prize which he carrieth to be a good Servant will kiss Your hands with joy for any work of Piety You shall do for me And as all commiserating persons specially such as find their hearts void of malice are apt to think that all men pity them I assure my self that the Lords of the Council who out of their Wisdom and Nobleness cannot but be sensible of humane Events will in this way which I go for the Relief of my Estate further and advance Your Majesties goodness towards me for there is as I conceive a kind of Fraternity between great men that are and those that have been being but the several Tenses of one Verb Nay I do further presume that both Houses of Parliament will love their Justice the better if it end not in my Ruine for I have been often told by many of my Lords as it were in excusing the severity of the Sentence that they knew they left me in good hands And Your Majesty knoweth well I have been all my life long acceptable to those Assemblies not by Flattery but by Moderation and by honest expressing of a desire to have all things go fairly and well But if it may please Your Majesty for Saints I shall give them Reverence but no Adoration my Address is to Your Majesty the Fountain of Goodness Your Majesty shall by the Grace of God not feel that in Gift which I shall extreamly feel in Help for my Desires are moderate and my Courses measured to a life orderly and reserved hoping still to do Your Majesty Honour in my way Only I most humbly beseech Your Majesty to give me leave to conclude with those words which Necessity speaketh Help me dear Sovereign Lord and Master and pity me so far as I that have born a Bagge be not now in my Age forced in effect to bear a Wallett nor I that desire to live to study may not be driven to study to live I most humbly crave pardon of a long Letter after a long silence God of Heaven ever bless preserve and prosper Your Majesty Your Majesties poor Ancient Servant and Beadsman Fr. St. Alban Certain Copies of Letters written by Sir William Cecil Knight Secretary of Estate to Queen Elizabeth to Sir Hen. Norris Knight Ambassador for the said Queen Resident in France SIR I Am constrained to use the hand of my servant in writing unto you because I find it somewhat grievous to use mine own at this present The Queens Majesty hath received your letters with very good contentation and alloweth your manner of beginning and proceeding as well I dare assure you as your self could devise which I do not in words onely speak but wish you to take them for as good a truth as I can inform The rare manner of your entertainment hath moved the Queens Majesty to Muze upon what course it should be being more then hath been used in like cases to her Ambassadors and such as besides your own report hath been by others very largely advertised and for that in such things guesses be but doubtful I pray you by your next advertise me what your self doth think of it and in the mean time I know you are not untaught to judge of the difference of fair words from good deeds as the sayingis Fortuna cum adblanditur captum advenit The Queens Majesty meaneth to require this Ambassador expresly to write unto the King there in how good part she taketh this manner of gratefull acceptation of you her servant there giving him to understand how good report you have made thereof and how much comforted you are by this manner to proceed in her service there I would have had her Majesty to have written her own letters to the King hereof But her Majesty made choice rather to speak with the Ambassador which she will do tomorrow who cometh hither and La Croq which cometh out of Scotland and departeth shortly from hence thither into France having been a good time in manner as an Ambassador with the Scotish Queen Monsieur Moret is I think on the way coming hither out of Scotland my Lord of Bedford who came long ago out of Scotland arrived here but of late and hath brought us good report from the Scotish Queen of her good disposition to keep peace and amity with the Queens Majesty Of late Shane Oneal hath made means to the Lord Deputy of Ireland to be received into Grace pretending that he hath not meant any manner of unlawfulness unto the Queen by which is gathered that he groweth weary of his lewdness and yet I think he is not otherwise to be reformed then by sharp prosecution which is intended to be followed no whit the less for any his fair writings as reason is Of the troubles of the Low Countries I think you be as well advertised there as we can be here and of the likelihood of the Kings not coming into the Low Countries I cannot tell whether you are yet acquainted with Captain Cockburne whose humor when you know as I think Barnaby can shew you I doubt not but you shall have of his hand no lack of intelligence which you must credit as you shall see cause by proof of the event he writeth almost weekly to me and looketh for as many answers which I cannot have leisure to make him but I pray let him understand that I accept his writing in very good part The manner of the dealing with them there for the particular causes contained in your instructions is very well to be liked and I wish the success of the answers to prove as good as the beginning hath appearance and especially for the relief of the poor Prisoners in the Gallies whose stay I fear will grow indirectly by Monsieur de Foix to get thereby the acquital of Lestrille whom surely he is bound in honor to see restored Since I had written thus much by my servants hand and meant yester-night to have ended the letter I thought good to stay untill this present that I knew by the French Ambassador what De la Crocq should do here and amongst other things the Queens Majesty hath very earnestly expressed to the Ambassador her good liking and estimation of your Honorable entertainment whereof you did advertise her Majesty and contrary to her former determination did tell La Crocq that he should carry her Majesties letters to the French King of special thanks for the same besides words of visitation nothing passed this day otherwise and therefore meaning not to keep your servant any longer I end with my very hearty commendations to your self and my Lady and wish as well to you and all yours as to my self Yours assuredly W. Cecil Feb. 10. 1566. To the Right Honorable Sir Hen. Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador in France SIR THe Queens Majesty continueth her good liking of your manner of negotiation and your advertisements to her Majesty which she wisheth you to continue She also alloweth your discretion
Attorneys place p. 20. Sir Francis Bacon to Sir George Cary in France upon sending him his Writing In foelicem memoriam Elizabethae p. 21. A Letter to Sir George Villiers touching the difference between the Courts of Chancery and Kings Bench. p. 22. Sir Francis Bacon to the King concerning the Praemunire in the Kings Bench against the Chancery p. 23. A Letter to the King touching matter of Revenue and Profit p. 27. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney to the King touching the proceeding with Somerset p. 28. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney to Sir George Villiers concerning the proceeding with Somerset p. 30. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney giving account of an Examination taken of Somerset at the Tower p. 32. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney to Sir George Villiers touching the proceeding with Somerset p. 34. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney to Sir George Villiers of Account and Advice to His Majesty touching Somerset's Arraignment p. 35. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney and some great Lords Commissioners concerning the perswasion used to the Lord of Somerset to a frank Consession p. 36. Sir Francis Bacon to the King upon some inclination of His Majesty signified to him for the Chancellors place p. 38. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney returned with Postils of the Kings own Hand p. 39. The Copy of a Letter conceived to be written to the late Duke of Buckingham when he first became a Favourite to King James by Sir Francis Bacon afterwards Lord Verulam and Viscount St. Alban Containing some Advices to the Duke for his better direction in that eminent place of the Favourite Drawn from him at the intreaty of the Duke himself by much importunity p. 43. Sir Francis Bacon to Sir George Villiers of Advice concerning Ireland from Gorambury to Windsor p. 67. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney General to the Master of the Horse upon the sending of his Bill for Viscount sc. p. 69. Sir Francis Bacon to Sir George Villiers upon the sending his Pattent for Uiscount Villiers to be Signed p. 70. Sir Francis Bacon to the King about a Certificate of my Lord Coke's p. 72. A Letter to the King touching the Lord Chancellors place ibid. A Letter to the King of my Lord Chancellors amendment and the difference begun between the Chancery and Kings Bench. p. 75. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney to the King giving some account touching the Commendams p. 76. Sir Francis Bacon his Advertisement touching an Holy War to the Right Reverend Father in God Lancelot Andrews Lord Bishop of Winchester and Councellor of Estate to His Majesty p. 78. Sir Francis Bacon to the King about the Pardon of the Parliaments Sentence p. 81. Sir Francis Bacon to King James of a Digest to be made of the Laws of England p. 82. Sir Francis Bacon to the Right Honourabl◠〈◊〉 very good Lord the Earl of Devonshire Lord Lieutenant of 〈◊〉 p. 87. A Discourse touching Helps for the intellectual Powers by Sir Francis Bacon p. 97. Sir Francis Bacon to the King p. 101. C. Certain Copies of Letters written by Sir William Cecil Knight Secretary of Estate to Queen Elizabeth to Sir Henry Norris Knight Ambassador for the said Queen Resident in France Beginning the 10th of February 1566. and ending the 26th of September 15â—0 p. 105. The Lord Coke to King James touching trial of Duels out of England p. 193. H. The History of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth King Edward the Sixth Queen Mary and part of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth p. 194. I. A Copy of a Letter from His Majesty to the Lords read at Board Nov. 21. 1617. touching the abatement of His Majesties Houshold Charge p. 198. A Copy of His Majesties second Letter p. 199. A Letter from the King to his Lordship by occasion of a Book It was the Organon p. 200. To Our Trusty and Well-beloved Thomas Coventry Our Attorney-General ibid. S. A Letter written by Sir Philip Sidney unto Queen Elizabeth touching her Marriage with Mounsieur p. 201. My Lord Sanquir 's Case p. 209. My Lady Shrewsburies Case p. 212. T. Sir Nicholas Throckmorton then Ambassador in France to Queen Elizabeth touching a free Passage for the Queen of Scots through England into Scotland p. 214. Books Printed for and sold by G. Bedell and T. Collins Folio's Compleat AMBASSADOR Letters and Negotiations of the Lord Burleigh and Sir Francis Walsingham in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth Collected by Sir Dudly Diggs Bishop Andrews Sermons Halls Politicks Lord Bacons History of King Henry 7th * D'Avila's Civil Wars of France * Bishop Ushers Annals of the World * Titus Livius Roman History in English * Dr. Hammond on the New Testament * Paraphrase on the Psalms * Howe 's Chronicle of England * Lord Hobarts Reports with a large Table by Sir H. Finch * Bulstrodes Reports in Three Parts * Crooks Reports in Three Volumes * Lord Cooks Pleadings in English * Wingats Maxims of the Law * Styles Reports * Leonards Reports Second Part. Quarto's Mountagues Essayes Sennault's Christian Man Potters Number of the Beast 666. Grand Seignieurs Seuaglio Ross against Coparnicus touching the Earths motion French Letters touching His Majesties stedfastness in the Protestant Religion in French and English Character of CHARLES II. Articles or Treaty of Peace betwixt France and Spain Discourse for a King and Parliament Fumi Fugium A Discourse of the Air and Smoak of London by John Evelin Esq Lord Cooks Reading and Denshalls Reading on the Statute of Fines The Judges Arguments on the Liberty of the Subject Three Readings on Wills Jointures and forcible Entry Mr. Durhams Assize Sermon Dr. Thomas his Assize Sermon Playes * D'avenant's Wits * Platonick Lovers * Faithful Shepherdess by Fletcher Marriage of the Arts by Barten Hollyday The Bastard A Tragedy The Martyr A Tragedy The Just General Horratius in English A Tragedy Michaelmas Term. Combate of Love and Friendship Octavo's Gosses Tragedies Lucretius in Latine and English Faushawes La Fida Pastora Duke of Rohans Memoires and Discourses English Hyppolito Isabella Three Romances The Nuptial Lover Triumphant Lady Waterhouse his Apology for Learning Idem His Divine Tracts Idem His Discourse of Arms and Armory Botelers Sermons Compleat on several Subjects Instructions for a Library by Naudeus English Reliquiae Carolinae Dr. Taylors Offices or Liturgy Sheppard of Courts Of Corporations Lambords Archeion White of the Laws Parsons Law the last Edition Claytons Reports Fleetwoods Justice Stones Reading on the Statute of Bankrupts Wingats Body of the Law Noyes Maxims D'avenport's Abridgment of Cook on Littleton Abridgement of Acts. Twelves Compleat Justice Davis's Abridgement of Cooks Reports Tylenus Second Part against Baxter Jacksons Evangelical Temper Of Liberty and Servitude Haywards Edward 6th St. Chrysostom of Education Guuton of External Worship Supplementum Lucani per May. Thuan's Politick Maxims Mayerns Experiments Dr. Stuarts Sermons Ladies Cabinet Gees steps in four and twenties SIR FRANCIS BACON'S Letters c.
