of Justice is then the sweetest when there is no jarring about the Jurisdiction of the Courts which methinks wisdom cannot much differ upon their true bounds being for the most part so clearly known 19. Having said thus much of the Judges somewhat will be fit to put you in mind concerning the principal Ministers of Justice and in the first of the High-Sheriffs of the Counties which have been very Ancient in this Kingdom I am sure before the Conquest The choice of them I commend to your care and that at fit times you put the King in mind thereof that as near as may be they be such as are fit for those places for they are of great Trust and Power the Pesse Comitatus the Power of the whole County being legally committed unto him 20. Therefore it is agreeable with the intention of the Law that the choice of them should be by the commendation of the great Officers of the Kingdom and by the Advice of the Judges who are presumed to be well read in the condition of the Gentry of the whole Kingdom And although the King may do it of himself yet the old way is the good way 21. But I utterly condemn the practice of the latter times which hath lately crept into the Court at the Back-stairs that some who are prick'd for Sheriffs and were fit should get out of the Bill and others who were neither thought upon nor worthy to be should be nominated and both for money 22. I must not omit to put you in mind of the Lords Lieutenants and deputy Lieutenants of the Counties their proper use is for ordering the military affairs in order to an invasion from abroad or a rebellion or sedition at home good choice should be made of them and prudent instructions given to them and as little of the Arbitrary power as may be left unto them and that the Muster-Masters and other Officers under them incroach not upon the Subject that will detract much from the Kings service 23. The Justices of peace are of great use Anciently there were Conservators of the peace these are the same saving that several Acts of Parliament have altered their denomination and enlarged their jurisdiction in many particulars The fitter they are for the Peace of the Kingdom the more heed ought to be taken in the choice of them 24. But negatively this I shall be bold to say that none should be put into either of those Commissions with an eye of favour to their persons to give them countenance or reputation in the places where they live but for the Kings service sake nor any put out for the dis-favour of any great man It hath been too often used and hath been no good service to the King 25. A word more if you please to give me leave for the true rules of the moderation of Justice on the Kings part The execution of Justice is committed to his Judges which seemeth tobe the severer part but the milder part which is mercy is wholly left in the Kings immediate hand And Justice and Mercy are the true supporters of his Royal Throne 26. If the King shall be wholly intent upon Justice it may appear with an over-rigid aspect but if he shall be over remiss and easie it draweth upon him contempt Examples of Justice must be made sometimes for terrour to some Examples of mercy sometimes for comfort to others the one procures fear and the other love A King must be both feared and loved else he is lost 27. The ordinary Courts of Justice I have spoken of and of their Judges and judicature I shall put you in mind of some things touching the High Court of Parliament in England which is superlative and therefore it will behove me to speak the more warily thereof 28. For the institution of it it is very antient in this Kingdom It consisteth of the two Houses of Peers and Commons as the Members and of the Kings Majesty as the head of that great body By the Kings Authority alone and by his Writs they are Assembled and by him alone are they Prorogued and Dissolved but each House may Adjourn it self 29. They being thus Assembled are more properly a Councel to the King the great Councel of the Kingdom to advise his Majesty in those things of weight and difficulty which concern both the King and People then a Court. 30. No new Laws can be made nor old Laws abrogated or altered but by common Consent in Parliament where Bills are prepared and presented to the two Houses and then delivered but nothing is concluded but by the Kings Royal assent They are but Embryos 't is he giveth life unto them 31. Yet the House of Peers hath a power of Judicature in some cases properly to examine and then to affirm or if there be cause to reverse the judgments which have been given in the Court of Kings Bench which is the Court of highest jurisdiction in the Kingdom for ordinary judicature but in these cases it must be done by Writ of Error in Parliamento And thus the rule of their proceedings is not absoluta potestas as in making new Laws in that conjuncture as before but limitata potestas according to the known Laws of the Land 32. But the House of Commons have only power to censure the Members of their own House in point of election or misdemeanors in or towards that House and have not nor ever had power so much as to administer an oath to prepare a judgment 33. The true use of Parliaments in this Kingdom is very excellent and they would be often called as the affairs of the Kingdom shall require and continued as long as is necessary and no longer for then they be but burthens to the people by reason of the priviledges justly due to the Members of the two Houses and their attendants which their just rights and priviledges are religiously to be observed and maintained but if they should be unjustly enlarged beyond their true bounds they might lessen the just power of the Crown it borders so near upon popularity 34. All this while I have spoken concerning the Common Laws of England generally and properly so called because it is most general and common to almost all cases and causes both civil and criminal But there is also another Law which is called the Civil or Ecclesiastical Law which is confined to some few heads and that is not to be neglected and although I am a professor of the Common Law yet am I so much a lover of truth and of Learning and of my native Countrey that I do heartily perswade that the professors of that Law called Civilians because the Civil Law is their guide should not be discountenanced nor discouraged else whensoever we shall have ought to do with any forreign King or State we shall be
at a miserable loss for want of Learned menin that profession III. I come now to the consideration of those things which concern Councellors of State The Council Table and the great Offices and Officers of the Kingdom which are those who for the most part furnish out the honourable Board 1. Of Councellors there are two sorts The first Consiliarii nati as I may term them such are the Prince of Wales and others of the Kings Sons when he hath more of these I speak not for they are naturally born to be Councellors to the King to learn the Art of Governing betimes 2. But the ordinary sort of Councellors are such as the King out of a due consideration of their worth and abilities and withal of their fidelities to his person and his Crown calleth to be of Councel with him in his ordinary Government And the Councel Table is so called from the place where they ordinarily assemble and sit together and their Oath is the only ceremony used to make them such which is solemnly given unto them at their first admission These honourable persons are from thenceforth of that Board and Body They cannot come until they be thus called and the King at his pleasure may spare their attendance and he may dispence with their presence there which at their own pleasure they may not do 3. This being the quality of their service you will easily judge what care the King should use in his choice of them It behoveth that they be persons of great trust and fidelity and also of wisdom and judgment who shall thus assist in bearing up the Kings Throne and of known experience in publick affairs 4. Yet it may not be unfit to call some of young years to train them up in that trade and so fit them for those weighty affairs against the time of greater maturity and some also for the honour of their persons But these two sorts not to be tied to so strict attendance as the others from whom the present dispatch of business is expected 5. I could wish that their number might not be so over great the persons of the Councellors would be the more venerable And I know that Queen Elizabeth in whose time I had the happiness to be born and to live many years was not so much observed for having a numerous as a wise Councel 6. The duty of a Privy Councellor to a King I conceive is not only to attend the Councel Board at the times appointed and there to consult of what shall be propounded But also to study those things which may advance the Kings honour and safety and the good of the Kingdom and to communicate the same to the King or to his fellow Councellors as there shall be occasion And this sir will concern you more then others by how much you have a larger share in his affections 7. And one thing I shall be bold to desire you to recommend to His Majesty That when any new thing shall be propounded to be taken into consideration that no Councellor should suddenly deliver any positive opinion thereof it is not so easie with all men to retract their opinions although there shall be cause for it But only to hear it and at the most but to break it at first that it may be the better understood against the next meeting 8. When any matter of weight hath been debated and seemeth to be ready for a Resolution I wish it may not be at that sitting concluded unless the necessity of the time press it lest upon second Cogitations there should be cause to alter which is not for the Gravity and Honour of that Board 9. I wish also that the King would be pleased sometimes to be present at that Board it adds a Majesty to it And yet not to be too frequently there that would render it less esteemed when it is become common Besides it may sometimes make the Councellors not to be so free in their Debates in His Presence as they would be in His Absence 10. Besides the giving of Councel the Councellors are bound by their Duties Ex vi termini as well as by their Oaths to keep Councel therefore are they called De Privato Consilio Regis à secretioribus Consiliis Regis 11. One thing I add in the Negative which is not fit for that Board the entertaining of private Causes of Meum Tuum those should be left to the ordinary course and Courts of Justice 12. As there is great care to be used for the Councellors themselves to be chosen so there is of the Clerks of the Councel also for the secreting of their Consultations and methinks it were fit that His Majesty be speedily moved to give a strict Charge and to bind it with a solemn Order if it be not already so done that no Copies of the Orders of that Table be delivered out by the Clerks of the Councel but by the Order of the Board nor any not being a Councellor or a Clerk of the Councel or his Clerk to have access to the Councel-Books And to that purpose that the Servants attending the Clerks of the Councel be bound to Secresie as well as their Masters 13. For the great Offices and Officers of the Kingdom I shall say little for the most of them are such as cannot well be severed from the Councellorship and therefore the same rule is to be observed for both in the choice of them In the general only I advise this let them be set in those places for which they are probably the most fit 14. But in the quality of the persons I conceive it will be most convenient to have some of every sort as in the time of Queen Elizabeth it was one Bishop at the least in respect of questions touching Religion or Church Government one or more skilled in the Laws some for Martial affairs and some for I orreign affairs By this mixture one will help another in all things that shall there happen to be moved But if that should fail it will be a safe way to consult with some other able persons well versed in that point which is the subject of their Consultation which yet may be done so warily as may not discover them in end therein IV. In the next place I shall put you in mind of Forreign Negotiations and Embassies to or with Forreign Princes or States wherein I shall be little able to serve you 1. Only I will tell you what was the course in the happy dayes of Queen Elizabeth whom it will be no dis-reputation to follow she did vary according to the nature of the employment the quality of the persons she employed which is a good rule to go by 2. If it were an Embassy of Gratulation or Ceremony which must not be neglected choice was made of some noble person eminent in place and able in purse and he would take it as a mark of favour and discharge it without any great burthen to the
