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.
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
March 30. 1663. Let this Collection of Letters and other Discourses be Printed HENRY BENNET SCRINIA CECILIANA MYSTERIES OF State Government IN LETTERS Of the late Famous Lord Burghley And other Grand Ministers of STATE In the Reigns of Queen ELIZABETH and King JAMES Being a further Additional Supplement of the CABALA AS ALSO Many Remarkable Passages faithfully Revised and no where else Published With two exact Tables The one of the Letters The other of Things most Observable LONDON Printed for G. Bedel and T. Collins and are to be sold at their Shop at the Middle-Temple-gate in Fleetstreet 1663. The Stationers To the READER Courteous Reader ALthough it be a received Position That Merit is worthier than Fame yet duly considered they ought to be inseparable the one being the just Guerdon of the other Upon that account we have presumed to make Publick these ensuing Memorials or Letters being Monuments of some late Eminent Patriots and Hero's of this Nation Who whilst they were Actors in such grand Affairs as suited with their high Service under their Sovereigns were deservedly Dignified here and Renowned abroad The first of these Worthies being Sir William Cecil Lord Burghley who was an unparallel'd Minister of State And as we conceive of the longest continuance that any Prince then or ever since with such Success enjoyed a person alwayes peaceable and moderate free from Covetousness or Ambition in the course of his Service rather willing to endure the Burthen than desiring the fruition of Honour or Profit profound in Judgment assisted with great Experience and therefore worthily celebrated both here and abroad as Pater Patriae and an indefatigable Votary to the Crown And for the matters and designs in the Letters themselves we shall be silent hoping the Fame of the person will be motive sufficient for you to purchase this Jewel Concerning the Times they were wheeled about with new and great Revolutions and Divisions not only at Home but also in France Scotland the Low Countries and generally in most of the other Kingdoms and States abroad Forâs Pugnae intus Timores Conspiracies Invasions and Insurrections amongst our selves War Devastations and Massacres amongst our Neighbours for the most part shadowed with the Vaile of Religion many Princes of the Blood and persons of great Authority being sacrificed on either part turbulent Times and of great mutations proper to try the Ability and Fidelity of a State Atlas wherein with what Wisdom he acquitted himself is referred to you to determine The next is Sir Nicholas Throckmorton Ambassador in France for Queen Elizabeth in the Infancy of her Reign we have nothing here of his remains but only his Letter to Her Majesty touching a free passage for the Queen of Scots through England wherein you will find variety of Politick Reasons pressed on each part with smart Judgment In the third place is Sir Philip Sidney that choice Darling of the Muses whom we suppose you will freely grant to have been Tam Marti quam Mercurio in whom England Netherland the Heavens and the Arts the Souldiers and the World did emulate a share here we have only a dissuasive Letter to the Queen touching Her Marriage with Mounsieur of France fortified with many pressing and effectual Reasons against that match and penned with a Politick and Ingenuous Stile And in the last place we present you with some Pieces of the inimitable Viscount St. Alban some in the Reign of the late glorious Queen and others in the Halcyon dayes of the late King James never before to our best knowledge made Publick deck't with many grateful Flowers of Philosophy History and Policy the Fall of the Earl of Somerset and the immediate Advance of the Duke of Buckingham with many other passages of moment and here you may observe the memorials of other worthy persons although the Title point only at Sir William Cecil for we conceive it not imaginable That such experienced and sure Masters of Knowledge would employ their thoughts in any thing sleight or superficial However we dare not assume that boldness as to write Encomiasticks of such great Personages that Right we suppose is much better performed by more quaint Pens already Lunae Radiis non maturescit Botrus And their Names and Honour still live in fresh memory Here you may safely turn Necromancer and consult with the dead or rather with the living for such Monuments as these survive Marble Dignum laude virum Musa vetat mori These are not like Augustus his two infamous Daughters or his unworthy Nephew Posthumus Agrippa Impostumes as he termed them that broke from him but pure and legitimate Issue of the nobler part which is with care exposed to publick View for the better accomodation of those that have been pleased to purchase the two former Volumes of the like Nature and Quality Temple-gate June 18. 1663. G. B. T. C. A TABLE of the LETTERS contained in this COLLECTION B. SIR Francis Bacon to the Lord Treasurer Burghley Pag. 1. Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Treasurer Burghley p. 2. Sir Francis Bacon in recommendation of his Service to the Earl of Northumberland a few dayes before Queen Elizabeths death p. 4. Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. Robert Kempe upon the death of Queen Elizabeth p. 5. Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. David Foules in Scotland upon the entrance of His Majesties Reign ibid. Sir Francis Bacon to the King upon presenting his Discourse touching the Plantation of Ireland p. 6. Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Chancellor touching the History of Britain p. 7. Sir Francis Bacon to the King upon the sending unto him a beginning of a History of His Majesties time p. 9. Sir Francis Bacon to the Earl of Salisbury upon sending him one of his Books of Advancement of Learning ibid. Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Treasurer Buckhurst upon the same occasion of sending his Book of Advancement of Learning p. 10. A Letter of the like Argument to the Lord Chancellor ibid. Sir Francis Bacon of like Argument to the Earl of Northampton with Request to present the Book to His Majesty p. 11. Sir Francis Bacon his Letter of Request to Dr. Plafer to Translate the Book of Advancement of Learning into Latine ibid. Sir Francis Bacon to Sir Thomas Bodley upon sending him his Book of the Advancement of Learning p. 13. Sir Francis Bacon to the Bishop of Ely upon sending his Writing intituled Cogitata visa ibid. Sir Francis Bacon to Sir Thomas Bodley after he had imparted to him a Writing intituled Cogitata visa p. 14. Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. Matthew upon sending him part of Instauratio Magna p. 15. Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. Matthew touching Instauratio Magna p. 16. A Letter to Mr. Matthew upon sending his Book De Sapientia Veterum p. 17. Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. Savill ibid. Sir Francis Bacon to the King touching the Sollicitors place p. 18. Sir Francis Bacon to the King his Suit to succeed in the