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
is quiet the Queen continueth in Lough-Levin in very good health and the Earle of Murray ruleth quietly as Regent and so I end Yours assuredly as your own W. Cecil Hampton Court 3. Nov. 1567 To the Right Honorable Sir Hen. Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR BEfore Mr. Bridges came who arrived here on Saturday last with your letters dated the 16. We were much troubled with variety of reports of the encounter betwixt the Constable and the Prince and by him we are well satisfied to hear that we think to be truth although otherwise men report on the other side Your servant Crips was sent hence and as I hear was stayed for lack of winde to pass six or seven days at Rye but seeing Mr. Bridges met him so neer Paris I think he came in safety to you And now for your further satisfaction I send this Bearer Mr. Jenny whom truly I think honest and careful and in the matter imputed unto him I take him to be cleer Mr. Bridges shews himself towards you very friendly and in his reports very wise and discreet surely I do like him well The oftner you can send the better it is in this busie time The French Ambassador perswadeth us that all our Merchants at Rohan are by his means at good liberty to use their Trade which if they be I know the thanks belong to you I wish to have a Callender of them which are with the Prince and also to see the Edicts that have lately passed from the King against them Yours assuredly to command W. Cecil To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France AFter my very hearty commendations my Lady your Bedfellow having not heard from you this good while hath thought good to send over one of hers purposely to see you and to bring her word again from you by whom I would not fail to write these few words unto you not having any thing to write at this time but of the prosperous state of all things on this side The last letters from you hither were by your servant Henry Crips who was dispatched home again towards you the fourth of this moneth the want whereof is not imputed to be in you for lack of diligence and good will to write but partly to the dangerous time and hard means to send when you would and partly for lack of knowledge of the doings of the contrary part which in such a time are not easily known but as you may you shall do well to advertise how things pass there at the full The French Ambassador was with the Queens Majesty on Wednes the 12. of this present who had no great news to impart to her Majesty but came onely as he said to see her Majesty His last letters out of France he said were of the 27. of October In talk with me he told me that by his letters he understood that the King had sent for you at the time of the sending away of his dispatch whereby he judged that you might have occasion to write hither shortly and that your Messenger was in likelihood on the way hitherwards so as if he be not hindred by the way your letters are looked for very shortly or for lack of his coming it will be indeed thought that he is stayed your next advertisement will shew it which is daily looked for And thus I wish you in this dangererous time all safety and health Your very assured loving friend W. Cecil From the Court at Hampton-Court 15. Nov. 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOu must think that seeing all the parts of Christendom are intentive to hear of the maters of France we cannot be careless to whom the same belongeth next of all whatsoever the end thereof shall be Your last letters brought hither came with good speed being dated the 28. of December they came the fourth of this January Of the news therein contained mentioning the encounter betwixt Mountgomery and the Kings Vantguard about the 23. of December I had letters dated in Paris the 20. which did express the same more particularly but I dare not credit them Your good advice given to her Majesty in the said letter is well to be commended Of the state of our things here there is no new thing to write all things thanked be God are quiet In Scotland they have ended their Parliament wherein as I hear they have Enacted the Coronation of the King the Authority of the Regent to be good and have noted the Queen to be privy to the murther of her husband My Lady your wife hath been a little sick but is now well recovered and hath instantly required me to send away this bearer because she had writings to send you otherwise I would have had him stayed two days to have heard some more news from thence I thank you for the Articles which you last sent me but lacking the Articles of the other side I could not well understand those which you sent me And so I end Westm. 8. Jan. 1567. Yours assuredly to use or command W. Cecil To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR IT is to us here thought very long since we heard from you your last being of the fourth of this moneth sent by young Cornwallis specially because we are troubled with such diversity of reports that what may be taken for truth is uncertain Beside this I cannot but let you understand that the Lords of the Council are desirous to hear more largely and particularly how things do pass wherein they seem to require such a dilligence as Sir Tho. Smith was wont to use who sought to understand and so continually did write what was done almost every other day making as it were a Journal or a Diarium But in my opinion I have shewed them that it is not so easie for you to do it in this time considering the Armies and their accidents are far from Paris and as I think very great heed given that no advertisements should be given you but such as you should not think worthy of writing Nevertheless for their contentations I wish you would write of as many things as you can whereby they shall both be content and what they hear from other places of the same things they shall better discern what to think true 5. m. 3. to the disadvantage of R. All things here are in quietness I think Master Vice-Chamberlain shall be Deputy of Ireland for that Sir H. Sydney is sore vexed with the Stone in the Bladder and so I take my leave thanking you for the offer you have made me to provide for me certain Charts of the which I am bold to name nine as I have noted them in the paper included Yours assured W. Cecil 26. January 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the
and as it seemeth to the advantage of that Queen she took such comfort thereof as she made the Earl of Arguile Lieutenant in one part and the Earl of Huntly in another and the Duke of Chastilherault over all so as they forthwith leavyed Forces and by Proclamation threatned the Regent and all his with fire and sword who upon the Queens request had forborn hostility untill the matter might be heard and upon the 16. day of this moneth the said Regent beginning a Parliament which was appointed six weeks before and quietly holding the same without any Armes about the 19. word came to him that the Earl of Arguile was come to Glasco with 2000. and the Earl of Huntley coming out of the North with a great power to joyn with Arguile and so to come to Sterling to surprise both the place and the King upon which occasion the Earl of Murray brake up the Parliament and sent all the power that he had to stay their joyning together and as I heard the Earl of Huntley is put to the worse and so fled home-ward hereof the Queen of Scots maketh great complaint to the Queens Majesty you may do well when you have done your great Message as you see cause you may charge the Queen Mother with the breach of promise if the Duke of Chastilherault be gone forwards towards Scotland with power Yours assuredly W. Cecil Bissiter 27. Aug. 1568. Postscript I have boldly received from you sundry books and I am bold to pray you to provide for me a book concerning Architecture intituled according to a paper here included which I saw at Sir Smith's or if you think there is any better of a late making of that argument To the Right Honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight Her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur Lackquey arrived here on Friday in the afternoon and because the Bishop of Reynes hath not yet his audience I stay your servant Wall to bring the knowledge of that shall pass The Ambassador sent his Nephew Willcob to require Audience and that it might be Ordered to have her Majesties Council present at the Bishops Missado Her Majesty answered that they forgot themselves in coming from a King that was but young to think her not able to conceive an answer without her Council and although she could use the advice of her Council as was meet yet she saw no cause why they should thus deal with her being of full years and governing her Realm in better sort then France was so the audience being demanded on Saturday was put off untill Tuesday wherewith I think they are not contented The Cardinal Castillon lyeth at Shene Paris the rather to displease for Callis I think for E London demanded The Duke of Norfolke c. are gone to Yorke where the Dyet shall begin the last of this moneth It is Callice 90 London to the contrary shal be there any 9 7 3 590-0 Dover c. The success of the matters for good Sir I pray advertise me what you may reasonably think of practices what or any like to him I thank you for the book you sent me of Architecture but the Book which I most desired is made by the same Author and yet intituled Novels per bien bastir per Phileont de L'orn I thank you for your Placarts and instruments that you sent me by your Lackquey Yours assuredly as your brother W. Cecil Septem 27. 1568. Postscript And is well used by A the rather to displease all Papists I think he hath or shall shortly have such comfort for E as Steward demanded It is not meant if x shall be proved guilty of the Murther to restore her to V. howsoever her friends may brag to the contrary nor yet shall there be any haste made of her delivery untill the success of the matter of F and F be seen I pray you Sir advertise me what you may reasonably think of Sir Robert Staffords practices with D or any like him To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR AFter the letters of the Queens Majesty were closed up at Bissiter her Majesty stayed your Son that he might carry with him a letter for the Marshall Montmorancis wife for thanks for favor to my Lord Chamberlains daughter and for a token which her Majesty now sendeth by your Son being a Ring with a pointed Diamond I beseech you cause the letter to her to be indorsed as you shall think meet for I know not whether she be intituled Madam Lady Duchess of Calsho or Montmorancy or otherwise I write this upon the 20. being Sunday in the afternoon in Rycot where the Queens Majesty is well lodged to her great contentation as she hath commanded me to write to you lacking onely the presence of your self whom she wisheth here untill Thursday that she shall depart from hence of which Message I pray you take knowledge and give her Majesty thanks for she bad me to write thus very earnestly and so fare you well from your own house where also I am better lodged then I was in all this Progress We are truly certified by our own Ambassador from Spain who is on the way thorough France to return that the Prince is suddainly dead but by what occasion it is doubtful Yours assuredly W. Cecil 29. Aug. 1568. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR I Have as I lately signified unto you stayed this bearer John Wall your servant to the time that this Bishop of Rhemes should have his Audience and be answered he was heard on Tuesday and at his departure was required briefly to put in writing the sum of his speech which he did as shall appear by the Copy herewith sent unto you and yet in his speech he touched an offence in the latter end of your Message notingthe Doctrine of Rome to be contrary to Christs wherein he amplified before the Queens Majesty that seeing his Master holdeth the Doctrine of Rome therefore your Majesty should repute him no Christian which speech he said was hardly born by the king in an open Audience whereunto some answer hath been made as you may see to salve the matter by turning the sence that the Doctrine of Rome was contrary to Christs in derogating c. Onely in this was some difference made although indeed your writing was warranted by the Queens Majesties letter and therefore no fault in any wise found in your doings I do send you herewith the copy of the Bishops writing exhibited and the answer of her Majesty thereto which being put in French was yesterday before the Ambassador were admitted to her Majesties presence read unto them by one of the Clarks of the Council in the presence of the Council and afterward they were brought unto her Majesty who did confirm her former answer and so they departed without further debate thereof It was thought they would have used
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
should be conserved according to the Treaties And besides this it was added that seeing the Duke of Alva began the Arrest first it was reason they should also begin the release and so in the end D'Assonle ville appearing to be much miscontented was licensed to depart and so is gone having used all good gentle speech that could be during his being here notwithstanding the report of his great bravery made at Callis before his coming which either was not true or else purged his choler upon the Seas coming hither Thus having as time could serve me enlarged my letter I end with my hearty thanks to you for the Charts of France which I perceive are of the like as I had seen before so as I think there is no newer printed Yours assuredly as your own W. Cecil Westm. March 7. 1568. Postscript I would gladly know whether the paper you sent me containing the Emperors answer to the French Kings demand be to be allowed as true To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight c SIR BY the Queens Majesties letters you shall perceive in what sort the French Ambassador hath sought to frame a tale of slander against you her Majesty hath answered for you and as long as no other thing can be produced to touch you it is reason that her Majesty should answer as she doth Your servant Madder came safely hither four days past and I have heard from my Lady of Harts taking and the Queens Majesties letters from him Whereof as I know upon her advertisement to you you will use some roundness of speech by way of complaint there so have we here not forborn to charge the Ambassador with these dis-courteous dealings who promises earnestly to write to the King thereof The French Ambassador giveth out store of News of the overthrow of Montgomery the taking of his brother of Gonliss death of the Duke of Bipots sickness of his want of money to go to the Feild but we heard of many contraries to these and so I wish you your hearts desire Yours assuredly W. Cecil Westm. 14. March 1568. To the Right Honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur servant Crips came hither yesternight as I perceive constrained to follow and accompany Monsieur de Montassyer who this day was brought to the Queens Majesties presence to report the Victory which God had given to the French King by a Battail as he termed it wherein was slain the Prince of Conde whereunto as I could conceive her Majesty answered that of any good Fortune hapning to the King she was glad but she thought it also to be condoled with the King that it should be counted a Victory to have a Prince of his blood slain and so with such like speech not fully to their contentation Before the coming of your letters we could not firmly believe the reports of the Prince of Conde's death but now the will of God is to be interpreted in this and all things to the best I am sorry to see you so troubled whereof her Majesty is so informed as she told the French Ambassador that if he will not procure the King his Master to cause you and yours to be otherwise entreated she will revoke you In the mean season I pray you keep your former courage contra audentior ito I have been and yet am not in sure health as your Son can inform you whereby I am not able to write any long letter when Madder was here I gave him a Memorial of sundry things of which I trust he hath by this time informed you at length We have heard nothing from Rochel since this re-encounter at Cognac but from Paris we hear that saving the loss of the Princes person the other part hath the greater loss in numbers and that the Admiral did defeat fourty Ensigns of Mounsieurs Army that offered to besiege him in Cognac hereof shortly the truth will be known I note that this 13. of March last past had two sundry great effects for upon that day when the Regent of Scotland should have fought with the Duke of Chastilherault they did notably accord the same day in this sort that the Duke acknowledged the young King and went with the Regent to Sterling and with him besides other Noblemen the Lord Herryes who had been here a vehement Commissioner for the Queen of Scots Besides it is accorded that for redress of all private quarrels there were four Noblemen named of either part to end all who should come to Edenburgh the tenth of April to treat thereupon and this was unwilling to the Queen of Scots who must needs be greatly perplexed therewith what will follow I know not but the Regent is now well obeyed the same day we see what was done in Poytiers wherein Gods judgements are not to be over much searched I send you within the Queens Majesties letter a paper in a new Cipher to which he desireth forasmuch as all power egal to be which I pray you do And thus I finde my self not able to indure any longer writing and therefore end Yours assuredly W. Cecil Westm. 6. April 1568. SIR AFter I had closed up this other Packet I had occasion to stay the bearer partly by indisposition of my health and also within a day after by reason of the coming of your Son John Norris with your letters of the 15. of this moneth who gave us here to understand of certain discomfortable news which were told him at Abeville and as it appeareth were in great haste sent before him by the Marshal de Cosse to the French Ambassador containing an absolute Victory by the Kings brother in a battail besides Cognac in which it was written that the Prince of Conde and the rest of the Nobility with him saving the Admiral and Dandelot who were fled were all slain and this news being here dispersed abroad I thought good to stay the sending away of this bearer until we might better understand what to think truth herein which being now four days and therein no confirmation of the aforesaid news but a doubtful maintenance of them whereby it is thought that either no part was true or not in such sort as was reported and therefore knowing the necessity of your mans service I do return him unto you We understand certainly out of Scotland that there hath been an accord by certain Articles made betwixt the Regent and the Duke of Chastilherault and his party wherein the obedience to the King is acknowledged and a Surcease untill the tenth of April at which time the Duke and eight more chosen on both parts shall meet at Edenburgh to confer of the estate of the Queen of Scots how she shall be reputed and likewise of recompences for the losses on both parts sustained in these civil wars and for performance of this Treaty the Duke the Earle of Cassels and the Lord Herryes remain with the Regent untill they put in their Sons for