the King or to the Council-board and from them receive such directions as may best agree with the Government of that place 15. That the Kings reasonable profit be not neglected partly upon reservation of moderate rents and services and partly upon Customes and partly upon importation and exportation of Merchandize which for a convenient time after the Plantation begin would be very easie to encourage the work but after it is well setled may be raised to a considerable proportion worthy the acceptation VIII I come to the last of those things which I propounded which is the Court and Curiality The other did properly concern the King in his Royal capacity as Pater patriae this more properly as Pater familias And herein 1. I shall in a word and but in a word only put you in mind That the King in his own person both in respect of his Houshold or Court and in respect of his whole Kingdom for a little Kingdom is but as a great Houshold and a great Houshold as a little Kingdom must be exemplary Regis ad exemplum c. But for this God be praised our charge is easie for your gracious Master for his Learning and Piety Justice and Bounty may be and is not only a president to his own subjects but to forreign Princes also yet he is still but a man and seasonable Memento's may be useful and being discreetly used cannot but take well with him 2. But your greatest care must be that the great men of his Court for you must give me leave to be plain with you for so is your injunction laid upon me your self in the first place who is first in the eye of all men give no just cause of scandal either by light or vain or by oppressive carriage 3. The great Officers of the Kings Houshold had need be both discreet and provident persons both for his Honour and for his Thrift they must look both ways else they are but half-sighted Yet in the choice of them there is more latitude left to affection then in the choice of Councellors and of the great Officers of State before touched which must always be made choice of meerly out of judgment for in them the publick hath a great interest 4. For the other ministerial Officers in Court as for distinction sake they may be termed there must be also an eye unto them and upon them they have usually risen in the Houshold by degrees and it is a noble way to encourage faithful service But the King must not bind himself to a necessity herein for then it will be held ex debito neither must he alter it without an apparent â—â—â—use for it but to displace any who are in upon displeasure which for the most part happeneth upon information of some great man is by all means to be avoided unless there be a manifest cause for it 5. In these things you may sometimes interpose to do just and good offices but for the general I should rather advise meddle little but leave the ordering of those Houshold affairs to the white-staffs which are those honourable Persons to whom it properly belongeth to be answerable to the King for it and to those other Officers of the Green-cloth who are subordinate to them as a kind of Councel and a Court of Justice also 6. Yet for the Green-cloth Law take it in the largest sence I have no opinion of it further then it is regulated by the just Rules of the Common-Laws of England 7. Towards the support of His Majesties own Table and of the Princes and of his necessary Officers His Majesty hath a good help by purveyance which justly is due unto him and if justly used is no great burthen to the subject but by the Purveyors and other under-Officers is many times abused In many parts of the Kingdom I think it is already reduced to a certainty in money and if it be indifferently and discreetly manag'd it would be no hard matter to settle it so throughout the whole Kingdom yet to be renewed from time to time for that will be the best and safest both for the King and People 8. The King must be put in mind to preserve the Revenues of his Crown both certain and casual without diminution and to lay up treasure in store against a time of extremity empty coffers give an ill sound and make the people many times forget their Duty thinking that the King must be beholden to them for his supplies 9. I shall by no means think it fit that he reward any of his servants with the benefit of forfeitures either by Fines in the Court of Star-Chamber or High Commission Court or other Courts of Justice or that they should be farmed out or bestowed upon any so much as by promise before Judgment given it would neither be profitable nor honourable 10. Besides matters of serious consideration in the Court of Princes there must be times for pastimes and disports When there is a Queen and Ladies of Honour attending her there must sometimes be Masques and Revels and Enterludes and when there is no Queen or Princess as now yet at Festivals and for entertainment of Strangers or upon such occasions they may be fit also Yet care would be taken that in such cases they be set off more with wit and activity then with costly and wasteful expences 11. But for the King and Prince and the Lords and Chivalry of the Court I rather commend in their turns and seasons the riding of the great Horse the Tilts the Barriers Tennis and Hunting which are more for the health and strength of those who exercise them then in an effeminate way to please themselves and others And now the Prince groweth up fast to be a man and is of a sweet and excellent disposition it would be an irreparable stain and dishonour upon you having that access unto him if you should mislead him or suffer him to be misled by any loose or flattering Parasites The whole Kingdom hath a deep interest in his virtuous education and if you keeping that distance which is fit do humbly interpose your self in such a case he will one day give you thanks for it 12. Yet Dice and Cards may sometimes be used for recreation when field-sports cannot be had but not to use it as a mean to spend the time much less to mispend the thrift of the Gamesters SIR I shall trouble you no longer I have run over these things as I first propounded them please you to make use of them or any of them as you shall see occasion or to lay them by as you think best and to add to them as you daily may out of your experience I must be bold again to put you in mind of your present condition you are in the quality of a Sentinal if you sleep or neglect your charge you are an undone man and you may fall much faster then you have risen I have but one thing more
principal devisers thereof and if this be not true spir at Gilbert Bafour There were also words added which I am loth to report that touched the Queen of Scots which I hold best to be supprest Further such persons anointed are not to be thought ill of without manifest proof The next day following a second Proclamation was made repeating the former Bill willing the party to subscribe his name and he should be pardoned and have the money according to the first Proclamation The next day being the nineteenth of February a second Bill was set up in the former place offering to compear and avow the matter so as the money might be put into indifferent hands and that Sir Francis Bastine Joseph and Moses Mishe be taken and then he the exhibitor of the Bill would avow the whole matter and declare every mans act Thus far things passed till that day and since that I hear that much unquietness is like to grow about that matter and the common speech toucheth the Earles Bothwell and Huntly who remain with the Queen but how true the accusations are I will not take upon me to affirm the one or the other neither would I have you to utter any of these things to make condemnation of any of them but as reports not doubting but shortly God will cause the truth to be revealed There do adhere together with the Earl of Lenox the Earles of Argile Morton Athell Morrey Catness and Glencarne who mean to be at Edenburgh very shortly as they pretend to search out the malefactors Of late you wrote unto me of one King an Euglishman who doth misuse himself very much of whom if you would write unto me somewhat more particularly for the proof his Traiterous speeches whereby there might be some good ground made how to have him demanded you shall hear more thereof and so shall percase by the next though I do not hear from you and so fare you heartily well Yours assuredly W. Cecil Westm. 5. March 1566. Postscript Because I have not presently leisure to write to Mr. Man Ambassador in Spain I pray you to let him understand of such advertisments as I send you and such other things as you shall think meet And to convey the letters by the Spanish Ambassadors means Resident there in that Court To the Right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR I wrote of late to you that Sir Thomas Smith should come shortly thither but I think he shall not be there now so speedily as was meant for he shall first secretly pass over to Callis to be there the 3. April to demand the Town not that we think the Governour will deliver it But to avoid all Cavillation which they might invent for by Law it must be demanded at the very place and being not delivered the sum of five hundred thousand pounds is forfeited Master Winter shall pass secretly with him to take possession thereof if they shall deceive our expectation but not past three of the Council knoweth of Winters going The common fame in Scotland continueth upon the Earl Bothwell to be the principal Murtherer of the King and the Queens name is not well spoken of God amend all that is amiss We heard before your writing of the French attempt for the Prince We have no news but all well here the matters of Flanders go very hard for the Protestants and if God do not provide for their safety I look for their ruine I heard this day that Danvile should be slain fare you well Yours assuredly W. Cecil Westm. 21. March 1566. To the Right Honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR BY the Queens Majesties letters and by this bearer you shall understand how earnestly her Majesty is inclined to help the Count Rocandolse and since the writing of her Majesties letters she hath commanded me that you should make it a principal part of your request to the King and the Queen mother that considering the Count is a stranger born and is of the Order of France that his cause might be heard and ordered by the King and the others of the same order and to that end you shall prosecute your request that the whole cause may be removed from the Court of Parliament at Paris wherein her Majesty would have you by all good means to persist as in a request that of it self is honorable and sometimes as she thinketh usual At the least such as if any the like person being a stranger in her Realm and being honored with the Order of the Garter if he would require to have his causes wherein his life or honor were touched to be heard by her Majesty and her Knights of her Order he should not be denyed nor should be by any other Judges molested Thus I report to you her Majesties good pleasure and thereto do add my poor private request to beseech you not to be weary in the prosecution of this suit Yours assuredly W. Cecil Westm. 9. March 1567. To the Right Honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight Her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YEsterday Mr. Smiths Son arrived with some Letters from you and him containing your troublesome negotiation whereof we hear thought very long He saith he was constrained to tarry six days at Hull and that his Father would be here this night you shall hereafter hear of some ill news out of Ireland and though it be not of great moment thanks be to God yet by report of ill friends they wil be amplified Indeed the 21. of April a Fire happened in a little Fort upon the Sea side at a place called the Dirrye which Mr. Randolphe first took in such sort as the houses being all covered with Straw the soldiers were forced to abandon it being two hundred and with their Captain Mr. Sentlo came by Sea to Knockvergus a Castle of the Queens but for all this it is meant to take again the place or a better and to prosecute the Rebel who is in declination The Queen of Scots I think will be wooed to marry the Earl Bothwell the principal of the Nobility are against it and are at Sterling with the Prince Fare ye well and as I wrot by Mr. Shute so assure your self of me as you mean your self to me Yours assuredly W. Cecil May 12. 1567. To the Right Honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR BY your last Letter of I understand of the intelligence was given unto you of preparation of eight Ships to be set out to the Seas which seemeth very strange and therefore the Ambassador here who could not get Audience of the Queens Majesty although he often demanded it since Mr. Smiths return was sent for to come to the Council and was roundly charged with certain depredations committed upon English Merchants in the West and also with this new preparation and therewith warned to advertise his Master
sorry that at present I am unfurnished to help you with a Secretary my servant Windebanke is sick Mr. Sommers will not be induced to leave his place So as nevertheless if I can procure you any other meet person by the next Messenger you shall hear I thank you for the Chart of Paris and for a written Book to the Queens Majestie whereof her Majesty would gladly know the Author And so I end Yours assuredly W. Cecil Richmond 14. July 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR AT my last writing by Master Jenny I did not make any mention of answer to your request for the provision of a Secretary Because I heard that you meant to place one Molenenx if he might be recommended by me and truly if he be meet for the place I do well allow thereof for howsoever he did in times past misuse me I have remitted it and wish him well My Lord Keeper prayeth you to use some good means to inquire by the way of Orleans of Sir Ralph Pawlet what is become of him and where he is and how he doth It is certain on the 29. of July the Prince of Scotland was Crowned King at Sterling with all the Ceremonies thereto due and with a general applause of all sorts the Queen yet remaineth where she was Yours assuredly W. Cecil Windsor 5. Aug. 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOu shall perceive by the Queens Majesties Letter to you at this present how earnestly she is bent in the favor of the Queen of Scots and truely since the beginning she hath been greatly offended with the Lords and howsoever her Majesty might make her profit by bearing with the Lords in this Action yet no councel can stay her Majestie from manifesting of her misliking of them So as indeed I think thereby the French may and will easily catch them and make their present profit of them to the damage of England and in this behalf her Majesty had no small misliking of that Book which you sent me written in French whose name yet I know not but howsoever I think him of great Wit and acquaintance in the affairs of the world It is not in my power to procure any reward and therefore you must so use the matter as he neither be discouraged nor think unkindness in me When all is done I think my Lord of Murray will take the Office of Regency and will so band himself with the rest as he will be out of peril at home And as for External power to offend them I think they are so skillful of other Princes causes and needs as I think they will remain without fear We are occupied with no news greater then this of Scotland We begin to doubt of the King of Spains coming out of Spain finding it more likely for his Son to come In Ireland all things proceed smoothly to make the whole Realm obedient the Deputie hath leave to come over to confer with the Queens Majesty upon the affairs My Lord of Sussex wrot from Augusta the 24. of July that he meant to be at Vienna the last of July and also that the Emperor meant to be there at the same time I must heartily pray you to bear with my advice that in your expences you have consideration not to expend so much as by your Bills brought to me by your servant Cartwright it seemeth you do for truely I have no Warrant to allow such several Fees as be therein contained neither did I know any of the like allowed to any of your predecessors and in the paying for your intelligences if you be not well ware you shall for the most part have counterfeited ware for good money In matters of importance or when you are precisely commanded to prosecute matters of weight it is reason your extraordinary charges be born but as to the common Advisees of the Occurrents abroad they are to be commonly had for small value and many times as news for news for at this day the common Advisees from Venice Rome Spain Constantinople Vienna Geneva Naples yea and from Paris are made so currant as every Merchant hath them with their letters from their Factors If I did not know your good Nature I would not thus plainly write and yet if I should not hereof warn you your expences might increase and I know not how to procure your payment and yet hereby I mean to do my best at all times to help you to allowance for all necessary expences and so take my leave Yours assuredly W. Cecil From the Mannor of Guilford 19. Aug. 