interessed in the care of future times that as well their Progeny as their people may participate of their merit Your Majesty is a great Master in Justice and Judicature and it were pity the fruit of that your vertue should not be transmitted to the ages to come Your Majesty also reigneth in learned times the more no doubt in regard of your own perfection in learning and your Patronage thereof and it hath been the mishap of works that the less learned time hath sometimes wrought upon the more Learned which now will not be so As for my self the Law was my profession to which I am a debtor some little help I have of my Arts which may give form to matter and I have now by Gods merciful chastisement and by his special providence time and leasure to put my Talent or half Talent or what it is to such exchanges as may perhaps exceed the Interest of an active life Therefore as in the beginning of my troubles I made offer to Your Majesty to take pains in the story of England and in compiling a Method and Digest of your Laws so have I performed the first which rested but upon my self in some part And I do in all humbleness renew the offer of this Letter which will require help and assistance to Your Majesty if it shall stand with your good pleasure to imploy my service therein Sir Francis Bacon to the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Earl of Devonshire Lord Lieutenant of Ireland IT may please your good Lordship I cannot be ignorant and ought to be sensible of the wrong which I sustain Common speech as if I had been false or unthankful to that noble but unfortunate Earl the Earl of Essex and for satisfying the vulgar sort I do not so much regard it though I love a good name but yet as a hand-maid and attendant of honesty and vertue For I am of his opinion that said pleasantly that it was a shame to him that was a Suitor to the Mistress to make Love to the Waiting-woman And therefore to Wooe or Court common fame otherwise then it followeth upon honest courses I for my part find not my self fit nor disposed But on the otherside there is no worldly thing that concerneth my self which I hold more dear then the good opinion of certain persons amongst which there is none I would more willingly give satisfaction unto then to your Lordship First because you loved my Lord of Essex and therefore will not be partial towards me which is part of that I desire next because it hath ever pleased you to shew your self to me an honourable friend and so no baseness in me to seek to satisfie you And lastly because I know your Lordship is excellently grounded in the true rules and habits of duties and moralities which must be they which shall decide this matter wherein my Lord my defence needeth to be but simple and brief namely that whatsoever I did concerning that action and proceeding was done in my duty and service to the Queen and her State in which I would not shew my self falshearted nor faint-hearted for any mans sake alive For every honest man that hath his heart well planted will forsake his King rather than forsake God and forsake his Friends than forsake his King and yet will forsake any earthly Commodity yea and his own life in some cases rather than forsake his Friend I hope the world hath not forgotten his degrees else the Heathen saying amicus usque ad aras shall jndge them and if any man shall say that I did officiously intrude my self into that business because I had no ordinary place the like may be said of all the business in effect that passed the hands of the learned Councel either of State or Revenue these many years wherein I was continually used for as your Lordship may remember the Queen knew her strength so well as she looked her word should be a Warrant and after the manner of the choicest Princes before her did not always tye her trust to place but did sometimes divide private favour from office And I for my part though I was not unseen in the world but I knew the condition was subject to envie and peril yet because I knew again she was constant in her favours and made an end where she began and especially because she upheld me with extraordinary access and other demonstrations confidence and Grace I resolved to endure it in expectation of better But my scope and desire is that your Lordship would be pleased to have the honourable patience to know the truth in some particularity of all that passed in this cause wherein I had any part that you may perceive how honest a heart I ever bare to my Sovereign and to my Countrey and to that Nobleman who had so well deserved of me and so well accepted of my deservings whose fortune I cannot remember without much grief But for any action of mine towards him there is nothing that passed me in my life-time that cometh to my remembrance with more clearness and less check of Conscience For it will appear to your Lordship that I was not only not opposite to my Lord of Essex but that I did occupy the utmost of my wits and adventured my Fortune with the Queen to have redintegrated his and so continued faithfully and industriously till his last fatal impatience for so I will call it after which day there was not time to work for him though the same my affection when it could not work upon the subject proper went to the next with no ill effect towards some others who I think do rather not know it than not acknowledge it And this I will assure your Lordship I will leave nothing untold that is truth for any enemy that I have to add and on the other side I must reserve much which makes for me upon many respects of Duty which I esteem above my Credit And what I have here set down to your Lordship I protest as I hope to have any part in Gods favour is true It is well known how I did many years since dedicate my travels and studies to the use and as I may term it service of my Lord of Essex which I protest before God I did not making election of him as the likeliest mean of my own advancement but out of the humour of a man that ever from the time I had any use of Reason whether it were reading upon good Books or upon the example of a good Father or by Nature I loved my Countrey more then was answerable to my Fortune and I held at that time my Lord to be the fittest instrument to do good to the State and therefore I applied my self wholly to him in a manner which I think happeneth rarely amongst men For I did not only labour carefully and industriously in that he set me about whether it were matter of advice or otherwise but neglecting the
Proceeding at York-house and likewise upon some former Declarations which in sormer times by her appointment I put in writing commanded me to pen that Book which was published for the better satisfaction of the World which I did but so as never Secretary had more particular and express directions and instructions in every point how to guide my hand in it and not only so but after that I had made a first draught thereof and propounded it to certain principal Councellors by her Majesties appointment it was perused weighed censured altered and made almost a new Writing according to their Lordships better consideration wherein their Lordships and my self both were as religious and curious of truth as desirous of satisfaction and my self indeed gave only words and form of stile in pursuing their directions And after it had passed their allowance it was again exactly perused by the Queen her self and some alterations made again by her appointment nay and after it was set to Print the Queen who as your Lordship knoweth as she was excellent in great matters so she was exquisite in small and noted that I could not forget my ancient respect to my Lord of Essex in terming him ever my Lord of Essex in almost every Page of the Book which she thought not fit but would have it made Essex or the