Majesties meaning in such sort as I need not to repeat or enlarge the same and the sooner that her Majesty may have answer hereof the better she will be content especially if the answer shall be good I send to you the Copies of the advertisements of my Lord of Sussex journey into Scotland the 17. of April and returning the 22. his Lordship entred the 27. to besiege as I think Hume Castle for the same hath been the receptacle of all the Rebels but at the writing hereof I am not ascertained what his Lordship hath done Of late the Bishop of Ross caused one of his servants secretly to procure the printing of a Book in English whereof before eight leaves could be finished intelligence was had which Book tendeth to set forth to the world that the Queen of Scots was not guilty of her husbands death a parable in many mens opinion next that she is a lawful heir to the Crown and herewith such reasons inserted as make unsound conclusions for the Queens Majesties present state Besides this a notable lye is there uttered That all the noble men that heard her cause did judge her innocent and therefore made suite to her Majesty that she might marry with my Lord of Norfolk With these and such like enterprises her Majesty hath been grieved with the said Bishop whereupon she hath the longer kept him from her presence but I think he will be spoken withall to morrow and so within two or three days it is likely he shall have access to her Majesty The Secretary in Scotland hath so discovered himself for the Queen of Scots as he is the instrument to increase her party having such credit with Grange who keepeth Edenburgh Castle as the Duke of Chastilherault the Lord Herries c. are now at liberty and thereby the party for the King is diminished you can judge what is ment to be done and I wish her Majesty to take such a way herein as may preserve her estate the device and execution whereof is found upon consultation very difficult and yet in all evils the least is to be chosen My Lord of Worcester and my Lord of Huntington are chosen Knights of the Order I cannot procure any resolution for your revocation untill it may be seen what will fall out there of the war betwixt the King and his subjects whereof daily there is expectation of some issue and the French Ambassador doth constantly affirm that the peace shall follow And so I end Yours assuredly W. Cecil Hampton-Court 4. May 1570. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident with the French King A note of a journey into Tividale by the Earl of Sussex her Majesties Lieutenant in the North begun the 17. of April 1570. and ending the 22. of the same THe 17. of April 1570. the Earl of Sussex and the Lord Hunsdon Governor of Berwick with all the Garrisons and power of the East Marches came to Warke and entered into Tividale in Scotland the 18. at the break of the day and burnt all Castles and Towns as they went untill they came to the Castle of Moss standing in a strong Marsh and belonging to the Lord of Fernhurst which they burnt and razed and so burnt the Country untill they came to Craling The same day Sir John Foster with all the Garrisons and force of the middle marches entred into Tividale and Expesgate head 16. miles from Warke and so burnt all the Country untill they came to a strong Castle called in the possession of the mother of the Lord of Fernhurst which he burnt and razed and so burnt all other Castles and Towns untill he came to Craling where both Companies met and so went up the River of Tivit and burnt and threw down all the Castles and Towns upon that River untill they came to Godworth where they lodged This day the Lord of Chesford Warden of the middle marches with the principal men of his kinde who had never in person received the Rebels nor invaded England and yet had evil men that had done both came in to the Lord Lieutenant and submitted himself and offered to abide order for his mens offences whereupon he was received as a friend and he and all his were free from any hurt The 19. the Army was divided into two parts whereof the one did pass the River of Tivit and burnt and razed the Castle of Fernhurst and all other Castles and Towns of the Lord of Fernhurst Hunthill and Bederoll and so passed on to Minte and the other part of the Army burnt in like sort on the other side of the River Tivit untill he came to Hawick where it was intended to have lodged that night for that the Bailiffs had the same morning offered to receive the Army and had therefore their Town assured but at the coming thither of the Army they had unthetched their houses and burnt the Thetch in the streets and were all fled so as no person could well enter for smoak which caused lack of victuals lodging and horsemeats and therefore the fire began by themselves in the Straw burnt the whole Town aftersaving Donn Lamorecks Castle which for his sake was spared and all the goods of the Town in it The 20. the Army went to Branshaw the Lord of Buckloughs house which was wholly overthrown with Powder and there divided and burnt on the North the River of Tivit more into the inland all the Castles and Towns in that Country which belonged wholly to the Lord of Bucklough and his kinsmen and returned that night to Jedworth The 21. the Army divided and one part went to the River of Bowbeat and burnt all on both sides of that River and the other part went to the River of Caile and burnt all on both sides of the River and met neer to Kelsaw where the Lord Lieutenant lodged that night of purpose to beset Hume Castle in the night and the Lord Hunsdon and the other part went to Warke to bring the Ordnance thence in the morning which was disappointed by the negligence of such as were left in charge who suffered the carriage horses to return after the Ordnance was brought thither so as for lack of horses to draw the Ordnance the Army was forced to return to Berwick the 22. All which time there was never any shew of resistance And the same time the Lord Scroope entred Scotland from the West Marches the 18 c. During which time the Marches in all places were so guarded as the Scots that did not shew themselves to offer fight in the field durst not offer to enter into England so as in the absence of the Army there was not one house burnt nor own Cow taken in England and it is conceived by such as know the enemies part of Tividale that there is razed overthrown and burnt in this journey above fifty strong Castles and Piles and above 300 Villages so as there be few in that Country that
have received the Rebels or invaded England that have either Castle for themselves or houses for their Tenants besides the loss and spoils of their other goods wherein nothing is reckoned of that was done in the other parts by the Lord Scroope for that it was not done within the County of Tividale c. The Rode of the Lord Scroope Warden of the West marches of England into Scotland Who the 17. of April at ten of the clock at night with three thousand Horse and Foot came to Ellesingham on the Wednesday at night and burned that Town in the morning being from Carlile twenty miles On Thursday he burned besides Hoddom the Maymes the Town and all the houses which is the Lord Herryes and from Carlile sixteen miles That day they burned Trayle-trow which is the Lord Maxwells from Carlile 16. miles They burned the Town of Reywell which is the Lord Coplands and the Lord Homeyn's from Carlile eighteen miles They burned the house of Copewell and the Demesne of the Lord Coplands from Carlile nineteen miles They burned the Town of Blackshieve which is the Lord Maxwells from Carlile 20. miles Item The Town of Sherrington of the same Lords twenty miles Item The blank end of the same Lords twenty miles Item The Town of Lowzwood of the same Lords twenty miles Goods taken the same Rode one thousand Neat and one thousand Sheep and Goats Of the Scots are taken one hundred Horsmen within a mile of Dunnforest Some say that Swynborne is taken SIR BY letters from my Lords of Sussex and Hunsdon of the 29. of April it is advertised that the Castle of Hume being besieged by them and the Battery laid the 27. of April the day following the Captain sent out a Trumpet to desire a Parlie which granted the Castle desired licence to send a Messenger to the Lord Hume to know his pleasure what they should do whereupon it was agreed a Messenger should pass and one was sent with him to see that no delay should be used the Messenger at his return brought Commission from the Lord Hume to deliver the Castle simply without condition trusting to their Honors for a favourable dealing with his men whereupon the Castle was received and all the Armor and Weapons and the people licenced to depart without Bag or Baggage and now the same remaineth newly fortified to the Queens Majesties charge more stronger then it was before to the intent the Rebels may not have their refuge thither as they had before By other letters of the first of May from my Lord of Sussex it is advertised that the most part of the March of East Tividale Esdale Ewesdale Wawcopdale and other parts upon the Borders from the East to the West Seas affirm their continuance of obedience to their King desire the Amity betwixt both Realms offer to spend their lives in the resisting of any Forreign power that shall offer the disturbance of either refuse dependence upon the French offer to depend upon the Queens Majestie and in their actions have refused to receive the Rebells or to assist the invaders of England the like whereof all others do offer that acknowledge that authority The contrary part openly receive the Rebels maintain the invaders of England share in their actions and ill meaning to England and seek dependence and maintenance of the French The Earls of Morton Murray and Glencarne with others of the Kings Council prepared to be at Edenburgh the 29. of the last whereupon the Duke of Chastilherault and Huntley went to Lithgo the 28. to stop their meeting and the 29. Morton went out of Edenburgh with a thousand men to meet the other Earls a By-wayl and so came together that night to Edenburgh with all their Forces or to fight for it in which time the Lords of Hume and Liddington be entred the Castle with Grange so as it is likely they will try shortly by the sword which side shall have the Authority W. Cecil IT may please you to be advertised according to my Lord Lieutenants direction I entered into Scotland on Tuesday at night last the 18. of this April and on Wednesday at night encamped at Heclesengham within Hoddom distant from Carlile 18. miles and within Scotland 12. miles and on Thursday in the morning I sent forth Simon Musgrave appointed by me as General of the Horsemen to burn and spoile the Country and to meet me at a place called Cambretreys and the said Simon burnt the Towns of Hoddome and the Maynes Troltrow Rovel and Calpoole the Town of Blackshaw Sherrington the Banck end within three miles of Dumfriese Lowgher and Lowgherwood and Hecklsengham which Towns were of the Lands of the Lord Herryes and Maxwell the Lord of Cockpoole and the Lord of Holmends and as the said Simon and his company came to old Cockpool there was the Lord Maxwell with his Forces and the Inhabitants of Dumfriese assembled and skirmished with the Couriers and compelled them to return unto the said Simon and then the said Simon marched unto the Town of Blackshaw with his Company where the Lord Maxwell was in order and his Forces and the said Simon and Fargus Graime with the number of a hundred Horse-men did give the charge upon the said Lord Maxwell and made him flee and his Company also In which fight there were a hundred prisoners taken whereof the principal was the Alderman of Dumfriese and 16. of the Burgesses thereof the rest were Footmen the chase was followed within one mile of Dumfriese after which conflict the said Simon returned to Blackshaw aforesaid and burnt it and seised a great number of Cattle and delivered the same unto certain Gentlemen and others to convey unto me and he the said Simon Rode with a hundred Horsmen to burn the Banck end Lowgher and Lowgherwood and as the said Gentlmen with their Company came to a streight place neer unto Old-Cockpool the said Lord Maxwell the Lord Carlile the Lords of Holme-ends Closburne Lorgg Hempsfeild Cowhill and Tenoll with the number of four hundred horsemen and six hundred footmen charged them very sore and forced them to alight and draw their company to a strong place to abide the charge of their enemies and so they remained untill the said Simon came unto them and alighted and put his Company in Order and set his Horse between his Company and the Sea and so stood in order to receive the enemy and in this sort continued charging and receiving their charges the space of three hours I being at Cambretreys aforesaid a place before appointed between me and the said Simon for his relief being distant from him three miles understanding of some distress sent my Band of Horsmen with my brother Edward Scroope and a hundred and fifty shot with Mr. Awdley and Mr. Herbert to their relief and the said Simon upon the coming of the said Band of horsemen and Shot gave the enemies the charge with all his Forces whereupon they fled in which
since ignominy had made him unfit for his Majesties service I am of opinion that the fair usage of him as it was fit for the Spanish examinations and for the questions touching the Papers and Dispatches and all that so it was no good preparative to make him descend into himself touching his present danger and therefore my Lord Chancellor and my self thought not good to insist upon it at this time I have received from my Lord Chief Justice the examinations of Sir William Mounson with whom we mean to proceed to further examination with all speed My Lord Chief Justice is altered touching the re-examination of the Lady and desired me that we might stay till he spake with his Majesty saying it could be no casting back to the business which I did approve My self with the rest of my fellows upon due and mature advice perfected our Report touching the Chancery for the receiving whereof I pray you put his Majesty in mind at his coming to appoint some time for us to wait upon him all together for the delivery in of the same as we did in our former Certificate For the Revenue matters I reserve them to his Majesties coming and in the mean time I doubt not but Master Secretary Winwood will make some kind of Report thereof to his Majesty For the conclusion of your Letter concerning my own comfort I can say but the Psalm of Quid retribuam God that giveth me favour in his Majesties eyes will strengthen me in his Majesty service I ever rest Your true and devoted Servant April 18. 1616. To requite your Post-script of excuse for scribling I pray you excuse that the Paper is not gilt I writing from Westminster Hall where we are not so fine Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney to Sir George Villiers touching the proceeding with Somerset SIR I Have received my Letter from his Majesty with his marginal notes which shall be my directions being glad to perceive I understand his Majesty so well That little Charm which may be secretly infused into Somersets ear some few hours before his Tryal was excellently well thought of by his Majesty and I do approve it both for matter and time only if it seem good to his Majesty I would wish it a little enlarged For if it be no more but to spare his blood he hath a kind of proud humour which may over-work the Medicine Therefore I could wish it were made a little stronger by giving him some hope that his Majesty will be good to his Lady and child and that time when Justice and his Majesties Honour is once salved and satisfied may produce further fruit of his Majesties compassio which was to be seen in the example of Southampton whom his Majesty after attainder restor d and Cobham and Gray to whom his Majesty notwithstanding they were offendors against his own person yet spared their lives and for Gray his Majesty gave him back some part of his estate and was upon point to deliver him much more he having been so highly in his Majesties favour may hope well if he hurt not himself by his publick misdemeanor For the person that should deliver this message I am not so well seen in the Religion of his friends as to be able to make choice of a particular my Lord Treasurer the Lord Knolles or any of his neerest friends should not be trusted with it for they may go too far and perhaps work contrary to His Majesties ends Those which occur to me are my Lord Hay my Lord Burghley of England I mean and Sir Robert Carr. My Lady of Somerset hath been re-examined and His Majesty is sound both a true Prophet and a most just King in that scruple he made For now she expoundeth the word He that should send the Tarts to Helwish's wife to be of Overbury and not of Somerset But for the person that should bid her she saith it was Northampton or Weston not pitching upon certainty which giveth some advantage to the evidence Yesterday being Wednesday I spent 4 or 5 houres with the Judges whom His Majesty designed to take consideration with the four Judges of the Kings Bench of the Evidence against Somerset They all concurre in opinion that the questioning him and drawing him on to tryal is most honourable and just and that the Evidence is fair and good His Majesties Letter to the Judges concerning the Commendams was full of magnanimity and wisdome I perceive His Majesty is never less alone then when he is alone for I am sure there was no body by him to informe him which made me admire it the more The Judges have given day over till the second Saturday of the next term so as that matter may indure further consideration for His Majesty not only not to lose ground but to win ground To morrow is appointed for the examination of Somerset which by some infirmitie of the Duke of Lenox was put off from this day When this is done I will write more fully ever resting Your true and devoted servant May 2. 1616. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney to Sir George Villiers of Account and Advice to His Majesty touching Somerset's Arraignment SIR I Am far enough from opinion that the Redintegration or Resuscitation of Somersets fortune can ever stand with his Majesties honour and safety and therein I think I exprest my self fully to his Majesty in one of my former letters and I know well any expectation or thought abroad will do much hurt But yet the glimmering of that which the King hath done to others by way of talke to him cannot hurt as I conceive but I would not have that part of the Message as from the King but added by the Messenger as from himself This I remit to His Majesties Princely judgement For the person though he trust the Lieutenant well yet it must be some new man for in these cases that which is ordinary worketh not so great impressions as that which is new and extraordinary The time I wish to be the Tuesday being the even of his Ladies Arraignment For as His Majesty first conceived I would not have it stay in his stomack too long lest it sowre in the digestion and to be too neer the time may be thought but to tune him for that day I send herewithal the substance of that which I purpose to say nakedly and only in that part which is of tenderness for that I conceive was His Majesties meaning It will be necessary because I have distributed parts to the two Serjeants as that Paper doth express and they understand nothing of His Majesties pleasure of the manner of carrying the Evidence more than they may guess by observation of my Example which they may ascribe as much to my nature as to direction therefore that His Majesty would be pleased to write some few words to us all signed with His own Hand that the matter it self being Tragical enough bitterness and insulting be forborn and that