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR I Have had no good Messenger of good time to write unto you the Queens Majesty hath been abroad from Windsor these twenty dayes and returned on Saturday very well Lignerolls is come out of Scotland with very small satisfaction as I think he could not speak with the Queen no more then Sir Nicholas Throckmorton who also is returning The Hambletons hold out the Earl of Murray is now Regent the Queens Majesty our Sovereign remaineth still offended with the Lords for the Queen the example moveth her In Ireland all things prosper and be quiet Sir Henry Sydney shall come onely to confer and shall return to keep a Parliament in Ireland My Lord of Sussex was honorably received the fifth of August lodged and defrayed by the Emperor had his first Audience on the eight the Arch-Duke Charles was looked for within five days and now we daily look for Sir Henry Cobham to come in Post at the least within these ten days All things are quiet within this Realm thanked be Almighty God I have presently a paper sent me from Antwerp in French very strange containing an Edict to compell all Judges Governors all Officers and Councellors to give Attestation of the Catholick Faith if it should be true it should be a hazard to make a plain civil war My Lady your Wife came this night hither to Windsor whom I have warned to write to you by this bearer Yours assuredly W. Cecil Septem 3. 1567. To the Right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOu may perceive by the Queens letter how this noble man is partly of his own minde partly by perswasion stayed and surely if either the French King or the Queen should appear to make any force against them of Scotland for the Queens cause we finde it credibly that it were the next way to make an end of her and for that cause her Majesty is loth to take that way for avoiding of standers that might grow thereby I had provided a young man for you which could have served very well for writing and speaking of French and English but I durst not allow him to serve you in your
much troubled for lack of certain advertisements from you whilst we hear from other parts reports so diversly Nevertheless I do think and affirm that there be some letters dispatched from you since the date aforesaid Those which you wrote last to the Queens Highness were well and amply written and so I wish you should do with the rest hereafter You may perceive by the Queens Majesties letter which I send at this time her sincere meaning which if it be well taken it is well bestowed and yet I think she should not finde the like courtesie and good meaning if she had need of the like from the which I pray God long keep her Her Majesty is well disposed to send some thither if she thought she might do good towards the peace against which I think plainly all Ambassadors but your self are vehemently disposed and so it appeareth by the fruits of their Councils and if you told the Queen mother so as of your own head as a thing you hear spread abroad in the world I think you might do well and speak truely for as for the Popes Ministers their profession is to prefer the State of their corrupted Church before the Weal of any Kingdom in the earth and whatsoever come of any thing they look onely to the continuance of their own ambitious ruling and as for other Ministers of Princes or for men of War it is a truth infallible the more they do impoverish that Monarchy of France the better they think their own estates and if the Queen-mother and other good Councellors of the King do not understand this you may say if you can in good terms Oculos Habent non vident Our matters here in England remain as hitherto they have long done by the goodness of God in great quietness This day I had letters from my Lord of Sussex of the first of this moneth from Antwerp who I perceive meaneth to pass over the Seas hitherwards this night so as I think he will be here by Munday what he bringeth I know not at all Bredrood is dead at Collen the Count of Berry eldest son to the Prince of Orange is in Zealand ready to be carryed into Spain it is doubted that the Counts of Egmond and Horne shall follow Yours assuredly W. Cecil March 6. 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOu have done very well in this doubtful time to write so often hither as you have done for that the Queens Majesty hath been in great expectation what to judge to be the truth in the middest of so many divers advertisements for howsoever we be from other places advertised we measure the same even by yours The last letters which you sent were dated the 30. of March which came hither yesterday being the 7. And considering the last accident hapned the 29. by a treachery to have supplanted the good meaning of the peace I am in opinion that the Prince and his should have a reasonable occasion offered unto them to mend their bargain in certain points tending to their own surety which surely if they do not better foresee me thinks their danger wil not be far off I pray you to continue your vigilancy in exploring of wherein you may do very well to procure that the R may be induced to withstand that enterprize as being a matter very prejudicial to the whole London 2 Paris c. Here hath been of good long time one Emmanuel Tremelius who heretofore in King Edwards time read the Hebrew Lecture in Cambridge and hath now been sent hither by the Count Palatine the Elector to inform the Queens Majesty of the proceedings of the said Elector in sending his son into France without intention to offend the King and the Realm or to assist the Prince of Conde in any thing but onely in the defence of the common cause of Religion who now upon the ending of these causes in France will depart hence and truely in my opinion the said Elector hath shewed himself to be a Prince of great honor in this Action The Prince of Orange hath also sent hither a special Gentleman to declare unto her Majesty his innocency in such causes as are objected against him touching any part of his duty towards the King of Spain And further also to shew good cause why he doth not return into the Low Countries to appear before the Duke of Alva whom he noteth to be a Judge not competent because he hath already notorionsly broken the Laws and ancient priviledges of the same Countries Out of Scotland I hear that the Hambletons continue in that Faction against the Regent and I believe they be nourished out of France by means of the Abbot of Arbroth who lately came thorough this way Of my Lady your wifes dangerous sickness out of the which she was newly escaping when your Son arrived here I doubt not but you are well advertised so as I need not to write any other thing but onely to rejoyce with you that she is so well amended You see by my writing that this Country thanked be God is as barren of news as that of France is plenteous Sir Ambrose Cave is departed this life and as yet it is not known who shall succeed him some name Mr Vice-Chamberlaine some Sir Henry Sydney some Sir Ralph Sadler some Sir Nic. Throckmorton her Majesty can make no ill choice of any of these And so trusting ere this letter can come to your hands I shall receive some of yours containing the resolution of this long lingring peace Yours assuredly W. Cecil April 8. 1568. SIR THis evening Harcourte arrived here with your letters which were long looked for and be now welcome for your satisfaction by this bearer you shall understand of the recovery of my Lady your Wife The Gentleman that lately came hither named Monsieur de Beamont one of the late disorder of France passeth into Scotland which is not much to be liked The book which you sent of the peace hath not printed in it certain Articles by way of request made to the King by the Commissaries on the Princes part what answers Marginal of the King I fear much the surety of the Prince and his Colleagues I hear by him that came last now of strange news at Diep of the King and Prince of Spain I pray you if there be any of moment send us word Here is an Ambassador arrived from Portugal for to brawle about Merchants and Maritime matters For haste I can write no more Yours assuredly W. Cecil April 14. 1568. Postscript I send you the beginning of the Parliament of Scotland when I have more you shall have more sent you To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur last letters brought hither are of the 18. of April which came hither the 29. of the same moneth by which I looked to have heard where the
it hath been answered untill her cause may appear more probable for her innocency the Queens Majesty cannot with honor receive her personally but if the Queen will by any manner of means honorable let her cause appear to be void of the horrible crime imputed to her for the murthering of her husband she shall be aided and used with all honor whereunto she will give no resolute answer other then that if she may come personally to the Queens Majesty then she will let it appear how she standeth in the cause Hereupon we stand at a brawl she much offended that she hath not her requests and we much troubled with the difficulties finding neither her continuance here good nor her departing hence quiet for us We here speak of one La Mote that should come hither Yours assured W. Cecil From Havering the 13. of July in haste Postscript And for and x I pray you put them in comfort that if extremity should happen they must not be left for it is so universal a cause as none of the Religion can separate themselves one from another we must all pray together and stand fast together and further c. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France AFter my hearty commendations though here be no great cause of present dispatch to you yet for the return of this bearer your servant Darrington having been long here and also to let you understand of the Queens Majesty proceedings with the Queen of Scots since her being in this Realm and since my last letters to you I have taken this occasion to return him to you The Queen of Scots having long laboured the Queens Majesty both by Messages and Letters to have aid of her Majesty against the Lords of Scotland and by force to restore her to her Realm her Majesty could not finde it meet in honor so to do but rather to seek all other good means to compass it with quiet and honor wherein much travailing hath been spent Finally the Queen of Scots hath agreed that her matter shall be heard in this Realm before some good personages to be deputed by the Queens Majesty to meet with some of the Lords of Scotland about New-Castle or Durham or neer this way as shall be found fit and so to be reported to her Majesty This way being now resolved upon and accepted of all parts the Earl of Murray hath offered to come himself in person if her Majesty finde it good accompanyed with others of meet condition to any place and at any time that her Majesty will appoint and because the Lord Herreys having long been here for the Queen of Scots and lately gone to her hath on his Mistrisses behalf required that speed might be used in this matter the Queens Majesty hath by her special letters required the Earle of Murray that all expedition may be made either for his own or else that some others may come chosen to be persons of wisdom and dexterity and void of all particular passion in such a cause as this is and upon his answer of the persons that shall be thus appointed there the Queens Majesty will with all speed send like fit personages from hence to meet with them and in the mean time where they the Lords of Scotland had summoned a Parliament of their three Estates to assemble in this next August her Majesty hath required them to suspend the holding of the Parliament untill the issue of this matter to be heard by her Majesty may come to some end In this meeting the Queens Majesty doth not mean to charge the Queen of Scots but will hear what the Lords can alleadge for themselves to defend all their doings and proceedings for imprisoning and deposing their Queen and other matters published by them and thereof to cause report to be made to her to be answered and likewise to carry such matters as are to come from her against them and upon hearing of all parts as matters shall in truth fall out so doth her Majesty mean to deal further therein as honor will lead and move her to do Whilst these things have been in doing the Queens Majesty hath been advertised though not from the Queen of Scots that she hath deputed the whole Government of her Realm of Scotland to the Duke of Chastilheraulte thereby both to make a party as may be supposed betwixt him and the Earl of Murray and also to be the earnester to procure Forreign aid for his maintenance whereof her Majesty is informed there is a great appearance having obtained of the French King good numbers of Harquebuziers and others ready to embarque for Scotland which being true her Majesty hath good cause to let the said King understand that it is against his promise as your self knoweth best And so hath also the said Queen assured her Majesty that she will not procure any Strangers to come into Scotland for her use untill it may appear what will ensue of this meeting But if the contrary fall out either by her own means or by the procuring of the said Duke of Chastilherault in France the Queens Majesty will not onely forbear to deal any further for the benefit of the Queen of Scots as hitherto her Highness hath done with all honor and sincerity having had as great care of her cause as she her self could have but shall be justly moved to do otherwise then the said Queen or her friends abroad would wish Thus much I thought good to impart unto you of these matters to the end that if you being there finde indeed that the said Duke doth obtain any such aide there to be sent into Scotland you may take occasion to deal therein with the King or with such as you know fittest for the stay thereof The Queen is now removed lately from Carlile to Bolton Castle a house of the Lord Scroops about 30. miles within the land fitter in all respects for her to lye at then Carlile being a Town for Frontier and War the Queens Majesty doth cause her to be very well and honorably used and accompanied And thus having no other present matter to write unto you I thought good herewith to return your servant to you wishing you right heartily well to do From the Court at Endfield the 25. of July 1568. After the end of this letter your servant Wall arrived here with your letters to the Lord Steward the Earl of Leicester and to me for answer to the letter which we wrote to you which letter after I had caused to be deciphered I sent to the Court to them my self being at my house near Waltham not well at ease nor in case to go to Court I long much to hear answer of letters sent by your Lackque touching the matter of an Italian whereof I doubt the Queens Majesty is more careful to hear then she doth here express at this time I have received a letter from an Italian there with you who
