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127. H. Killigrew to [Lord Burghley]. |
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1573, May 2. |
Has received his letters of the 22 April. Has been occupied about the confirmation of the pacification, which has passed the Parliament. Action of the Regent towards the Earl of Huntly and the Duke's sons. The Earl of Huntly's brother, Adam Gordon. State of the siege of Edinburgh Castle. False rumours regarding matters in France. If her majesty intends to bestow any pension on the Earl of Huntly and his brother, thinks the sooner they were assured thereof, the better. Riots and murders on them of Jedworth by Ferniehurst's folks. Sends a list of those in the Castle.—Edinburgh, 2 May. |
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[The list is not attached to this letter; but see Foreign State Papers, Eliz., 1573, Nos. 941 and 942.] |
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Endorsed by Burghley :—“2 May 1573.” |
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3¾ pp. [Murdin, pp. 245, 246. In extenso.] |
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128. Edinburgh Castle. |
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1573, May 6. |
A Letter “from one sent from them in the Castle of Edinburgh into France for aid, written to them of the Castle, out of France. Dat. vj. Maii, 1573.” Headed: “Lat na body knaw that I am heir for you, bot gif furth al the contrair and evil ye can of me for cause.” [Deciphered, 15 Aug. 1573.] |
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The writer left Dysart on the 17th of the previous January, and arrived at Nieuport in Flanders on Feb. 7. Stayed in that part until Feb. 22, and then went to Dieppe, where he remained but one day. Finally he arrived at Paris on March 5. His interview with the Bishop of Glasgow, who reports the state of his negotiations at the French court. All things were to remain as they were, until the issue of the siege of La Rochelle. The Bishop obtains another audience at Chastressous-Montlhéry, when the Queen Mother refuses further help. The writer goes to Fontainebleau, with Chasteau, the Bishop's secretary, and confers with Pinart. Details of the negotiations to obtain support for the Queen of Scots' party. Her principal friends absent from court at the siege of La Rochelle; the Cardinal of Lorraine at Rheims. All had been done and said to move the French King to give assistance, but in vain. They must advise for their own security some other way. The Bishop goes again on the 27th of March to the court at Fontainebleau, and urges his suit on the Queen Mother. Promise of help, if La Rochelle is taken. The Cardinal of Lorraine writes that he will come on 1 May, and do all the good offices he can. The writer detained at Paris. His needy condition. Agrees with
Chasteau to pass to Dieppe, there to send off this despatch in quiet, and to remain until the end of April. Will so act in France, that he shall bring with him “the keyis of the kirk duir.” Peace in Scotland were good to be had, if their surety stood therewith. |
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The French King knows that the Queen of England has sent 1,200 hagbutters to Carlisle; so, though he would have sent men, he will not now, because of that preparation: but he intends to take the Queen by another way, when her men shall be “skaillit.” The French ambassador had written to the Bishop of Glasgow that he had got leave to send one of his Secretaries to the Queen of Scots, and that he should deliver her four or five letters in cipher quietly, along with two coffers of “habillements” sent to her out of France. The said ambassador had also got a passport for a Frenchman to go to the Queen of Scots, and he would tell her all the handling of her affairs in France. The resolutions of the French court are not so sudden, especially at this troublous time. Exhorts those in the Castle to take courage.—Dieppe, — April. |
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Sends copy of the letter written to him by the Bishop, from Moret, on the 17th April, approving of his going to Dieppe, and asking him to write to those in the Castle. The Count of Montgomery is reported for certain to have sailed from England with 140 ships, either to help La Rochelle, or to take some isle beside it. The Duke of Alva's ships have succeeded in victualling Middleburg. News that the Almains are coming in great power towards France. It is supposed that the King of Spain, having made peace with the Turk, will aid the French King with all his forces. When the writer was in Flanders, George Hakket offered, if he received a commission, to go to the King of Spain, to crave succour for those in the Castle, and said he would not fail to obtain it. Thinks they should employ him. Expectation of the fall of La Rochelle. Repulse of Montgomery there. Is returning to court in haste.—Dieppe, 6 May. |
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[This letter bears evidence of having been written at different times. Some of the chief personages mentioned are indicated by cipher names. The Bishop of Glasgow is Trim; the French ambassador in England, Bon; the French King, Gentil; the Queen of England, Bost; Verac, Fort; the Queen of Scots, Worthy; Du Croc, Mont; the Queen Mother, Due; Ledington, All; the Cardinal of Lorraine, Stout; Grange, Constant; James Kirkaldy, Reddy; the Regent, Lait pour nous; the Duke of Alva, North; &c.] |
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11 pp. [Murdin, pp. 246–255. In extenso.] |
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Cipher of the foregoing. |
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3¼ pp.
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129. Thomas Bennett, Collector, and Robert Townley, Comptroller, to Lord Burghley. |
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1573, May 25. |
Have received the letters of restraint from further shipping any bread-corn. State that the Queen granted a licence to the mayor and burgesses of Boston for the transporting of 20,000 quarters of all manner of grain (wheat only excepted), to be shipped within 5 years within the counties of Lincoln and Norfolk. Whereof in this port not above 600 quarters have been transported, and because the prices began to rise, to wit, wheat at 20s., rye 16s., beans 10s., barley 11s. and 12s. the quarter, the Mayor thought it good to make some stay for a time. The most part of that already passed was for
the employment of three or four poor Scots, for such victuals as they brought.—Boston, 8 May 1573. |
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Seal. 1 p.
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130. The Mayor and Jurats of Sandwich to Lord Burghley. |
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1573, May 25. |
Since the advertisement sent, as his lordship commanded, of the prices of wheat and malt, not only the price of them is much risen, but also the market very ill and scantily served. If the report of the farmers is to be credited, there is almost none in the country to furnish the same, and very like also to be dearer this next year. Those who have viewed the corn now growing are of a clear opinion that wheat, especially, cannot in any wise be “plenty,” for that it doth not shew and stock as heretofore at this time of the year it hath been accustomed. Beseech that the corn here stayed by order may serve for the market and be sold here. It would be a good stay to the poor of this town, as the provision of two or three hundred quarters of wheat heretofore made, is now spent.—Sandwich, 25 May 1573. |
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Seal. 1 p.
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131. Peter Kemp to Lord Burghley. |
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1573, May 26. |
Report on his collection of rents. “Within ten days my mistress, your mother, doth mean to go to Burghley for altogether. I have almost finished her chamber to her contentation. She giveth you hearty thanks for your courtesy shewed her in your letter. She did weep for joy when I read it to her, &c.”—Stamford, 26 May 1573. |
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1½ pp.
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