Queens Service mine own Fortune and in a sort my Vocation I did nothing but devise and ruminate with my self to the best of my understanding Propositions and Memorials of any thing that might concern his Lordships Honour Fortune or Service And when not long after I entred into this course my Brother Mr. Anthony Bacon came from beyond the Seas being a Gentleman whose abilities the World taketh knowledge of for matter of State specially Forreign I did likewise knit his Service to be at my Lords disposing And on the other side I must and will ever acknowledge my Lords love trust and favour towards me and last of all his liberality having enfeoffed me of land which I sold for 1800 l. to Mr. Reynold Nicholas and I think was more worth and that at such a time and with so kind and noble circumstances as the manner was as much as the matter Which though it be but an idle digression yet because I will not be short in commemoration of his benefits I will presume to trouble your Lordship with the relating to you the manner of it After the Queen had denied me the Sollicitors place for the which his Lordship had been a long and earnest Suitor on my behalf it pleased him to come to me from Richmond to Twilknam Park and brake with me and said Mr. Bacon the Queen hath denied me the place for you and hath placed another I know you are the least part of your own matter but you fare ill because you have chosen me for your mean and dependance you have spent your time and thoughts in my matters I die these were the very words if I do not somewhat towards your Fortune you shall not deny to accept a piece of land which I will bestow upon you My answer I remember was That for my Fortune it was no great matter but that his Lordships offer made me call to mind what was wont to be said when I was in France of the Duke of Guise That he was the greatest Usurer in France because he had turned all his Estate into Obligations meaning that he had left himself nothing but only had bound numbers of persons to him Now my Lord said I I would not have you imitate this course nor turn your state thus by greatest gifts into obligations for you will find many bad Debtors He bade me take no care for that and pressed it whereupon I said I see my Lord that I must be your Homager and hold land of your gift but do you know the manner of doing Homage in Law alwayes it is with a saving of his faith to the King and his other Lords and therefore my Lord said I I can be no more yours than I was and it must be with the ancient savings and if I grow to be a rich man you will give me leave to give it back a gain to some of your un-rewarded followers But to return Sure I am though I can arrogate nothing to my self but that I was a faithful Remembrancer to your Lordship that while I had most credit with him his fortune went on best and yet in too many points we always directly and condradictorily differed which I will mention to your Lordship because it giveth light to all that followed The one was I alwayes set this down That the only course to be held with the Queen was by obsequiousness and observance and I remember I would usually gage confidently that if he would take that course constantly and with choice of good particulars to express it the Queen would be brought in time to Ahasuerus Question to ask What should be done to the man that the King would honour meaning that her goodness was without limit where there was a true concurrence which I knew in her nature to be true My Lord on the other side had a setled opinion that the Queen should be brought to nothing but by a kind of necessity and authority and I well remember when by violent Courses at any time he had got his Will he would ask me Now Sir whose Principles be true and I would again say to him My Lord these Courses be like to hot waters they will help at a pang but if you use them you shall spoil the stomack and you shall be fain still to make them stronger and stronger and yet in the end they will lose their operation with much other variety wherewith I used to touch that string Another point was That I alwayes vehemently perswaded him from seeking greatness by a Military dependance or by a Popular dependance as that which would breed in the Queen Jealousie in himself Presumption and in the State Perturbation and I did usually compare them to Icarus two wings which were joined on with wax and would make him venture to soar too high and then fail him at the height And I would further say unto him My Lord stand upon two feet and flie not upon two wings The two feet are the two kinds of Justice commutative and distributive use your greatness for advancing of merit and vertue and relieving wrongs and burthens you shall need no other art of sineness but he would tell me that opinion came not from my mind but from my robe But it is very true that I that never meant to enthrall my self to my Lord of Essex nor any other man more than stood with the publick good did though I could little prevail divert him by all means possible from Courses of the Wars and Popularity for I saw plainly the Queen must either live or dye if she lived then the times would be as in the declination of an old Prince if she died the times would be as in the beginning of a new and that if his Lordship did rise too fast in these Courses the times might be dangerous for him and he for them Nay I remember I was thus plain with him upon his Voyage to the Islands when I saw every spring put forth such actions of charge and provocation that I said to him My Lord when I came first to you I took you for a Physitian that desired to cure the diseases of the State but now I doubt you will be like to those Physitians which can be content to keep their Patients long because they would alwayes be in request which plainness he nevertheless took very well as he had an excellent care and was patientissimus veri and assured me the case of the Realm required it and I think this speech of mine and the like renewed afterwards pricked him to write that Apology which is in many mens hands But this dfference in two points so main and material bred in process of time a discontinuance of privateness as it is the manner of men seldom to Communicate where they think their courses not approved between his Lordship and my self so as I was not called nor advised with for some year and a half before his Lordships going into Ireland as in former time yet
in writing apart to me in matters containing trouble and business and to her of Advice of all other things she most marvelleth at the answer sent you by Monsieur De Foix who seemeth not disposed to perform his promise made to the Queens Majesty by a cavillation alledging it to have been for his Master wherefore you shall do well to say to him That upon his answer reported hither the Queens Majesty seemeth to make doubt that you have not rightly conceived it and therefore she hath re-charged you to speak with himself and to require his answer for you may say her Majesty advertised you that she cannot be well perswaded that you will forget your promise firmly made to her self for the safe delivery of Lestrille and when he was escaped of your advertisement that he was taken and that he should be returned into England and if such a promise be no otherwise kept being made unto her you may say her Majesty shall finde it strange how to credit an Ambassador and so her Majesty would that you should charge him in fair words and good manners the best you can to obtain Lestrille You may do well to learn how many prisoners do remain in the Gallies The strange news of the death of the King of Scots will be come thither before these letters but by your son you shall know as much as I have The Queens Majesty would fain have a Taylor that had skill to make her Apparel both after the French and Italian manner and she thinketh that you might use some means to obtain some one such there as serveth that Queen without mentioning any manner of request in the Queen Majesties name First to cause my Lady your wife to use some such means to get one as thereof knowledge might not come to the Queen Mothers ears of whom the Queens Majesty thinketh thus That if she did understand that it were a matter wherein her Majesty might be pleasured she would offer to send one to the Queens Majesty Nevertheless if it cannot be so obtained by this indirect means then her Majesty would have you devise some other good means to obtain one that were skillful I have staid your Son from going hence now these two days upon the Queens Majesties Commandment for that she would have him to have as much of the truth of the circumstances of the murther of the King of Scots as might be and hitherto the same is hard to come by otherwise then in a generality that he was strangled and his lodging razed with Gunpowder his Father was first said to have been slain but it is not true for he was at Glasco at that time It is constantly affirmed that there were thirty at the killing of him We look hourely for Robert Melvin from the Queen of Scots by whom we must have that which he hath order to report The Queens Majesty sent yesterday my Lady Howard and my wife to the Lady Lenox to the Tower to open this matter unto her who could not be by any means kept from such passions of minde as the horriblness of the fact did require And this last night were with the said Lady the Dean of Westminster and Doctor Huick and I hope her Majesty will shew some favourable compassion of the said Lady whom any humane nature must needs pity After I had written thus far Master Melvin came hither from Scotland by whom we looked that we should have heard many of the circumstances of this murther but he cannot or may not tell us any more then we heard before the most suspition that I can hear is of the Earl Bothwell but yet I would not be the Author of any such report but onely do mean to inform you as I hear and as I mean when I shall have more The Queens Majesty caused the French Ambassador to be informed of the answer made to you by Monsieur de Foix concerning Lestrille who saith when he hath spoken with the Queens Majesty here he will advertise the King then thereof He seemed to understand first how some bargain might be made for Lestrille Secondly whether the Queens Majesty could not be pleased to have him delivered to you but the messenger answered him that he knew no other but to have him returned hither according to the promise and so you may do well therein to persist Now seeing I am come to no more knowledge from Scotland I will stay your Son no longer wishing him well to come to you and long to enjoy both you and my Lady Yours assuredly W. Cecill From Westminster 20. Feb. 1566. Postscript I thank you for your offer to send me the Book de translation ' de Religion ' which I have but if there be any particular Charts newly printed I pray you send me a Callender thereof and of any new Books where upon I may chance crave of you some To the Right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France AFter my very hearty commendations I send you herewith a Letter from the Queens Majesty by which you shall understand what her pleasure is for you to deal with the French King whereunto you may add as you see occasion That you are informed very credibly that Monlues Company now at their return are suffered to make Port sale of all that they have brought home from the Isles of Medera And therefore if it might please his Majesty to give direct order and charge for due restitution of that which was spoiled from the Queens Subjects It is likely the parties shall be able enough to make recompence my meaning herein is that the French King and his Council may perceive that it is well known how these Pirates are suffered to do what they will notwithstanding contrary Proclamations and yet you shall so utter this matter as not that you finde fault with this manner of sufferance for that ought properly to be to the Spanish or Portugal Ambassador with whom you may sometime deal to understand how they do know what is done and how they do interpret it You shall shortly hear of some special person that shall be sent thither in Ambassage to joyn with you for the demanding of Callis which is due by the Treaty of Cambray to be restored to the Queens Majesty the second day of April next but who it is that shall come as yet I cannot advertise The manner of the death of the King of Scots is not yet discovered to us for the knowledge of the Author thereof but there hath been Proclamation made that whosoever would reveal the offendors shall have two thousand pound Scotish and if he were a party should have his pardon and five hundred pounds the day after a Bill was set up in Edenburgh in this sort I according to the Proclamation have made inquisition for the slaughter of the King and do finde the Earle Bothwell Mr. James Bafour Parson of Flisk Mr. David Chamber and Black Mr. John Spence the
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
that we could not long suffer such attempts unrevenged and being somewhat amazed with the charge he denyed the things very flatly and promised to write very earnestly therein to the King his Master And for conclusion we said that we would write unto you to move the King to make restitution and to prohibit the going to the Seas of any other but of those that were good Merchants in this time of peace according to the Treaty of which our negotiation you shall hear more shortly by Letters from the Council although I thought it good by this my private Letter somewhat to touch it unto you This speech with the Ambassador was on Saturday the fourth of this present and upon importunity of the Ambassador he had Audience of the Queens Majesty this day to whom he shewed a Letter from the King that Percivall coming over with Letters of late thither was stayed at Deip and the King hearing that he had Letters from the Queens Majesty ordered to dismiss him and willed the Ambassador to pray the Queen to think no offence in it for the said Percivall was to be Arrested in France for great debts which he ow'd there besides that as the Ambassador saith he is to be charged there with a murther After he shewed this Letter to her Majesty she called the Lord Chamberlain and me to her in his presence being no more of her Council then and in very round speeches told the Ambassador that she did not take the French Kings answer for the matter of Callis in good part and so much the worse because the Queen Mother by her Letters sent by Mr. Smith wrote that her Son had given very benign Audience and so reasonable an answer as ought well to content her Majesty In which manner of speech she saith she is not well used considering the answer was altogether unjust and unreasonable and if hereof the Ambassador shall make any sinister report you may as you see cause well maintain the Queens answer to be very reasonable as having cause to mislike the manner of writing of the Queen thereon which nevertheless you may impute to the unadvisedness of the Secretaries for so the Queens Majesty here did impute it Upon Sunday last I received Letters from Barnaby your Secretary who therein did very well advertise me of the staying of Percival at Deip and indeed I do finde that the cause hath grown from the Ambassador here either of displeasure or of suspition that he hath against the State Ro. Condulphe for whom he knew Percival was specially sent and finding this day the Ambassador very earnest in private speech with my Lord of Leicester and my self that Percivall would be Arrested in France after that he had delivered the Queens Letters I advised him to write to the contrary for otherwise he might provoke us to do the like with his Messengers and surely if I may be suffered so will I use them I have no more to write unto you But I can assure you that the Queen of Scots was married the 15. of this May and the Nobility therewith so offended as they remain with the Prince and keep apart from her what will follow I know not My Lady your Wife is safely arrived and was long with the Queen on Sunday I thank you for the little French Book which she brought me the like whereof I had before Yours assuredly W. Cecil May 27. 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR THe matters of Scotland grow so great as they draw us to be very careful thereof I think not but you do hear of them by the reports but briefly these they be The best part of the Nobility hath confederated themselves to follow by way of Justice the condemnation of Bothwell and his Complices for the murther of the King Bothwell defends himself by the Queens maintenance and the Hambletons so as he hath some party though it be not great The 15. of this moneth he brought the Queen into the field with her power which was so small as he escaped himself without fighting and left the Queen in the field and she yielding her self to the Lords flatly denyed to grant Justice against Bothwell so as they have restrained her in Lothleven untill they may come unto the end of their pursuit against Bothwell The French Ambassador and Villeroy who is there pretend to favour the Lords with very great offers and it may be they do as much on the other side At this time I send unto you certain Packets of Letters left here by Mr. Melvin who lately came hither from the Queen of Scots the sending of those to my Lord of Murray requireth great haste whereof you may not make the Scotish Ambassador privy but I think you may make Robert Steward privy with whom you may confer for the speedy sending away of the same letters His return into Scotland is much desired of them and for the Weal both of England and Scotland I wish he were here and for his manner of returning touching his safety I pray require Mr. Steward to have good care Our Wars in Ireland are come to a good pass for the Arch-Traytor Shane-Oneale is slain by certain Scots in Ireland of whom he sought aid one murtherer killed by many murtherers hereby the whole Realm I trust will become quiet I pray you of those things that our Ambassador in Spain by your letters may be advertised whereof I cannot at this time make anyspecial letter unto him for lack of leisure and so I pray advertise him from me I am pitifully overwhelmed with business Sir Nicholas Throckmorton is shortly to pass into Scotland to negotiate there for the pacification of those troubles Yours assuredly W. Cecil Richmond 26. June 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR THis your Lackquey brought me letters from you and also from your servant Mr. whom he left at Rye for such business asby his letter he hath certified me whereof I have informed the Queens Majesty wherein she also well alloweth of your circumspection and I wish all to succeed as you advise for otherwise the peril were great Sir Nicholas Throckmorton hath been somewhat long in going into Scotland and entred by Berwick on Munday last I think the two Factions of the Hambletons and the Lenox's shall better accord then your neighbors where you now live would if Bothwell might be apprehended I think the Queen there shall be at good liberty for the Nobility My Lord of Pembrooke perceiving likelihood of troubles there in that Country would gladly have his Son Mr. Edward Herbert to return home and so I pray with my hearty commendations to him declare my Lord his Fathers minde and if my Lord of Murray should lack credit for money my Lord Steward would have his Son give him such credit as he hath for my Lord alloweth well of his friendship I am