in exercise of his Religion he continually lamenteth that grave Councellors perswading peace are not of more power and credit in the Court. Whatsoever this French Ambassador shall report of him he cannot truly report any evil of him I hear La Mot is on his way at Callis to come hither I think surely some of yours are on the way I pray send me a Register or List of the Chieftains on the Kings part and also on the contrary Sir I do send you herewith a new Cipher Yours assuredly W. Cecil To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur last letters that came to my hands were of the 29. of the last moneth by which you signified to me the advertisements which you then had of the taking of Angulesme since which time sundry reports are brought hither of Battels that should be betwixt the parties whereof lacking advertisements from your self I do give credit unto none by reason of the diversities of the reports On Sunday last La Mot was presented by Mounsieur de la Forest the former Ambassador whom the Queens Majesty hath admitted as Ambassador for the French King and seemeth to like well of his wisdom whereof hitherto for mine own part I have not had any proof The cause of the Queen of Scots is now to be heard here for which purpose the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Sussex are sent for from York and are to be here within these two days and presently the Earl of Murray the Earl Morton with certain other Noble men of his part are already come and on the Queens part the Bishop of Ross and the Lord Herryes be at London and do daily look for some other Commissioners to joyn with them because her Majesty meaneth to have the whole matter advisedly heard she hath appointed an Assembly not onely of her whole Council but of all the Earls of the Realm to be here the 18. of this moneth at which time her Majesty meaneth to have this cause of the Queen of Scots fully heard and therein to take such resolution and end as she shall be advised unto by her said Council and Estates The last letters which you sent unto the Queen wherein as her Majesty saith you made declaration of your Message done to that King concerning the Cardinal Chastillons being here was by her Majesty casually let fall in the fire and so burnt whereupon her Majesty being sorry for that she had not advisedly perused it willed me to write unto you for the copy of the same letter again which I pray you to send me by the next I would be glad to hear a brief or as they call it a list of the names of the principal persons that have a charge now in these wars in France on both parts with the contents as near as you can of their numbers After the writing hereof this present evening as the bearer hereof can tell Mr. Edmonds came hither with your letters to the Queens Majesty by which I am satisfied for those reports that were made of the great sights at Angulesme and of that which hath been here reported by the French Ambassador of the overthrow of Mouvans which I am glad is not true as he reported and so finding nothing else to be answered I thought good to dispatch this bearer with this my letter to the intent we might the sooner hear of your news whereupon dependeth the whole expectation of the Christian world Yours assuredly W. Cecil Hampton-Court 16. Nov. 1566. Postscript Before Mr. Edmonds came you may see what I wrote of the To the Right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR BY your last letter sent to me by this bearer your servant I perceived how good hap it was for our satisfaction here that your letters came not away with the report of the victory whereof the King there advertised you by a special Messenger untill you had also knowledge of the truth thereof by Villeroys coming from the Camp after the first message for like as the former part of your letters made mention of a great Victory for the King and an overthrow of the Princes whole Infantry So have many letters been written hither from Paris and other places according to the partial affections of the Writers in affirmance thereof adding for their confirmation certain solemnities by Processions and such like used at Paris for the same nevertheless I account the truth to be as in the latter part of your letter you write that there was no such manner of battel but certain skirmishes wherein there was no great inequality and yet because I hear it also credibly reported that the Prince of Conde lodged and kept the field where the skirmishes were I think his losses were less then the others whereof I think within a while to know the truth more particularly This matter of the Queen of Scots began to be heard and treated on at Westminster the 25. of the last moneth since which time there hath been sittings five or six several days and yesterday the Queen of Scots Commissioners having matter to answer whereby the Queen their Mistriss was charged with the murther of her husband they alleadged that they would go no further being so commanded by letters from her received since the beginning of this Commission and have required to speak with the Queens Majesty of whom they pretend they will desire to have the Queen their Mistriss to come to the presence of her Majesty and answer these causes her self whereunto how they shall be answered I cannot tell but for that purpose and others her Majesty hath presently sent for her Council who be here at present and so shall the Queen of Scots Commissioners be to morrow and hereafterward as matters shall fall out I will advertise you further and so take my leave Yours assuredly W. Cecil Hampton-Court 2. Decem. 1568. To the Right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR SInce my last writing by your servant Buffin I have forborn to write because I thought both to hear somewhat more from you and to have also somewhat here to write unto you Since which time I have received no letters from you but such as the poor Merchants of Ireland brought me being dated the 25. of the last moneth which came hither on Saturday last being the 11. of this moneth and considering the multitude of tales reported here to us of the conflict about the 18. I was nothing satisfied with the said last letters because touching that matter they did refer me to your former against which the French Ambassador here hath precisely given unto us news in the name of the King his Master wholly to the disadvantage of the Prince and therefore I wish you had written thereof now at the latter time somewhat more particularly I did of late write to you for the copy of the letter
which you gave both to my Lord of Leicester and me of the secret cause of the Kings going to Metz seemeth to be of such importance as it is found very needful to provide with speed some remedy and so we here for our part will do our best as serve which you may consider considering the and therefore I pray you attempt all the means you can to advise all parts that shall take the harm I have no more to write to you meaning to expect within three or four days somewhat from you and then I will write by one of your Footmen and so I take my leave The French Ambassador hath been informed of the stay of our Ships at Rhoan and on Thursday last my Lords of the Council sent Mr. Hampton to him to move him that they might be released within 15. days or else we must do the like his answer was that he would do his best and he trusted they should be imputing the cause to our sufferance of the Prince of Conde his party on the Sea to make Portsale in our Havens which surely is not by us permitted and therefore for his satisfaction we did yesterday write letters to all Officers of Ports to prohibit utterly the vent of any Commodities brought in by such men and besides this the Ambassador hath required that you would be earnest with the King for the release of our Ships which we told him was not neglected by you and so I doubt not but you do your best therein This day the Ambassador sent his Secretary unto me to complain that the Currier of Callis carrying his Packet from hence should be searched and certain Packets of letters taken from him which I told him was true and the cause thereof such as we had more reason to complain thereof then he For true it is that the said Currier having but one small Packet of the French Ambassadors under pretence thereof had carryed with him two great Fardels of letters of the Merchants of the Low Countries who were here Arrested with their goods a matter also whereof the said Ambassador was forewarned and so is the matter to be proved by the letters of the said strangers which I at present have in my custody and so the Post was permitted freely to depart with all mańner of letters which he had of the said Ambassador And so I pray you to make answer therein as you shall see cause for so is the truth and no otherwise Yours assuredly W. Cecil Hampton-Court Jan. 30. 1568. To the Right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR OF late I have received three several letters from you the first of the 11. the second of the 13. and the last of the 15. of February although that of the 13 of February was written to be in January but I am sure to be mistaken By the first it appeared that you could not obtain of Mounsieur Morviller the names of any Ships or Merchants of that party which were stayed here although they pretended the stay of ours at Rhoan to be for that cause In the same letter you make mention of two dis-courtesies or as I may rather say injuries done unto you the one by taking Rogers your servant the other by imprisoning the Physician to my Lady your wife of which two matters you may see by the answer made to the French Ambassador I have made mention The second letter of the 13. which was brought to me by this bearer containeth matter of burthening you by the Queen Mother for solliciting the Queens Majesty to take some enterprize for Callis or Rochel wherein I think your wisdom sufficient to satisfie your self what to think for if you had so done as I know not that you have it were not unlike but they there would invent and set abroach for their advantage the like matter if the circumstances were theirs as they be ours And where you are charged with conveyance of the Rebels letters as they call them in your Packets I think the same and the former part are fed with one humor which is that though you do not in this sort yet they surely would so do in the like wherefore I wish you to be no ways troubled herewith but as the end of the verse is Contra audentior ito and yet to hold this rule to be a Minister of good amity betwixt the Princes usque ad aras that is as far forth as it be not against the honor of God and the safety of the Queen our Sovereign By your letter of the 15. which was written after you had closed up the Packet brought by this bearer you advertised me of the news which you had of Monsieur Gengez and of the joyning together of the Prince of Orange and the Duke Pipantine whereof saving your advertisements otherwise we hear nothing but rather the contrary being spred so by the French Ambassador here with affirmations of great credit In the latter end of your letter of the 13. it appeareth you had not then sent away the Queens Majesties letters to the King of Spain whereof I am very sorry for her majesty maketh an assured account that they had been in Spain by this time which I see you did not because the Spanish Ambassador was not at Court but at Paris for remedy whereof all speed possible would be used to send them by a special man to the Ambassador at Paris with some excuse to him of sending the same so late You shall understand that Monsieur D' Assenleville who came onely from the Duke of Alva hath been here of long time hovering to have had access to the Queen as an Ambassador which her Majesty would not allow of nor would so much prejudice her self in respect of the unkinde usage of the Duke of Alva and yet nevertheless allowed unto him as much conference as he would with her Council to whom although he did open as we think the sum of his negotiation yet he pretended to have somewhat more to her Majesty if he might have audience of her which otherwise he said he could open to no body As to that which he opened to the Council which was a request to have the money released and the Arrest set at liberty It was answered That the money belonged to Merchants and that he could not deny but added that it was meant to have been lent unto the Duke of Alva in the Low Countries and so as they termed it designed to the Kings use as to the restitution of the money and putting the Arrest at liberty she would neither deny nor grant the same to him considering he lacked authority to make sufficient contract thereupon but when the King himself should send one sufficiently authorized both to understand and to redress the injuries done by the Duke of Alva to her Majesties subjects it should well appear that the King should be reasonably satisfied on her Majesties behalf and amity and peace