late Earl of Essex whereupon of force it was Printed de novo and the first Copies suppressed by her peremptory Commandment And this my Lord to my furthest remembrance is all that passed wherein I had part which I have set down as near as I could in the very words and speeches as were used not because they are worth the repetition I mean those of mine but to the end your Lordship may lively and plainly discern between the face of Truth and a smooth Tale. And the rather also because in things that passed a good while since the very words and phrases did sometimes bring to my-remembrance the matters wherein I refer me to your honourable Judgment whether you do not see the traces of an honest man and had I been as well believed either by the Queen or my Lord as I was well heard by them both both my Lord had been fortunate and so had my self in his Fortune To conclude therefore I humbly pray your Lordship to pardon me for troubling you with this long Narration and that you will vouchsafe to hold me in your good opinion till you know I have deserved or find that I shall deserve the contrary and even so I continue At your Lordships honourable Commandments very humble F. B. A Discourse touching Helps for the Intellectual Powers by Sir Francis Bacon I Did ever hold it for an insolent and unlucky saying Faber quisque fortunas suas except it be uttered only as an hortative or spur to correct sloth For otherwise if it be believed as it soundeth and that a man entreth into an high imagination that he can compass and fathom all Accidents and ascribeth all Successes to his drifts and reaches and the contrary to his errours and sleepings it is commonly seen that the Evening fortune of that man is not so prosperous as of him that without slacking of his industry attributeth much to Felicity and Providence above him But if the Sentence were turned to this Faber quisque ingenii sui it were somewhat more true and much more profitable because it would teach men to bend themselves to reform those imperfections in themselves which now they seek but to cover and to attain those vertues and good parts which now they seek but to have only in shew and demonstration Yet notwithstanding every man attempteth to be of the first Trade of Carpenters and few bind themselves to the second whereas nevertheless the rising in Fortune seldom amendeth the mind but on the other side the removing of the stones and impediments of the mind doth often clear the passage and current to a mans Fortune But certain it is whether it be believed or no that as the most excellent of Metals Gold is of all others the most pliant and most enduring to be wrought so of all living and breathing substances the perfectest Man is the most susceptible of help improvement imprestion and alteration and not only in his Body but in his Mind and spirit and there again not only in his Appetite and Affection but in his powers of Wit and Reason For as to the Body of Man we find many and strange experiences how Nature is over-wrought by custom even in actions that seem of most difficulty and least possible As first in voluntary motion which though it be termed voluntary yet the highest degrees of it are not voluntary for it is in my power and will to run but to run faster than according to my lightness or disposition of body is not in my power nor will We see the industry and practice of Tumblers and Funambulo's what effects of great wonder it bringeth the body of man unto So for suffering of pain and dolour which is thought so contrary to the nature of man there is much example of Penances in strict Orders of Superstition what they do endure such as may well verifie the report of the Spartan Boyes which were wont to be scourged upon the Altar so bitterly as sometimes they died of it and yet were never heard to complain And to pass to those Faculties which are reckoned more involuntary as long fasting and abstinency and the contrary extream voracity the leaving and forbearing the use of drink for altogether the enduring vehement cold and the like there have not wanted neither do want divers examples of strange victories over the body in every of these Nay in respiration the proof hath been of some who by continual use of diving and working under the water have brought themselves to be able to hold their Breath an incredible time and others that have been able without suffocation to endure the stifling breath of an Oven or Furnace so heated as though it did not scald nor burn yet it was many degrees too hot for any man not made to it to breath or take in And some Impostors and Counterfeits likewise have been able to wreath and cast their bodies into strange forms and motions yea and others to bring themselves into Trances and Astonishments All which Examples do demonstrate how variously and to how high points and degrees the body of man may be as it were molded and wrought And if any man conceive that it is some seeret propriety of Nature that hath been in those persons which have attained to those points and that it is not open for every man to do the like though he had been put to it for which cause such things come but very rarely to pass It is true no doubt that some persons are apter than others but so as the more aptness causeth perfection but the less aptness doth not disable so that for Example the more apt Child
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
negotiations although I know no thing in him to the contrary but hearing that you have men that can both speak and write French and perceiving by the superscription of your letters that you have one who writeth a good Secretary hand I have thought fit to forbear to deal further with the said party I thank you for your offer to send me any Charts that I should name and if you would send me a note of the names of the Charts that are thought newest and of the Author of their setting forth and the places where they be printed I may chance to trouble you with craving of some I would be glad to have from you a note of the names of the chiefest Nobility of France and with whom they be married adding thereto any other thing that may belong to the knowledge of their Lineage and Degrees as you shall think meet And so for this time I end Yours assuredly W. Cecil Windsor 27 Sept. 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR AFter my very hearty Commendations with my like thanks for all your courteous letters to me and specially for the friendly trust which I see you put in me to the due answering whereof you shall never finde me wanting My Lady your good Wife can sufficiently report to you all things from hence so as I need write nothing presently but my hearty commendations And where it seemeth you think some hardness in not allowance of your expences expressed in sundry your Bills surely it is not lack of my good will that stayeth me but power for truly I never subscribed so many extraordinary Bills for any as I have done for you and as I understand by your servant Cartwright I have subscribed more in some of them then will be as yet paid Generally I will subscribe all charges reasonable for carriage of Letters but concerning entertainment of men to continue at the Court or for rewards given extraordinarily I never did nor could allow them and yet I wish them paid being laid out in the service of her Majesty And in this manner I heartily pray you to interpret my good will to the best for surely if you were either my Brother or Son I have no more power to shew you and yours good will then I do The Duke of Chastilherant is at Deip and meaneth within these ten days to be here as his servants report I think he shall not be able to annoy the Lowth as he and his I see do desire Bothwell is not yet taken to our knowledge though it be said he should should be taken on the Seas by a Ship of Breme And so I end as I began Yours as your own W. Cecil Windsor 2. Octob. 