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
Prince and the Admiral was and what they did and how they intended to prosecute the enjoying of the peace for here we are troubled with very many fond tales and I never make good resolution of doubts without your advertisment and therefore I pray write from time to time what is done on both parts You shall do well to give good respect to the pretending to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherein surely may be seen the very intent of the practicers I heartily thank you Sir for your plentiful present of so many Countries as you lately sent by Harcourte who indeed did in former times serve me and with my good favor departed from me but if he may serve you I am glad for I never knew but good honesty by him 2 π 5. oVʒʒ is not a little afraid of these G and H. We hear newly of great attempts towards Flanders and so having nothing more to write I am by business forced to end being assured that both by your Son and otherwise you are advertised of all our seen matters here From Greenwich the first of May which is become a very cold day 1568. Yours assured at all times W. Cecil To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR BY the Queens Majesties letter you may perceive what is her pleasure at this time Beaton is passing thither so as I think he will be at the Court before the coming of this bearer In your speaking with the King you may not by your speech seem to utter that you know of Beatons coming for aid there upon advertisement given from hence for he being advised not to seek aid there and promised aid here for his Mistris hath in words allowed thereof and saith that he will forbear to require aide from thence and will onely but notifie the Queens liberty But yet surely I am not bound to believe him but he hath required us here to say nothing of that which he at his first coming told us That the Queen his Mistris sent him to France to require aide of one thousand Harquebusiers and a sum of money with some Ordnance Wherefore except you shall learn there that he demandeth aid you shall not speak thereof but if he do then shall ye do well to make mention thereof to the King I hear daily of the evil observation of the last peace towards the Protestants In Flanders and the Low Countries I see things will prosper too well in hurt of the Religion and onely for lack that the Prince of Orange his party hath of money Yours assuredly W. Cecil Greenwich 16. of May 1568. Postscript And I think Mr. Vice-Chamberlaine shall be Controller Mr. Sydney Treasurer Mr. Throckmorton Vice-Chamberlain and Sir Ralph Sadler Chancellor of the Duchy To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France AAfter our very hearty commendations we being made privy to such Letters and Message as you lately sent by this bearer your Secretary to me Sir William Cecil have well considered the same and do well allow of the good because the And do not mislike the overture made to you by Paris for the diverting of the Low good Callis and Dover and although there is no likelyhood of the sequel of this overture for sundry respects yet we do allow so well thereof as we wish you would make such answer to the said party as And to that end we are content that you may if need so require the giving him to understand that we will gladly if the matter shall the to us use our credit towards xx the A who we hope surely neither can nor will but accept the good will of in every good part and so we require you to further that matter with all that you can and on our part you may assure the party that it shall be also xx low the And so far ye well heartily Your assured loving friends Pembroke R. Leicester W. Cecil From the Court at Greenwich 28. of June 1568. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YEsterday being the 12. of this month Mr. Bridges came to the Court as we were going from London towards Havering in such sort as the Queens Majesty her self seeing him and knowing that you would not have sent him but with matter of some importance commanded me forthwith to decipher your letter which I did and shewed her Majesty whereupon she comfortably and constantly seemed not to fear any such Devillish practice but yet she is earnest in the further discovery of the matter and liketh well of your advertisement But she marvelleth that you did not advise more particularly of more special means to know the for as he is described to be of chiefest with the as also with we cannot truly hit of no man for as there be 4. or 5. that do sometime accompany the so are there men of that Nation but they do resort to the wherefore it is necessary that you speak again with the party that gave you this intelligence and if the matter be of truth and disguising to some other purpose he can as well obtain you the knowledge of the party in certainty as this to give a guess at him for as he hath his intelligence of the matter which he uttered to you if it be true so may he attain to a more perfect knowledge and if the matter be true and shall be discovered by his means you may promise him reward of the Queens Majesty as of a Prince of honor and so indeed shall he have it on the other side if the matter be not true but a device surely he and they that do participate with him are much too blame wherefore Sir I earnestly require you to use all the speed you can herein and advertise as plentifully as you can to the satisfaction of her Majesty For though her Highness words have comfort yet it cannot be but she shall rest perplexed untill more certainty be had Likewise her Majesty would have you cause diligent inquisition to be made of the other matter concerning the vi prepared by where and when and to what end the prepation shall be We marvail that you write nothing at this time of the Prince of Conde c. For the French Ambassador reporteth that he shall come to the King to Gallian the Cardinal Burbous house and that the Cardinal of Lorrein shall depart from the Court which to me is unlikely for truth The Scotish Queen is ordered to remove from Carlile to a Castle of the Lord Scroops in the edge of York-shire next Cumberland called Bolton for where she was appointed to come to Tutbury the Queens Majesty finding her great misliking therein hath forborn the same Her desires are these in sundry degrees First to come to the Queens Majesties person and to have present aid to be restored Secondly if that cannot be to have licence to pass into France and to these
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
subscribed his name who seemeth very importune to have answer because he may be entertained and if he be the party of whom you writ about a moneth past surely as I did advertise you the Queens Majesty will in no wise hear of any such offers which she thinketh are but chargeable without fruit although I had earnestly moved her Majesty to have adventured some small piece of money upon such a man therefore I see no remedy but to pay him as well as may be with goods words And thus I wish you better to fare then I did at the writing here Your assured loving friend W. Cecil To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR BY yours of the 23. of the last moneth for answer of mine of the 13. of the same I finde that you have very diligently and circumspectly travailled in the great dangerous matter to satisfie the Queens Majesty whereof you gave before that intelligence and though I perceive that you can come to no more understanding therein for further satisfaction of her Majesty yet she is very well satisfied with your diligence and care and so hath specially willed me to give you knowledge of her allowance of your doings therein Methinketh the parties which tell you such pieces of tales if the whole were true might as well tell you the whole as such obscure parts which if they do not you might well alleadge them to be but devices to breed unquietness and suspition and as I wrote before unto you they might be tempted with offer of rewards that the troth of the matter might be disclosed The Queens Majesty as I am informed for presently I am not at the Court by reason of my sickness meaneth to have the matter between the Queen of Scots and her subjects heard in this Realm and compounded as I think with a certain manner of restitution of the Queen and that limited with certain conditions which how they shall be afterwards performed wise men may doubt the Queen of Scots her self at length seemeth content to commit the order of this cause to her Majesty wherein if her Majesty 's own interest should not be provided for the world might think great want in her self which I trust she will regard I am willed by her Majesty to require you to continue your diligence in inquisition what preparations are meant or intended in that Country to sent into Scotland and as you shall finde any to give speedy knowledge thereof as I know you would do if you were not thus advertised There is coming out of Spain a new person to be Resident Ambassador here who is a Commendatory of an Order in whom I wish no worse conditions then I have found in this man for maintenance of amity Our whole expectation as yours there is resteth upon the event and success of these matters in the Low Countries which as they shall fall out so are like to produce consequences to the greater part of Christendom and therefore I beseech God it may please him to direct them to his honor and quietness if it may be of his universal Church here in earth and so I end being occasioned to use the hand of another my self being very unable to write and fully wearied with inditing thus much Fare you heartily well from my house in Cheston the 3. of August 1568. Sir This bearer Mr. Hudleston acknowledgeth himself so much be-holden to you as he is desirous to return thither to spend his time where he may shew himself thankful to you and to that end hath requested me to write to you by him he hath required to be accepted into my service but I think him worthy of some better Master and my self am overburthened with numbers or else I would gladly have accepted him Yours assured W. Cecil SIR MY late sickness hath been cause of my rare writing and I am sorry to hear of your lack of health which I trust you have ere this time recovered Your letters sent by the Frenchman of Southwark came one day only before Cockborne who came also safely with your letters on Saturday last I have made the Queens Majesty privy to both your letters and as to the unhappy news of Flanders we had the same worse reported by the Spanish Ambassador here then yours did there who hath made a triumphant story thereof as far uncredible as any in Amadis de Gaule for in the fighting continually one whole day there were on Lodowicks part slain and devoured 8000. and on the other part but eight so every one of them killed ten hundred I understand that within these three days we shall have the report more reasonable for I also hear that the greater number of the men slain were of the Dukes part which I wish to be true is in words content to commit Dover A but yet x doth not omit to stir new troubles in v. Touching the whereof you have often writ order is taken to deal with Paris and surely me-thinks still since the informers will not be known of the particulars in more certainty that these things are intended to bring us into their play but yet no diligence is to be omitted I think the Duke of Norfolk my Lord of Sussex and Sir Walter Mildmay shall be Commissioners to treat in the North betwixt the Queen of Scots and her subjects And so I end Yours assuredly W. Cecil Dunstable 10. August 1568. To the Right Honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR THe sufficiency of the bringer hereof is such as I need not to write any thing to you by him of importance to whom any thing may be well committed He can best tell you upon what occasion the Queens Majesty sendeth this Message to the French King at this time which because it is long and of great importance the Queens Majesty would have you first translate it into French and well digest it with your self so as you may very perfectly and readily express it in such sort as it is conceived And I think if you would in the translating thereof distribute it into sundry members by way of Articles you should the better carry it in your minde making thereby an account with your self of the better delivery thereof and you shall do well to let some such as favor the intention of the Queens Message to see the Copy of the letter whereby they may per-case being called to give advice to the King further the cause to the benefit of them of the Religion This day I received your letters of the date of the 20. of this moneth by Glover who of late time dwelt in Roan whom I take to be a good honest person but of the matter of the Jewels whereof you wrote upon his report I my self know no certainty As for the occurrents of Scotland you shall understand that where the Queens Majesty hath determined with the Queen of Scots to hear the whole matter
which you wrote unto the Queens Majesty touching the speech that was uttered unto you by the King there concerning the Cardinal Chastillon for that as I wrote unto you the same letter by casualty was burned before it was thoroughly read and perused and hitherto I have not heard your answer to the same We have been here of late much occupied in the conference with the Commissioners of Scotland wherein there hath been eight or nine several Sessions the sum of the matter is this the Queens party began at York to accuse the Regent and his party whereunto they made their answer and defence after which the Queens party by replication maintained their accusation and then the conference there stayed whereupon the Regent being here with the Queens Majesty vehemently charged was driven for his defence to disclose a full Fardel of the naughty matter tending to convince the Queen as devisor of the murther and the Earl of Bothwell her Executor and now tâ—e Queens party finding the burthen so great refuse to make any answer and press that their Mistriss may come in person to answer the matter her self before the Queens Majesty which is thought not sit to be granted untill the great Blots of the marriage with her husband the murtherer and the evident charges by letters of her own to be the deviser of the murther be somewhat razed out or recovered for that as the matters are exhibited against her it is far unseemly for any Prince or chaste ears to be annoyed with the silthy noise thereof and yet as being a Commissioner I must and will sorbear to pronounce anything herein certainly although as a private person I cannot but with horror and trembling think thereof In your letters of the 25. you recommended unto me a cause of your own between you and one Brabrook wherein you write that one Tettersall your Atturney should have informed me but herein I have not a good while now dealt withall but whensoever any shall I shall be glad to shew you my friendship to my power sic de caeteris I am sorry to understand of the sickness of your Son Mr. William Norris and therefore I would be glad to hear from you of his recovery for indeed I do heartily like him and his condition I have also dealt with my Lord of Norfolks grace in your matter for your right to the Lord Dacres Lands wherein his Grace at the Council-table openly promised his favor I pray you Sir commend me to my good Lady your wife if there be any good Charte of France made since Mr. Oliver Trunkets impression having no date I would be glad to have one to behold therein the particular voyages and passages of these contrary powers And so I end Yours as your own W. Cecil Hampton-Court 14. Decemb. 1568. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambessador resident in France SIR THis bearer your servant came hither the last of December with your letters of the 25. and 26. of the same wherein he used good diligence and for the contents thereof her Majesty is very well satisfied with the diligence of your advertising being before by reason of contrarious reports in great suspence what to think for this French Ambassdor now being here useth an ordinary manner to write unto her Majesty in a certain general sort of the news of that Country as favorably as he may on the Kings behalf as reason is he should but yet not without danger of discrediting himself by reporting untruths As I conjecture by your advertisements it is likely that God hath already permitted some great effect to be wrought about this Christmas time by some Battail stricken betwixt the two Armies and howsoever it is I do not doubt but you will advertise and therein the will of God is to be obeyed with thanks or with patience as it pleaseth him to give his grace or to chastise By your letters also it appeared that the Prince of Orange at the writing thereof was still in the French Kings Dominions and yet the common report at the same time was that he was departed towards Germany whereof the Duke of Alva's friends in the Low Countries began to make some triumph The matter of the Queen of Scots remains in these termes upon the accusation produced by her Commissioners against the Earl of Murray they have for their defence shewed so much matter to charge her with the procuring of the murther of her husband as thereupon motion is made on her behalf for covering of her honor to have some appointment betwixt her and her subjects which is communed of secretly by two or three manner of wayes that is to say That she should affirm her resignation of her Crown to her Son as it hath been made and live here in England Or else her self and her Son to joyn in Title and the Earl of Murray to remain Regent Or thirdly her self to remain in Title Queen and to live here in England secluded and the Earl of Murray to continue Regent which matters have so many pikes as the venture is great to take hold of any one of them nevertheless in the mean time outwardly she offereth to prove her self innocent so she may be permitted to come to the Queens presence and answer for her self which is thought to be the more earnestly required because it is also thought assured it will be denyed and now what is like to grow to be the end thereof surely I cannot well guess for as for my self I finde my insufficiency to wade so deep and the violence of the stream so great as without good company assisting in Council I dare not venture to make any passage and so wishing you and my Lady and yours a fortunate good year I end Here is a stay made of certain treasure that came out of Spain to pass into Flanders which we take to be Merchants and not the Kings as is alleadged if it shall prove Merchants we may be bolder to take the use of it upon good Bonds for an interest Yours assuredly W. Cecil Jan. 3. 1568. SIR I Heartily thank you for the last letters of the first of this moneth wherein you did well deliver us from some perplexity being by the French Ambassador here otherwise advertised to the advantage of the Cardinalists his letters are dated the 30 of December from the King and I marvel to perceive by your letters that the skirmish should be the 23. and the advise should not come to you before the 28. for thereby it seemeth the Camp should be so far off as in four or five days tidings could not come but this I think may be said that evil news are brought to that Court slowly at the least they are uttered slowly Of this accident of Arrest you shall be by her Majesties letters fully advertised at the signing whereof her Majesty said that she would have sent a Gentle-man expresly to the King but she considered that being sent
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
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
to there to understand the certainty of the matter whereof you did last advertise her Majesty concerning the For herein it is necessary to be better ascerâ—ained then by reports lest some may inform you of things to move us here to enter further then will be allowâ—ble Your constancy in opinion for the maintenance of Gods cause is here of good Councellors much liked and in that respect I assure you I do earnestly commend you Yours assuredly W. Cecil Greenwich 11. July 1569. Postscript I pray thaâ—â— may be commended to my good Lay whom I see void of fear of Wars for love of your company To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur last letters brought unto me by the French Ambassadors Secretary were of the 9. of this moneth the advertisement wherein being in Ciphers contented me so much as I wish you could by the next make me good assurance of the truth thereof and if the same be true met 〈…〉 the contrary party should not forbear to take advantage of the time This 〈◊〉 the Frenth Ambassador had to dinner with him the Duke of Norfolk the Earl o 〈…〉 the Earl of Leicester my Lord Chamberlain and my self having invited us four or five days past where my Lord of Leicester and I had privately reported the misusage of you by them of your house by the Parisians who seemed to be ignorant thereof imputing the same to their insolency reporting for example their late boldness in executing of the two Merchants which the King had pardoned whereof your self also of late wrote unto the Queens Majesty Afterward he entred more privately with me in discoursing of the causes why you were misliked there to be onely for the intelligence which you had with his Masters Rebels a matter as he said if he should attempt the like here he knew that I would so mislike as he could not be suffered to remain here as an Ambassador I told him that for any thing to me known therein he did as much here to his power but we had no such cause of suspicion as they had and therefore he heard nothing of us I confess that I thought you as well-willing to the cause of Religion as any Minister the Queen had and I liked you the better neither would I ever consent that any other manner of person should be sent to be our Ambassador there In the end he required me to write earnestly â—â—to you by way of advice that you would for-bear your manner of dealing with the Kings Rebels and I told him that so I would and durst assure him that you would deal with none whom you could account as Rebells percase you would wish well to the Kings good servants that were afflicted for their consciences and so after such like advisings we went to dinne Wheâ— I consider by whom I send this letter I mean your Son I finde myself ensured of writing being also as he knoweth oppressed at present with business I am bold to end with my heartiest commendations to you and my Lady I thank you for your good entertainment of Mr. Borthick for he hath written thereof very well W. Cecil 20. July 1569. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR SInce the time that we first sent the Merchants to Rhoan to confer with the Marshall de Crosse for restitution to be made on either side we never heard from them but once at which time they advertised us that the Merchants pretended ignorance of those things which the Ambassador here had alleaged both in the Kings name and in his nevertheless he entreated them well and caused them to stay untill he might send and have answer from the King which they did and since that time we have not heard of them but making report thereof to the Ambassador he would not seem to believe our Merchants pretending the mistaking of the Marshals words and so in the end by his frequent solicitation the Queens Majesty hath accorded by advice of her Council in such manner as you perceive by a Copy hereof in writing sent herewith the like whereof is sent at this present unto the said Merchants remaining at Rhoan In which accord you shall see a division of the matters in question according to their natures That is for things plainly and openly Arrested and staid to be restored within a time without suit in Law the rest of the things to be restored by order of Law with favorable expedition whereas the Ambassador would have had the accord made that all things of what nature soever they were being proved to have been taken by any the Queens subjects or any other that should be proved to have brought the same into any Port or Creek of this Realm that immediate restitution or recompence should be made for the same whereby you can guess what matters he meant to have drawn to their advantage by such large words Thus much of this matter I have thought good to write unto you for your information and for the enlargement thereof I have at present written to the Merchants to advertise you of their proceedings We have report come to us from Callis that the King there is come to Paris and that his brother with his Army is at Orleance with many other things to the advantage of the Prince of Navarr but hereof I make no certainty nor account untill I may hear from you You shall perchance hear of some troubles in Ireland which also may be by our ill-willers increased and therefore I have thought good to impart unto you briefly the state of those matters Fitz Morris of Desmond one that pretendeth title to the Earldom of Desmond hath traiterously conspired with divers Rebels in the South-West part with one Mac Cartemore late time made Earl of Clancarty to withstand the Authority of the Queens Majesty and pretendeth to make a change of Religion being provoked thereto by certain Friars that have offered to get him aid out of Spain and Portugall and upon comfort hereof hath with a Rebellious number over-run divers parts in the West and especially made great spoil upon certain Lands belonging to Sir Warham St. Leger neer Corke And besides this I have procured the Earl of Ormonds younger brethren to commit like riotous acts pretending on their part that they do the same not of any disobedience to the Queen but to maintain their private Titles and Lands against Sir Peter Carew whom indeed the Lord Deputy there findeth very serviceable against them and in that respect it seemeth they would cover their disorders But thanked be God the brothers powers are dispersed and they driven into desert places and the Deputy was the 27. of the last moneth in a Castle of Sir Edward utlers which was taken by force and from thence marched with his Army against the other Rebells who also fled from him And so although indeed it be
letters written on Friday at night at Reninghale came hither by which he signified the cause of his departure to be a vehement fear that he conceived by reports made to him that he should be committed to the Tower and therefore he did withdraw himself to have means to seek the Queens Majesties favor which he offered to do as a quiet humble subject Hereupon the same Sunday Mr. Edmund Garret was sent to him who found him at Reninghale on Munday at night in a servent Ague so as the Duke required respite untill Friday with which answer Mr. Garret returned and therewith the Queens Majesty was offended and began by reason also of other lewd tales brought to her Majesty to enter into no small jealousie and therefore sent again Mr. Garret with a peremptory commandment that he should come notwithstanding his Ague and so even now whilst I am writing I have word that Mr. Garret coming on Thursday at night found him ready to come of his own disposition and surely is now on the way whereof I am glad First for the respect of the State and next for the Duke himself whom of all subjects I honored and loved above the rest and surely found in him always matter so deserving Whilst this matter hath been in passing you must not think but the Queen of Scots was nearer looked to then before and though evil willers to our State would have gladly seen some troublesome issue of this matter yet God be thanked I trust they shall be deceived The Queens Majesty hath willed my Lord of Arundel and my Lord of Pembroke to keep their lodgings here for that they were privy of this marriage intended and did not reveal it to her Majesty but I think none of them so did with any evil meaning and of my Lord of Pembroke's intent herein I can witness that he meant nothing but well to the Queens Majesty my Lord Lumly also is restrained the Queens Majesty hath also been grievously offended with my Lord Leicester but considering he hath revealed all that he saith he knoweth of himself her Majesty spareth her displeasure the more towards him some disquiets must arise but I trust not hurtful for that her Majesty saith she will know the truth so as every one shall see his own fault and so stay Thus have I briefly run over a troublesome passage full of fears and jealousies God send her Majesty the quietness that she of her goodness desireth My Lord of Huntington is joyned with the Earl of Shrewsbury in charge for the Scotish Queens safety This 3. of October the Duke is come to Mr. Paul WentWorths house where Sir Henry Nevill hath charge to attend upon him I hope as I know no offence of untruth in him so the event of things will be moderate and so for my part I will endeavor all my power even for the Queens Majesties service I know there will be in that Court large discourses hereupon but I trust they shall lack their hope The Plague continueth in London the Term is prorogued untill All-halloutide All the former part of this letter hath been written these three days and stayed untill the Dukes coming Yours assuredly W. Cecil 3. Octob. 1569. To the Right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR EVen when this bearer was departing I heard that Crips your servant was come from you as far as Amiens or Abberville and there was faln sick but whether he hath any letters of yours or no I cannot tell I do mean to send one thither to see his estate and to bring your letters which will come very late and therefore I think we shall also have some later from you as soon as they shall come to my hands This bearer seemeth to be in Religion good enough but yet you know how he politickly serveth the French King Howsoever any evil bouts shall come thither at this present all the Realm is as yet as at any time it hath been and no doubt of the contrary and yet the Duke of Norfok is in custody and so are the Earl of Arundel and Lord Lumley but the Lord Steward onely keepeth his Chamber in the Court and I trust shall shortly do well And so I end Your assured friend W. Cecil Windsor-Castle 10. Oct. 1569. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR AS you have with grief written your advises so have they with grief been received of us and yet in all these accidents of the world we must accept with humbleness the Ordinances of Almighty God and expect his further favor with patience and with prayer and intercession to move the Majesty of God to draw his heavy hand over us which is provoked by our sins Of our late matters here by the Queens Majesties letter you shall further understand which being as you see long I know you will well consider and advise how to express the same to the French King in the French tongue wherein we have this disadvantage that their Ministers speak in their own tongue and we in theirs Whatsoever you shall hear by lewd reports from hence assure your self that I know no cause to doubt but that all things are and will continue quiet The Queen of Scots I trust is and shall be so regarded as no trouble will arise thereof the Duke of Norfolk doth humbly accept the Queens Majesties dealings with him and I know of none that are thought to have favored his part but either they plainly alter their opinions and follow the Queens or if they do not so inwardly yet outwardly they yield to serve and follow her Majesty order Before you sent us your letters which you received from Spain concerning Ireland we had knowledge of the same from the same place and much more and have made provision to our power These your sinister accidents in France will cause some that were in a slumber here to awake and so beseeching you to pardon me if my letter be hasty and very short Yours assuredly W. Cecil Windsor-Castle 26. Oct. 1566. To the Right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR THis bearer your Footman having brought your letters hither a good while since is desirous to return though I think both the season of the year and the weather will not suffer him to make much haste yet I have thought good to let you partly to understand of the state of things here About the midst of the last moneth the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland assembling themselves with some Companies after refusall to come in to the Lord President came to Duresme where they have made Proclamations in their own names for reformations of the disorders of the Realm as they termed it and for restitution of the ancient Customes and liberties of the Church and so directed the same generally to all of the old and Catholike Religion In their Companies