1569. Postscript SIR IT is now accorded that three of the Merchants shall pass over to Rohan to prove what restitution the French will make there and the like shall be here Because I doubt your slack servants I do presently send away this bearer otherwise I would have staid him to have seen what manner of news this Ambassador hath to declare upon Tuesday next at which time he hath required to be heard I am ready as I told your Son Mr. William Norris to do any thing in my power to pleasure you in your particular causes or suites here as the last Term I did deal for you in such as I was required Yours assuredly W. Cecil To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur last letters are of the 8 of June brought by a Merchant residing at Rhoan and now our daily expectation is to hear either of the joyning of the Duke Vypont with the Admiral or else that they have been kept asunder by sight we have no news here being contented with continuance of quietness which we think to possess except the motions of the contrary shall come from thence whereof we have great cause to fear and the like to prevent Upon a Reprizal made by Mr. Winter here of certain Portugals goods We hear for certainty that King of Portugal hath Arrested the goods of our Merchants there whereof will follow some jaâ—â— which we think our foes will increase The Queen of Scots hath sent one Borthick by whom at his request I wrot yesterday and her Secretary Rowlye into France co procure from the King and his brother 〈◊〉 some satisfaction to the Queens Majesty for avoiding of the opinion conceived of her transaction with Mounsieur D' Anjou how they shall well satisfie her Majesty I cannot tell but as of late I wrote to you her Majesty would have you explore by all means that you can what hath been in truth done heretofore in that case besides the advertisement for her Majesty hath seen letters passed betwixt no mean persons of Authority there being adversaries to the Religion by which it manifestly appeareth that such matters have been secretly concluded and yet the more tryals are made hereof the better it is We have at length accorded with the French Ambassador here as as you shall see by a Copy of writing herewith sent you and so I take my leave of you I wish that you would always when you send any with your letters write what you imprest to them for their charges for I make full allowance to them all And so with my hearty commendations to you and my Lord I end Our Progress is like to be to Southampton Your assured friend at command W. Cecil Greenwich 18 June 1569. To the right honorable Sir Henrry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR THis bearer Mr Borthick servant to the Queen of Scots hath required me to have my letters unto you to signifie the cause of his coming wherein I can certifie of my knowledge no other than thus the Queen of Scots of late time amongst other things to move the Queens Majesty to be favoureble unto her in her causes offered to do any thing reasonable to satisfie her Majesty concerning her surety in the right of this Crown as she now possesseth it to her self and her issue whereupon answer was given that though there was no need for the Queens Majesties assurance to have any Act pass from her yet as things were understood the Queen of Scots was not now a person able or meet to contract therein for it was understood that she had made a Concession of all her Title to this Crown to the Duke of Anjou with which answer we finde the Queen of Scots much moved as a thing devised by her enemies in France and thereupon she advertiseth the cause to be of the sending of her 〈◊〉 into France to the King his Brother Uncles c. to make perfect testimony in what sort this surmise is untrue and so as I am informed this is the occasion of the coming of Mr. Borthick this Bearer who truly I have found always a good servant to the Queen his Mistriss and a tractable Gentleman at all times and so I pray you accept him upon my commendations Yours assuredly W. Cecil Westm. 16. June 1569. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur advertisement of the Duke of Bipont came hither so speedily as untill seven days after the French Ambassador could not understand thereof but when he did he used no sparing to divulge it abroad where the Count Ernest of Mansfelt is we cannot as yet understand but from Rochell we hear that he is well allowed of the Army and not inferior in knowledge to the Duke The will of God must be patiently received and obeyed and what shall ensue hereof to his glory we must if it be good affirm it to be beyond our deserts if otherwise not so evil as we have deserved Of late about the 15. of June a Rebellion began in the West part of Ireland about Cork wherein we care not for the force of the inhabitants so they be not aided with some Spainards or Portugals whereof we are not void of suspicion and therefore we do presently send certain Captains with a Force by Sea from Bristoll to Cork meaning to provide for the worst as reason is Our Rochell Fleet is safely returned with Salt and I think the Merchants have not as yet brought their whole accomplement Upon your last advertisement of the delays used in giving you Pasports I did peremptorily admonish the French Ambassador That if he did not procure you some better expedition at the Kings hands there he should have the like measure there and therefore I think you shall hear some what whereof I pray you advertise me And so I take my leave Yours assuredly W. Cecil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Postscript An unfortunate Accident is befaln to my Lord of Shrewsbury being first stricken with a Palsey and now stricken lamentably with a Phrensie God comfort him It is likely the Queen of Scots shall remove to Belvoir in the charge of my Lord of Bedford To the right honorable Sir Henrry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR AS my leisure is small to write much so have I not much matter to write unto you at this time but onely to send away this bearer your servant unto you because I think in this time you have cause to use them all Your Son Mr. John Norris I think shall be the next by whom you shall understand all our matters here better then I can express in my letters and therefore I do forbear to write divers things at this present unto you which by him you shall more certainly understand onely at this time I wish that you could find the means to send some trusty person
but they both being come upon former licence near the City on the way upon desire to see her Majesty came hither yesterday unlooked for and although in the beginning of this Northern Rebellion her Majesty sometimes uttered some misliking of the Earl yet this day she meaning to deal very Princely with him in presence of her Council charged him with such things as she had heard to cause her misliking without any note of mistrust towards him for his fidelity whereupon he did with such humbleness wisdom plainness and dexterity answer her Majesty as both she and all the rest were fully satisfied and he adjudged by good proofs to have served in all this time faithfully and so circumspectly as it manifestly appeareth that if he had not so used himself in the beginning the whole North part had entred into the Rebellion Vsque ad 3. Febr. We have now letters out of Scotland that the Nobility which favoreth the young King have assembled themselves and made a reconciliation of divers persons that had particular quarrels one against another and as they pretend they will all joyn firmely in the revenge of the Murther and defence of their King the Lord Grange who keepeth the Castle of Edenburgh is reconciled to the Earl Moreton and become one of this Bonde and so doth Leddington also offer to be another The Duke of Chastilherault is streighter kept then he was before and it is commonly reportd that the Hambletons were the workers of this murther thus much being known of certain that the murtherer was a neer kinsman of the Dukes and that the Peece wherewith he murthered the Regent and the spare horses whereupon he escaped did all belong to the Abbot of Arbroth the Dukes second Son and the murtherer was received into Hambleton the Dukes house all which I trust God will see revenged The Rebellion moved in the West parts of Ireland this last Summer being also cherished with comfort out of Spaine is fully suppressed and the Country reduced to such quietness and obedience as the like hath not been in those parts these many yeers the heads being all taken and reduced to obedience saving one onely named Fitz Maurice who wandreth in the deserts without any succor making means to be received to mercy but he is of so little value as it is refused unto him For your own revocation from thence I am not unmindful but have attempted the same and so mean to continue it as I hope you shall shortly receive comfort Vsque ad 5. Febr. This day the 6. of Febr. the French Ambassador came with Montlovet to her Majesty to require answer to their demands which were three First to have the Queen of Scots delivered and restored Secondly that Montlovet might repair to the Queen of Scots Thirdly that he might repair into Scotland To all these her Majesty having her whole Council in her presence That for the first she said she had used the Queen of Scots with more honor and favor then any Prince having like cause would have done and though she was not bound to make account to any Prince of her doings yet she would impart to the King her good brother some reasonable consideration of her doings and so she ended her answer to that The other two requests depended so upon the first as she said she could not accord thereunto and so though she used good loving speech to satisfie him yet in brief they departed without obtaining their requests as shortly you shall understand more at length by the next Messenger and letters which in this behalf shall be sent unto you We hear that two Ships of war of St. Malloes under the conduct of the Lord Flemings brother arrived in Don Brittons Frith the tenth of January and have as I think victualled the Castle of Don Britton whereof will follow some further annoyance to Scotland And thus I am forced to end for the present by reason of multitude of other affairs Yours assuredly W. Cecil Hampton-Court Feb. 7. 1568. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident with the French King SIR AFter all the other letters in this Packet were sealed up your honest servant Mr. Rogers arrived here with your letters of the contents whereof concerning the crazed shaken Treaty of peace betwixt the King and his subjects I had plainly heard four or five days past from Rochel Your intelligences accord with the like as I have received from Rochel and as you do express to us the dangerous practices of our Adversaries there so I assure you the same are not by Councellors here neglected although I can give no assurance how they shall be avoided and yet I would not doubt but with Gods goodness their whole designs should prove frustrate if our Councels might take place I have named to the Queens Majesty two to be your successors both to be well liked if their livelihoods were answerable to their other qualities the one is Mr. Francis Walsingham the other is Mr. Hen. Killigrew who is indeed in livelihood much inferrior If I can procure that either of them or some other might relieve you I assure you there shall not lack any good will in me Yours assuredly W. Cecil Hampton-Court 7. Febr. 1569. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur last letters are thus come to my hands Crips came with those of yours the 9. then Neal with those of the 25. of the last month and yesterday came the French Ambassadors Secretary with those of the first of March by all which is manifest the inward natural care that you take for the Queens Majesty and therein her Highness accepteth your zeal and duty most thankfully And yet I know not by what means her Majesty is not much troubled with the opinion of danger nevertheless I and others cannot be but greatly fearful for her and do and will do that in us may lye to understand thorough Gods assistance the attempts as for D many here and the most of this Council think the peril no less but rather greater if D forasmuch should Since the death of the Regent the Borderers have maintained our Rebels and invaded England wherefore for which purpose my Lord of Suffev is now ordered with an Army to invade them and make revenge whereof the Scots hearing do make all means they can to be reconciled but they must feel the sword and the fire-brand and because I will end my letter I will deliver to this bearer a short memorial of words to serve him for informing of you of the things of our State and so with my most hearty commendations I end being sorry that as yet I cannot perfect my intent for your return Your assured friend W. Cecil Hampton-Court 22. March 1569. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR BY the Queens Majesty long letter you shall perceive her
be there kept The fond Lord Morley without any cause offered him is gone like a noddy to Lorrein SIR I Stayed this bearer two days longer then first I intended because the French Ambassador required Audience affirming that he had answer from the French King wherewith the Queens Majesty would be satisfied and yesterday he was here and shewed her Majesty the French Kings letters to him and thereof gave her Majesty a copy which I have and do send to you herewith an extract of a clause tending to the matter the letter being of it self long and full of good words purporting his desire to have the Scotish Queen restored and concord established betwixt the two Queens the letter is dated the 10. of June and I note that your letter is dated the 15. and by his aforesaid letter King writeth that he will within two days speak with you at Alansen Now how the Kings promise will be kept a short time will declare or how if he break it there shall be some â—avillations found wherein I doubt that they will seek illusions for that we do yet keep Hume Castle and Fast Castle which are kept with not past fourscore men and being the houses of the Lord Hume the Warden who aided our Rebels with his Forces to invade burn and spoil England and therefore is by the Laws of the Borders answerable to the subjects of England it is reason they be kept untill he will return or authorize some for him to make answer or to take order with the complainants which being done the Queen Majesty will readily restore them Thus much I have thought meet to impart Yours assuredly W. Cecil Oatlands 25. Inne 1570 To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador c. SIR I Am thrown into a Maze at this time that Iknow not how to walk from dangers Sir Walter Mildmay and I are sent to the Scotish Queen as by the Queens Majesties letters you may see God be our guide for neither of us like the Message I trust at my return when Mr. Walsingham shall be returned to help you home your sufficient is sufficient to impart unto you all our Occurrents and so I end Your assured friend W. Cecil Reading 26. Sept. 1570. To the right honorable Sir Henry Notris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France The Lord Coke to King James touching trial of Duels out of England May it please your most excellent Majesty I Have received a commandment by Mr. Sollicitor from your Majesty consisting upon two parts First to answer whether I informed not your Majesty that if two of your Subjects should go over beyond Sea to fight in a Forreign Kingdom and there in fight the one killeth the other that in this case the same might be punished by appeal before the Constable and Marshal of England Secondly if I made any such information what authority and reason I had to maintain it To the first the truth is that I did inform your Majesty so and I well remember I said then that it was Dowties Case your Majesty then speaking of Duels To the second this is by authority of an Act of Parliament made in the first year of King Henry the Fourth the 14th Chapter in these words For many Inconveniencies and Mischiefs that have oftentimes happened by many Appeals made within the Realm before this time It is ordained and established from henceforth That all Appeals to be made of things done within the Realm shall be tryed and determined by the good Laws of this Realm made and used in the time of the Kings noble Progenitors And that all Appeals to be made of things done out of the Realm shall be tryed before the Constable and