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur servant Jenny arrived here yester-day with your Letters of the first day of September by which the Queen was greatly satisfied for that we had received divers brutes of the troubles of France whereunto we know not what credit to give and now considering the Ice is thus broken you must think we shall daily be molested with uncertain reports The Queens Majesty advertised the French Ambassador and Monsieur de Pasquiers of as much as she heard from you who were not a little troubled before by reason of strangers news spread abroad and more dangerous for otherwise they had heard no manner of thing of credit out of France although of late time they had sent three several Messengers so as I do guess that the passages be stopped to them and I wish they be not also to you too I finde her Majesty disposed upon the next hearing from thence to send some special Gentlemen thither before which time her Majesty being moved by me according to your desire yet will not agree to send to you any Currier My Lady your Wife was ready to depart towards you upon Wednesday last and would not be stayed from her journey by any perswasion what she will do now upon your servants coming I know not but in my opinion she shall do well to forbear the venture This Letter which I do write I do send by your Footman wherein I dare as the time is write nothing but that which may be seen of all sorts That which you wrote of late to me touching Jenny your servant I assure you ought not to be imputed to him but to such in Scotland to whom being uttered for their good they could not use it as was meet We have nothing in Scotland but all things therein be quiet since the last of September at which time the Castle of Dunbar was rendred to the Earl of Murray and one name the Lord Wawghton follower of the Earl Bothwell which kept the Castle as long as he could was adjudged to pay for the charges of them which besieged it and the charge of the Carriage of the Ordnance back to Edenburgh a new kind of punishment sufficient enough for such a beggar And so wishing that we may hear often from you I end with this also that it shall behove you to take good heed whose reports you credit in this variety Yours assuredly W. Cecil 9. Oct. 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR I Heartily thank you for your gentle letters sent to me by your two last Messengers William Wade and Crips both which persons come to me being at London because it was Term time where I am for the more part saving Sundays and Holidays by which occasion I have at both times sent your letters to the Queens Majesty so as I have not had the commodity to see your advertisements nevertheless you shall do well to continue your accustomed manner of advertising her Majestie as fully as you can for in these troublesome times the accidents being so diversly reported as they are it is meet that her Majesty should be largely advertised and because it may be that your letters may come in this Term time whiles I am at London I pray let me have some repetition of your advises in such letters as you shall write to me This bearer your servant Crips can make full report to you of all matters here My Lady your Wife also hath been very careful to have him return to you and would have some other of more weight but the Queens Majestie forbeareth to send any because of the uncertainty of the time Dover A 1 in misliking oâ— and of F wherein all is done that can be by B to cover the same and as I think the principal is for that A is 42 91 and doubtful of giving 25. 5 subjects nevertheless you shall do well as occasion shall serve 5 For this we here well perceive that is we look daily to hear a certainty of the howsoever percase they there mean to let it In Scotland all
it hath been answered untill her cause may appear more probable for her innocency the Queens Majesty cannot with honor receive her personally but if the Queen will by any manner of means honorable let her cause appear to be void of the horrible crime imputed to her for the murthering of her husband she shall be aided and used with all honor whereunto she will give no resolute answer other then that if she may come personally to the Queens Majesty then she will let it appear how she standeth in the cause Hereupon we stand at a brawl she much offended that she hath not her requests and we much troubled with the difficulties finding neither her continuance here good nor her departing hence quiet for us We here speak of one La Mote that should come hither Yours assured W. Cecil From Havering the 13. of July in haste Postscript And for and x I pray you put them in comfort that if extremity should happen they must not be left for it is so universal a cause as none of the Religion can separate themselves one from another we must all pray together and stand fast together and further c. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France AFter my hearty commendations though here be no great cause of present dispatch to you yet for the return of this bearer your servant Darrington having been long here and also to let you understand of the Queens Majesty proceedings with the Queen of Scots since her being in this Realm and since my last letters to you I have taken this occasion to return him to you The Queen of Scots having long laboured the Queens Majesty both by Messages and Letters to have aid of her Majesty against the Lords of Scotland and by force to restore her to her Realm her Majesty could not finde it meet in honor so to do but rather to seek all other good means to compass it with quiet and honor wherein much travailing hath been spent Finally the Queen of Scots hath agreed that her matter shall be heard in this Realm before some good personages to be deputed by the Queens Majesty to meet with some of the Lords of Scotland about New-Castle or Durham or neer this way as shall be found fit and so to be reported to her Majesty This way being now resolved upon and accepted of all parts the Earl of Murray hath offered to come himself in person if her Majesty finde it good accompanyed with others of meet condition to any place and at any time that her Majesty will appoint and because the Lord Herreys having long been here for the Queen of Scots and lately gone to her hath on his Mistrisses behalf required that speed might be used in this matter the Queens Majesty hath by her special letters required the Earle of Murray that all expedition may be made either for his own or else that some others may come chosen to be persons of wisdom and dexterity and void of all particular passion in such a cause as this is and upon his answer of the persons that shall be thus appointed there the Queens Majesty will with all speed send like fit personages from hence to meet with them and in the mean time where they the Lords of Scotland had summoned a Parliament of their three Estates to assemble in this next August her Majesty hath required them to suspend the holding of the Parliament untill the issue of