I know your Son Mr. William and other your servants hereto doth advertise you and therefore I pray you to bear with my shortness for I am almost smothered with business We look to hear of the apprehension of more of the Rebels I send you extracts of our letters out of the North as of late time they have come Yours assuredly W. Cecil Windsor-Castle 7. Jan. 1569. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador c. Advertisements from Lyexham 22. Decemb. 1569. THe two Rebellious Rebels went into Liddesdale in Scotland yester-night where Martin Elwood and others that have given pledges to the Regent of Scotland did raise their forces against them being conducted by black Ormeston an Out-law of Scotland that was a principal murtherer of the King of Scots where the fight was offered and both parties lighted from their horses and in the end Elwood said to Ormeston he would be sorry to enter deadly send with him by bloodshed but he would charge him and the rest before the Regent for keeping of the Rebels and it he did not put them out of the Country the next day he would do his worst against them whereupon the two Earls were driven to leave Liddesdale and to flye to one of the Armestronges a Scot upon the batable on the borders between Liddesdale and England the same day the Liddesdale men stole the horses of the Countess of Northumberland and her two women and ten others of their Company so as the Earls being gone the Lady of Northumberland was left there on foot at John of the Sides house in a Cottage not to be compared to many a Dog-kennel in England at their departing from her they went not above fifty horse and the Earl of Westmerland to be the more unknown changed his Coat of Plate and sword with John of the Sides and departed like a Scotish Borderer The rest of the Rebels are partly taken in the West Borders of England and partly spoiled by the English and Scotish Borderers By letters of the 24 The Rebels be driven to change their names their Horses and apparel and to ride like Liddesdale men The Regent of Scotland will be this night upon the Borders of Liddesdale The Earl of Cumberland the Lord Scroop and Mr. Leonard Dacre have shewed themselves very Honorable and diligent in their service at the Rebels entring into the West Marches and upon the scaling of the Rebels there be great numbers of them taken there There be in every of the Marches against Scotland sundry Bands of Horsemen and shot laid if they shall enter into the Realm again By letters of the last of December The Regent of Scotland is gone from Jedworth to Edenburgh and hath taken the Earl of Northumberland and six of his men with him Before his departure from Jedworth he sent for the Gentlemen of Tividale to come before him where all came saving the Lord of Farnehurst and the Lord of Bucklugh whereupon the Regent rode towards them but they hearing thereof suddainly rode away Robert Collingwood Ralph Swynton with others of their company were taken in East Tividale and delivered to the Regent who re-delivered them to their takers and charged them for their safe keeping Egremont Ratcliff with certain with him remain about Liddesdale And it is thought the Countess of Northumberland the Earl of West-merland Norton Markenfield Swynborne and Tempest are removed out Liddesdale to the Lords of Fernhurst and Buckclugh SIR I Doubt not but the report of the cruel murther of the Regent in Scotland will be diversly reported in those parts and diversly also received by some with gladness and by some with grief as I am sure it shall be of you the manner of it was thus as I have been advertised the 22. of the last moneth the Regent coming thorough the Town of Lithgo which is in the midway between Sterling and Edenburgh having in his company about a hundred persons was stricken with a Courrier about the Navell with the Pellet coming out about his Hucklebone which also slew a horse behinde him and of this wound he dyed the next day afterward within night the murtherer was one Hambleton of Bothwell-Hall who lay secretly in a house to attempt this mischief having shut the doors towards the street in such sort as no man could enter on the foreside to take him and so he escaped on the backside where he had a horse to serve his turn although he was pursued what is like to follow miserably to that Land I dare not judge but do fear that the death of so good a man will prove Initium multorum malorum At the writing hereof I know not what is done or intended but some write from thence That the Earls of Marr and Morton and other friends to the young King are come to Edenburgh and do in the Kings name preserve the State and do purpose to have the Land ruled by four Regents and one to be a Lieutenant for the wars to execute their directions a matter more probable in talk than in effect as I shall hereafter understand more so will I write It happend that at this time Sir Henry Gates and the Marshal of Berwick were at Edenburgh having been at Sterling with the Regent the Fryday before for the demanding in the Queens Majesties name of the Earl of Northumberland and other the Rebels and by direction of the Regent they attended at Edenburgh for answer to be given the day of his death which now is as our Lawyers call it sine die Mr. Randolph went from hence towards Scotland the 29. upon knowledge of the hurt and doubt of his life The same day also came Montlnet to her Majesties presence with the French Ambassador bringing his letters dated the 27. of December at which time I think they understand not of the stay of our Rebellion The sum of Montlnets message consisted upon these two heads request for restitution and liberty of the Queen of Scots and a declaration of the Kings inclination to peace with his subjects and their disguising with him by treating and suing for peace and yet amassing of new Forces in Almaine and seeking also to surprise the Kings Towns as Burdeaux and otherlike whereupon the King requireth the Queens Majesty not to favor his Rebels if they should seek any further succours from hence as they have done as persons unworthy of any favor They have made great instance to be answered for the first matter but the Queens Majesty hath hitherto deferred them but I think upon Monday next they shall have audience I forgat to shew you that in the request for the Queen of Scots he desired liberty to go to her and from thence to pass into Scotland which thing would not be granted unto him Upon the death of the Regent the Earl of Sussex and Mr. Sadler were admonished to stay there for that it was thought good that Mr. Sadler should have gone from thence into Scotland
flight there was taken a hundred prisoners whereof some were of the petty Lords of the Country but the Lord Maxwell the Lord Carlile the Lord Johnson and the rest before named escaped by the strength of the Lord of Cockpools house and a great Wood and a Mauress that was neer there adjoyning and so the said Simon repaired to me with his Company and so we returned home And thus for this time I commit you to the Almighty Yours assured to command H. Scroop Carlile 21. April 1570. Postscript Drumlangricks servants and Tenants whom I had given charge that they should not be dealt withall for that he favored the Kings faction and the Queens Majesties were as cruel against us as any others Sir I have written to my Lord Lieutentant for 500. men but for fourteen dayes and with them I will undertake to march to Dumfriese and lye in that Town and burn and spoil it if the Queen Majesties think it good for the open receipt of her Majesties Rebels is there manifest SIR MY leasure serveth me as I was wont to have it all my time at command of others and none for my self and little for my private friends by the Queens Majesties letter you may perceive the state of things here God send her Majesty a good issue of this Scotish matter whereinto the entry is easie but the passage within doubtful and I fear the end will be monstrous By your letters of late time it hath seemed that the opinion was for the Queens Majesty to be delivered of the Scottish Queen but surely few here among us conceive it feasible with surety My Lord of Suffex useth his charge very honorably and circumspectly upon the Frontiers where indeed he hath made revenge and that only almost upon the guilty I do send you herewith a printed thing or two sent me from Scotland and so take my leave wishing for your own sake that peace might be seen there so as you might bring it for which purpose I trust surely her Majesty will send one for you Yours most assured W. Cecil 23. May 1570. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador c. SIR THis bearer came hither with good speed I do send you herewith a note of my Lord of Sussex his last letters from Berwick I do also send you in writing the Copy of that which the French Ambassador lately sent thither containing the sum of that which lately passed here betwixt the Queens Majesty and him wherein truely he hath not much differed from that which was accorded The Bishop of Ross departed on Friday last to the Scotish Queen to deal with her that some of her part might come hither out of Scotland to treat of her cause and that Arms might cease on both sides Since his going thither the Queens Majesty understandeth of a Practice that he had two dayes before his departure with a noble man of this Realm being a professed Papist contrary to his manner of dealing with the Queens Majesty whereupon her Majesty is not a little moved against him and therefore I think she will not deal with him at his return We look daily that peace will there be made though we see not how it shall continue but I trust thereby you shall be revoked and I think Mr. Walfingham shall come in your place I have no more at this present I received yesterday a letter from Paris of the 19. of May but I did before that receive another of the 24. Yours assuredly W. Cecil Hampton-Court 8. June 1570. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador c. By Letters from Berwick 3. June THe Marshal of Berwick being at Edenburgh with certain Forces dealt with the Earls of Grange and Liddington to procure a surcease of Arms which taking no effect he went with the Noblemen of Scotland that joyned with him to Glasco from whence the Duke and his Associates fled upon their setting forth from thence the Marshal sent to the Bishop of St. Andrews and the Lords who were in Dumbarton Castle to Parly with them to procure an abstinence of Arms who appointed to meet them the next day at a Village half way betwixt Glasco and Dumbarton where missing them at the time appointed he went neerer to Dumbarton whereof he sent them word and thereupon they returned his Messenger and appointed to meet and speak with him out of the Castle so as he would bring but one or two with him and to put away his company and so soon as he had so done and that he was within their Shot they sent him word to look to himself and that they would not come to him and as he turned his Horse divers Harquebusiers laid for the purpose shot at him and they discharged a Falcon at him out of the Castle but he escaped without hurt hereupon the Noblemen which were with him burnt the Country thereabouts that belonged to the Hambletons burnt the Town of Hambleton and razed the Castle of Hambleton and two other principal houses of the said Dukes one in Lithgo and another called Kennell they have also thrown down the Abbot of Kilwrenings house and in effect all the principal houses of the Hambletons and have dealt with no other persons but with an Hambleton and so the Marshall is returned to Berwick c. SIR YEsterday did Crips arrive with your letters from Argenton and two days before came Rogers The Queens Majesty takes the Kings answer doubtful for his sending of Forces into Scotland and therefore hath caused the French Ambassador to understand and to advervise the King that if the King will send Forces thither she will take her self free from her promise of delivering the Q. of Scots of which matter I think he will advertise the King and as you have occasion you may take knowledge thereof for already her Majesty hath revoked her Forces out of Scotland leaving onely in Hume and Fast Castle a small Garrison where our Rebels were most maintained when they invaded England untill her Majesty may have some amends for her subjects losses My Lord of Sussex hath fully avenged the wrongs but yet our people have not recompence Mr. Drury the Marshall with a thousand Foot and four hundred Horse hath so plagued the Hambletons as they never had such losses in all the wars betwixt England and Scotland these fourty years The Queens Majesty hath hurt her Foot that she is constrained to keep her Bed-chamber and therefore the French Ambassador could not yesterday have Audience when he required but is willed to write that he hath to say I am sorry that your servants when they come tarry so long here as they do for it is not my fault and so I end Yours assuredly W. Cecil Oatlands 22. June 1570. Postscript The Earl of Southampton lately being known to have met in Lambeth Marsh with the Bishop of Ross is for his foolish audacity committed to the Sheriff of London closely to
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
wherein Queen Elizabeth Reigneth in good felicity I am delivered of the excuse wherewith the best writers of Histories are troubled in their Poems when they go about without breaking the bounds of modesty to give a reason why they should write that again which others have written well or at least tolerably before For those which I am to follow are such as I may fear rather the reproach of coming unto their number than the opinion of presumption if I hope to do better than they But in the mean time it must be considered That the best of the ancient Histories were contrived out of divers particular Commentaries Relations and Narrations which it was not hard to digest with ornament and thereof to compound one entire Story And as at first such Writers had the ease of others labours so since they have the whole Commendation in regard their former writings are for the most part lost whereby their borrowings do not appear But unto me the disadvantage is great finding no publick memories of any consideration or worth that the supply must be out of the freshness of memory and tradition and out of the Acts Instruments and Negotiations of State themselves together with the glances of Forreign Histories which though I do acknowledge to be the best Originals and Instructions out of which to write an History yet the travel must be much greater than if there had been already digested any tolerable Chronicle as a single Narration of the Actions themselves which should only have needed out of the former helps to be inriched with the Councels and Speeches and notable Particularities And this was the reason while I might not attempt to go higher to more ancient times because those helps and grounds did more and more fail although if I be not decieved I may truly affirm that there have no things passed ever in this Nation which have produced greater Actions nor more worthy to be delivered to the Ages hereafter For they be not the great Wars and Conquests which many times are works of Fortune and fall out in barbarous times the rehearsal whereof maketh the profitable and instructing History but rather times refined in policies and industries new and rare variety of accidents and alterations equal and just encounters of State and State in forces and of Prince and Prince in sufficiency that bring upon the stage the best parts for observation Now if you look into the general natures of the times which I have undertaken throughout Europe whereof the times of this Nation must needs participate you shall find more knowledge in the World than was in the Ages before whereby the wits of men which are the shops wherein all actions are forged are more furnished and improved Then if you shall restrain your Consideration to the state of this Monarchy first there will occur unto you Changes rare and altogether unknown unto Antiquity in matters of Religion and the State Ecclesiastical Then to behold the several Reigns of a King that first or next the first became absolute in the Sovereignty of a King in minority of a Queen married to a Forreigner and lastly of a Queen that hath governed without the help either of a marriage or of any mighty man of her blood is no small variety in the affairs of a Monarchy but such as perhaps in four Successions in any State at any time is hardly to be found Besides there have not wanted examples within the compasse of the same times neither of an Usurpation nor of Rebellions under heads of greatness nor of Commotions meerly popular nor of sundry desperate Conspirators an unwonted thing in hereditary Monarchies nor of Forreign Wars of all sorts invasive repulsive of Invasion open and declared covert and under-hand by Sea by Land Scottish French Spanish Succors Protections new and extraordinary kinds of Confederations with Subjects Generally without question the State of this Nation had never a longer reach to import the unusual Affairs of Europe as that which was in the former part of the time the Counterpoise between France and Spain and in the latter the only encounter and opposition again Spain Add hereunto the new Discoveries and Navigations abroad the new provisions of Laws and Presidents of State at home and the Accidents mememorable both of Sate and of Court and there will be no doubt but the times which I have chosen are of all former times in this Nation the fittest to be registred if it be not in this respect that they be of too fresh a memory which point I know very well will be a prejudice as if this story were written in favour of the time present But it shall suffice unto me without betraying mine own name and memory or the liberty of a History to procure this commendation to the time with the Posterity namely That a private man living in the same time should not doubt to publish an History of the time which should not carry any shew or taste at all of flattery a point noted for an infallible Demonstration of a good time King Henry the Seventh of that name after he had lived about 52. years and thereof Reigned 23. and some months deceased of a Consumption the 22. day of April in the Palace which he had built at Richmond in the year of our redemption 1504. This King attained unto the Crown not only from a private fortune which might endow him with moderation but also from the fortune of an exile man which had quickned in him all seeds of observation and Industry His times were rather prosperous than calme for he was assailed with many troubles which he overcame happily a matter that did not lesse set forth his wisdom than his fortune and yet such a wisdom as seemed rather a dexterity to deliver himself from dangers when they pressed him than any deep foresight to prevent them afar off Jealous he was over the greatness of his Nobility as remembring how himself was set up And much more did this humour encrease in him after he had conflicted with some such Idols and Counterfeits as were Lambert Symnell and Perkine Warbeck The strangeness of which dangers made him think nothing safe whereby he was forced to descend to the imployment of secret Espials and suborned Conspirators a necessary remedy against so dark and subtile practises and not to be reprehended except it were true which some report That he had intelligence with Confessors for the revealing matters disclosed in Confession and yet if a man compare him with the King his Concurrents in France and Spain he shall find him more politique than Lewis the Twelfth of France and more entire and sincere than Ferdinando of Spain upon whom nevertheless he did handsomly bestow the envy of the death of Edward Plantagenet Earl of Warwick Great and devout reverence he bear to Religion as he that employed Ecclesiastical men in most of his affairs and negotiations and as he that was brought hardly and very late to the
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