Marshal of England for the time being And that no Appeals be from henceforth made or in any wise pursued in Parliament in any time to come In the late Queens time a Case fell out upon this Statute Sir Francis Drake having put Dowtie to death beyond Sea the Brother and Heir of Dowtie sued by Petition to the Queen that she would be pleased to appoint a Constable hac vice to the end he might have an Appeal against Sir Francis Drake for the death of his Brother This Petition the Queen referred to Sir Thomas Bromley and the two chief Justices and others And it was resolved of by them which I being of Council with Dowtie set down briefly for my Learning That if two Englishmen go beyond Sea and in Combate the one killeth the other this offence may be determined before the Constable and Marshal of England and so was the Statute of 1 Henr. 4. to be intended But after upon the true circumstance of the Case the Queen would not constitute a Constable of England without whom no Proceeding could be And I take this resolution to be well warranted by the Statute and no small inconvenience should follow and a great defect should be in the Law if such bloody offences should not be punished and Your Majesty should lose a flower of Your Crown in losing this Power to punish these growing and dangerous offences I shewed to Mr. Sollicitor my Report and Memorial of Dowtie's Case and I shall ever remain Your Majesties Loyal and Faithful Subject Edw. Coke 19. Febr. 1616. The History of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth King Edward the Sixth Queen Mary and part of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth THE books which are written do in their kinds represent the faculties of the mind of man Poesie his Imaginations Philosophy his Reason and History his Memory of which three facuities least exception is commonly taken to memory because Imagination is often times idle and Reason litigious So likewise History of all writings deserveth least taxation as that which holdeth least of the Author and most of the things themselves Again the use which it holdeth to mans life if it be not the greatest yet assuredly it is the freest from ill accident or quality For those that are conversant much in Poets as they attain to greater variety so withall they become concieted and those that are brought up in Philosophy and Sciences do wax according as their nature is some of them too stiff and opinionative and some others too perplexed and confused whereas History possesseth the mind with conceits which are nearest allied unto action and imprinteth them so as it doth not alter the complexion of the minde neither to irresolution nor pertinacity But this is true that in no sort of writings there is a greater distance between the good and the bad no not between the most excellent Poet and the vainest Rimer nor between the deepest Philosopher and the most frivolous School-men then there is between good Histories and those that unworthily bear the same or the like title In which regard having purposed to write the History of England from the beginning of the Reign of King H. 8. of that name near unto the present time
entertainments in Forrein parts It had been an easie thing for you to set Carlile or some other blood-hound on work when your person had been beyond the Seas and so this news might have come to you in a packet and you might have looked on how the storm would pass but God bereaved you of this fore-sight and bound you here under that hand of a King that though abundant in Clemenev vet is no less ze lons of Justice Again when you came in at Lambeth you might have persisted in the denial of the procurement of the fact Carlile a resolute man might perhaps have cleared you for they that are resolute in mischief are commonly obstinate in concealing their porcurers and so nothing should have been against you but presumption But then also God to take away all obstructions of Justice gave you the grace which ought indeed to be more true comfort to you than any device whereby you might have escaped to make a clear and plain Confession Other impediments there were not a few which might have been an interruption to this dayes Justice had not God in his Providence removed them But now that I have given God the Honour let me give it likewise where it is next due which is to the King our Sovereign This Murther was no sooner committed and brought to his Majesties ears but his just indignation wherewith he first was moved cast it self into a great deal of care and prudence to have Justice done First came forth his Proclamation somewhat of a rare Form and devised and in esfect dictated by his Majesty himself and by that he did prosecute the Offendors as it were with the breath and blast of his Mouth Then did his Majesty stretch forth his long Arms for Kings have long Arms when they will extend them one of them to the Sea where he took hold of Grey shipped for Luedia who gave the first light of Testimony the other Arm to Scotland and took hold of Carlile ere he was warm in his house and brought him the length of his Kingdom under such safe watch and custody as he could have no means to escape no nor to mischief himself no nor learn no lessons to stand mute in which case perhaps this dayes Justice might have received a stop so that I may conclude his Majesty hath shewed himself Gods true Lieutenant and that he is no Respecter of persons but English Scottish Noblemen Fencer are to him alike in respect of Justice Nay I must say further That his Majesty hath had in this a kind of Prophetical Spirit for what time Carlile and Grey and you my Lord your self were fled no man knew whether to the four winds the King ever spake in a confident and undertaking manner That wheresoever the Offenders were in Europe he would produce them forth to Justice of which noble word God hath made him Master Lastly I will conclude towards you my Lord That though your Offence hath been great yet your Confession hath been free and your behaviour and speech full of discretion and this shews That though you could not resist the Tempter yet you bear a Christian and generous spirit answerable to the noble Family of which you are descended This I commend in you and take it to be an assured Token of God smercy and favour in respect whereof all worldly things are but Trash and so it is fit for you as your state now is to account them and this is all I will say for the present My Lady Shrewsburies Cause Your Lordships do observe the Nature of this Charge MY Lady of Shrewsbury a Lady wise and that ought to know what duty requireth is charged to have refused and to have persisted in refusal to answer and to be examined in a High cause of State being examined by the Council-table which is a Representative body of the King The nature of the cause upon which she was examined is an essential point which doth aggravate and encrease this contempt and presumption and therefore of necessity with that we must begin How graciously and Parent-like His Majesty used the Lady Arbella before she gave him cause of Indignation the world knoweth My Lady notwithstanding extreamly ill-advised transacted the most weighty and binding part and action of her life which is her Marriage without acquanting His Majesty which had been a neglect even to a mean Parent But being to Our Sovereign and she standing so near to His Majesty as she doth and then choosing such a Condition as it pleased her to chuse all parties laid together how dangerous it was my Lady might have read it in the fortune of that house wherewith she is matched for it was not unlike the case of Mr. Seymers Grandmother The King nevertheless so remembred He was a King as He forgot not he was a Kinsman and placed her only sub libera custodia But now did my Lady accumulate and heap up this offence with a far greater than the former by seeking to withdraw her self out of the Kings Power into Forreign Parts That this flight or escape into Forreign Parts might have been seed of trouble to this State is a matter whereof the conceit of a Vulgar person is not capable For although my Lady should have put on a mind to continue her Loyalty as nature and duty did bind her yet when she was in another sphere she must have moved in the motion of that O b and not of the Planet it self And God forbid the Kings felicity should be so little as she should not have envy and enviers enough in Forreign Parts It is true if any forreigner had wrought upon this occasion I do not doubt but the intent would have been as the Prophet saith They have conceived mischief and brought forth a vain thing But yet your Lordships know that it is Wisdom in Princes and it is a watch they owe to themselves and to their people to stop the beginnings of evils and not to despise them Seneca saith well Non jam amplius levia sunt pericula si levia videantur dangers cease to be light because by delpâ—sing they grow and gather strength And accordingly hath been the practice both of the Wisest and stoutest Princes to hold for matter pregnant of peril to have any near them in blood flie into Forreign Parts Wherein I will not wander but take the example of King Hen. 7. a Prince uot unfit to be parallel'd with his Majesty I mean not the particular of Perkin Werbeck for he was but an idol or a disguise but the example I mean is that of the Earl of Suffolk whom that King extorted from Philip of Austria The story is memorable That Philip after the death of Isabella coming to take Possession of His Kingdom of Castilia which was but Matrimonial to His Father in Law Ferdinando of Arragon was cast by weather upon the Coast of Tamouth where the Italian story saith King Henry used him in all things else as
a Prince but in one thing as a Prisoner for he forced upon him a Promise to restore the Earl of Suffolk that was fled into Flanders and yet this I note was in the 21. year of his Reign when the King had a goodly Prince at mans estate besides his daughters nay and the whole line of Clarence nearer in title for that Earl of Suffolk was Descended of a Sister of Edward 4. so far off did that King take his aim To this action of so deep consequence it appeareth you my Lady of Shrewsbury were privy not upon Forreign suspitions or strained inferences but upon vehement presumptions now clear and particular testimony as hath been opened to you so as the King had not only Reason to examine you upon it but to have proceeded with you upon it as for a great contempt which if it be reserved for the present your Ladiship is to understand it aright that it is not defect of proof but abundance of grace that is the cause of this proceeding And your Lady-ship shall do well to see into what danger you have brought your self All offences consist of the fact which is open and the intent which is secret this fact of Conspiring in the flight of this Lady may bear a hard and gentler construction if upon over much affection to your Kinswoman gentler if upon practice or other end harder you must take heed how you enter into such actions whereof if the hidden part be drawn unto that which is open it may be your overthrow which I speak not by way of charge but by way of caution For that which you are properly charged with you must know that all subjects without distinction of degrees owe to the King tribute and service not only of their deed and hand but of their knowledge and discoverie If there be any thing that imports the Kings service they ought themselves undemanded to impart it much more if they be called and examined whether it be of their own fact or of anothers they ought to make direct answer Neither was there ever any subject brought into causes of estate to trial judicial but first he passed examination for examination is the entrance of Justice in criminal causes it is one of the eyes of the Kings politique bodie there are but two Information and Examination it may not be endured that one of the lights be put out by your example Your excuses are not worthie your own judgment rash vowes of lawful things are to be kept but unlawful vowes not your own Divines will tell you so For your examples they are some erroneous traditions My Lord of Pembrook spake somewhat that he was unlettered and it was but when he was examined by one private Councellor to whom he took exception That of my Lord Lumley is a fiction the preheminences of Nobility I would hold with to the last graine but every dayes experience is to the contrary Nay you may learn dutie of my Lady Arbella her self a Lady of the Blood of an higher Rank than your self who declining and yet that but by request neither to declare of your fact yieldeth ingenuously to be examined of her own I do not doubt but by this time you see both your own error and the Kings grace in proceeding with you in this manner Sir Nicholas Throckmorton then Ambassadour in France to Queen Elizabeth touching a free Passage for the Queen of Scots through England into Scotland IT may please your Majesty to understand that the 17 of July I received your letters at Poisey of the 14 of the same by Francisco this bearer and for that I could not according to your Majesties instructions in the same letters accomplish the contents of them until Mounsieur d' Oysell had delivered your letters to the French King the Queen of Scotland and the Queen Mother who did not arrive at this Court till the 20th of this present I did defer to treat with any of the Princes of your Majesties answer to the said Mounsieur d' Oysell Nevertheless the 18th of this moneth I required Audience of the French King which was granted me the same day in the after-noon I repaired to his Court being at Saint Germanes and there the Queen-Mother accompanied with the King of Navarre and sundry other great personages was in the place of State to hear what I had to say to the King her son who was absent unto her I declared your Majesties pleasure according to my instructions concerning your acceptation of the Hostages already received and hereafter to be received signified to me by your Majesties letters of the 17 of June and as I wrote to your Majesty lately brought to me by Mounsieur de Noailles the 16 of July for answer whereunto the Queen Mother said Mounsieur l' Ambassadour we marvail greatly how it cometh to pass that the Queen your Mistress doth not make more stay to receive the King my sons Hostages than she hath done heretofore for from the beginning since the Hostages were sent into England neither the King my late Lord and Husband nor the late King my Son did either recommend the sufficiency of their Hostages by their Letters or cause their names to be recommended unto you the Ambassador but the presentation of them by our Ambassador in England did suffice thereunto I said Madam you know they be Hostages for a matter of some moment and if they should neither have the Kings assurance for their Validity nor the Queen my Mistris Ambassadours allowance of their sufficiency some personages might be sent which were neither meet for the King to send nor for the Queen my Mistris to receive and yet Madam the Queen my Mistris doth not require the manner of recommending the sufficiency of the Hostages for any doubt she hath that unmeet persons should be sent but rather because a friendly and sincere fashion of dealing should be betwixt her good Brother and her with whom her Majesty is so desirous to have a perfect assured Amity I said also That the King her Son hath notified both to my Lord of Bedford at his being here and unto me the names of some of the Hostages as the Count of Benon before his going into England as Mounsieur de Sualt who had the charge so to do could well inform her so as this motion need not seem strange for the newness The Queen answered Mounsieur l' Ambassadour we be well-pleased seeing your Mistriss doth require it that from henceforth either the Hostages shall have the King my Sons Letters of Recommendation or else their names should be notified unto you or any other her Ambassadour here and I pray you Mounsieur l' Ambassadour quoth she give the Queen your Mistris my good Sister to understand from me That if there be any thing in this Countrey that may please her she shall have it if I may know her liking I told the said Queen That I was sure your Majesty was of the same mind