this matter to be heard by her Majesty may come to some end In this meeting the Queens Majesty doth not mean to charge the Queen of Scots but will hear what the Lords can alleadge for themselves to defend all their doings and proceedings for imprisoning and deposing their Queen and other matters published by them and thereof to cause report to be made to her to be answered and likewise to carry such matters as are to come from her against them and upon hearing of all parts as matters shall in truth fall out so doth her Majesty mean to deal further therein as honor will lead and move her to do Whilst these things have been in doing the Queens Majesty hath been advertised though not from the Queen of Scots that she hath deputed the whole Government of her Realm of Scotland to the Duke of Chastilheraulte thereby both to make a party as may be supposed betwixt him and the Earl of Murray and also to be the earnester to procure Forreign aid for his maintenance whereof her Majesty is informed there is a great appearance having obtained of the French King good numbers of Harquebuziers and others ready to embarque for Scotland which being true her Majesty hath good cause to let the said King understand that it is against his promise as your self knoweth best And so hath also the said Queen assured her Majesty that she will not procure any Strangers to come into Scotland for her use untill it may appear what will ensue of this meeting But if the contrary fall out either by her own means or by the procuring of the said Duke of Chastilherault in France the Queens Majesty will not onely forbear to deal any further for the benefit of the Queen of Scots as hitherto her Highness hath done with all honor and sincerity having had as great care of her cause as she her self could have but shall be justly moved to do otherwise then the said Queen or her friends abroad would wish Thus much I thought good to impart unto you of these matters to the end that if you being there finde indeed that the said Duke doth obtain any such aide there to be sent into Scotland you may take occasion to deal therein with the King or with such as you know fittest for the stay thereof The Queen is now removed lately from Carlile to Bolton Castle a house of the Lord Scroops about 30. miles within the land fitter in all respects for her to lye at then Carlile being a Town for Frontier and War the Queens Majesty doth cause her to be very well and honorably used and accompanied And thus having no other present matter to write unto you I thought good herewith to return your servant to you wishing you right heartily well to do From the Court at Endfield the 25. of July 1568. After the end of this letter your servant Wall arrived here with your letters to the Lord Steward the Earl of Leicester and to me for answer to the letter which we wrote to you which letter after I had caused to be deciphered I sent to the Court to them my self being at my house near Waltham not well at ease nor in case to go to Court I long much to hear answer of letters sent by your Lackque touching the matter of an Italian whereof I doubt the Queens Majesty is more careful to hear then she doth here express at this time I have received a letter from an Italian there with you who
in exercise of his Religion he continually lamenteth that grave Councellors perswading peace are not of more power and credit in the Court. Whatsoever this French Ambassador shall report of him he cannot truly report any evil of him I hear La Mot is on his way at Callis to come hither I think surely some of yours are on the way I pray send me a Register or List of the Chieftains on the Kings part and also on the contrary Sir I do send you herewith a new Cipher Yours assuredly W. Cecil To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur last letters that came to my hands were of the 29. of the last moneth by which you signified to me the advertisements which you then had of the taking of Angulesme since which time sundry reports are brought hither of Battels that should be betwixt the parties whereof lacking advertisements from your self I do give credit unto none by reason of the diversities of the reports On Sunday last La Mot was presented by Mounsieur de la Forest the former Ambassador whom the Queens Majesty hath admitted as Ambassador for the French King and seemeth to like well of his wisdom whereof hitherto for mine own part I have not had any proof The cause of the Queen of Scots is now to be heard here for which purpose the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Sussex are sent for from York and are to be here within these two days and presently the Earl of Murray the Earl Morton with certain other Noble men of his part are already come and on the Queens part the Bishop of Ross and the Lord Herryes be at London and do daily look for some other Commissioners to joyn with them because her Majesty meaneth to have the whole matter advisedly heard she hath appointed an Assembly not onely of her whole Council but of all the Earls of the Realm to be here the 18. of this moneth at which time her Majesty meaneth to have this cause of the Queen of Scots fully heard and therein to take such resolution and end as she shall be advised unto by her said Council and Estates The last letters which you sent unto the Queen wherein as her Majesty saith you made declaration of your Message done to that King concerning the Cardinal Chastillons being here was by her Majesty casually let fall in the fire and so burnt whereupon her Majesty being sorry for that she had not advisedly perused it willed me to write unto you for the copy of the same letter again which I pray you to send me by the next I would be glad to hear a brief or as they call it a list of the names of the principal persons that have a charge now in these wars in France on both parts with the contents as near as you can of their numbers After the writing hereof this present evening as the bearer hereof can tell Mr. Edmonds came hither with your letters to the Queens Majesty by which I am satisfied for those reports that were made of the great sights at Angulesme and of that which hath been here reported by the French Ambassador of the overthrow of Mouvans which I am glad is not true as he reported and so finding nothing else to be answered I thought good to dispatch this bearer with this my letter to the intent we might the sooner hear of your news whereupon dependeth the whole expectation of the Christian world Yours assuredly W. Cecil Hampton-Court 16. Nov. 1566. Postscript Before Mr. Edmonds came you may see what I wrote of the To the Right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR BY your last letter sent to me by this bearer your servant I perceived how good hap it was for our satisfaction here that your letters came not away with the report of the victory whereof the King there advertised you by a special Messenger untill you had also knowledge of the truth thereof by Villeroys coming from the Camp after the first message for like as the former part of your letters made mention of a great Victory for the King and an overthrow of the Princes whole Infantry So have many letters been written hither from Paris and other places according to the partial affections of the Writers in affirmance thereof adding for their confirmation certain solemnities by Processions and such like used at Paris for the same nevertheless I account the truth to be as in the