towards her for any pleasures to content her in your Realm and so I took my leave of her for that time It may farther please your Majesty Having Intelligence that Mounsieur d' Oysell had advertised the Queen of Scotland by Rollot her Secretary the 17th of this present what answer your Majesty had made him and hearing also of the sundry Praises and discourses made here of that your Majesty answered I sent to Dampier a house of the Cardinal of Lorrains the 19th of this Month to the Queen of Scotland to require Audience of her which she appointed me to have the next day in the Afternoon at St. Germanes She was accompanied at Domfier with her Unkles the Cardinals of Lorrain and Guise and the Duke of Guise there was also the Duke of Nemours who the same day arrived there in Post out of Savoy and visited the said Queen before he came to this Town The 20th of this present in the afternoon I had access to the said Queen of Scotland with whom I found Mounsieur d' Oysel talking when I entred into her Chamber she dismissed Mounsieur d' Oysel and rose from her Chair when she saw me unto whom I said Madam whereas you sent lately Mounsieur d' Oysel to the Queen my Mistris to demand her Majesties safe conduct for your free passage by sea into your own Realm and to be accommodated with such favours as upon events you might have need of upon the Coast of England and also did farther require the free passage of the said Mounsieur d' Oysel into Scotland through England The Queen my Mistriss hath not thought good to suffer the said Mounsieur d' Oysel to pass into Scotland nor to satisfy your desire for your passage home neither for such other favours as you required to be accommodated withall at her Majesties hand in as much as you have not accomplished the ratification of the treaty accorded by your Deputies in July now twelve Months ago at Edenburgh which in honour you are bound many wayes to perform for besides that you stand bound by your hand and seal whereby your Commissioners were authorized it may please you Madam to remember that many promises have been made for the performance thereof as well in the King your Husbands time as by your self since his death and yet not withstanding the Treaty remaineth unratified as before a whole year being expired since the Accord thereof which by your Commissioners was agreed to have been ratified within sixty dayes So as upon this unamicable and indirect dealings the Queen my Mistriss hath refused you these favours and pleasures by you required and hath grounded this her Majesties strangeness unto you upon your own behaviour which her Majesty doth ungladly both for that your Majesty is as she is a Queen her next Neighbour and next Kinswoman nevertheless her Majesty hath commanded me to say unto you Madam quoth I that if you can like to be better advised and to ratifie the treaty as you in Honour are bound to do her Majesty will not only give you and yours free passage but also will be most glad to see you pass through her Realm that you may be accommodated with the pleasure thereof and such friendly conference may be had betwixt you as all unkindness may be quenched and an assured perfect amity betwixt you both for ever Establisht Having said thus much unto her the said Queen sat down and made me sit also by her she then commanded all the audience to retire them further of and said Mounsieur l' Ambassadour I know not well my own infirmity nor how far I may with my passion be transported but I like not to have so many witnesses of my passions as the Queen your Mistriss was content to have when she talked with Mounsieur d'Oysil there is nothing that doth more grieve me then that I did so forget my self as to require of the Queen your Mistriss that favour which I had no need to ask I needed no more to have made her privy to my Journey than she doth me of hers I may pass well enough home into my own Realm I think without her Pass-port or License for though the late King your Master said she used all the impeachment he could both to stay me and catch me when I came hither yet you know Mounsieur le Ambassadour I came hither safely and I may have as good means to help me home again as I had to come hither if I would imploy my Friends Truly said she I was so far from evil meaning to the Queen your Mistriss that at this time I was more willing to employ her Amity to stand me instead than all the Friends I have and yet you know both in this Realm and elsewhere I have both Friends and Allies and such as would be glad and willing to employ both their Forces and Aid to stand me instead you have Mounsieur l' Ambassadour quoth she oftentimes told me That the Amity between the Queen your Mistriss and me were very necessary and profitable for us both I have some Reason quoth she now to think that the Queen your Mistriss is not of that mind for I am sure if she were she would not have thus refused me thus unkindly it seemeth she maketh more account of the Amity of my disobâ—dient Subjects than she doth of me their Sovereign who am her equalind gree though inferiour in in Wisdome and experience her highest Kinswoman and her next neighbour and trow you quoth she that there can be so good meaning between my Subjects and her which have forgotten their principal duty to me their Soveraign as there should be betwixt her and me I perceive that the Queen your Mistriss doth think that because my Subjects have done me wrong my Friends and Allies will forsake me also indeed your Mistriss doth give me cause to seeke friendship where I did not mind to ask it but Mounsieur l' Ambassadour let the Queen your Mistriss think that it will be thought very strange amongst all Princes and Countries that she should first animate my Subjects against me and now being widow to impeach my going into my own Countrey I ask her nothing but friendship I do not trouble her State nor practise with her Subjects And yet I know there be in her Realm that be inclined enough to hear offers I know also they be not of the mind she is of neither in Religion nor other things The Queen your Mistriss doth say that I am young and do lack experience indeed quoth she I consess I am younger then she is and do want experience But I have age enough and experience to use my self towards my friends and Kinsfolks friendly and uprightly And I trust my discretion shall not so fail me that my Passion shall move me to use other language of her then it becometh of a Queen and my next Kinswoman Well Mounsieur l' Ambassadour I could tell you that I am as
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
Mistriss shall have me in her hands to do her will of me and if she be so hard-hearted as to desire my end she may then do her pleasure and make sacrifice of me peradventure that casualty might be better for me than to live in this matter quoth she Gods will be fulfilled I answered she might amend all this matter if she would and find more Amity of your Majesty and your Realm than of any other Prince or Countrey The Queen answered I have me thinketh offered and spoken that that might suffice the Queen my Sister if she will take any thing well at my hand I trust said she for all this we shall agree better than some would have us and for my part I will not take all things to the worst I hope also said she the Queen my Sister and Cosin will do the like whereof quoth she I doubt not if Ministers do no harm betwixt us and so the said Queen embraced me This is the sum of my Negotiations at these my last Audiences with the French King the Queen-Mother the King of Navarre the Queen of Scotland and the Constable whereof I have thought meet to enlarge to your Majesty in such fort as the same passed and was uttered betwixt us As far as I can perceive the said Queen of Scotland continueth her Voyage still and I hear that Villageigmon and Octavian have the principal order of her said Voyage and mean to sail along the Coast of Flanders and so to strike over to the North-part of Scotland as the wind shall serve she did once mean to use the West-passage but now she dares not trust the Duke of Chastillerault nor the Earl of Arguile and therefore dareth not to pass by the West-Seas The said Queen as I hear desireth to borrow of the French King a hundred thousand Crowns the same to be received again of her Dowry which is twenty eight thousand Crowns by the year the Queen-Mother is willing to help her the King of Navarre doth not further the matter but seeketh to abridge the sum After I had done my Negotiations at the Court I was constrained to dislodge from Poissey for the Assembly of the Clergy who meet there to the end of this month and the Ambassadours are now appointed to lodge at Paris The Queen of Scotland departed from St. Germanes yesterday 25. of July towards her Voyage as she bruiteth it she sendeth most of her Train strait to New-haven to embark and she herself goeth such a way between both as she will be at her choice to go to New-Haven or to Callis upon the sudden what she will do or where she will embark she will be acknown to never a Scotch man and but to few French And for all these shews and boasts some think she will not go at all and yet all her stuff is sent down to the Sea and none other bruit in her house but of her hasty going if it would please your Majesty to cause some to be sent privily to all the Ports on this side the certainty shall be better known to your Majesty that way by the laying of her vessels than I can advertise it hence She hath said that at her coming into Scotland she will forthwith rid the Realm of all the English men there namely of your Majesties Agent there and forbid mutual Traffick with your Majesties Subjects if she make the haste to embark that she seemeth to do she will be almost ready to embark by that time this shall come to your Majesties hands Two or three dayes ago the French King was troubled with a pain in his head and the same beginneth to break from him by bleeding at the nose and running at his ear it is taken to be the same disease in his head whereof his brother died but by voiding it which the other could not do that organ being stopped this King is well amended At the dispatch hereof the King of Navarre was unquieted by a flux and a vomit and the Queen Mother with a Fever I hear that in Gascony the people stir apace for Religion as they do in many other places and being there assembled to the number of four thousand have entred a Town thrown down the Images and put out the Priests and will suffer no Masse to be said there My Lord of Levistou being ready to go homewards into Scotland through England went to the Queen of Scotland for his leave so to do but she hath commanded him to tarry and wait on her and to meet her at Abevillo without letting him know any thing else he in doubt what she will do is content to expect her coming thither and to do then as she shall command him and seeing no likelihood of her short passing which he sath is uncertain but that she will go to Callis there to hover and hearken what your Majesty doth to stop her and according thereunto to go or stay he mindeth to get him home he hath required my Letters of recommendations to your Majesties Officers at his landing in England which for his good devotion towards your Majesty and for that he is one that wisheth the same well I have not refused him and so humbly beseech your Majesties good favour towards him at his coming to your Majesty for his Pass-port Here is a bruit that the Turk is greatly impeached both by a sort of Jewes within his own Countrey and also by the Sophy And thus I pray God long to preserve your Majesty in health honour and all felicity from Paris July 26. 1561. Your Majesties most humble and most obedient Subject and Servant N. Throckmorton FINIS The ALPHABETICAL TABLE B. BAcon Sir Francis not a man born under Sol that loves Honour nor under Jupiter that loves Business place of any reasonable countenance commands more wits than a mans own Pag. 1 2. Assures the Lord Burleigh that his endeavours shall not be in fault if diligence can intitle him unto it and wishes to shew his Service with as good proof as he can say it in good faith 3 4. Caresses the Earl of Northumberland 4 5. The entrance of King James a fair morning before the Sun rising This State performed the part of good Attorneys in delivering the King quiet possession 5 6. No Reason the World should reject Truth in Philosophy although the Author dissents in Religion 1â— Advice to the King touching his Revenue 27. The Kings Attorneys place and the value of it honestly The Chancellors placo usually conferred upon the Kings Council and not upon a Judge Reasons against the Lords Cook and Hubbart and the Archbishop The Body of Parliament men is Cardo rerum Part of the Chancellors place is Regnum Judiciale and since his Fathers time but too much inlarged Pag. 73 74. A Narration in several Letters of the differences between the Chancery and Kings Bench and the grounds thereof stated to the King 22 23 75. The Proceedings against Somerset and divers private Transactions touching
that Business 28. 29. 30 31 32 33 c. His advice to Sir George Villiers concorning Ireland wherein three Propositions are acutely scan'd 1. Touching the Recusant Magistrates of Towns there 2. About roducing the Number of the Council from Fifty to twenty 3. That a means may be found to re-enforce the Army by 500. or 1000. men without increase of Charge 67 68 69. From him to the Duke when he first became a Favourite with somo directions or his demeanor in that eminent place ranked into eight material Heads with an ample and quaint gloss upon each of them most elegantly pen'd 43 44. Again to him upon sending his Pattent for Viscount Villiers with several Avisoes and incidently a Censure of the Cecils the Father and the Son Pag. 70 71. Sends the King a Certificate from the Lord Coke 72. Sends to the King an Essay of History of His Majesties time 9. Desires the History of Brittain may be written for three Observations 7 8. Sixty four years old in Age and three years and five months in misery desires neither means place nor imployment but a total remission of the sentence of the Upper House by the example of Sir John Bennet 81. To the King touching the Plantation of Ireland as formerly of the Union as being Brother thereunto 6. To the Earl of Salisbury touching his Book of the advancement of Learning saying He is but like a Bell-ringer to awake better spirits 9 10. Several Letters to great Personages in sending unto them his Book of advancement of Learning and the presenting of it to the King 10 11. To Dr. Plafer touching the Translating of it into Latine with many excellent Reasons to that Inducement 11 12. To Sir Thomas Bodley upon sending the same Book 13. To divers Friends upon sending unto them some other of his Books 13. 14 15 16. To Mr. Savil touching the Education of Youth and the improving the Intellectual Powers Pag. 17. A Factious Book stiling the Queen Misera Faemina the addition of the Popes Bull. 21. The business of the Commendams and the carriage of the Judges therein related to the King 76 77. Three Examples of great Calamity Demosthenes Cicero and Seneca A Discourse concerning his own Books 78 79 80. A learned and ample Discourse touching a Digest to be made of the Laws of England from 82. to 86. To the Earl of Devonshire a Letter Apologetical touching a common fame as if he had been false or ungrateful to the Earl of Essex something long but exquisitely pen'd from 87. to 104. A discourse touching Helps for the Intellectual Powers by Sir Fran. Bacoa Faber quisque fortunae suae an insolent saying except it be interpreted as an hortative to correct slâ—th and not as it soundeth an high imagination for any man to fathom all Accidents Faber quisque Ingenii sui more true and more profitable Divers manner of instances in Improvements not only in the body of man but in his mind and spirit and therein not only in his Appetite and Affection but in his Powers of Wit and Reason The Will most manageable and admitteth most Medicines for Cure The first is Religion 2. Opinion and Apprehension 3. Example 4. When one affection is corrected by another And lastly a Confirmation of all by custom and habit Five Rules for exercises Pag. 97 98 99 100 Sir Francis Bacon to the King modestly Apologetical intimating his former services and his present low condition after the sentence pronounced against him by the Lords Implores the King that he that hath born a bag may not in his age be forc'd to bear aWallet nor he that desired to live to study may not be driven to study to live 101 102 103 104 C. CEcil Sir William to Sir Henry Norris Ambassadour in France about his Entertainment there being Extraordinary and what the Reason should be Sha'ne Oneal sues to be received into the Queens favour 105 106. Taxes Mounsieur de Foix for breach of promise in not delivering Lestrille The News of the death of the King of Scots and the manner of it Earl Bothwell suspected 107 108. Callice demanded to be restored to the Queen according to the Treaty of Cambray More of the business of the murder of the King of Scots words which touch't that Queen but fit to be supprest Pag. 109 111. If Callice be not delivered 50000 l. is to be forfeited 110. Matters in Flanders go hard against the Protestants 111. Those of the Order of France if life or honour be touched to be tried by Kings and others of the same Order ibid. Marriage of the Queen of Scots to Bothwell the prime of the Nobility against it 112. The French Kings Letter touching Callice ill resented by the Queen The Queen of Scots married the 15th of May. 113. Bothwell prosecuted for the murder defended by the Queen and the Hambletons the Queen under restraint Sha'ne Oneal slain in Ireland by certain Scots 114. Sir Nicholas Throckmorton sent into Scotland to Negotiate a Pacification The two Factions of the Hambletons and Lenox's 115. The Prince of Scotland Crowned at Sterling the 29th of July 116. Queen Elizabeth offended with the Scotch Lords Murray like to be made Regent Advice to Sir Henry Norris touching his Expences 117. Murray made Regent my Lord of Sussex with the Emperour all Judges Officers c. At Antwerp compelled to attest the Catholick Faith 118. Bothwell reported to be taken at Sea 119 120. Dunbar rendred to the Regent the Keeper thereof adjudged to a new Punishment Pag. 120. Expectation of Marriage between the Queen and the Archduke Charles 121. Troubles in France between the Prince of Conde and the King 121 122. The Queen of Scots noted by the Parliament there to be privy to the murder of her husband 123. The Earl of Desmond and his brother in the Tower 125. Fishermen of Diepe taken at Rye with unlawful Nets 126. The Popes Ministers preferre the State of their corrupt Church before the Weal of any Kingdom 128. The Earl of Sussex his return The Prince of Orange his Son to be sent into Spain and doubted Egmond and Horn must follow ibid. Emanuel Tremelius sent into England by the Elector Palatine The Prince of Orange refuseth to be judged by the Duke of Alva The Hambletons continue their Faction The death of Sir Ambrose Cave 129. Beaton sent from Scotland into France for 1000. Harquebusiers Money and Ordnance 131. Devilish practice against the Queen The Scots Queen removed to Bolton Castle her demands of the Queen denied 133. The Queen of Scots submits her Cause to be heard and determined in England 134 135 136 c. What preparations in France intended for Scotland Great expectation of the success of matters in the Low Countries Pag. 137. Unhappy but incredible News out of Flanders The Duke of Norfolk the Earl of Sussex and Sir Walter Mildmay Commissioners in the North about the Queen of Scots business 138. She makes Arguile and Huntley Lieutenants and the
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