she is a Queen allied and friended as is known and I tell you also that my heart is not inferiour to hers so as an equal respect would be had betwixt us on both parts but I will not contend in comparisons first you know quoth she that the accord was made in the late King my Lord and Husbands time by whom as reason was I was commanded and Governed and for such delays as were then in his time used in the said ratification I am not to be charged since his Death my Interest failing in the Realm of France I left to be advised by the Councel of France and they left me also to mine own Councel indeed quoth she my Unkles being as you know of the affaires of this Realm do not think meet to advise me in my Affairs neither do my Subjects nor the Queen your Mistriss think meet that I should be advised by them but rather by the Councel of my own Realm here are none of them nor none such â—s is thought meet that I should be Counselled by the matter is great it toucheth both them and me and in so great a matter it were meet to use the advice of the wisest of them I do not think it meet in so great a matter to take the Counsel of private and unexpert persons and such as the Queen your Mistriss knoweth be not most acceptable to such of my Subjects as she would have me be advised by I have quoth she often times told you that as soon as I had their advices I would send the Queen your Mistriss such an answer as should be reasonable I am about to haste me home as fast as I may to the intent the matter might be answered and now the Queen your Mistriss will in no wise suffer neither me to pass home nor him that I sent into my Realm so as Mounsieur l' Ambassadour quoth she it seemeth the Queen your Mistriss will be the cause why in this manner she is not satisfied or else she will not be satisfied but liketh to make this matter a quarrel still betwixt us whereof she is the Author The Queen your Mistriss saith that I am young she might well say that I were as foolish as young if I would in the State and Countrey that I am in proceed to such a matter of my self without any Counsel for that which was done by the King my late Lord and husband must not be taken to be my act so as neither in Honour nor in conscience I am bound as you say I am to perform all that was by my Lord and Husband commanded to do and yet quoth she I will say truly unto you and as God favours me I did never mean otherwise unto her than becometh me to my good Sister and Cosin nor meant her no more harm than to my self God forgive them which have otherwise perswaded her if there be any such what is the matter pray you Mounsieur l' Ambassadour quoth she that doth so offend the Queen your Mistriss to make her thus evil-affected to me I never did her wrong neither in Deed nor Speech it should the less grieve me if I had deserved otherwise than well and though the World may be of divers judgments of us and our doings one to another do well know God that is in Heaven can and will be a true Judge both of our doings and meanings I answered Madam I have declared unto you my Charge commanded by the Queen my Mistriss and have no more to say to you on her behalf but to know your Answer for the Ratification of the Treaty The Queen answered I have aforetime shewed you and do now tell you again that it is not meet for to proceed in this matter without the advice of the Nobles and States of mine own Realm which I can by no means have until I come amongst them You know quoth she as well as I there is none come hither since the death of the King my late Husband and Lord but such as are either come for their private business or such as dare not tarry in Scotland but I pray you Mounsieur l' Ambassadour quoth she tell me how riseth this strange affection in the Queen your Mistriss towards me I desire to know it to the intent I may reform my self if I have failed I answered Madam I have by the Commandment of the Queen my Mistriss declared unto you the cause of her miscontentation already But seeing you so desirous to hear how you may be charged with any deserving as one that speaketh of mine own minde without instruction I will be so bold Madam by way of discourse to tell you As soon as the Queen my Mistriss after the death of her sister came to the Crown of England you bore the Armes of England diversly quartered with your own and used in your Countrey notoriously the style and title of the Queen my Mistriss which was never by you put in ure in Queen Maries time And if any thing can be more prejudicial to a Prince than to usurp the tide and interest belonging to them Madam I do refer it to your own judgment you see such as be noted usurpers of other folks States cannot patiently be born withal for such doings much more the Queen my Mistress hath cause to be grieved considering her undoubted and lawful interest with the offer of such injury Mounsieur l'Ambassadour said she I was then under the commandment of King Henry my Father and of the King my Lord and husband and whatsoever was done then by their order and Commandments the same was in like manner continued until both their deaths since which time you know I neither bore the Armes nor used the title of England Me thinks quoth she these my doings might ascertain the Queen your Mistriss that that which was done before was done by commandment of them that had the power over me and also in reason she ought to be satisfied seeing I order my doings as I tell you it were no great dishonour to the Queen my Cosen your Mistriss though I a Queen also did bear the Armes of England for I am sure some inferior to me and that be not on every side so well apparenâ—ed as I am do bear the Armes of England You cannot deny quoth she but that my Grandmother was the King her Fathers sister and I trow the eldest sister he had I do assure you Mounsieur l'Ambassadour and do speak unto you truly as I think I never meant nor thought matter against the Queen my Cousin Indeed quoth she I know what I am and would be loth either to do others wrong or suffer too much wrong to my self and now that I have told you my minde plainly I pray behave your self betwixt us like a good Minister whose part is to make things betwixt Princes rather better than worse and so I took my leave of the said Queen for that time The same day after this my Audience
I required Audience in like manner of the French King which was assigned me on the 21. of this present at afternoon At which time I did set forth as well as I could to the Queen-Mother the good reasons and just occasions according to your Majesties instructions why your Majesty did refuse the Queen of Scotland your safe Conduct for her free passage into her Countrey and declared at good length the Causes why your Majesty did not accommodate the said Queen of Scotland with such favours as she required in her passage not forgetting the reasons that moved your Majesty to return Mounsieur d'Oysell back hither again The Queen-Mother answered Mounsieur l'Ambassadour the King my Son and I are very sorry to hear that the Queen my good Sister your Mistriss hath refused the Queen my Daughter free passage home into her own Realm this may be an occasion of farther unkindness betwixt them and so prove to be a cause and entry into War they are Neighbours and near Cosins and either of them hath great Friends and Allies so as it may chance that more unquietness shall ensue of this matter than is to be wished for or then is meet to come to pass Thanks be to God quoth she all the Princes of Christendome are now in peace and it were great pity that they should not so continue and where said she I perceive the matter of this unkindness is grounded upon the delay of Ratification of the Treaty The Queen my Daughter hath declared unto you That she doth stay the same until she may have the advice of her own Subjects wherein methinks said she my Daughter doth discreetly for many Respects and though she have her Unkies here by whom it is thought as reason is she should be advised yet considering they be Subjects and Counsellors to the King my Son they be not the meetest to give her Counsel in this matter the Nobles and States of her own Realm would neither like it nor allow it that their Sovereign should resolve without their advice in matter of consequence Therefore Mounsieur l'Ambassadour quoth she methinks the Queen your Mistriss might be satisfied with this Answer and accommodate the Queen my Daughter her Cousin and Neighbour with such favours as she demandeth I answered Madam the Queen my Mistriss trusteth you will upon the reasons before by me declared as her good Sister and friend interpret the matter as favourably on her part as on the Queen of Scotlands and that you will also indifferently consider how much it importeth my Mistriss not to suffer a matter so dangerous to her and her State as this is to passe unprovided for it seemeth by the many delayes which in this matter have been used after so many fair and sundry promises that the Queen of Scotland hath not meant so sincerely and plainly as the Queen my Mistriss hath done for by this time the said Queen might have known the minds of her Subjects in Scotland if she liked to propound the matter unto them There have been since the Death of the King your Son and her Husband two or three Assembliâ—s of the Nobles and States in Scotland and this matter was never put forth amongst them Hither have come out of Scotland many of sandry Estates and some that the Queen did send with Commission thither as the Lord of Finliter to treat on her behalf with he Estates of that Realm and of other matters so as if she had minded an end in this matter of the Treaty before this time she might have heard her Subjects advices Thereto the Queen-Mother said the King my Son and I would be glad to do good betwixt the Queen my Sister your Mistriss and the Queen my Daughter and shall be glad to hear that there were good amity betwixt them for neither the King my Son nor I nor none of his Council will do harm in the matter nor shew our selves other than friends to them both After this I took my leave of the said Queen-Mother and addressed my Speech to the King of Navarre unto whom I declared as I had done to the Queen-Mother adding That your Majesty esteemed his amity and friendship entire that you did not doubt of his good acceptation of your doings and proceedings with the Queen of Scotland and said further That for your Majesties purpose to have reason at all times and in all things of the Queen of Scotland it were better she were in her own Countrey than here the said King conceived that your Majesty needed not doubt that the King his Sovereign would shew himself in this matter more affectionate to the Queen of Scotland than to you his good Sister and thereof he bade me assure your Majesty Then taking my leave of the said King of Navarre I went to the Constable and declared unto him as I had done unto the King of Navarre on your Majesties behalf the Constable humbly thanked your Majesty that you would communicate your affaires with him which argued your good opinion of him he said he trusted that your expectation should not be deceived of him but would rather so behave himself towards your Majesty as your good opinion of him should be increased As to the matter of the Queen of Scotland he was sorry that the occasions were such as your Majesty could not bestow such kindness on her as was meet betwixt Princes so neer Neighbours and Kinsfolks but he trusted that time would repair these unkindnesses betwixt you as for his part he prayed your Majesty to think that he would never give other advice to the King his Sovereign but such as should rather increase the good amity betwixt both your Majesties than diminish it and so prayed me to present his most humble Commendation and Service to your Majesty wherewith I took my leave of him And to the intent I might the better descipher whether the Queen of Scotland did mind to continue her Voyage I did the same 21 Of July after my former negotiations finished repair to the said Queen of Scotland to take my leave of her unto whom I then declared that in as much as I was your Majesties Ambassadour as well to her for the matters of Scotland as to the French King your good Brother and hearing by common bruit that she minded to take her Voyage very shortly I thought it my Duty to take my leave of her and was sorry she had not given your Majesty so good occasion of Amity as that I your Minister could not conveniently wait upon her to her embarking The said Queen made Answer Mounsieur l' Ambassadour if my preparations were not so much advanced as they are peradventure the Queen your Mistrisses unkindness might stay my Voyage but now I am determined to adventure the matter whatsoever come of it I trust quoth she the wind will be so favourable as I shall not need to come on the Coast of England and if I do then Mounsieur l' Ambassadour the Queen your