latter part of your letter you write that there was no such manner of battel but certain skirmishes wherein there was no great inequality and yet because I hear it also credibly reported that the Prince of Conde lodged and kept the field where the skirmishes were I think his losses were less then the others whereof I think within a while to know the truth more particularly This matter of the Queen of Scots began to be heard and treated on at Westminster the 25. of the last moneth since which time there hath been sittings five or six several days and yesterday the Queen of Scots Commissioners having matter to answer whereby the Queen their Mistriss was charged with the murther of her husband they alleadged that they would go no further being so commanded by letters from her received since the beginning of this Commission and have required to speak with the Queens Majesty of whom they pretend they will desire to have the Queen their Mistriss to come to the presence of her Majesty and answer these causes her self whereunto how they shall be answered I cannot tell but for that purpose and others her Majesty hath presently sent for her Council who be here at present and so shall the Queen of Scots Commissioners be to morrow and hereafterward as matters shall fall out I will advertise you further and so take my leave Yours assuredly W. Cecil Hampton-Court 2. Decem. 1568. To the Right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR SInce my last writing by your servant Buffin I have forborn to write because I thought both to hear somewhat more from you and to have also somewhat here to write unto you Since which time I have received no letters from you but such as the poor Merchants of Ireland brought me being dated the 25. of the last moneth which came hither on Saturday last being the 11. of this moneth and considering the multitude of tales reported here to us of the conflict about the 18. I was nothing satisfied with the said last letters because touching that matter they did refer me to your former against which the French Ambassador here hath precisely given unto us news in the name of the King his Master wholly to the disadvantage of the Prince and therefore I wish you had written thereof now at the latter time somewhat more particularly I did of late write to you for the copy of the letter
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
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
Hostages and the Regent in the mean time intendeth to use his force to subdue the Out-laws upon our Frontiers I received letters even now out of Ireland by which it is written of the defeat of four hundred Irish and Scots onely by sixscore Englishmen I shall continually hearken for your letters to declare to us the truth of this great tale of the Battail of Cognac We hear that the Count Meighen is newly departed and fled into Germany upon fear Yours assuredly W. Cecil 27. March 1568. Postscrip The time serveth me not to write to you of your self for your motion of leaving that place To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight c. SIR SInce the coming hither of Harcourt who came hither on St. George his day as it seemeth with good haste we here have been much unsatisfied for that we could not imagine what to conceive to be the cause that in so long space we heard not from you having in the mean time so many divers tales as we were more troubled with the uncertainty then glad of the news and toadd more grief we could not hear from Rochel since the Re-encounter untill now by a Merchant that came hither within these two dayes past by whom we are more ascertained then before by him we understand that the loss of the Prince is more in reputation then in deed for that now the whole Army is reduced to better Order then it was before The Vidame of Charles is come to Plimouth and his wife as it is thought not being well liked of amongst the Nobility because he married so meanly indeed it must needs be some reproof to him to come away when service is requisite Since the accord made in Scotland the 13. of March at Easter last the Duke of Chastil-herault and his part hearing as it is thought of the death of the Prince of Conde and by brute that the Admiral and all that party were utterly subverted did go back from their agreement which was to acknowledge the young King and the Regent whereupon as we hear the Duke himself the Archbishop of St. Andrew the Lord Herryes and the Lord Rosbim are committed to the Castle of Edenburgh what will follow I know not God stay these troubles that increase so near us I think you do hear from Mr. Killigrew who is sent to the Palsgrave of Rheine and so I end Yours assuredly W. Cecil April 27. 1569. Postscript Sir to avoid some length of my own writing I do send you herewith the sum of the Negotiation lately with the French Ambassador and thereto have adjoyned the Copy of the Proclamation that is meant to be made by the Queens Majesty which is mentioned in the other writing and a Copy also of a clause contained in the French Kings Proclamation by all means you may well understand that which hath passed in this matter and shape your own speech there accordingly > W. Cecil To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight Ambassador in France SIR YOu have much satisfied us here with your letters sent by Madder who is able to explicate the affairs very sensibly and now I have thought good to address to you Hartcourte knowing that he is very serviceable unto you And as for any news to make recompence to you I have not and glad I am that our Country doth not yeild any such as France and yet in the way of Christian charity I do lament the misfortune of France marvailling that a Country that hath had so many wise men able to offend other Countries hath none to devise help for themselves I wish that you would learn of the Spanish Ambassador there whether he sent the letters which you delivered to him from the Queens Majesty There is some secret means made hither to come to accord with the Low Countries and therein I see the most doubt will be in devising assurance how to continue the accords Our Navy hath been ready these fourteen days at Harwich to go with the Merchants Fleet of Wooll and Cloth to Hamburgh and our Fleet that was appointed to Rochel is as we think there by means of the Easterly winds that hâ—th hindred and stayed the other Fleet. God send them both a good return for they are no small offence to our neighbors that to Hamburgh to the Duke of Alva and the other to the French The French Ambassador continueth a suitor that no Ambassador be sent to Rochell and that our Merchants cannot forbear specially for Salt which cannot be had in other places although even now great likelihood is of sufficiency to be had within these 12. moneths in England The Earl of Murray proceedeth still in uniting to him the Lords that were divorced from him and specially of late the Earl of Arguile is reconciled to him and the like is looked for of the Earl of Huntley I have no more but to end with my commendations Yours assured at command W. Cecil Greenwich 15. May 1569. SIR YOur last letters that came hither to my hands were written the 27. by which amongst other things you wrote of the brute of the impoisoning Dandelot by the means of an Italian of which matter we were here advertised almost ten days before the report was in part before he was sick such assurance have these Artizans of their works the will of