Duke of Chastillherault over all They raise Forces against the Regent are Routed 139. A Couragious Answer from Queen Elizabeth to the French Ambassadour and the Audience adjourned 140. She sends a Ring to Marshal Montmorancy his wife 141. The Bishop of Rhemes Ambassador from France is offended that the doctrine of Rome is said to be contrary to Christs deducing consequently that his Mr. should be reputed no Christian and how that Speech was salved The Cardinal Chastillons Wife comes over 141 142. The Reason of the Cardinals coming into England Ships sent by the Queen to preserve the Bourdeaux Fleet. The Queen of Scots Case not defensible and the Consequence thereof 144. Matters about the Queen of Scots Chastillion highly commended 144 145. The Cause of the Queen of Scots to be heard here 146. Passages touching the differences between the King and the Prince of Conde Pag. 147. Matters against the Queen of Scots very bad 148. Sir Henry Norris claims the Lord Dacres Lands 149. Three manner of wayes proposed for ending the Scottish differences 150. Spanish Treasure stayed ibid. 151 156. The Parliament of Scotland declares the Queen of Scots privy to the murder of her Husband 152. D'Assonvill comes over Without Commission and desires Conference with the Spanish Ambassadour but denied 153. Hawkins his Return to Mounts Bay from the Indies with Treasure The Queen of Scots at Tetbury under the charge of the Earl of Shrewsbury 153. The French Ambassadors Currier searched and the Reason of it 154. The Prince of Conde slain in Battel against the King 157. The 13th of March had two great Effects 158. Differences in Scotland accorded 159. But not observed 160. Sir William Cecil laments the misfortune of France means made to accord with the Low Countries Scottish Nobility reconciled 61. Original Letters intercepted by persons of credit in the FrenchCourt of advertisement concerning the Queen of Scots and the Duke of Anjou Pag. 161. That the said Queen should transfer her title on the said Duke to learn more truth hereof and advertise with speed The Queens Ships far excel others 162. The Queen of Scots excuseth her Transaction with the Duke of Anjou 163 164. A Rebellion in the West-part of Ireland and the Spaniards aid feared 164. My Lord of Shrewsbury strucken with a Palsie and a Phrensie 165. The Parisians execute two Merchants whom the King had pardon'd The English Ambassador taxed for dealing with the Kings Rebels 166. The Earl of Desmond's great Rebellion in Ireland but dispersed 167 168. An Italian sent hither upon a Devilish attempt An Insurrection in Suffolk Queen Elizabeth desires to be rid of the Queen of Scots 169. The Queen offended at the Duke of Norfolk about his Marriage Sir William Cecil his good Friend therein my Lords of Arundel and Pembroke confined to their Lodgings about it and so is the Lord Lumley My Lord of Huntington joined with the Earl of Shrewsbury in the custody of the Scots Queen 172. The King of Spains designs with the Irish. Pag. 173. The grand Rebellion in the North and the pretences thereof and their numbers and names 174 175. A Report of the death of the Count Nassau the Northern Rebellion scattered and their Ring-leaders fled 176. Extracts of Letters out of the north The two Rebellious Earls in Liddesdale but flee from thence The Countess of Northumberland and her attendants robbed in Scotland The Earls flee with about 50. horse Westmerland changeth his coat of plate sword and travails like a Scottish borderer many others taken 177 178 The Regent of Scotland takes the Earl of Northumberland and others The Lord Fernhurst and Bucklugh aiders of them p. 178 The Murther of the Regent of Scotland at Lithgo by Hambleton of Bothwell Hall The Earl of Sussex his wise and noble carriage The Hambletons strongly suspected for the murder and why 179 180 The French Embassador makes 3 demands of the Queen in behalf of the Queen of Scots p. 181 Sir William Cecil names to the Queen Mr. Francis Walsingham and Mr. Henry Killigrew to succeed Sir Henry Norris in France p. 182 The Earl of Sussex goes again into Scotland The Bishop of Ross writes a Book in defence of the Queen of Scots and dangerous against Queen Elizabeth Pag. 183. The Earls of Worcester and Huntington made Knights of the Order p. 184 The Earl of Sussex and the Lord Hunsdon enter Scotland with fire and sword 50. Castles and 300 Villages burnt p. 184 185 The Lord Scroop Warden of the West Marshes makes great devastation in Scotland The Castle of Hume surrendred to the Lords of Sussex and Hunsdon and well fortified for the Queens service A great part of the Scotish borderers obediently adhere to their King and offer dependance upon the Queens Majesty The contrary part act rebelliously A great meeting of Lords on both sides at Edenburgh in Armes to try who shall have the authority p. 186 187 Simon Musgrage General of the horse routs the Lord Maxell is in some distress by him but is relieved by the Lord Scroop 's forces and the Maxwels and several other Lords escaped by flight Drumlangricks servants and tenants although pretended favorers of the King and Queen cruel to the English Dumfriese a Receptacle of English Rebels p. 187 188 The Queen of Scots desires cessation of Armes the Bishop of Ross plots against the Queen p. 189 Sir Henry Norris to be revoked and Mr. Walsingham to go in his place ibid. The Marshal of Berwick betray'd by the Bishop of St. Andrews and other Lords who under colour and treaty with him intended to have slain him he destroys the Hambletons Castles and houses Pag. 190. The Earl of Southampton for complyance with the Bishop of Ross is committed close prisoner to the Sheriff of London The fond Lord Morley withdraws to Lovain p. 191 The French King mediates for the Queen of Scots the Queen keeps some Castles in Scotland until her subjects of England should have satisfaction p. 191 192 Sir William Cecil and Sir Walter Mildmay are sent Commissioners to the Scotch Queen and they like not the message The Lord Coke to King James touching tryal of Duels out of England occasioned by putting to death of Doubty beyond the Seas by Sir Francis Drake that crime tryable only before the Constable and Marshal of England p. 193 194 H. THe History of the Reign of King Henry the 8th King Edward the 6th Queen Mary and part of Queen Eliz. p. 194 195 I. Exquisitely begun but left imprfect Two Copies of Letters from King James to the Lords touching abatement of his houshold charge and the means of redresse p. 198 199 From the King to the Lord Bacon in commendation of his book caled the Organon To Sir Thomas Coventry Atturney General commanding him to prepare a pardon of the whole sentence pronounc'd against my Lord Bacon p. 200 201 S. SIr Philip Sidney to the Queen diswading her from her marriage with Mounsieur most elegantly and judiciously penned p. 201 202 203 A most quaint Speech made by the Lord Bacon then Sollicitor General at the arraignment of the Lord Sanquir as well in extenuation as aggravation of the murder of Turner 209 210 c. The Countess of Shrewsburies Case touching the Marriage of the Lady Arabella and her refusal to be examined therein 212 213. T. SIR Nicholas Throckmorton Ambassador in France to Q. Elizabeth touching a free passage for the Q of Scots through England into Scotland several Politick Reasons urged on both sides between him the Queen of Scots and the Queen-Mother of France 214 215 216 c. FINIS ERRATA PAge 72. line 16. for bnt read but. p. 89. l. 22. for Twilknam r. Twitnam p. 97 l. 3. for fortunas suas r. fortunae suae p. 116. l. 3. for Moleneux r. Molineux p. 120. in fine for name r. named p. 130. l. 9. for what r. with and l. 7. for not r. now p. 137. l. 12. for to r. to be p 165. l. 6. for there r. here p. 173. l. 9. or 10. for over r. fromus p. 182. l. 14. for inferrior r. inferior p. 208. l. 18. for Holladour r. Hollander and in the same line for le r. he p. 211. l. 21. for Luedia r. Suedia p. 224. l. 26. for Abeville r. Abbeville 27 E. 3. Cap. 1. 4 H. 4. Cap. 23. These that follow are but indigested Notes Entertainment above ordinary To know the cause thereof Her Majestie much mislikes of the Prince of Conde and Thadnur Lords of France The Lords of the Council do all they can to cover the same Her Majesty being a Prince her self is doubtful to give comfort to subjects Our Ambassador to comfort them nevertheless as occasion serves Expectation of the Queens marrying with the Archduke Charles In Scotland all quiet the Scotish Queen still in Loughlevin and in health Murray ruleth quietly as Regent Original lettere intercepted by persons of credit in the French ourt of Advertisement concerning the Q of Scots and Duke of Anjou That the said Scotish Queen should transfer her Title on the said Duke To learn more truth hereof and advertise with speed This precisely denyed by the other side To send a trusty person to Marcells 19. Febr. 1616. Note before this Statute Criminal Causes were often adjudged in Parliament
by Sea the journey in this Winter time will be very dangerous and uncertain and to send him thorow France where the troubles are such as she could not either without mistrust of the French King because the party should pass thorow Gascoigne and the Queen of Navarrs ountry or without certain danger by souldiers and thereupon you shall so advertise that Ambassador of Spain and require him to make advertisement accordingly whereunto you may add that her Majesty hath thought of three or four meet persons to be sent thither for one of them to be an Ambassador Resident but none will be gotten that with good will will serve in respect of Mr. Mans strange and hard handling which things her Majesty would have you set out more plainly to him that the King may finde that onely to be the cause why there is no Resident Ambassador there And thus I end having willed Harcourte to take some of the Proclamations if they be ready printed in French Yours assuredly W. Cecil Jan. 8. 1568. Postscript I finde in a Bill of Petitions beginning from the 28. of August to December sundry sums of money pressed by you for carriage of Packets to whom I have not answered and therefore hereafter I pray you write expresly of what you do there for avoiding of double charge To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR SInce the writing the other letter dated the 8. of January my Lady caused her servant to stay for a Pasport for two Geldings and sithence my other letter we have here news from Flanders 5. V. touching R and therefore we are in a continual expectation what were the very news of a matter that was reported to have hapned the 23. of December The more particulars you write hither and the oftner the more thankful is your service and surely I see nothing so meet for us to understand as to be often advertised from you which considering you may write in your Cipher the oftner you hazard your letters the less is the peril We have no news from Scotland but that their Parliament is ended and amongst other things they have all assented by Act to decline the Queen of Scots obtaining to be lawful because she was privy to the murther of her husband There were none of the Nobillity absent but such as were of the Hambletons And thus I end my suddain letter being in a great longing to hear from you Yours assuredly W. Cecil January 10. 1568. To the Right Honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight Her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR AFter I had written my other letters sent in this Packet unto you which I was to have sent away by one of your Footmen your servant this bearer Henry Crispe came hither upon Thursday last with your letters dated the 22. of this moneth and perceiving him earnestly disposed to return unto you I thought best to stay the sending away of your Footman and to send as I do this dispatch by this bearer which is partly because my former letters shall seem to bear so old a date And herewith I send unto you which was not ready before a memorial in the Spanish tongue of the matters passed concerning this late Arrest which memorial her Majesty would have you procure with her letters to the King of Spain and therefore after you have perused it I wish you should retain a Copy thereof either in Spanish or in French for your better instruction and that done to use all the expedition you may for the conveyance of her Majesties letters and the said Memorial to the King of Spain Since the finishing of the said memorial you shall understand that D' Assondeville hath been here a good time being not as yet accepted as an Ambassador for that he hath no special letters nor Commission from the King but from the Duke of Alva And all that he can say for himself is That he cometh in the Kings name as one of his Privy Council and whatsoever he shall do shall be confirmed by the King before he will depart out of the Realm He would also privately confer with the Spanish Ambassador which hath been hitherto denyed for that it is meant that the misbehaviors of the said Ambassadors should be openly disclosed to D' Assonleville thereby to let it appear how unmeet a man he is to be a Minister for Amity here which yesterday was declared to D' Assonleville at my Lord Keepers house where he came to these of the Council following my Lord Keeper the Duke of Norfolk the Earl of Leicester the Lord Admiral my self Mr. Sadler and Mr. Mildmay and that done he seemed sorry for things past and yet pressed still to speak with the Ambassador which was not then granted by us for that we did intend that resolution should grow from her Majesty which though it be not yet known I think he shall not be denyed In these matters we have cause to be somewhat slow to satisfie them lest they should according to their accustomed manner grow too audacious what will be the end thereof I cannot judge but I trust it will appear that they have begun upon a wrong ground and as it falleth out I think they shall be found to be behinde hand with us Yesterday word came to London that all the English Fleet which were feared should have been Arrested in Spain came home safe and this day I have heard for certainty that Hawkins is arrived at Mounts Bay with the Queens Ship the Minnion having in her the Treasure which he hath gotten by his Trade in the Indies and by rigor of the Spaniards near Mexico was forced to leave the Jesus of Lubeck upon a Leek which also he destroyed that they took no profit thereof hereafter I will write unto you as I shall learn the further truth of this matter with what cruelty he was used under pretence of friendship and of a compact made betwixt him and the Vice-Roy of the Indies and Pledges delivered on both sides for the performance thereof The Queen of Scots was removed from Bolton by my Lord Scrope and Mr. Vice-chamberlain on Wednesday last so as I think on Monday or Tuesday she shall be at Tetbury where the Earl of Shrewsbury is already and there shall take the charge of her and with him shall Mr. Hen. Knollis brother to Mr. Vice-Chamberlain remain to assist him Of late the Queens Majesty understanding out of Scotland that the Queen of Scots faction there had published sundry things being very false and slanderous meaning thereby to withdraw the Earl of Murrays friends from him and to bring the Queens Majesty doings into some question whereof we also be credibly informed the Queen of Scots by her letters was the very cause thereupon her Majesty ordered to have the contrary notified upon her Frontiers for maintenance of the truth as by the same you shall understand which I send you herewith in Print The advertisements