God be fulfilled to the confusion and shame of such as work them and such great iniquities We have certain news from Rochell that Dandelot being opened the very poison was manifestly found in him The Queens Majesty of late was very credibly advertised by sight of original letters of persons of no small reputation in that Kings Court which have entreated of the matter whereof heretofore your self hath advertised concerning the D and for the transterring 3. And now her Majesty would have you use all good means that you can possible to learn some more truth hereof and thereof with speed to advise her Majesty for it is so precisely denyed on the other part here as nothing can be more The French Ambassador continueth complaining of lack of restitution in general yet I assure you he never is refused restitution upon any particular demand where contrarywise our Merchants are daily evil used at Rhoan and specially Callis and as it seemeth the Governor of Callis regardeth not the Ambassadors speeches or promises here or else it is Covenanted betwixt them to Boulster out their doings Mr. Winter departed from Harwich the 19. of May and came to Hamburgh the 23. remained there untill the 28. and returned safe to Harwich the first of June all in good safety with the Queens Ships leaving two there to return with our Merchants It is found that all the Ships in the Country dare not deal with six of the Queens being armed as they are motion is made of accord betwixt us and the Low Countries The Earl of Murray hath no resistance in Scotland Yours assuredly W. Cecil Greenwich 4. June
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
a matter to be pitied to have any such disorder to be begun yet with Gods goodness there is great likelihood of due avenge to be had of them all and no small profit to grow to the Queens Majestie by the forfeitures and escheats of their Lands wherewith the better subjects may be rewarded The French Ambassador hath been here this day and shewed the Queens Majesty that the King is come to Paris to levy mony for increase of his Army and that there are coming six thousand more Switzers to his service The 25. of the last the Earl of Murray began a convention at St. Iohns Town and meaneth to send as I think the Lord Lydlington hither with his minde concerning the Queen of Scots and so I end with my hearty commendations both to your self and my Lady Yours assuredly W. Cecil Otlands 3. Aug. 1569. Postscript here is very desirous that might be hither To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur last letters brought hither to my hands came by Mr. Huddleston whom surely I think you shall finde an honest servitor I have no matter presently to write of but to take occasion to send away this bearer your servant and I wish to hear from you of some good success at Pcictiers I do lye in wait for the Italian of whom you lately made mention in your letters that is sent hither to attempt his devillish conclusions Out of Ireland since my last I have heard nothing of any moment but I trust all shall be in quiet there and so is the state of this Realm also howsoever any other shall report having a disposition of malicious prophesying In Suffolk a lewd Varlet not disposed to get his living by labor moved a number of light persons to have made a rout in manner of Rebellion to have spoiled the richer sort but the matter was discovered and the offenders taken before they did attempt any thing more then had passed by words so as thereby they are punishable but as conspirers by words and not as actual Rebels The convention of St. Johns-Town in Scotland was dissolved about the second of this moneth and one Wednesday last came hither one Alexander Hume from the Regent with letters declaring that he had an universal obedience in Scotland and that the States there would not consent to any thing concerning the Queen of Scots restitution by any manner of Degree wherewith her Majesty is not well pleased because she hath a disposition to have her out of the Realm with some tollerable conditions to avoid perill which is a matter very hard at the least to me to compass I think you shall hear someways of an intention of and Certainly if the Queens Majesty may or shall be thereto perswaded I think it likely to succeed it hath so many weighty circumstances in it as I wish my self as free from the consideration thereof as I have been from the intelligence of the devising hereof I thought not good to have you ignorant I know Ê’ hath not allowed of it Sir I thank you for the French story which you lately sent me by Huddleston the next that shall come to you I think will be Mr. William Norris Yours assuredly W. Cecil Fernham 13. August 1569. Postscript Immediately after your last servant departed with letters to you making mention of our accord with the French Ambassador came the two Merchants Patrick and Offly to London with an accord propounded by the Marshall de Cross but not accepted for that thereby was required a general restitution of all things which on our part indeed cannot be and now the French Ambassador will not be here on Wednesday to eater into a new communication I send you a late Proclamation which you may impart there as you list SIR ALthough the bearer hereof Mr. Norris your Son is well able to satisfie you of all our Occurrents here both because of his continual attendance about the Court and for his understanding yet in one onely thing I am most fit to inform you That his stay here of long time hath been principally by my occasion whom I have at all times of late when he hath desired to come over unto you moved to stay upon expectation to have some matter of more weight to be by him imparted unto you but finding the same not so to fall out and perceiving him the more importune to resort unto you since the repair of Harcourte by whom he understood of your sickness I have thought it good no longer to defer him and therefore without any other great matter but to send him where he would be he now cometh and if I should enter into writing of any particular things here past he is as well able to express the same of his own knowledge as I am by writing and therefore you shall justly hold me excused if I forbear my writing having so sufficient a person to make report of all things as well such as are meet for letters as also not meet for some respects Of the matters of Ireland he shall make you full report Of Scotland he can do the like of our Trade to Hamburgh he is not ignorant of the matters betwixt us and France for Arrests of Merchandizes I have made him Privy and for the matters in this Court he hath seen and understands as much thereof as I doubt not but shall satisfie so as he shall serve you at this time in stead of many long letters And so I end with a good hope that he shall finde you well amended whereof I shall also be glad to hear wishing that the same might be joyned with the winning of Poictiers of which we here live on all sides in no small expectation though with sundry meanings Your assured friend at command W. Cecil Southampton 9. Sept. 1569. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR SInce your Sons departing from Southampton I have deferred to write untill this time perceiving some likelihood of some greater matters to ensue and yet the event thereof draws out at some length which hath moved me to defer the same untill now and doubting that otherwise rumors may be brought unto you I have thought good to send away this bearer You shall understand that according as your Son was able to inform you the Duke of Norfolk departed towards London about the 16. of this moneth promising to return to the Court within 8. days the Queens Majesty having shewed her self towards him offended with his dealing in the marriage was newly offended with his departure but being by me assured as I earnestly thought that he would return her Majesty was quieted contrary hereunto notwithstanding that he wrote on Thursday the 23. that he would be at the Court before Munday yet he went away secretly from London to Reninghale that same night whereof we had no knowledge untill Sunday in the morning that his own
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
they have Priests of their Faction who to please the people thereabouts give them Masses and some such trash of the spoils and wastes where they have been and upon the sudden having levyed of all sorts as it is thought of Footmen about four thousand simply appointed for the wars and of Horsemen about a thousand wherein indeed all their strength is and with these numbers before the Earl of Sussex could gather numbers meet to resist them they came down to Todcaster Ferry-brigs and Doncaster being twelve miles or thereabouts wide from Yorke and were not indeed resisted untill at Doncaster the Lord Darcy of the North with certain numbers which he was leading to Yorke did very valiantly repulse a number of them hereupon they are retired to Richmondshire and know not what to enterprise by their stragling in this sort The Earl of Sussex is at Yorke where Sir Ralph Sadler is and hath levyed the power of York-shire against them the Lord Hunsdon is sent to Berwick and to the Borders to levy the like there Sir John Forster to do the like in his marches the Lord Scroope also in his Wardenry the Earl of Cumberland and the Lord Wharton to joyn with their Forces in Westmerland and that side and besides the Lord Admiral with the Forces of Lincoln-shire and the Earl of Warwick with other numbers of Nottinghamshire Darbyshire Warwick-shire and other parts of the South are appointed Lieutenants of the Army who are to joyn with my Lord of Sussex and to do further as shall be found meet And by this means you shall hear shortly I doubt not of the confusion of this Rebellious enterprise who as you may perceive by the Queens Majesties Proclamation are proclaimed thorough the Realm as they have behaved themselves The Queens Majesty hath besides ready upon all occasions an Army of fifteen thousand near to her own person The Queen of Scots is removed from Tutbery to Coventry where attends on her the Earls of Shrewsbury and Huntington Under the Conduct of the Army of the Southern parts is the Viscount Hereford with the power of Staffordshire very well appointed and divers Gentlemen of credit and service of the Court and other places of themselves are gone thither to serve under the said Lieutenants In company with those said Rebels are not many Gentlemen of name but Norton an old man who carryeth the Cross Markinfield Swynbourne and an Uncle of the Earl of Westmerland named Christopher Nevill all the Realm and all the Nobillity besides these onely two Rebels are as obedient as ever they were and surely so like to be whatsoever our ill-willers may report Yours assured W. Cecil 2 Novemb. 1569. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador c. SIR I Have forborn these two or three days to write unto you because I could not by occasion of some sickness use my own hand and also because I would not detain here any longer this bearer Mr. Rogers who is both serviceable for you and desirous to be returned thither I have thought good to dispatch him towards you who can inform you of such news as we have here and that he may the better do it I have imparted to him such things as I think meet for you to know and for that I am not well able at present to write any more I trust you will be for this time satisfied with such declaration as this bearer shall make unto you Thus fare you heartily well From Windsor the 10. Nov. 1569. I think long to hear from you because I have not received any letters from you since the tenth of the last month which D'amons brought but I doubt not but some of yours be on the way whereby we may understand how things pass there Since the writing hereof came yesterday your Lackqueywith letters of the of wherein you make mention that Lodowick the Count Nassau should be slain which I trust is not so because of other letters which I have seen that came hither by the way of Rochell that testifie nothing of his death but great praise of his service the day of the battel At this present I am unable to write by reason of some sick ness as this bearer can report Herewith I send you a copy in writing of such things as after long debate betwixt the French Ambassador and us hath been here accorded which I wish may be as well performed on their part as they have promised I pray you Sir commend me to my good Lady and your Sons Yours assuredly W. Cecil 12. Novemb. at night To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador c. SIR THough I think this bringer will deliver you my letter yet I know not with what readiness he will impart to you our state here and therefore have thought good to advertise you thus much that thanked be God our Northern Rebellion is fallen flat to the ground and scattered away The Earls are fled into Northumberland seeking all ways to escape but they are roundly pursued Sir John Forster and Sir Henry Percy in one company my Lord of Sussex in another The 16. hereof they broke up their sorry Army and the 18. they entred into Northumberland the 19. into the Mountains they scattered all their Footmen willing them to shift for themselves and of a thousand Horsemen there fled but five hundred By this time they be fewer and I trust either taken or fled into Scotland where the Earl of Murray is in good readiness to chase them to their ruine yesternight came Mr. Madder and upon the next letters from my Lord of Sussex I will send away Crips or some other The Queens Majesty hath had a notable Tryal of her whole Realm and subjects in this time wherein she hath had service readily of all sorts without respect of Religion Yours assuredly W. Cecil Windsor 24. Decemb. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador c. SIR I Have long time determined to send away this bearer your servant Henry Crips but my delay hath grown of a desire that I had to see some good issue of this Rebellion which as it hath had a time of declination and is now suppressed so could I not well before this time send this bearer away who now bringeth her Majesties letters unto you by which you shall understand how her pleasure is that you should impart the events thereof in that Court and indeed hitherto we have no certain and manifest proofs that it should have any other ground but as it is expressed in her Majesties letters nevertheless we have discovered some tokens and we hear of some words uttered by the Earl of Northumberland that maketh us to think this Rebellion had more Branches both of our own and strangers then did appear and I trust the same will be found out though perchance when all are known in secret manner all may not be notified Of all other Occurrents
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
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
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